Best docking stations for Dell XPS laptops
The best docking stations to give your Dell XPS laptop or Ultrabook some extra ports
The best docking stations for Dell XPS laptops complement some of the best laptops on the market today — which often suffer from limited port selection. Thankfully, the best docking stations can resolve this issue (and then some), unleashing the true potential of your XPS laptop while keeping your workspace neat and tidy to boot.
No matter which flavor of XPS you're using, paltry port selection is a headache for anyone with legacy peripherals in need of a USB Type-A connection. However, throw a docking station into the mix and you'll be elated as you gain all of the functionality you need while truly making the most of your device.
If you're a MacBook owner facing a similar struggle, check out our rundown of the best docking stations for MacBooks. Looking for a port expansion solution that's more travel-friendly, compact, and a little easier on the pocketbook? Check out our selection of the best USB-C hubs. However, if you're a Dell XPS owner who's in a peripheral predicament, read on for our selection of the best docking stations for Dell XPS laptops.
The Quick List
Best overall
Best overall
CalDigit's docking station is an incredible companion to any laptop thanks to 18 ports, a guaranteed 98W of host device charge, and lightning-like 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
Best Thunderbolt 4
Best Thunderbolt 4
If you’re after a versatile dock with a focus on Thunderbolt 4 connections, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock won’t disappoint.
Best connectivity
Best connectivity
Thunderbolt 4 connectivity is here to stay, and the SD5700T makes for a fantastic portable companion that will future-proof your setup for years to come.
Most versatile
Most versatile
Anker's Thunderbolt 4 ports are convenient and speedy, while this 12-in-1 hub’s other ports allow you to charge and connect plenty of PC accessories and monitors.
Read more below
Best premium pick
Best premium pick
The Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock can accommodate a lot of different equipment. Its premium design screams office-ready, but it’ll look just as good manning a gaming station.
Best overall design
Best overall design
The new Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station is better than ever before with extra HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, a 100W Power Delivery (PD) boost, an essential SD Card Reader, and an extra USB-C port with 20W PD and up to 10Gbps transfer rates.
Load the next docking stations
Best for 4K
Best for 4K
Look no further than Dell's very own D6000 universal dock for your Dell XPS, which has a built-in adapter to easily switch between the standards, so you can connect it to just about any monitor (and most importantly a Dell XPS laptop).
Best charging station
Best charging station
For those who require a hub with more than enough USB-A ports to charge multiple accessories at once, all while transferring files between different devices, the Plugable 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub is a great choice.
Best port variety
Best port variety
With a whopping 15 ports, including five USB-A 3.1, two USB-C 3.1, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and virtually every other port you’d need for your Dell XPS, the TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a beast.
Best for multiple displays
Best for multiple displays
This display-friendly docking station comes with a mix of noteworthy USB-A 3.2 and USB-C 3.2 ports to connect all the peripherals any laptop user would need and charge other devices such as a smartphone or tablet.
Most compact
Most compact
The unassuming design easily blends into any work or personal setup, and its port placement allows for a relatively clean, wire-tidy desk.
Best docking station overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 is a do-it-all device that can turn just about any USB-C laptop into a fully-fledged workstation with a plethora of ports. However, connect it to your Thunderbolt 4 enabled XPS laptop and you now have lightning fast access to external storage, extended displays, and phenomenal power delivery.
It costs a pretty penny – that much can't be argued, however CalDigit's docking station is an incredible companion to any workstation, offering a guaranteed 98W of host device charge, 18 additional ports (of which many include Power Delivery), and a lightning-like 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port. All that before we even touch upon the dock’s support for multiple external monitors at 4K (60Hz) or a single external monitor at 8K (60Hz).
CalDigit's offering is one of the finest Thunderbolt 4 options available, and it rightfully tops our list of the best Dell XPS docking stations.
Read our full CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 review.
Best Thunderbolt 4 docking station
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you’re after a versatile dock with a focus on Thunderbolt 4 connections, then the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock won’t disappoint. Its unassuming design easily blends into any work or personal setup, and its port placement allows for a relatively clean, wire-tidy desk.
Sure, it’s a bit late to the game, but that doesn’t make it any less powerful. Connecting to two 4K displays while having your laptop charge with 96W Power Delivery, having multiple PC peripherals ready to use without taking up laptop ports, and recharging your smartphone or tablet on the fly makes for a versatile setup, and this Thunderbolt 4 Dock gives you access to that.
See our full Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock review
Best Thunderbolt 4 connectivity
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock is made for ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13 9310. Not only does it vastly expand the number of ports and slots on one of the best laptops on the market, but it gives it the 90W power for charging and additional perks the notebook requires.
No docking station is perfect, but the SD5700T dock does a stellar job of turning a laptop into a desktop powerhouse. Thunderbolt 4 connectivity is here to stay, and the SD5700T makes for a fantastic portable companion that will future-proof your setup for years to come.
