MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1m (3.3ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White

The most obvious MagSafe Charger to buy for your Apple iPhone is, of course, the Apple MagSafe Charger. It’s the charger that Apple would have shipped with the iPhone if it did such things anymore.

It’s as minimalist a design as you’d expect from Apple – it looks a lot like the Apple Watch Charger.

You can also use it to charge your AirPods.

Its main advantage over the non-certified competition is its 15W charging power. It’s still half as fast as using a Lightning cable but more convenient when you’re not in a desperate rush.

But it’s not perfect. The charger is too small and light to stay on the desk when you pick up your iPhone, making it a poor wireless charging pad. The 1m cable is far too short to comfortably charge and use your iPhone at the same time.

Don’t forget that it still requires a USB-C wall charger (at least 20W recommended if you want the full 15W potential).

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 2m (6.6ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: Black, White

Available in two predictable colors, the Belkin MagSafe Charger Pad is as fast as Apple’s Charger and comes with a longer cable and handy pop-up stand.

The cable is twice as long as Apple’s, which makes using the phone much easier when charging. It’s also thicker nylon-braided cable with a handy integrated silicone cable tie.

It is pricier than Apple, which is a surprise, so you’re paying a premium for the longer premium cable and the kickstand but we think it’s worth the extra if you must have a certified 15W MagSafe charger.

You can buy direct from Belkin with a 27W power adapter included or just on its own if you already have a wall charger to use.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White

Another basic magnetic charger, Anker’s PowerWave Magnetic Pad works just like the Apple and Belkin chargers, but at the lower 7.5W as it’s not officially certified by Apple.

It works just fine, though, and is one of the cheaper premium magnetic chargers.

The cable is a decent length at 1.5m.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White, Black, Blue, Pink

This is a small, simple magnetic charging pad that has a kickstand that lets you prop your attached iPhone 12/13/14 up either in landscape or portrait mode for video viewing or hands-free FaceTime calls.

The cable length is reasonable at 1.5m.

It’s available in four colors, so is wildly more flamboyant than the other magnetic wireless chargers tested here.

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1m (3.3ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White

Coming in its own hard-shell travel case, the Zens 2-in-1 MagSafe and Watch travel charger is a portable delight for owners of iPhone (12/13/14 series) and Apple Watch.

It is officially certified as Made for MagSafe, so charges at the full wireless 15W. Sadly the Watch doesn’t fast charge, too, but its arm folds out to create a kickstand for the iPhone in either portrait or landscape orientation.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 2m (6.6ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: Black, White

Belkin doesn’t just make MagSafe chargers; it has a range of compatible magnetic products, too.

Its low-end Magnetic Charger Pad is not as fast as Apple’s Charger as it’s one of the non-MagSafe-certified products, but it is cheaper and comes with a cable that is twice as long as Apple’s, which gives you more flexibility depending on the distance of your power socket to where is most convenient for you for charging. It also features a handy cord wrap.

An LED indicates if there’s any charging interruption from another object that maybe could harm your phone.

If you don’t mind the slower 7.5W charging, this is an affordable solution that beats the official Apple product with its longer cable.

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1.2 m (4ft)

Wall charger: 40W AC power adapter

Colors: Black, White

As an officially MFi-certified MagSafe charger, the Belkin Charge Pro hits the 15W heights just like the Apple chargers.

Like Apple’s own Duo Charger it can simultaneously power up your AirPods at 5W on its Qi circular base, plus it has the bonus of being a stand that can hold the iPhone in either portrait or landscape mode with its stable weighted base.

It’s a bit plasticky but still looks suitably Apple-ish, and it beats the Apple 2-in-1 on price.

A small LED shows whether the placed AirPods case is wirelessly charging.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.2 m (4ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White

Built to charge both an iPhone 12/13/14 and wireless AirPod case charger, the Anker PowerWave isn’t MFi certified and therefore doesn’t reach the 15W phone charging heights of the Apple.

Its 7.5W charging is fine if you have the time; if you’re in a real hurry you’d be better off using a cable than using a 15W certified MagSafe charger anyway.

The AirPods are charged at 5W, which is standard for all such multi-device magnetic chargers.

You get angled landscape and portrait modes with this good-looking stand from one of our favorite premium accessory makers.

The magnetic link is super strong so you don’t need to worry about the iPhone falling off even during re-angling.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.5 m (5ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White, Black, Misty Blue

Anker’s MagGo 633 isn’t just another passive iPhone and wireless AirPod case charger stand with angled landscape and portrait modes. It is much cleverer than that.

You can remove the charging section from the stand and use it as a 5000mAh portable magnetic charger that clamps onto the back of an iPhone 12/13/14 and will charge your phone on-the-go up to a near full charge.

The power bank holster on the stand can be angled up to 40 degrees.

