Physical Address
Avionului St. 26, Bucharest
Phone
+40316310448
Email
office@dockshub.com
Company
VOIDXD SRL, EU VAT: 42756922
Physical Address
Avionului St. 26, Bucharest
Phone
+40316310448
Email
office@dockshub.com
Company
VOIDXD SRL, EU VAT: 42756922
We may earn an affiliate commission if you purchase products through links on our website. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
A docking station is a convenient tool that expands your Ultrabook’s port count and connects multiple displays while charging your laptop and other portable devices.
But despite its utility, there are several limitations dedicated docking stations have that you need to consider if you want to optimize your workstation setup.
Monitors with a built-in docking station (or docking monitor) offer similar functionalities without adding to the number of devices or additional wire clutter at your workstation.
Docking Station vs Monitor with Built-in Docks
Comparing a docking monitor with a dedicated docking station is like comparing apples with oranges. But a comparison is natural, considering that both options offer similar functionalities. Nevertheless, the two devices are pretty dissimilar when considering the targeted user base.
Monitors with Built-in Docking Stations: Features and Advantages
Monitors with built-in docking stations are suitable for home use, as most users don’t require multiple displays or express data transfer speeds. Moreover, such monitors reduce the number of connected devices while minimizing wire clutter, allowing you to optimize your workstation and helping you maintain an aesthetic appeal that complements your home office.
Most docking monitors offer multiple USB ports, an Ethernet port, and an audio jack. They provide high-performance functionality using a USB-C or Thunderbolt interface and offer power delivery of up to 100W, enough to charge most laptops.
However, a good docking monitor allows you to daisy-chain multiple monitors using a Thunderbolt or DisplayPort interface, enabling you to set up a multiscreen workstation while negating a critical advantage that a dedicated dock. Thus making a compelling case for you to consider these versatile display units over docking stations.
Dedicated Docking Stations: High-Performance and Considerations
On the other hand, a dedicated docking station offers the latest high-performance ports like Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4. It has several video inputs for setting up a multiscreen workstation, which makes it suitable for multitasking and high-productivity workflows.
However, the professional-level performance of a dedicated docking station is costly; you’ll have to shell out considerable cash. Typically, a Thunderbolt 4 docking station will set you back well over a few hundred dollars, making it imperative for you to evaluate your requirements and get a suitable device to cater to them.
Moreover, accommodating an additional device means less space at your workstation. It also means extra wires that add to the cutter. But the most significant issue is accommodating the bulky power brick that comes with dedicated docking stations, an issue that’s non-existent with a monitor with built-in docking stations.
Table of Contents
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
Ports/Spec | Details |
2x Thunderbolt 4 | 40 Gbps, 96W Power Delivery |
2x HDMI 2.0 | 4K@60Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.4 | 4K@120Hz or one 8K@60Hz |
2x USB-A | USB-A 3.0 |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm Audio (Headphone only) |
The LG 40WP95C-W ticks almost all the checkboxes of a good monitor. Besides an impressive screen, the unit’s built-in docking station supports daisy-chaining additional monitors. And since LG uses a Thunderbolt 4 interface, setting up multiple high-resolution display screens becomes super convenient.
The monitor has a Nano IPS panel, which results in tremendous color accuracy that covers 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. While it’s overkill for modest everyday use cases, content creators and graphics professionals will love the level of precision.
The LG 40WP95C-W has a 40-inch ultrawide panel and comes with split-screen software, allowing you to multitask and improve productivity. To ensure your well-being, LG includes an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness to reduce eye strain. Moreover, the screens are TUV Rheinland certified for low blue light emission to ensure you don’t strain your eye while working long hours.
The monitor has an ergonomic stand that enables you to adjust the viewing angle to maintain a healthy working posture. The stand allows three movements, including height adjustments of 11 centimeters.
The display has a native refresh rate of 72Hz and offers AMD FreeSync and Dynamic Action Sync support. The built-in speaker could be better, but this won’t be a dealbreaker for most, as gamers prefer using a headset or a more specialized sound system.
