A laptop is a great machine until you try to turn it into a full workstation. Two monitors, a wired network, a keyboard, a mouse, an external drive and a charger quickly use up every port it has. A docking station turns all of that into a single cable, and Black Friday is one of the best times of year to buy one.
The manufacturer’s German store is running its Black Friday sale from 9 November to 3 December, with up to 50% off, a dedicated Hubs and Docks section, and a second-item offer that takes 50% off one of two promotional products. Here is how to pick the right docking station for your setup before the best deals sell out.
Three Questions to Ask First
What port does your laptop have? A Thunderbolt 5 laptop gets the most from a Thunderbolt 5 dock. A standard USB-C laptop works best with a USB-C or DisplayLink dock.
How many screens do you want? One extra monitor is easy. Three or four call for a dock built for multi-display use.
How much power does your laptop draw? Check that the dock can charge it at full speed, so you never need the original charger on your desk.
For Thunderbolt 5 Laptops
Maxidok 17-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station
The largest dock in the sale connects USB, video, networking, a card reader and charging through one cable. With compatible hardware, Thunderbolt 5 gives up to 80Gbps in both directions, and up to 120Gbps for video. A built-in M.2 NVMe slot lets you add your own SSD for project files without a separate enclosure on the desk. It drives high-resolution 8K or 6K displays depending on your computer, and the included 240W power supply charges the laptop at up to 140W.
Best for: video editors, photographers and anyone who needs fast local storage at the desk.
Revodok Max 2131 Docking Station (13-in-1, 140W, Thunderbolt 5)
The Revodok Max offers the same Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth with 13 ports in a slimmer body. You can run two high-resolution monitors or a single 8K screen, depending on your laptop. It adds 2.5Gbps Ethernet and SD and microSD card readers, and the host port charges compatible laptops at up to 140W. If you want a Thunderbolt 5 dock without built-in storage, this is the one to look at.
Best for: creative professionals with a fixed desk who want a clean, fast connection.
For Multiple Monitors
DisplayLink 15-in-1 Docking Station (8K 60Hz, Quad Display, 2.5GbE)
This dock uses DisplayLink to add up to four external monitors to a compatible Mac or Windows computer, which is useful for spreadsheets, code and video calls side by side. It has 15 ports, including two 10Gbps USB-C data ports, extra USB-A ports, SD and microSD slots, 2.5Gbps Ethernet and a USB-C port that charges small devices at up to 27W. It comes with a 150W power supply. You need to install the DisplayLink software, and on macOS the app must be allowed screen recording access.
Best for: traders, analysts and MacBook users who want more screens than the laptop supports on its own.
Revodok Pro 313 USB-C Docking Station (13-in-1, Triple Display)
Two HDMI outputs and a DisplayPort give compatible Windows laptops up to three external monitors. Its 13 ports also include 10Gbps USB data, Ethernet, card readers and audio. The charging input takes up to 100W, and up to 85W reaches the laptop. This is a sensible triple monitor docking station for an office laptop.
Best for: Windows users who work across three screens.
For Compact Setups and Gaming
Revodok Pro 10-in-1 Docking Station with M.2 NVMe Enclosure
This smaller USB-C docking station combines 4K at 60Hz over HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, an SD and TF card reader and a slot for an M.2 NVMe SSD, which you supply yourself. One USB-A and one USB-C data port run at up to 10Gbps, and a separate USB-C input passes up to 100W through to the laptop.
Best for: students and travellers who want extra storage in the same box as their ports.
Steam Deck Dock (4K@120Hz, Foldable, 100W PD)
For handheld gamers, this foldable aluminium dock turns a Steam Deck, ROG Ally or Legion Go into a living room console. HDMI supports output at up to 4K and 120Hz on compatible screens, the stand folds flat for travel, and USB ports plus Gigabit LAN take a controller, keyboard and wired internet. With a suitable charger it passes through up to 100W, with up to 85W reaching the handheld.
Best for: playing on the TV at Christmas.
Using the Sale Offers
The sale runs in phases. Until 19 November you can use the spend-and-save code BFCM26 or the second-item code BOGO50, and tech mystery boxes are on offer. Flash deals arrive in the Mega Sale from 20 to 29 November, and a final 72-hour clearance closes the event from 30 November. The codes cannot be combined with other discounts, so pick the one that gives you more on your basket. The store also lists a 30-day price guarantee and double points during the sale, so you can buy early without worrying about missing a lower deal later.
All six docks are part of the Black Friday sale at UGREEN. More quick guides to a better desk setup are waiting on 2minuteread whenever you have a moment.