The detachable power bank is powered up while in the stand, via the connected 1.5m USB-C cable that requires a decent (at least 20W) wall charger. You can swap out the cable for a longer or shorter one if that’s what you require.

This is a great combination of desk-bound charger and portable power bank. For more options, read our roundup of the best MagSafe power banks.

Alogic has a similar modular charger stand that can take a MagSafe-compatible battery pack; reviewed with the 3-in-1 stands (with magnetic Apple Watch charger) but also available as a 2-in-1.

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: 45W AC power adapter

Colors: Black, White

Similar in looks to the Belkin 3-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand, the aluminum Zens 4-in-1 MagSafe + Watch Charging Station beats it on two fronts: it has a much smaller footprint and can charge four devices simultaneously. It is certified Made for MagSafe so can fast-charge an iPhone 12/13/14 at 15W compared to just 7.5W for merely compatible magnetic chargers.

The base features a 5W Qi charging pad allows for charging wirelessly rechargeable AirPods or other Qi compatible device

The fourth device is charged using a side-mounted USB-C port, so is wired rather than wireless like the parts for iPhone, Watch and AirPods. Rated at 18W charging, this USB-C connection can fast-charge another iPhone or charge an iPad.

The supplied 45W wall charger comes with US, UK and EU adapter plugs so you can take the Zens 4-in-1 Charging Station on your travels.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: Black, White

A 3-in-1 charger that can re-power iPhone, AirPods and Watch is a boon for Apple fans, but most of the products we’ve tested take up quite a lot of desk space. The stylish HiRise 3, as its name suggests, goes more vertical and so has a smaller footprint—handy for bedside tables and other places where a giant charging stand is less welcome.

It’s 16.5cm (6.5in) high, 12.3cm (4.8in) deep and 8.5cm (3.4in) wide. In comparison, the Belkin 3-in-1 is 13.5cm wide. The Belkin does have the advantage of being a faster charge as it is certified MagSafe (15W) rather than just compatible (7.5W) but if you are charging at night, speed is less of an issue.

The base charges at 5W, and the Watch part at 3W.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1m (3.3ft)

Wall charger: Not included, except in Australia: 20W AC power adapter

Colors: Black

For a budget 3-in-1 magnetic stand that will charge your iPhone 12/13/14, AirPods wireless-charging case and Apple Watch, the Alogic MagSpeed 3-in-1 Wireless Charger is a simpler product than the Belkin 3-in-1 but works just fine – although at the lower charging speed as it isn’t MagSafe certified.

The iPhone can be angled in either portrait or landscape mode, but it can’t be angled up or down.

If you are buying in Australia (Alogic is an Australian company), you get a 20W charger, but elsewhere you’ll need to use your own wall charger.

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: 40W AC power adapter

Colors: Black, White

Belkin has a 3-in-1 MagSafe Charger that is a stand where the phone and Watch are held high and the AirPods case sits underneath in a Qi-compatible hollow on the base.

This is more stylish that other wireless charging stands, having a Sixties space-age design with chrome arms, and a silicone-covered plastic base.

A stand is useful as it lifts the charging phone to a height that makes it easier to FaceTime or watch videos without having to hold the phone aloft. It can hold the phone in either portrait or landscape mode.

In order to support the weight of the phone, the circular base has to be quite wide, at 13.5cm.

An LED indicates if the AirPods are charging, and it ships with its own power supply unit.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: Black, White

The Journey Rapid Trio 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Station, like the Twelve South HiRise 3, has a small footprint for such a multi-device charger. It’s only a tiny bit larger than the HiRise 3, at 16.9cm (6.7in) high, 13.3cm (5.3in) deep and 8.6cm (3.4in) wide.

It does have some tricks up its sleeve, though, as its detachable USB-C Apple Watch charger means you can take it with you on your travels and simply plug it into a USB-C port—say on your MacBook—to charge your Apple Watch away from the charging stand.

The phone charging part can also tilt, unlike the more static 3-in-1 chargers reviewed here, for more flexible viewing angles—it can be set in either portrait or landscape mode.

Being just MagSafe compatible, the phone charges at 7.5W; the base at 5W, and the Watch part at 3W.

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: 40W AC power adapter

Colors: Black, White

Belkin has two models of 3-in-1 wireless charger, both MFi-certified, that can simultaneously charge your portable Apple goodies: iPhone, AirPods and Watch.

If you’ve bought into the whole Apple device ecosystem, this one will charge all you pocketable or wearable devices. of particular note is that it can fast-charge the Apple Watch.

This model is a flat pad that also includes the possibility to leave the Watch in Nightstand mode as a bedside or desk clock. We would have preferred if the phone charger could also be angled to prop up the phone for video viewing.

While minimalist in design, it does take up a fair section of desk–measuring about 23cm across and 8cm wide, and the iPhone sticks out at either side.