Further, with a 5ms GtG response time and features like a Black Stabilizer and a curved display panel, the LG 40WP95C-W provides an immersive gaming experience for professionals with a gaming hobby.
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
2x Thunderbolt 4 | One Thunderbolt 4 In and one Thunderbolt 4 out |
4x USB | 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 5Gbps One USB-A port has Battery Charging 1.2 (BC 1.2) 1x USB-B Upstream |
1x HDMI 2.0 | 4K@60Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.2 | 4K@60Hz |
Ethernet | 1x RJ-45 1 Gbps |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
Apart from providing several ports for expansion, the Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20’s most significant feature is the Thunderbolt in/out ports, allowing you to daisy chain additional monitors for a multiscreen setup.
The ThinkVision has a 27-inch IPS panel display and has 4K resolution, which Lenovo pairs with excellent color accuracy and DisplayHDR 400 to ensure you get realistic and vibrant images.
It’s an ideal display solution for graphics professionals who need high color accuracy because the monitor uses a 10-bit color depth that generates over a billion colors and covers 99.1% of the DCI-P3 and 100% of the sRGB color gamut.
Although it has a good mix of ports for data and video, high-performance professional workflows would require faster USB ports than the 5Gbps ports on this device. Nevertheless, the P27u-20 has versatile docking features, which include 100W Power Delivery, MAC address pass-through (MAPT), Wake on LAN, and PXE (pre-boot execution environment) that support remote work and ensure your computer doesn’t run out of charge.
Lenovo has built this monitor for professionals. Besides the built-in dock, the monitor also has a built-in KVM switch, which enables you to connect multiple hosts and work simultaneously on each other while sharing peripheral devices.
The monitor has an ergonomic stand with tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustment to ensure the perfect viewing angle without straining your back or neck. The ergonomic design and affordable price make the P27u-20 an excellent choice for large offices requiring several multiscreen workstations.
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
1x Thunderbolt 3 | DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 90W |
6x USB | 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (one with BC 1.2)
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 15W Power Delivery 1x USB-B Upstream |
2x HDMI 2.0 | up to 4K@60Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.4 | up to 8K@60Hz |
Ethernet | 1x RJ-45 1 Gbps |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
The Dell UltraSharp U4021QW has a 12-in-1 built-in docking station with multiple high-speed USB data ports, 90W Power Delivery, and several video inputs to cater to varied user needs. With a built-in KVM switch and a fully-equipped docking station, the UltraSharp is best suited for productivity workflows with demanding connectivity options.
The 40-inch IPS panel display has a 5K2K resolution with a native 60Hz refresh rate. While the refresh rate is low, remember Dell products are mostly centered around productivity workflows, making 60Hz a reasonable specification.
Gaming is not an option, considering the monitor’s refresh rate and response time of 8ms GtG.
The screen has 300nits brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. The color space covers 100% of the sRGB and 98% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. It ensures you get lifelike images with vibrant colors, making the UltraSharp suitable for graphics professionals and content creators needing high-end color accuracy.
The monitor is expensive but is packed with performance features suitable for professionals. For instance, MAC address pass-through, PXE boot, and Wake-on-LAN facilitate remote working. Next, Dell Display Manager allows you to split the 40-inch screen into several small tiles, enabling you to work on several programs simultaneously.
The monitor is best suited for the power user who needs a high-performance and versatile device that helps streamline their work.
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
1x USB-C | DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 96W |
6x USB | 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps (one with BC 1.2)
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 upstream (DisplayPort Alt Mode and 96W Power Delivery) 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 downstream (15W Power Delivery) |
2x HDMI 2.0 | up to 4K@60Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.4 | up to 8K@60Hz |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
The Philips Creator Series monitor is designed to deliver top-notch performance for creative workflows. With a built-in KVM switch, the 27E2F7901 enables multitasking and facilitates streamlining your work with a built-in docking station.
The monitor has a 27-inch IPS Black panel, which ensures deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios, and wider viewing angles, ideal for collaborative tasks in coworking spaces. The monitor delivers over one billion colors that cover 98% of the DCI-P3 color space.
