Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Docking stations are made to help you improve your productivity, but it is no use if you can’t find the right one to go with your laptop.
In this article, we will check three great docks you can buy for your Acer laptop. We’ll also dive into why are docks good and what you should consider before buying one for your workspace.
Are laptop docks worth it?
Absolutely. They are very popular devices that can increase organization on a person’s workspace, thus contributing towards greater productivity.
A docking station lets you use your laptop in different settings, enhancing overall productivity. Docks can make laptops feel more like desktops while you can still carry them around.
Docking stations have become popular in recent years because many people started connecting their laptops to external monitors, and many times, they also need more USB ports than the laptop offers. A dock helps manage all the cables, keeping your workspace organized.
It is true that you don’t necessarily have to buy a dock if you only have a single monitor. However, if you are thinking about getting a second one, you will need a dock.
Most laptops only have one video output nowadays, and even with a splitter, you will only see the same image on both monitors. With a dock, you can connect through USB-C or USB 3.0, and from it, connect to two monitors.
Is there a docking station for Acer laptops?
Yes. However, let’s clear something: your dock doesn’t need to be the same brand as your laptop for both devices to work together. What is required is that the dock supports the operating system of your laptop and that your laptop has compatible ports.
Still, currently, Acer has two docking stations available at its site and also retailers. We will review them in this article, as well as one non-Acer option you can get to go along with your Acer laptop.
Things to consider before buying
Before buying a dock, you have to consider a few things so that you buy the perfect device for your workspace.
First of all, consider if your focus is being able to plug plenty of USB devices or using dual monitors, or even both things. There are dock models to deliver the best performance for each situation.
Check if your laptop supports Thunderbolt 3. The top-notch docks nowadays are shipping with that technology, but if your laptop doesn’t support it, there is no use in getting it.
Make sure of operating system and hardware compatibility. Some docks don’t work well with certain laptops, even when they should work. In this article we will briefly review docks that are compatible with Acer laptops, so you shouldn’t have any trouble.
However, if you have a second laptop to which you might want to connect too, make sure it has a compatible operating system.
Will you use USB-C or USB 3.0? If your laptop has a USB-C port, you should consider buying a dock that uses that port for connection. That way, you leave your USB 3.0 ports free to connect to other devices.
3 best docking stations for Acer
Finally, let’s check which are the best docking stations you can get to go along with your Acer laptop. Luckily, there are some Acer models, so those should have perfect compatibility.
Acer U301
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
The Acer U301 is probably one of the best docks in the market right now. It combines the great name of Acer, thus delivering awesome performance, with a price that fits your pocket, all while having plenty of ports for you to turn your laptop into something similar to a desktop.
This model lets you connect two monitors on your workspace, which is perfect if you are a professional that genuinely needs to visualize your work split into dual monitors. So many people benefit from it, including artists, photographers, video editors, engineers, even academics doing research.
It looks much more robust than plenty of competitors on the market, so it is already worth it because of this, as it is a device that will last for a long time. You can choose whether you want to get the USB 3.0 or USB-C version. The one with a USB-C connection costs a bit more.
Specs
- Host Interface: USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-A or USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-C
- Video Interface (Supporting FHD): 2 x HDMI port up to 1920 x 1080@60Hz
- 1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type-B port; UFP (Connect to Laptop), 4 x USB 2.0 Type-A port (back) and 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, DFP (front)
- 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet connector
Pros
- Great design
- Resistant material
- Two HDMI ports to connect dual monitors
- USB-C option
- Compatible with any Acer laptop
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3 option
- Type-C option is a bit overpriced
What do the reviews say?
Customers are satisfied with this dock’s functionality, as it is easy to set up and works with many laptops, not limited to only Acer models. However, some say that it is a bit overpriced considering other options by different brands.
Acer USB Type-C Dock III
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
The Acer Dock III is aimed at people who want to connect their laptops to up to three monitors. Not everyone does that, so perhaps you won’t see this dock as useful. However, three monitors provide a great workspace for a lot of folks, and having the right dock to connect all these devices together is essential.
The more devices you connect together, the better your hardware supporting all of that needs to be. Acer has years of experience in the industry, so you can trust this dock will hold your workspace together without sweating.
More than being able to connect triple monitors, you can also have great resolution quality with decent refresh rates, as this dock supports up to 5K at 60Hz.
Additional ports for your other devices include three USBs, one USB-C (you will connect your laptop with USB-C, but there is one more you can use), and an Ethernet.
Considering that this dock has three video outputs, its price is somewhat budget.
Specs
- Host Interface: USB 3.1 Type-C
- Video Interface: 2 x Display Ports 1.4 & 1 x HDMI 2.0 Port (Display Max Resoulution: Up to 5K @ 60Hz)
- 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port; UFP (Connect to Laptop) (Back), 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C port, DFP (Front) & 3 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A port, DFP (2 Rear & 1 Front)
- 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet connector
Pros
- Supports up to three monitors
- USB-C
- Robust device
Cons
- No Thunderbolt 3
What do the reviews say?
Compatibility with this dock is great, making it a genuinely excellent device to use with three monitors.
OWC 14-Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
If you are looking to connect your Acer laptop into a dock that runs with Thunderbolt 3 for faster transfer speeds, Acer can’t help you as the brand currently doesn’t offer any dock with that. However, there are plenty of third-party options in the market. This dock by OWC is one of them.
What’s so special about this OWC dock is the insane number of additional ports you get plus the fact that you can connect it to two monitors. It only has one Displayport, but you can use its Thunderbolt-powered USB-C to connect to another monitor.
The dock should be able to connect to two 4K monitors or one 5K monitor.
It also counts with an Ethernet port and enough additional USB ports so you can connect your devices.
Specs
- Compatible with Mac and Windows
- Thunderbolt 3
- 5x USB 3.1 Gen 1
- 3x USB-C
- 1x DisplayPort
- SD and microSD reader
- Ethernet port
- Audio jack
Pros
- Fast data transfer
- Ability to connect to two monitors
- Plenty of USB ports
- High compatibility
Cons
- Expensive
- No HDMI
What do the reviews say?
This OWC dock has one of the highest ratings among docks of several brands. That being said, most reviews are also very positive about its performance and how easy it is to set it properly on a workspace.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from the list above, each of these docks fulfills a different role. Only one of them has Thunderbolt, and then this is probably the one you would get if your laptop works fine with such technology.
Looking at the price range, the number of ports, usability, etc., it is hard not to think that the non-Acer, OWC dock in this article is the best by far. However, if you need to connect to three monitors, then definitely go with the Acer Dock III.