The pad format is better for travel portability than a charging stand, and it comes with its own wall power supply unit, so you don’t need to add your own USB-C charger.

An LED indicates if the AirPods are charging.

Alogic has created a modular system that transforms what is often a static charging station into something more dynamic and portable. It’s called Matrix and features several products, some of which can be used with each other depending on your charging needs.

The Matrix 3-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock with Apple Watch Charger features a MagSafe-compatible wireless charging stand to charge an iPhone at 7.5W, a Qi cradle neatly placed at the back for charging compatible AirPods, and a detachable charger for the Apple Watch. You can take the small Watch charger with you and plug it into a USB-C charger or device with output charging. Be patient, though, at just 2W it can’t fast-charge an Apple Watch—for that you need Apple’s USB-C Magnetic Fast Charging Cable and at least a 5W USB-C charger—but it is more portable as it doesn’t require a long cable, having its USB-C connector built-in.

As with the Anker 633 Wireless Charger, reviewed above, you can also swap out the wireless phone-charging block and add the Matrix Wireless Power Bank (sold separately). This 5000mAh portable power bank can work in the static charging stand or come with you as a neat, portable magnetic battery pack—ready powered up for the stand. This can charge two phones or devices: one wirelessly and the other simultaneously via USB-C cable. In our tests, it charged a flagging iPhone 13 Pro from 10% to 94%.

There’s even a Matrix Magnetic Wireless Charger with Car Mount available, which the power bank can be slotted into. We’d have preferred this and the 3-in-1 Charger to be available without the non-portable charging block for those users who already own the power bank.

If you don’t own an Apple Watch, the Matrix 2-in-1 Magnetic Charging Dock will save you some money, and the side-mounted USB-C Port means you could add the Watch module at a later date should you succumb to the full Apple device roster.

MagSafe: Certified

Output charging: 15W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: 65W AC power adapter

Colors: Black

The Zens 4-in-1 Modular Charging Station for iPhone with MagSafe, AirPods, Apple Watch and iPad is a MagSafe-certified charging stand that can handle not just four Apple devices but more if you buy extra charging modules to connect.

Any MagSafe iPhone (12/13/14) can be wirelessly charged at up to 15W, faster than non-certified MagSafe-compatible chargers. AirPods and Apple Watch will each charge wirelessly at 5W.

The iPhone can be placed in either portrait or landscape mode. At the back is a stand where you can place an iPad, which can be wired charged via a side-mounted USB-C port at up to 30W.

All devices can be charged simultaneously as the power supply has a 65W total output.

The Watch module that ships with the 4-in-1 charger can handily be situated on either the right- or left-hand side depending on your preference. Modules attach magnetically.

The Apple Watch extension can be disconnected from the main station and charged via a USB-C port to become a standalone wireless charger when travelling.

Up to three modules can be added, and different modules are available separately. Aside from extra Watch modules, the Single Wireless Charger Extension is a 10W wireless charging pad, and the Modular USB-hub Extension lets you recharge a USB-A powered device.

If you don’t own an Apple Watch, the cheaper 3-in-1 Modular Charging Station charges iPhone, AirPods and iPad. Also available from Apple.

As an environmental bonus, the Charging Station and all modules are made from recycled plastic.

Output charging: 15W

Cable: Built-in

Wall charger: 12V car charger included

Colors: White

Use your iPhone for satnav directions or to have easy access to your playlists in the car with this MagSafe-certified wireless charger and car vent mount, which works in both landscape and portrait modes.

It has an integrated USB-C cable, and a 12V car charger adapter for cars come with USB-A ports.

The magnetic link is strong, which should mean that it can cope with any big bumps in the road. It works best with straight, horizontal vent slats up to 3mm in thickness and 20mm in depth. It does work with vertical slats, but there might be slight movements if the mount is overloaded with weight, says Belkin.

As the only dedicated MagSafe-certified 15W car mount available, it is expensive. If you can handle a lower charger rate, the Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Wireless Car Charger 10W does pretty much the same job for a lot less. Or you can buy Spigen’s Mag Fit Phone Holder Car Mount and add Apple’s MagSafe Charger (reviewed above) for pretty much the same 15W result. That product is also available in black, like most car vents.

At the moment, the only place to buy the MagSafe version is via Apple’s US Store.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1m (3.3ft)

Wall charger: 20W AC power adapter

Colors: Black, Silver

The special thing about this magnetic wireless charger stand is its foldability. It can be adjusted between 30° and 75°, with the phone in either portrait or landscape mode, and also folded flat so it can slip into your pocket for easy portability—although remember that you will still need a wall charger or power bank wherever you end up. It weighs just 110g.