The monitor rates highly on several color spectrums, including 100% of the sRGB, 110% of the NTSC, and 108.6% of the Adobe color space. Combined with DisplayHDR 400, the Philips 27E2F7901 is best suited for professional workflows that require high color accuracy and high-performance connectivity to streamline demanding workflows.
The 27E2F7901 is suitable for most workflows requiring users to work long hours. The screen has low blue light emissions, ensuring you work long hours without eye strain.
It also has an ergonomic stand that allows pivot, tilt, and swivel actions, and you can adjust the height by up to 13 cm. to get the perfect viewing angle for your posture.
Moreover, this Creator Series monitor offers Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture, allowing you to work on multiple computers simultaneously.
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
1x USB-C | DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 96W |
5x USB | 3x USB-A 3.1
1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 upstream (DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery) 1x USB-B Upstream |
2x HDMI 2.0 | up to 4K@60Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.4 | up to 8K@60Hz |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
The AOC Agon’s super ultrawide form makes it suitable for productivity workflows. It has a built-in KVM switch that allows you to work on multiple computers conveniently, and you get PbP (Picture-by-picture), allowing you to optimize the imposing size of the screen and streamline your work, even though the 65W Power Delivery on the USB-C port is inadequate for most power-hungry laptops.
But don’t be fooled by the many features that suggest that this monitor is meant for productivity workflow. Nothing can be further from the truth, as the AOC Agon AG493UCX2 has several high-end gaming features, including FreeSync Premium Pro support.
This 49-inch giant has a high-performance VA panel display with an 1800R curvature that covers your field of view for immersive gaming, but the curve is not too aggressive to limit non-gaming use cases.
In fact, the monitor has DisplayHDR 400 and good color representations with color palettes that cover 91% of the DCI-P3 and 122% of the sRGB color space. While the HDR performance can be better, it’s not a dealbreaker, especially considering the price of this device.
Overall, the AOC Agon AG493UCX2 offers a mixed bag of features for professionals and gamers. With several features for multitasking and high-end gaming, the monitor is an attractive pick for diverse use cases.
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
1x USB-C | DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 96W |
4x USB | 3x USB-A 3.0 5Gbps
1x USB-C upstream (DisplayPort Alt Mode and 90W Power Delivery) |
1x HDMI 1.4 | up to 4K@30Hz |
2x DisplayPort 1.2 (In/Out) | up to 4K@60Hz |
Ethernet | 1x RJ-45 |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
The Samsung ViewFinity offers tremendous value for money, combined with features catering to varied use cases. Besides a built-in docking station that provides convenience for expanding your computing setup, the monitor is suitable for entry-to-mid-level gaming.
However, the most significant feature is its support for daisy chaining additional monitors using the DisplayPort In and Out ports. The monitor has a DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4 port, so you can expect video configurations up to 4K@60Hz.
The ViewFinity has a 32-inch VA panel display with 2569x1440p resolution at 75Hz refresh rate in a 16:9 aspect ratio. It has a contrast ratio of 3000:1, typical of VA panels, and a brightness of 300nits, making the ViewFinity a considerable mid-level monitor.
Its features cater to the working professional, including 90W Power Delivery over the USB-C port to keep your laptop charging while you work long hours.
Speaking of which, working long hours on the ViewFinity is devoid of problems like eye strain and backaches due to an unhealthy posture. The monitor features an Eye-Saver mode that’s TUV Rheinland-certified for low blue light emissions and prevents harmful blue light from causing eye strain.
The monitor has an ergonomic stand that offers a full range of adjustments to get the perfect viewing angle while maintaining a healthy working posture. This includes height adjustments to prevent neck strain.
Last Amazon Price Update on 2024-09-01 at 18:23 UTC+3
4x USB | 3x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
1x USB-C upstream (DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery) |
1x HDMI 2.0 | up to 4K@60Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.4 | up to 8K@60Hz |
Ethernet | 1x RJ-45 |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
While super ultrawide monitors are great for gaming and productivity, they are costly and require a colossal amount of space at your workstation. In comparison, an ultrawide monitor offers a similar utility, is more affordable, and occupies less space.