See our full Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 docking station review
Most versatile docking station
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Is the Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station too ahead of the curve? Yes, but it’s also a versatile hub that can improve your current work setup while helping you prepare for the next generation of laptops set to become the norm. Its Thunderbolt 4 ports are convenient and speedy, while the 12-in-1 hub’s other ports allow you to charge and connect plenty of PC accessories and monitors.
Anker’s dock is let down by an expensive $300 price point for a device that can’t be fully utilized without a Thunderbolt 4-supported laptop. However, give this suitcase imposter some time and it’s sure to shine.
See our full Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station review
Best premium docking station
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock can accommodate a lot of different equipment. Its premium design screams office-ready, but it’ll look just as good manning a gaming station. Plus, it’s got a plethora of ports just waiting to connect to several monitors, a couple of headsets, and a laptop.
However, at $259, the TBT100 has a steep entry price which might give many home office workers and gamers pause. But if you can look past the cost, the Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is an essential piece of tech.
See our full Corsair TBT100 Thunderbolt 3 Dock review
Best overall docking station design
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Plugable’s last USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station was a hit, so much so that stock has completely run out. With its latest UD-ULTC4K docking station, I can imagine it being a hot commodity thanks to its fair price and nifty upgrades.
Now with a host of upgrades to turn any USB-C supported laptop into a powerhouse, the new Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Docking Station is better than ever before with extra HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, a 100W Power Delivery (PD) boost, an essential SD Card Reader, and an extra USB-C port with 20W PD and up to 10Gbps transfer rates. Oh, and four USB-A 3.0 ports for good measure.
Plugable listened to customer demands and greatly expanded the capabilities of its most popular docking station, and the result is the most well-rounded docking station I’ve reviewed.
See our full Plugable USB-C Triple 4K Display Docking Station review
Best docking station for 4K monitors
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Look no further than Dell's very own D6000 universal dock for a Dell XPS, which has a built-in adapter to easily switch between the standards, so you can connect it to just about any laptop (most importantly a Dell XPS laptop). It can go up to 5K on a single screen or handle up to three 4K screens over USB Type-C. Better yet, it has four USB-A ports that are more than enough for USB-A devices such as a mouse, keyboard, or USB stick.
See our full Dell D6000 Universal Dock review
Best charging station
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
Plugable’s 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub (USBC-HUB7BC) acts as a fantastic docking station to free up ports on your laptop and adds even more PC peripherals such as keyboards and mice. It also acts as a standalone charging hub to juice up devices such as your smartphone. It stands out for bringing dual functionality to each of its seven ports, an enviable feature a majority of USB-C hubs and other docking stations don’t completely provide.
For those who require a hub with more than enough USB-A ports to charge multiple accessories at once, all while transferring files between different devices, the Plugable 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub is a great choice.
See our full Plugable 7-in-1 USB Charging Hub review.
Best port variety
9. CalDigit TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Our expert review:
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
With a whopping 15 ports, including five USB-A 3.1, two USB-C 3.1, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, and virtually every other port you’d need for your Dell XPS, the TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a beast. While its design is on the bulky side and there is no HDMI output, its plentiful selection of ports more than make up for that. It also delivers 87W power delivery, which will sufficiently power all devices connected to it.
Best docking station for multiple displays
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
The Targus USB-C Universal Quad 4K Docking Station, also known as the Four Head 4K Dock, doesn’t just offer the standard two or three video outputs to transform your laptop into a multi-screen setup, but eight different ports. With four DisplayPort 1.2 on top of another four HDMI 2.0 outputs, the docking station can support a single 5K and four 4K displays — plus your laptop screen.
Targus’ screen hoarder also comes with a mix of noteworthy USB-A 3.2 and USB-C 3.2 ports to connect all the peripherals any laptop user would need and charge other devices such as a smartphone or tablet. Oh, and there’s a 3.5mm audio jack and Ethernet slot for good measure. What it doesn’t offer is the latest generation of connectivity, Thunderbolt 4, along with a worthwhile price tag. Regardless, if you’re after maximum screen real estate, Targus’s docking station delivers the plots of visual land.
See our full Targus USB-C Universal Quad 4K Docking Station review
Most compact USB-C docking station
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
If you’re after a versatile dock with a focus on Thunderbolt 4 connections, then the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock won’t disappoint. Its unassuming design easily blends into any work or personal setup, and its port placement allows for a relatively clean, wire-tidy desk.
Sure, it’s a bit late to the game, but that doesn’t make it any less powerful. Connecting to two 4K displays while having your laptop charge with 96W Power Delivery, having multiple PC peripherals ready to use without taking up laptop ports, and recharging your smartphone or tablet on the fly makes for a versatile setup, and this Thunderbolt 4 Dock gives you access to that.
See our full Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock review
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Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.