Handily, this stand does come with a 20W charger. As it is MagSafe-compatible rather than certified, the maximum wireless charge you’ll get for your iPhone is 7.5W (15W for non-iPhones) but you’ve got 20W to play with if you plug a Lightning cable into the charger.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1.5m (5ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: Black, Light Gray

This smart desk mat includes a detachable side strip that includes a magnetic wireless charging pad for phone and a non-magnetic section to charge your AirPods. Not only is the mat reversible, with smooth, wipeable vegan leather on one side and warmer-feel felt on the other, but you can pull back the mat to stow paper and notes to help reduce clutter.

It’s quite a large mat, measuring 780 x 70 x 4mm. The Light gray color is actually more of a warm stone tone.

The charging panel connects to the mat with a light magnetic snap, and can be positioned on either side simply by flipping the mat round 180 degrees, depending on whether you are left or right handed.

As it’s MagSafe compatible rather than certified, it charges the iPhone at 7.5W rather than 15W, but will charge other compatible phones at the higher power. Earbuds can be charged at up to 5W. The magnetic fit is strong so you can’t knock it off its charging position with a stray flick of an arm.

It comes with a USB-C cable but requires a charger; recommended 20W or higher.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Cable: 1m (3.3ft)

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: Many cool and/or odd patterns

We picked the English Breakfast pattern for its sheer wanton oddness but there are plenty of other patterns (Acid, Checks, Cherry Blossom) and pictures (Yeti, Harry Potter, Snoopy) to choose from.

Indeed, there are 238 different wireless charger fronts to choose from.

This 100% recyclable slim charger has eco sustainability points, too, as it’s made with recycled aluminum and printed with eco-friendly ink.

MagSafe: Compatible

Output charging: 7.5W

Wall charger: Not included

Colors: White

The Moshi SnapTo Magnetic Wireless Charger can mount to a wall. Attach the included firm 3M fixture to a convenient wall, perhaps beside your bed or office desk, and then slide in the magnetic charger.

Then simply place your phone onto the charger.

It can also be used as a landscape charging phone stand.

It’s important to note that you will need a compatible case (Overture, iGlaze, Vesta or Altra) according to Moshi.

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

With 18 top-rated ports and Thunderbolt 4 certified, it’s difficult to look past the Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 4, aka TS4. Yes, it’s expensive, but if you’re after the best then this is it.

It has the most ports, the fastest ports, and the highest power supply (a whopping 230W to be spread among the ports, including a 20W USB-C and the 98W laptop charging). And we love its flexible vertical or horizontal format.

Even if your MacBook is Thunderbolt 3, the TS4 is backward compatible and will work with your next laptop when it’s time to upgrade.

While you can use Thunderbolt ports to add external displays, Caldigit has swapped one of the downstream TB4 ports for a dedicated DisplayPort. You’ll need an adapter if your monitor requires HDMI. You can add up to two 4K displays at 60Hz or a single 6K screen at 60Hz. Again, unless your display can connect directly with its USB-C port, you’ll need a USB-C-to-DisplayPort or HDMI adapter cable.

If you have the right router, you can take advantage of super-fast wired Internet access with the TS4’s 2.5GbE Gigabit Ethernet–2.5x faster than standard Gigabit Ethernet, with which it also works on standard networks.

• One Thunderbolt 4 upstream port (40Gbps, 98W PD)
• Two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Up to two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• DisplayPort 1.4 port 
• Five USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 20W)
• Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• microSD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• 2.5GbE Gigabit Ethernet port
• 3.5mm Combo Audio In/Out port at front
• 3.5mm Audio In & Out ports at back
• 230W power supply

Read our full Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) review.

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

Anker’s 577 PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a great Titan Ridge docking station for Intel-based Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops–with lots of top-rated ports in a compact, good-looking case. Unfortunately, it doesn’t play nicely with the newer M1 and M2 MacBooks, which rules out all recent Macs.

It is a serious contender for the crown of the best Thunderbolt 3 dock. The Caldigit TS3 Plus boasts one more USB-A port, but the Anker has one faster USB-C port plus the ability to also work with non-Thunderbolt USB-C laptops.

All the Power Expand Elite’s ports are top-end: both USB-C ports, for example, are Gen. 2 at 10Gbps, whereas some docks boast just 5Gbps C-type ports.

The On/Off button at the front is a nice touch we haven’t seen on other docks, and there’s really nothing except price to distinguish it from the other recommended docking stations we have tested. In the battle of the Titan Ridge hybrid docks, the Anker wins on a cute compact design and quantity of ports, including two fast USB-C ports as well as two TB3.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 85W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps, 15W)
• Titan Ridge chipset (USB-C and T3)
• Up to two external displays (2 x 4K at 60Hz; or 1 x 5K at 60Hz)
• One HDMI 2.0 port
• Two USB-C (10Gbps) ports (one at 18W)
• Four USB-A (5Gbps) ports (one at 7.5W)
• SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• microSD 4.0 Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Hybrid 3.5mm audio port
• 180W power supply

Works with Thunderbolt laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

Caldigit’s TS3 Plus is the granddaddy of Thunderbolt 3 docks. Its compact shape and 15 ports made it our favorite top-end Thunderbolt 3 docking station for its sheer functional flexibility and power at a great price.

