Value: $300
Few issues are extra irritating than operating out of ports in your laptop computer. The UGREEN USB-C Multifunction Docking Station Pro could overcompensate a little bit with 12 ports—together with 2 HDMI, 2 USB-C, and three USB-A—that flip even the smallest laptops into a large workstation.
Whereas the UGREEN USB-C Docking Station is designed to assist add extra inputs to your laptop computer or MacBook, I had a singular drawback that it solved. My workstation runs on a GEEKOM Mini IT11 PC and consists of three displays. Sadly, the IT11, much like my Lenovo laptop computer, solely has one HDMI port. So, UGREEN’s 12-output station has come in useful, routing a DP cable and a further HDMI to my GEEKOM to finish my desktop setup. The advantages of a number of USB ports, a 3.5mm jack, two reminiscence card slots, and an ethernet port able to hitting 1,000Mbps are only a bonus.
This is What We Like
- Greater than sufficient ports for many customers
- Condensed design creates a cleaner aesthetic
- Permits laptops to hook up with as much as three displays
And What We Do not
- Value is significantly excessive
- 60Hz refresh price is pretty limiting
- 8K@30Hz will seemingly go unused by many
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Connectivity: Dwelling as much as Its Title
There isn’t any denying that UGREEN’s Mac and Windows-compatible docking station is “multifunction.” In actual fact, it has so many various capabilities that I can’t fathom it’s supposed for an informal person. Even with how a lot I exploit my mini PC and laptop computer, there are nonetheless fairly just a few ports I’ll seemingly by no means use. The three.5mm jack, for example, looks as if an odd addition as I’ve but to return throughout a laptop computer, desktop, or mini PC that doesn’t have already got the usual headset port.
In fact, it’s nothing that takes away from the Docking Station Professional. Neither are the SD and TF card slots, that are additionally pretty frequent in fashionable laptops. It does add a level of comfort, as every part you want is situated in a single dock moderately than bouncing between ports in your laptop computer and the station and having cables operating in every single place.
Lag-Free Use for All Parts
Speeds:
- USB-C 3.1/USB-A 3.1: 10Gbps
- USB-A: 5Gbps
- DisplayPort: 4K@60Hz
- HDMI: As much as 8K@30Hz
- SD/TF: 104MB/s
- Ethernet:1000Mbps
What’s most shocking is that every part works immediately, regardless of my utilizing as a lot of the docking station as I can. I’ve a USB-C keyboard, a mouse dongle, two HDMI cables, one DisplayPort cable, a webcam, and a growth mic, all plugged in and actively operating. None of those parts expertise any lag or lasting hiccups mid-use.
I actually anticipated my keyboard or mouse to undergo probably the most so the unit might route probably the most energy to run my three displays. Nonetheless, there have been no situations of enter delays and even flickering of pictures on the screens. I do want the HDMI and DisplayPorts achieved larger than 60Hz, particularly since all of my displays assist 120Hz or 240Hz refresh rates. This does solidify that you simply’re not meant to recreation off the docking station until you don’t thoughts enjoying at 60 FPS or decrease.
The 8K 30Hz HDMI slot is a pleasant addition, however there are a number of variables that will hold you from having fun with it. The primary is that 8K isn’t the brand new commonplace but, and it’s very seemingly you don’t have a monitor that helps it. Moreover, since all knowledge runs out of your laptop computer by way of a USB-C cable, your laptop must assist 8K output, which is unlikely if it’s even just some years outdated.
Be aware: On account of limitations with Apple’s M1 and M2 chips, your MacBook or Mac is perhaps limited to one or two external displays.
I’d have truthfully swapped the 8K port for an additional 4K and dropped the worth even just a bit. I’m not fairly positive I see the worth in having an 8K HDMI slot simply but, particularly one which tops out at 30Hz.
There are a complete of 4 USB inputs and a USB output, together with two USB-A ports able to 5Gbps, a USB-C PD port able to a 100W output, and USB-C and USB-A 3.1 ports able to 10Gbps. Each does as wanted and reaches shut sufficient to the marketed pace.
Sturdy and Dependable for Lengthy-Time period Use
Certainly one of my greatest considerations with UGREEN’s multifunction docking station was how it might deal with continued use. On account of every part I’ve operating by means of it, I figured it might overheat or, on the very least, get moderately sizzling. Nonetheless, after a six-hour day operating off my IT11, it’s solely marginally hotter than the mini PC. And, to be truthful, the GEEKOM PC is a freak of nature and easily doesn’t get sizzling, regardless of how a lot I push it.
If the Docking Station Professional reveals any signal of being overworked, it does characteristic an influence button to present it a break. I used it as soon as to energy cycle the station because it wasn’t studying my keyboard after I restarted my PC, and it does energy on and off moderately shortly. It’s additionally value mentioning that the ability cycle fastened the keyboard error, and it by no means occurred once more.
Fortunately, that was considered one of solely two glitches I skilled in my time with UGREEN’s USB-C docking station. The opposite took place once I unplugged a cable from the USB-C PD port, which pressured the unit to energy cycle. I attempted to duplicate the difficulty, but it surely solely occurred as soon as, and all parts had been up and operating in literal seconds.
In any other case, the HDMI cables challenge as anticipated in 4K, and the USB-A ports expertise no slowdowns even when transferring by way of a flash drive. One qualm I’ve is with the USB-C PD port, which didn’t appear to succeed in its 100W output of energy. I examined the port with my Shargeek Storm Slim portable power bank. Utilizing the USB-C port, the Storm Slim charged at greater than half the speed than when plugged into the wall. I didn’t anticipate it to cost on the similar pace, however contemplating it’s a 100W port, I did assume it might carry out a little bit higher.
Ought to You Purchase the UGREEN USB-C Multifunction Docking Station Professional?
When you’re working with a laptop computer or desktop with very restricted ports, then chances are you’ll discover the UGREEN USB-C Multifunction Docking Station Pro fairly helpful. Its two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort assist you to seamlessly lengthen and duplicate your display on as much as three extra displays. I’ve been utilizing all three ports and haven’t seen any dips within the visible high quality or performance of the Docking Station Professional.
The comfort of the USB-C docking station has been unquestionable. Nonetheless, you’re actually going to want to make use of every of its options to justify a $329.99 price ticket. Even utilizing as a lot of it as I do (primarily every part however the SD/TF slots and Ethernet port), I’ve a tough time swallowing that price when functional alternatives just like the IOGEAR USB-C Docking Station can be found for less than $180.
What UGREEN’s mannequin does have over alternate options is design. The elongated docking stations take up approach an excessive amount of desk house and trigger wires to sprawl throughout. This standing mannequin saves a variety of room and confines wires to a vertical association. Total, it’s a bit cleaner than different stations, and with a little bit wire administration, actually has a pleasant aesthetic to it.
Whereas the worth could drive you to different manufacturers, I wouldn’t instantly discredit UGREEN’s USB-C docking station. It’s a hardworking machine with only a few pitfalls, and also you’re positive to get loads of use out of it if you might want to lengthen or improve your workstation.
Right here’s What We Like
- Greater than sufficient ports for many customers
- Condensed design creates a cleaner aesthetic
- Permits laptops to hook up with as much as three displays
And What We Do not
- Value is significantly excessive
- 60Hz refresh price is pretty limiting
- 8K@30Hz will seemingly go unused by many
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