Which budget-friendly docking station works best with all laptops?

Question

i feel really stupid asking this but i have two different laptops one is a macbook and the other is a dell and my desk is a disaster with all these wires. i heard you can get a box thing called a docking station where you just plug one cable in but i have no idea what to buy or if it even works for both.

i need it to plug in:

a monitor

my keyboard

i dont want to spend more than $60 since im starting a new job in chicago next week and money is tight. is there one that actually works with every laptop or is that not a thing? it feels so confusing...

gkhdusghmz · Accepted Answer

Re: "Re: "Honestly, it is not stupid at all..."

I went through this exact headache when I moved for my first job. I actually tried that Anker hub but it ran too hot. I switched to the Plugable USB-C 5-in-1 Hub with 4K HDMI and 100W Power Delivery and its been a solid, decent option tbh. It works with my Dell and MacBook without any flickering for about $30, which leaves you more cash for Chicago.

ggfmpexwgm · Answer

Re: "Honestly, it is not stupid at all because..." - technical specs are definitely confusing. You basically need a hub that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode over USB-C. Anker 341 USB-C Hub 7-in-1 is a reliable, budget-friendly option. It provides 4K HDMI and enough USB ports for your keyboard. Just double check that your Dell port has the lightning bolt or display icon next to it so it actually works.

qsugmdqoqz · Answer

Honestly, it is not stupid at all because the naming for this stuff is a total mess. For under $60, you are looking at USB-C hubs rather than big powered docking stations, but they do the same thing for a simple setup. Since you only need one monitor and a keyboard, a basic hub is basically perfect. Just make sure your Dell has a USB-C port that supports video output tho. Most MacBooks have this already so that side is usually fine. I have used these and they are solid:

Anker 341 USB-C Hub 7-in-1 with 4K HDMI

UGREEN Revodok 107 USB C Hub 7-in-1 Just plug the monitor into the HDMI and the keyboard into the USB slot. Then it is just one cable to swap between laptops. Good luck with the job in Chicago... the winters there are legit brutal lol.