I ditched my desktop for a MacBook, but this dock made me realize I never had to choose.

Laptops have come a long way, and now with M-series chipsets, my MacBook is powerful enough to be my only computer. However, he has a caveat. The limited port selection makes it surprisingly complex to use as a desktop. I connect my laptop to a monitor that takes up one of the two ports. So if I want to add wired Ethernet, external storage, keyboard, mouse and memory cards, it’s a constant juggling act for ports and adapters.

However, solving this problem was not as complicated as I thought. I recently got a plug-in USB dongle that fixes all of these problems with a single USB-C connection. It allows me to connect everything from a monitor to an Ethernet cable to storage and peripherals. This plug-in USBC-10IN1E dock was the connectivity layer that turned my laptop into a desktop workstation. Here’s the best part. I can carry it with me anytime.

One cable connects my entire workstation

Power, display and data through a single connection

Obviously the biggest reason I got this doc. This is a single cable solution. My monitor connects to an HDMI 2.1 port, and the built-in Ethernet port on the dock means I can connect my laptop directly to a network switch. Not only that, but the port is up to 2.5GbE, allowing me to increase transfer speeds between my laptop and NAS.

Likewise, I can add a keyboard, mouse, and other accessories like an external webcam.

I’ve tried USB dongle hubs before, but they always came with limitations, one of which was monitor compatibility. This particular dock handles it with the ability to output 4K at 144Hz or 8K at 30Hz on compatible monitors. It’s more than enough for my use case, which is 4K at 60Hz. Most days, I tend to run my 43-inch monitor with a plug-in dock that plugs into my MacBook, and I no longer need to use a separate HDMI adapter.

Power is handled by the same setup. The hub accepts 140W of input via USB-C PD and can deliver 125W of power to a compatible laptop. It’s good enough for my MacBook Air, but may not be enough for some high-end MacBook Pros, especially under load. Keep in mind that you’ll need a fast USB power adapter to capture these power readings. But this means that if you want to connect the entire ecosystem, you can simply keep the USB hub on your desk and connect a single cable. It is very convenient.

Easy expansion on the go

Small enough to carry with me

Another big reason I love this setup is that it works as a portable expansion kit when I’m on the go. When I’m at my desk most days, I work in a coffee shop or even when I’m traveling. That being said, I still need chargers, external storage, and anything else paired with the laptop.

Instead of carrying separate adapters for each use case, I take this hub with me and all connections are available through one port.

Dual 10Gbps USB-C ports come with a clutch for connecting high-speed SSDs. If I’m not already using the built-in SD card reader, I’ll usually plug my camera into one of the ports, and the included hub lets me move large amounts of photos and videos from the camera to an external SSD.

While the USB-C ports are great for high-speed transfers, you still get a choice of USB-A connections. Three of them, actually. Only one of them supports 10 Gbps, so you have to pay attention to what you’re about to connect. That being said, even slow ports are used enough for me. In my case, I tend to connect the mouse dongle to the named port.

One of the reasons this hub works so beautifully for me is that it doesn’t require drivers or additional applications. Cross-compatible with USB-C and Thunderbolt machines across platforms, it offers a truly plug-and-play experience.

All of this comes together to create a very versatile package that is portable. Measuring about 8.5 inches and light in weight, the dock easily slips into my tech pocket, making it easy to carry around unlike my other desktop docks.

There is no connection between the laptop and the desk

Convenience is one of the reasons I switched from a desktop to a laptop. Unfortunately, the cost of this convenience is the lack of ports. I need a laptop to connect to many peripherals. From my monitor to external storage, Ethernet and more. important to the way I work.

Getting the plug-in USBC-10IN1E did it for me, but any similar dock will work. All you have to do is connect one cable to make it all work.