Other docks boast faster USB ports, but few have seven like the TS3 Plus—except its successor, the TS4, which makes even the TS3 Plus look underpowered. if you can afford the extra, we recommend the TS4.

It’s a better choice than the Anker 577 dock as it works with all modern Macs that use M1 or M2 chips.

The TS3 Plus shows its age by not having a Titan Ridge or Goshen Ridge chipset. It’s therefore unsuitable for non-Thunderbolt laptops—but as most MacBooks have at least T3, that shouldn’t matter unless you work in a mixed Mac/Windows environment.

And while Thunderbolt 4 is the latest connection standard, its top-end benefits won’t be noticed by most MacBook owners as TB3 matches TB4 on data-transfer speed.

To add the second external display you will require an HDMI or DisplayPort USB-C video adapter to run from the USB-C port unless you have a USB-C monitor. To avoid this need for an adapter, look for a dock with two video ports. 

Both connected displays can run 4K displays at 60Hz. You could also run one 5K display at the same frame rate.

The TS3 Plus’s digital audio ports set it apart from most other Thunderbolt docks.

It charges your laptop at 87W so makes it a great companion to Apple’s 15in or 16in MacBook Pro.

This dock is dinky so won’t take up too much space on your desk. Available in Silver and Space Gray, it matches the colors of Apple’s laptops. 

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 87W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps, 15W)
• Up to two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• DisplayPort 1.2 port 
• Five USB-A ports (5Gbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C (10Gbps) port
• One USB-C (5Gbps) port
• SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Front-facing 3.5mm Audio In & Out ports
• One Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF) port
• 180W power supply

Works with Thunderbolt laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

The CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 mini Dock offers dual-4K HDMI display support at 60Hz in a lightweight portable form. It connects to the laptop via an integrated TB3 cable.

The Mini Dock Dual HDMI features the two HDMI ports, plus Gigabit Ethernet and two USB-A: one at 5Gbps (4.5W); one at the much slower 480Mbps (2.5W). 

It runs 4K displays at 60Hz in Extended mode—best for high-action movies and gaming. Plainer USB-C docks can handle two 4K displays, but only at 30Hz, and only one Extended.

Its downside is a lack of power supply (which it draws from the host laptop), so you’ll need to power your laptop via another port, and the USB ports certainly aren’t for fast-charging purposes. 

Portable USB-C hubs often boast more ports (although just the one external display option) but lack the faster Thunderbolt 3 connection.

• Bus-powered, so no PD charging
• Thunderbolt 3 (40Gbps) upstream cable
• Up to two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• Two HDMI 2.0 ports (4K at 60Hz)
• Two USB-A port (5Gbps & 4.5W, one 480Mbps & 2.5W) 
• Gigabit Ethernet port

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

The Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station has everything a dock should have: four TB4 ports, three fast USB-A and one slow one (that at least boasts 7.5W charging power compared to the faster USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port’s 4.5W), Gigabit Ethernet, SD Card reader, and 3.5mm audio jack.

At 180W, the power supply is high but not as great as found on the Caldigit TS4. It’s essential if you are powering multiple devices connected to the dock. And the On/Off power button (rare on docks) means you can give the laptop battery’s rest when you’re away.

There are useful lights telling you when the dock is powered and when it’s connected.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W PD)
• Three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• One USB-A port (480Mbps, 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• SD Card reader (USHS-II, 312MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 180W power supply

Read our full
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review.

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

The Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Element Hub isn’t a dock because it doesn’t feature anything other than Thunderbolt and USB ports—no Ethernet, SD card reader or audio port.

But it boasts so many top-end Thunderbolt and USB ports that you can customize it to your every desire.

There are four TB4 ports (one upstream to your computer placed handily on the side, and three downstream to other devices) and four fast 10Gbps USB-A ports.

You can use two of the three downstream TB4 ports to connect directly to USB-C-equipped monitors or HDMI or DisplayPort screens using inexpensive adapters.

That still leave you a spare TB4 port and the four USB-A ports to add further devices, such as an adapter for Gigabit Ethernet and/or SD card reader, SSDs, memory sticks and so on.

As a hub rather than a dock, its 60W laptop charger is a little underpowered for larger laptops, but the overall 150W power supply will help with all the hub’s ports.

It’s small enough to be portable, but don’t forget that the external power supply will weigh down your travel bag.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W PD)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• Four USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 150W power supply

Read our full
Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Element Hub review.

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

Also a hub rather than a full dock, the OWC Thunderbolt Hub doesn’t match the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Element Hub on its number of old-school USB-A ports, but it cheaper and offers the same four Thunderbolt 4 ports—one upstream to your computer placed at the front, and three downstream to other devices at the back.

