Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
If you’re used to working on a desktop and find yourself in a situation where you need to use a laptop, you may end up feeling restricted in a way.
This is because laptops are primarily designed for use on the go, unlike desktops, which are meant to be fully fitted workstations by themselves.
And despite Asus laptops being famous for their cutting-edge functionality (especially the gaming models), they also come with a limited number of ports just like other laptops.
Fortunately, there are lots of quality docking stations in the market that allow you to still connect as many peripherals as you wish to your Asus laptop without needing to replace the device.
We’ve reviewed some of them below but first, there are a few things you need to know about docking stations.
Are docking stations compatible with all laptops?
No. Docking stations come in all sorts of designs and specifications and some stations will fit some laptops more than others. For this reason, most large laptop manufacturers make dock stations for their laptops, which reduces the need for universal models.
Nonetheless, with the laptop design standards getting more standardized with the years (in particular the shift to USB 3.0 ports) most of the newer docking stations are sort of universal.
What to Look for in a Docking Station?
The first thing to keep in mind is that there’s an overwhelming number of viable docking stations in the market. As such, price can’t be your only consideration when you go shopping for one.
There are a couple of other factors that are equally, if not more important in a prospective docking station:
- Power
Most of the docking stations we have highlighted below come with USB Type C Power Delivery systems, just like most of the new Asus laptop models.
However, the similarities end here. Many advanced laptop models have power requirements that go above and beyond the maximum power outputs of most docking stations.
To avoid disappointments and inconveniences, you need to make sure that the output power of any prospective dock is equal, or very close to your laptop’s power rating.
- Useful Ports
It may be quite tempting to buy a docking station with the highest number of ports, and understandably so. I mean, you wouldn’t be looking to buy a dock if you didn’t need the additional ports. But, it is more important to have fully functional ports, rather than a high number, which you may not use.
So, do further digging on all your prospective docks to ensure that they have a good mix of port formats (USB-A and USB-C) and can allow for smartphone charging in case you ever need it.
- Display Power
If you normally stream stuff from your laptop to a TV or monitor, you need a dock whose video transmission capabilities are strong enough to support your preferred resolution for long periods.
For instance, if you’re a fan of 4K videos, you want a dock that has a refresh rate of at least 60 Hz for a quality experience.
What Docking Station is Compatible with an Asus Laptop?
Asus laptops come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, and there’s no docking station that can be said to be a perfect fit for all of them, even those manufactured by Asus. Nonetheless, we found 4 amazing docking stations that undeniably fit most of the laptop models in the Asus line.
Acodot USB 3.0 Universal Laptop
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Acodot may not be a household name but they have in their portfolio one of the most popular docking stations of 2021.
The USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station is packed with rich features and as the name suggests, it is compatible with most Asus laptops.
The “universalness” doesn’t stop there – the dock also supports high-speed video transmission across operating systems and can charge a wide range of phone types.
Above all, the Apricot 3.0 Universal dock has a very compact and sleek design, which makes it perfect for use while traveling.
The key features include:
- 6 USB Ports (supports both USB 3.0 and 2.0)
- HDMI, DVI, and VGA support
- Data transmission speeds of up to 5Gbps
- 2 HDMI ports with 60 Hz and 50 Hz resolutions respectively
- Multiple screens support
Pros
- HDMI port allows high-resolution displays
- Superfast data transmission speeds
- Relatively cheap
- Can work on a wide range of devices
- Doesn’t take up much space
Cons
- Cannot charge the laptop
- Lacks a CD Driver
Wavlink USB 3.0 Universal
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
The USB 3.0 Universal Docking Station may not be Wavlink’s most elite dock, but it is arguably their highest selling. The dock is not only cheap but also very practical in terms of both portability and functionality.
Its most popular feature is the Dual Video Monitor support, which allows for a more varied video streaming experience.
Support for almost all new laptop brands (basically any laptop with a USB 3.0 can connect) and a high-speed ceiling for Ethernet connections are the other noteworthy features of the Wavlink USB 3.0 Universal Docking Station.
Here’s a full breakdown of the features:
- Support for simultaneous HDMI, VGA, and DVI output
- Can stand vertically
- Dedicated port for Gigabit Ethernet that allows up to 1000Mbps connections
- Allows 2 Display Units by default. Can be expanded to support up to 6 displays.
- Works for both Windows and Mac OS
- Has 12 ports including 2 USB 3.0 ports
- Supports resolutions of up to 2048 x 1152
- Can transmit 2K video at 60 Hz
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Remarkable data transfer speeds
- Can handle multiple displays simultaneously
- Gigabit Ethernet ports allow lightning-fast connections
- Can stand upright, thus saving tablespace
- Has a higher number of ports compared to many docks
Cons
- Video quality goes down when the dock is connected to multiple monitors
Selore 14-in-1 USB C
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
If you have a lot of peripherals that you need to stay connected to as you work, the Selore 14-in-1 USB C Docking Station might interest you.
The dock does not only allow you to connect to 14 devices but also supports very high speeds and can easily handle three 4K display monitors.
The dock is fairly small and light and has a massive power delivery system (100W), which means you can easily carry it around.
Its ports support all the 3 standard input/output formats, namely: USB 3.0, USB 2.0, and Micro SD Cards.
Last but not least, the Selore dock has a body that was meant to last for years and its price tag is not too bad either.
To put things into clearer focus, here is the full features list:
- 4K video output is supported on the HDMI line
- 3 USB 3.0 Ports, 2 USB 2.0 ports, and a bunch of SD and TF slots
- Maximum charging power delivery of 100W
- Compatible with all laptops with USB C ports
- Can charge the host laptop
- Supports data speeds of up to 5Gbps
- Can support 3 Monitors
Pros
- Allows for 4K video displays, which goes in handy with the advanced Graphics of Asus laptops
- Can support a massive number of devices
- Can act as a laptop charger while you’re on the road
- Supports both Windows and Mac Os
Cons
- Only works well on devices with USB 3.0 connectivity
Plugable USB 3.0 Dual Monitor Horizontal
Last update on 2024-04-05 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Plugable is one of the most trusted manufacturers of docking stations and the USB 3.0 Dual Monitor Horizontal Dock is proof of their world-class expertise in this area.
As the name suggests, the dock can support 2 monitors with ease and up to 6 peripheral devices. Its built-in HDMI and DVI outputs can produce up to 1920 x 1200 resolution at 60Hz, which is quite decent.
If you lower the refresh rate to 50 Hz, you can get 2K quality (2560×1440) through the HDMI port.
Other features of the Plugable 3.0 Dual dock include:
- 6 USB ports, including four USB 2.0 and two USB 3.0. these can be expanded to 11 ports.
- 2K resolution capability
- Network speeds of up to 1Gbps
- Supports 2 high-resolution monitors
- Small, vertical build
Pros
- High expandability capacity means you can plug in up to 11 devices at once
- Dual monitor and 4K support make the dock a perfect fit for gamers and movie enthusiasts
- Small and lightweight enough to carry around with no issues
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- It’s fairly expensive
Final thoughts and best pick:
After reading through the selection guide and reviews above, you probably have zeroed in on one dock that you think fits your style and needs.
On our end, we liked the Plugable USB 3.0 Dual Monitor dock due to its high-quality video resolution, sleek look, ease of use, and the fact that it is expandable.
It’s also very affordable, considering its amazing features. A brand-specific model with similar specifications would easily cost 2 or 3 times more.
