TechGearLab

The Plugable 4K USB C Docking Station is a vertically oriented device that hosts a variety of ports supporting a wide range of peripherals, including 3 monitors with resolutions of 4K @ 60Hz. The unit has both HDMI and display ports for each screen and an alternate USB-C downstream port. Finally, there are 4 USB 3.0 ports supporting 5 Gbps and a Gigabit Ethernet port. These ports are most commonly used by fixed peripherals and, as such, are located on the back of the device. This design helps to keep the desktop tidy. However, there are 4 ports on the front of the device that are associated with devices that will be regularly unplugged. These are headphone and microphone jacks, as well as USB-C and SD card ports.
The main issue with the Plugable is that it has USB-C ports where we would have liked to see Thunderbolt ports. This is what keeps this otherwise high-end device a bit less expensive. As the Plugable's upstream USB-C port is limited to 10 Gbps, there could be some data bottlenecking issues for those pushing this device to its maximum capability. However, this likely will not be the case for most users. Aside from this minor issue, this slender device is one of our favorites — especially when desktop space is at a premium.

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The StarTech.com Triple Monitor USB 3.0 Docking Station connects seamlessly to both Windows and macOS machines via a USB-B to USB-A adapter cable &#40;included&#41;. This slim unit houses 5 USB 3.0 ports &#40;one of which is a 2.1 amp port for high-speed device charging&#41;, 2 Display Ports, and 1 HDMI. The StarTech also has Ethernet, microphone, and headset ports to round out the dock's peripheral device accommodations. Finally, the unit can manage up to 3 displays simultaneously &mdash; pretty impressive, in our minds.
While there is much to like about the StarTech dock, it is not without its shortcomings. Our main criticism is that the device will not charge the laptop when connected &mdash; though this may appeal to the consummate traveler as it eliminates an additional power adapter for the dock. As it is, the user must charge their laptop with a separate cord. Also, the max resolution of the display connected drops with each additional monitor added. For example, if running three monitors, the first will be 3840 x 2160p, while the other two will be just 2048 x 1152p. Regardless of these limitations &#40;and the high cost&#41;, this unit will be a go-to for jet-setters as the power cord comes standard with common international power plug adaptors.

The Anker 777 Thunderbolt Docking Station is an exceedingly well-designed device. While the horizontally oriented silver unit is sleek and unobtrusive on a desktop, its compactness belies the plethora of ports packed into this powerful machine. The 777 connects to the laptop via a Thunderbolt 4 cable allowing 40 Gbps data transfer speed and 90 watts of power to charge the computer. The downstream Thunderbolt port supports 8k resolution at 30Hz or 5K @ 60Hz. However, the dock can accommodate three monitors with its HDMI ports. When running three monitors, the 777 still supports an astounding 4k at 60 Hz across all screens. An SD card reader, audio in/out, upstream and downstream Thunderbolt ports, and an on/off button are conveniently located on the front of the unit. On the back are ports that tend to be related to peripheries that stay attached to the dock. These are the 2 HDMI 2.0 ports, the 4 USB ports &#40;two 3.1, two 2.0&#41;, as well as the Gigabit Ethernet port and another downstream Thunderbolt port. 
We have few criticisms with the Anker 777, but we should acknowledge that this device will be overkill for many folks. The monitor refresh rate and resolution it supports are quite high, and if you don't have a 4K or 8K monitor, there's no point in paying the high price for this device. Additionally, the dock is for late-model computers. If you don't have a computer that supports Thunderbolt 4, you may not want to make this investment. However, if you plan to buy a new computer in the near future, this would be a great investment as it will remain current for quite some time. 

The VAVA USB C Docking Station, 12-in-1 Type C Hub is a fantastic deal as it balances high-end features with a manageable price tag. The unit comes with a built-in USB-C cable to connect to your computer, which means that it'll charge your battery &#40;with 65 watts of power&#41; as you work with devices attached to the dock. The myriad of ports on the VAVA will accommodate up to three screens at a time &#40;with some limitations&#41; while managing devices connected via USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and audio ports. 
While this unit certainly has a great deal to offer users, its low cost does not come without some performance issues. First off, there are some limitations when using this dock with Macs. Only newer MacBooks will support 4K resolution at 60Hz when using both HDMI ports &mdash; anything older than 2019 will go down to 4K resolution at 30Hz. Additionally, the dock will not support 3 independent displays with any macOS platform. As far as portability goes, the dock itself is sleek and slim. However, the AC/DC converter on the power cord is quite large, thus offsetting the dock's convenience for travel. However, we think that consumers on a budget will be willing to tolerate these limitations as the 15-inch USB-C cable connecting the dock to the laptop allows one to push the dock, and its mess of wires, out of the working area.  

The VAVA USB C Docking Station, 12-in-1 Type C Hub is a fantastic deal, balancing high-end features with a manageable price tag. The unit comes with a built-in USB-C cable to connect to your computer, which means that it'll charge your battery &#40;with 65 watts of power&#41; as you work with devices attached to the laptop docking station. The myriad of ports on the VAVA will accommodate up to three screens at a time &#40;with some limitations&#41; while managing devices connected via USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and audio ports.
While the VAVA certainly has much to offer users, its low cost comes with some performance issues. First off, there are some limitations when using this dock with Macs. Only newer MacBooks will support 4K resolution at 60Hz when using both HDMI ports &mdash; anything older than 2019 will go down to 4K resolution at 30Hz. Additionally, the dock will not support 3 independent displays with any macOS platform. As far as portability goes, the dock itself is sleek and slim. However, the AC/DC converter on the power cord is quite large, thus offsetting the dock's convenience for travel. However, we think that consumers on a budget will be willing to tolerate these limitations as the 15-inch USB-C cable connecting the dock to the laptop allows one to push the dock, and its mess of wires, out of the working area.  

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Although Monoprice’s dock doesn’t have as many ports as CalDigit’s, this model costs significantly less and has a more impressive array than other docks in its price range.

Docking Station Comparison