You can use two of the three downstream TB4 ports to connect directly to USB-C-equipped monitors or HDMI or DisplayPort screens using inexpensive adapters.

As with the Caldigit Element Hub, its 60W laptop charger is underpowered for larger laptops.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 60W PD)
• Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-A port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 110W power supply

The Orico TB3-S2 is a Thunderbolt 3 docking station that offers something no other dock tested here can boast: an M.2 dual-bay solid-state drive (SSD) enclosure.

Underneath, there’s a hatch that allows you to add one or two SSDs for up to 4TB of extra storage–a boon for laptops with smaller storage capacities. This enclosure includes one bay for M.2 NVMe 2280 SSD and the other for an M.2 NGFF 2280 SSD.

For example, you could add the Samsung 970 EVO Plus PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, with 1TB around $200/£130 and 2TB from $256/£200. If you want a 4TB SSD added to your MacBook Pro, Apple will charge you $1,000/£1,000.

As the SSDs require a fan, the dock does make an audible humming sound, which would be drowned out by air-conditioning but would definitely be heard in a quiet room.

The dock itself is ultra slim despite the storage bays, and made of aluminum.

On the TB3-S2 there’s just one upstream TB3 port (that connects to your laptop) and a downstream TB3 port that can be used to attach compatible devices or an external display.

The included DisplayPort 1.4 connection is the best display link, but to add two external monitors you need to use the spare TB3 downstream port. It can handle two 4K displays at 60Hz or up to an 8K single display.

There is, however, a fast USB-C port on the dock’s front, as well as three varying speed USB-A ports. The charging capability of the USB-A ports is rather weak but you can power a device at 7.5W using the USB-C port. The Thunderbolt 3 port can charge a laptop at up to 60W, which is fine for most mid-sized laptops but not the 16in MacBook Pro.

The Orico TB3-S2 is a slim—if slightly noisy—Thunderbolt 3 dock with the enviable ability to support up to 4TB of affordable solid-state storage.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 60W PD)

• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps, 15W)

• Up to two external displays (2 x 4K at 60Hz; or 1 x 8K at 60Hz)

• One DisplayPort 1.4 port

• One USB-C (10Gbps) ports (one at 7.5W)

• Two USB-A (5Gbps) ports (one at 2.5W)

• One USB-A (10Gbp) ports (one at 4.5W)

• Two NVMe SSD slots (max 4TB storage)

• Gigabit Ethernet port

• Hybrid 3.5mm audio port

• 120W power supply

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

With its two HDMI ports, the Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station appears a great choice if you need to connect more than one external display to your laptop.

Most other Thunderbolt 4 docks we’ve tested rely solely on the TB4 ports for display connections. This means that if you want two external screens, you lose two of the three downstream TB4 ports, plus you will need HDMI or DisplayPort adapters unless the displays have a USB-C connection.

If your external displays use HDMI, you don’t need any USB-C adapters to connect displays. One downside is that there’s just one downstream TB4 port, but that’s all you’d have left if you connected two displays to one of the other docks or hubs.

The other is more significant for Mac users. There are ways around the limitation but, out of the box, Macs can’t use both HDMI ports with Extended mode displays; only Mirrored. And Anker warns off owners of Macs that boast an M1 or M2 processor.

If you aren’t planning on adding two screens, this dock is less flexible than other hubs and docks where the TB4 ports can be used for display or whatever else you desire.

We are fans of the inclusion of a power button so that your laptop isn’t receiving a potential charge when it’s not needed, and keeping the dock’s temperature down at night.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 90W PD)
• One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 15W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 20W)
• Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• Two USB-A ports (480Mbps, 4.5W)
• Two HDMI 2.0 ports (4K at 60Hz)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• SD Card reader (UHS-II, 312MBps)
• 3.5mm audio jack
• 120W power supply

Read our full
Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review.

Works with Thunderbolt and USB-C laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

This Titan Ridge (Thunderbolt and USB-C) docking station is bristling with 14 high-performance ports.

Its compact form is neat (just like the Caldigit TS4 and TS3 Plus or the Anker PowerExpand Elite), and it can lie either upright or horizontal depending on your needs and preference.

There are six USB-A ports in total: four USB-A ports at 5Gbps and a further two at 10Gbps, plus one fast-charging QC 3.0 USB-A port.

On top of this is one 10Gbps USB-C port that you’ll need if you want to supplement the DisplayPort for a second external display.

You’ll also get more professional-level digital audio ports, as well as the analogue 3.5mm headphone/mic jack at the front.

