5 Best Laptop Docking Stations With 2 HDMI Ports

Using a laptop with an external monitor can be fun until you want to plug in your peripherals. Undoubtedly, a docking station extends the functionality of a laptop. Right from extending the display to connecting keyboards (yes, one of my colleagues uses three keyboards), mouse, external storage, and more, without worrying about the lack of USB ports, can be a liberating experience. These nifty devices give you a lot of room to convert your humble portable laptop into a desktop PC.

And well, some docks even let you extend your humble laptop’s screen into two displays, all thanks to the dual HDMI connectors. If you want to increase your productivity, here are some good laptop docking stations with 2 HDMI ports. But before you go,

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1. Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Mini

• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x Gigabit Ethernet
• Maximum supported resolution: Dual [email protected]
• Thunderbolt: Yes

One of the advantages of the Belkin TB3 Mini is its small and discrete build, meaning you get a clutter-free setup, which doesn’t take up much space. All you need are some nifty cable ties and clips to keep them in place.

It’s a simple plug-and-play device. Connect the main cable to a compatible Thunderbolt 3 port on your laptop, and then hook the rest of your peripherals, and you will be good to go.

Do note that if you connect heavy resource-heavy peripherals like high-res monitors and external hard drives simultaneously, you might see a drop in the performance and speed of the device.

The Belkin TB3 Mini can’t supply power to the connected laptop. Neither are there any USB-C out ports.

2. Wavlink USB 3.0 Universal Laptop Docking Station

• Ports: 6 x SuperSpeed USB 3.0, 2 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C In, 3.5mm Audio
• Maximum supported resolution: Dual 4K @ 60Hz
• Thunderbolt: No

Nevertheless, the spec sheet is pretty cool. It bundles HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2 connectors. For the unaware folks, HDMI 2.0 brings several features to the table. Apart from supporting high-resolution displays, it can push 18.0 Gbps of bandwidth. What’s more, it can run two Full HD shows simultaneously on the same screen, i.e., if your system permits.

Though there is a duo of DisplayPort connectors, there are some limitations. This dock doesn’t support MST or daisy chaining of multiple DisplayPort-compatible monitors.

There’s no Power Delivery due to the lack of USB-C out ports. A USB 3.1 cable that comes with the dock provides power.

3. Dell USB 3.0 Triple Display Docking Station

• Ports: 1 x DisplayPort, 2 x HDMI, 2 x USB 2.0, 3 x Superspeed USB 3.0 , 3.5 Audio, Ethernet port
• Maximum supported resolution: 1 x 4K display + 2 x Full HD displays.
• Thunderbolt: No

The clever design ensures that all the ports and connections are fitted well in a small build. There is ample space between the ports to avoid overcrowding. And staying true to its name, the Dell USB 3.0 packs quite a few USB 3.0 USB-A ports.

The laptop connects via a short USB 3.0 cable. And yeah, they also pack an HDMI-to-DVI adapter should your monitor not have HDMI ports.

It’s not a universal docking station and is incompatible with all laptops. It only supports some models from Acer, Lenovo, HP, and Dell. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to check the compatibility with the laptop beforehand. All you need to do is enter the model name on the dropdown if you buy it from Amazon.

This dock doesn’t supply power to charge your laptop, and you will need to have your laptop’s power brick handy.

4. Plugable UD-6950H Horizontal Docking Station

• Ports: 2 x HDMI, 2 x DisplayPort, 6 x USB 3.0 ports, Ethernet, Audio in/out
• Maximum supported resolution: [email protected] (single monitor), [email protected] (dual monitor)
• Thunderbolt: No

Though there are two DisplayPorts and two HDMI ports, these are mutually exclusive, meaning only one port from each pair can be used at a time. Furthermore, the DisplayPort connections do not support MST to form a multi-monitor rig. All the outputs must be streamed via the dock.

Despite carrying a host of posts and connections, the Plugable UD-6950H doesn’t deliver power to your laptop, and that’s the price you have to pay for the slightly affordable price tag.

Its versatility has made it quite popular among its user base. Most like the picture quality and easy-to-use nature. Fakespot estimates more than 60% of these reviews are reliable and can be trusted.

5. HumanCentric USB C Hub for MacBook

• Ports: 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x 3.5mm Audio, 1 x USB-C PD, 1 x SD/Micro SD
• Maximum supported resolution: 4K @ 60Hz
• Thunderbolt: No

Perhaps the best thing about this dock is the bunch of ports. Apart from the standard SD card and ethernet connections, it packs dual HDMI and USB-C ports. The USB-C port can supply up to 100W of power. However, note that you can only connect to one monitor in M1-based MacBooks.

The ports are on both sides of the dock, which lets you easily connect your peripherals. At the same time, the stand has all the needed elements, like anti-slip pads to prevent your MacBook from slipping. 

The only limitation of this dock is that both the USB-C ports of your MacBook will be occupied.

Double the Power

These were some of the laptop docking stations with 2 HDMI ports. Before investing in a docking station, check the compatibility of your laptop’s hardware with the dock. Plus, replace the HDMI cable with an HDMI 2.0 cable if the setup asks for it.

So, which one of these docking stations will you go for? The Plugable UD-6950H seems a good option since it has the right blend of features for the price. What say?