Figuring out the right connections you need for your setup can be overwhelming, and confusing and ambiguous USB terminology only makes it worse. You can check out our explanation of how to parse USB terms in our guide to the best USB hubs. In summary, here are the basics you need to keep in mind:
Check the speed of your ports and don’t rely on version numbers. For many confusing reasons, ports labeled USB 3.0, 3.1 and 3.2 can have the same speed either Very different speeds. For this reason, docking station manufacturers have recently begun opting to add speeds (usually written as “5 Gbps”) directly to the individual ports. Use these ports to transfer large amounts of data and the slower ports for things like the keyboard and mouse.
Thunderbolt is best for ultra-fast data transfers or high-resolution displays. Thunderbolt is like a supercharged version of USB and even uses USB-C ports. However, Thunderbolt ports are capable of transferring massive amounts of data. This makes it ideal for things like moving uncompressed video files, as well as 4K (or even 8K) displays or lower resolution monitors with extra high refresh rates.
Consider your energy needs. Most laptop docking stations have some type of power connector and USB Power Delivery (or USB-PD) that can send power to your laptop. You will also sometimes see this referred to as “step loading.” Most devices you connect will also require their own power, especially if you want to connect monitors or charge your phone and tablet. If you plan to connect many power-hungry devices, make sure your docking station can meet your power needs.