Buying from outside of the US brings high shipping charges, so makes this an unappealing purchase in the UK and EU.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 85W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps, 15W)
• Titan Ridge chipset (USB-C and TB3)
• Up to two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• One DisplayPort 1.4 ports (4K at 60Hz)
• Three USB-A ports (5Gbps, 4.5W)
• Two USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• One USB-A port (QC 3.0, 36W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Front-facing 3.5mm Analogue Audio In & Out port
• One Digital Optical Toslink Audio (S/PDIF) port
• One Digital Coaxial Audio (S/PDIF) port
• 180W power supply

Read our full
HyperDrive GEN2 16-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock review.

Works with USB-C and Thunderbolt laptops (TB at reduced bandwidth)

It calls itself just a hub but this little lightweight box of ports has enough to go to battle with bigger, more expensive laptop docking stations—and is little enough to fit in your pocket and go travelling with you.

It boasts three USB-A ports (one with Fast Charging), USB-C ports for connecting to the laptop and also 85W of PD charging, one HDMI port, Gigabit Ethernet and SD/Micro SD card readers.

It’s USB-C rather than Thunderbolt but will work with either type of laptop connection (we tested it with a 15in MacBook Pro). Of course, you’ll lose that full 40Gbps bandwidth and the option of a second external display, but lighter users might not care, and it’s perfect for portability.

• One USB-C upstream port (5Gbps)
• One USB-C port (5Gbps) for passthrough 85W PD charging; requires charger
• One external display (4K at 30Hz)
• HDMI port (4K at 30Hz)
• Three USB-A ports (5Gbps; one at 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• SD Card Reader (UHS-I, 104MBps)

Read our full
Twelve South StayGo USB-C Hub review.

Works with Thunderbolt laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock is aimed at digital image professionals and has ultimate performance at its heart.

Principally, it features super-fast 10Gb Ethernet rather than the standard 1Gb (Gigabit) connection found on the other docking stations reviewed here. The Caldigit TS4 features 2.5Gb Ethernet.

To get the most from this level of Ethernet you need to have compatible network devices.

It also features a CFast 2.0 card reader for people still using CompactFlash in its latest version. 

There are Thunderbolt docking stations with more ports and beefier chargers, but none have 10Gb Ethernet or CFast 2.0. You can add these to other docks via dedicated adapters, but the Pro Dock has it all built-in, plus a really secure power-supply connection in case it’s used on a pro DIT cart.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 60W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps, 15W)
• Up to two external displays (2 x 4K at 60Hz; or 1 x 5K at 60Hz)
• DisplayPort 1.2 port
• Three USB-A ports (5Gbps)
• SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• CFast 2.0 Card Reader
• 10Gb Ethernet port
• 6Gbps eSATA port
• 150W power supply

Works with Thunderbolt laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

OWC’s standard Thunderbolt 3 docking station has a great set of ports, and charges at a top-end 85W—powerful enough for a 15in MacBook Pro. 85W will be enough to charge even the 96W 16in MBP pretty fast and certainly not drain even when connected to multiple devices.

The five USB-A ports are all 5Gbps, and there’s a 10Gbps Gen 2 USB-C port on the front of the latest 14-port model, which not many Thunderbolt docks have.

The curiously old-fashioned choice of Mini DisplayPort over DisplayPort isn’t a technical hurdle but you will require adapters for adding external displays. Other docks have more than one port for external displays, but this one needs adapters to connect to displays—which adds to the overall cost.

That aside, the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock has everything a dock should have in a slick-looking slim case that will look good in any laptop setup.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 85W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps)
• Up to two external displays (2 x 4K at 60Hz; or 1 x 5K at 60Hz)
• Mini DisplayPort 1.2 port
• One USB-C port (10Gbps)
• Five USB-A ports (5Gbps; two at 7.5W)
• SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• MicroSD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Hybrid 3.5mm audio port
• S/PDIF digital audio output port
• 180W power supply

Works with Thunderbolt laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

The StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking Station is, as the name suggests, for laptops that sport the fast (40Gbps) Thunderbolt 3 version of USB-C. It won’t work for slower (5-10Gbps) USB-C laptops, such as the 12in MacBook, but will connect to newer Thunderbolt 4 laptops.

It’s also compatible with Windows laptops and Chromebooks like the other Thunderbolt docks we have tested.

Being built for Thunderbolt 3, it can connect two external 4K displays at 60Hz, so is great for rich graphics and fast gaming action. One of the monitors can connect via the DisplayPort. You’ll likely need an adapter to connect the second port via the spare Thunderbolt 3 port unless the display has a USB-C port too.

The list price is steep, but you’ll find it cheaper at Amazon.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 85W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps)
• Up to two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• DisplayPort 1.2 port 
• One USB-C port (5Gbps)
• Five USB-A ports (5Gbps; one at 7.5W)
• SD Card Reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II, 312MBps)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Front-facing combination 3.5mm Audio In & Out port
• 180W power supply

Read our full
StarTech.com Thunderbolt 3 Dual-4K Docking station review.