The Asus VA34VCPSN is a 34-inch ultrawide monitor with a 3440x1440p QHD resolution and 100Hz refresh rate. The monitor has 300nits brightness, and this VA panel gets a contrast ratio of 3000:1. Combined with 16.7 million colors, this ultrawide gives you the balanced mix of specifications best suited for typical office workflows.
As with most ultrawide monitors, the VA34VCPSN has several features to help you improve productivity and streamline your work. For instance, the USB-C port has DisplayPort Alt Mode and 65W Power Delivery, allowing you to charge your laptop while you work.
With PbP and PiP, you can work on multiple computers simultaneously, which is perfect for collaborative workflows or if you have separate personal and work laptops. Moreover, the monitor’s built-in docking station has an Ethernet port for network connectivity, further minimizing the cables you’ll need to plug into your laptop.
Interestingly, the monitor also offers several gaming features. Although Asus doesn’t offer high-end gaming specifications, the 1500R curved screen, support for adaptive sync, and 4ms GtG response time are enough to immerse you in gaming during an extended lunch break.
No products found.
4x USB | 4x USB-A 3.1 (Fast Charging 7.5W)
1x USB-C upstream (DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode and 100W Power Delivery) 1x USB-C downstream |
1x HDMI 1.4 | up to 4K@30Hz |
1x DisplayPort 1.2 | up to 4K@60Hz |
Ethernet | 1x RJ-45 |
Audio | 1x 3.5mm headphone jack |
The HP E24d G4 is a docking monitor suitable for users on a tight budget. Of course, as with all budget picks, you must forego a few creature comforts that are typical on similar monitors.
The G4 has a 23.8-inch IPS panel display with a 1920x1080p resolution and 60Hz refresh rate, ideal for everyday office work involving spreadsheets, presentations, and sending emails. So, while you forego a high-resolution panel, the FHD display provides a functional screen ideal for improving productivity.
The monitor has a PXE boost, Wake-on-LAN, and MAC address pass-through, making the G4 the ideal budget monitor for system admins and professionals with a remote workstation. You can conveniently set up a multi-monitor workstation because G4 has DisplayPort In and Out, which allows you to daisy chain additional monitors.
Besides the FHD resolution and the seemingly low brightness of 250nits, you also forego a fully ergonomic stand. The G4’s stand offers (-)5-degree- to 20-degree tilt adjustment, but you’ll have to reposition the stand each time to swivel the screen.
The most significant advantages of the G4 are its budget pricing and daisy-chaining capabilities. Thus, it is ideal for large offices that need multiscreen displays for tasks suited for system admin or remote working roles.
Most modern docking monitors either have a USB-C or Thunderbolt interface that provides data, power, and video on a single cable when connected to a host. Apart from that, you’ll do well to find a monitor that offers the below-mentioned ports.
While it’s easy to find DisplayPort In slots of most monitors, DisplayPort Out is less common but crucial for daisy chaining monitors for a multi-display setup.
DisplayPort 1.2 and DisplayPort 1.4 support daisy-chaining, and we have listed several monitors in our guide that offer daisy-chaining via DisplayPort.
DisplayPort isn’t the only interface that allows daisy-chaining multiple monitors. Thunderbolt monitors with Thunderbolt In and Out ports also facilitate daisy-chaining while offering Power Delivery and data transfer at up to 40 Gbps speed, which is impossible using DisplayPort.
Most monitors with built-in docking stations offer several USB-A ports. While only a few offer 10Gbps speed, USB-A 5Gbps ports are more common. But look for USB-A ports that also offer Battery Charging or Fast Charging, as you get to charge your portable devices while you continue working.
It’s common to find HDMI ports on docking monitors. You’ll find that the most common HDMI version is HDMI 2.0, which allows 4K@60Hz video. But there are several monitors with HDMI 1.2 or HDMI 1.4, which offer 4K@30Hz at best.
Essential for network connectivity, Ethernet ports on docking monitors help minimize cable clutter at your workstation by reducing the number of attached cables to your computer.