Works with Thunderbolt laptops (TB at full bandwidth)

Plugable’s Thunderbolt 3 Dock (TBT3-UDV) is a capable dual-display Thunderbolt 3 docking station that will delight many with its ability to stand upright or lie horizontally.

It’s got a lot of USB-A ports, and two Thunderbolt 3 ports—one for the host laptop and the other for fast devices or a second external 4K display alongside one attached to the DisplayPort. A non-USB-C monitor will require an adapter.

Note that while sometimes labelled a “Single Display” docking station, that refers to the single display port. You can use the spare TB3 port. with an adapter to add a second monitor.

At 60W, it’s a little underpowered for Apple’s larger 15in and 16in MacBook Pro laptops, but fine for the 13in MacBook Pro or Air.

• One Thunderbolt 3 upstream port (40Gbps, 60W PD)
• One Thunderbolt 3 downstream port (40Gbps)
• Up to two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• DisplayPort 1.2 port
• Five USB-A ports (5Gbps, one at 7.5W)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Front-facing combination 3.5mm Audio In & Out port
• 135W power supply

Works with USB-C and Thunderbolt laptops (TB at reduced bandwidth)

The Linedock looks different to most USB-C docks. In fact, you’ll hardly notice it as it sits beneath a 13in, 15in or 16in MacBook Pro or Air.

It looks just like a closed MacBook, except for a row of ports on either side, and a charging USB-C port at the back (it requires a separate charger, but the one that shipped with your MacBook will be fine).

It connects to the MacBook with a nifty little U-shaped connector, with one USB-C connector for the dock and another for the laptop.

It’s a desk-space saver but not a money saver. It doesn’t just look like an Apple product, it’s priced like one, and is the most expensive dock on test here. For the 16in MacBook Pro the price goes from $479 to $839 fully specced.

But it does have two unique and incredibly useful features missing from other docking stations: up to a 27,000mAh battery and the option to add up to 2TB of SSD memory within it – an almost unbelievable amount of battery capacity and storage for a laptop. You can leave the Linedock with no SSD, or add a 256GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD depending on the model.

These are great ideas, but in other ways the Linedock seems a little out of date in places.

The 13in model has a Mini DisplayPort (as well as the more common HDMI) but no Gigabit Ethernet, for example. Adding a fat Ethernet port would maybe make this flat dock too high for its purpose.

While the 13in Linedock can support only one external display, the 15in and 16in models can handle two – although, for now, all M1 Apple laptops can support only one external monitor anyway.

The newer 16in model is aimed at M1 / M1 Pro / M1 Max ditches the MiniDP for full-size DisplayPort and HDMI ports, although it could have dispensed with video ports entirely if users were recommended to use a USB-C-to-USB-C cable for compatible displays or an adapter for HDMI or DisplayPort monitors.

And it’s USB-C rather than Thunderbolt, so nowhere near the top-end 40Gbps bandwidth of the Apple laptops. This is meant to keep costs down, and the Linedock is already plenty expensive enough.

If you can afford it, the Linedock is a great hybrid of dock, battery and storage. The lack of Thunderbolt won’t bother lighter users, and decent Wi-Fi will mean the missing Ethernet port won’t matter either.

• Pass-through laptop charging at up to 100W
• Two external displays (4K at 60Hz)
• HDMI 2.0 port (on all models)
• DisplayPort (on 15in and 16in model)
• Mini DisplayPort 1.4 (on 13in model)
• Three USB-C (5Gbps) ports (13in)
• Three USB-C (10Gbps) ports (15/16in)
• Three USB-A (5Gbps) ports (13/15/16in)
• SD Card Reader (UHS-I, 104MBps) on 13in
• Two SD Card Readers (UHS-II, 312MBps) on 15/16in
• 19,350mAh battery (13in)
• 27,000mAh battery (13in)
• 0GB, 256GB or 1TB SSD options (13in)
• 0GB, 1TB or 2TB SSD options (15/16in)

Works with USB-C and Thunderbolt laptops (TB at reduced bandwidth)

The Symbus Q compact USB-C dock has a genius, unique selling point.

The top of the dock features a cushioned and non-slip wireless charging pad that you can rest your phone on and start charging it without the need to take up one of the USB slots or find that pesky charging cable.

It features one HDMI (4K@30Hz, 1080p@60Hz), one Gigabit Ethernet, and two old-school USB-A ports (5Gbps USB 3.1 Gen 1).

Qi-certified, it can charge through cases up to 5mm in thickness, and supports Apple’s 7.5W and Samsung’s 10W fast charging.

It supports full USB PD (Power Delivery) functionality for fast-charging (up to 50W) your laptop.

• PD laptop charging at up to 60W
• One external display (4K at 30Hz)
• HDMI port 
• Two USB-A ports (5Gbps)
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Qi wireless charging (15W)