This 17-in-1 Docking Station from Baseus offers plenty of ports and connectivity to turn to USB-C … [+]
If you’re looking for an affordable docking station for a Windows or Mac computer, this 17-in-1 model from Baseus could fit the bill. It has 16 ports, all fed from a single USB-C cable that attaches to the host computer. In addition, three HDMI ports can send different content to each display when used with a PC. There are also three USB 3.0, a couple of USB 2.0 and two USB Type-C ports.
Although this docking station comes with a power adapter for peripheral use, if you want to charge a host laptop, you’ll need to also use the laptop’s power adapter through the docking station’s PD USB-C connection.
The Baseus docking station can drive a single 4K monitor through one of the HDMI ports with a refresh rate of 30Hz. Alternatively, all three HDMI ports can be used to drive separate monitors at 1080P, with a refresh rate of 60Hz on a Windows system.
When used with a Mac, the docking station won’t support different content for each monitor because there is no support for MST mode. So if you use the Baseus with a Mac, you will only be able to mirror the main display to three monitors. There’s a 3.5mm stereo jack for connecting speakers or microphones for analog sound devices like headphones, microphones or a headset.
The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station can massively extend the connectivity of a USB-C laptop with data … [+]
For transferring data, the Baseus supports three USB 3.0 Type-A ports with a data transfer speed of up to 5Gbps. In addition, there are two USB 2.0 Type-A ports for legacy peripherals like a keyboard or mouse, plus a couple of USB 3.0 Type C ports with a speed of 5GBps. Also included are SD and microSD card slots that can be used to import image files and video footage, although you can’t read from both slots simultaneously.
For connecting with the outside world, the Baseus has a Gigabit Ethernet port that’s backward compatible with slower standards. In addition, the docking station will work with USB-C laptops, including Google Chromebook Pixel, Google Pixelbook Pen, Dell XPS13/15, G3/G5/G7, HP Pavilion X2, Lenovo, MacBook Pro/Air and more; compatible with “DP Alt Mode” of Samsung Galaxy S10/S10 Plus, S9/S9 Plus and S8/S8 Plus.
At the heart of the docking station, there’s a VL817 chip that ensures all 17 ports function correctly. There’s also protection against overcurrent, overvoltage and overheating. In addition, the dock has a one-year warranty and lifetime technical support.
Verdict: This is a competent docking station for anyone who wants to extend the functionality of a USB-C laptop or a regular desktop. It will work with Windows or macOS computers, but its video capabilities are limited on Macs to mirroring the main display. The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station is a neat little device with a stand for vertical use, saving valuable desktop real estate. As a primary docking station without Thunderbolt 4 or USB 4.0 standards, the Baseus offers a good choice and is supplied with US, European and UK plug adapters.
Pricing & Availability: The Baseus 17-in-1 Docking Station is available from Amazon and costs $125.99.
more info: baseus.com
Tech Specs:
- PD USB-C Ports: Supports up to 100W fast charging but requires a 60 to 100W PD charger to power or recharge the laptop via the docking station.
- Host Port: Connects to host computer using included USB-C to C cable.
- HDMI Ports: 3 x HDMI ports. Each port supports up to 4K@30Hz on a qualified screen display and 1080P@60Hz when casting or mirroring on 2/3 displays.
- USB 3.0 Ports: 3 x USB 3.0 ports with support for USB 3.0 Gen1 devices at 5Gbps.
- USB 2.0 Ports: 2 x USB 2.0 ports with data transfer speed up to 480Mbps.
- USB C Ports: 2 x USB-C ports with data transfer speed up to 5Gbps.
- Card reader: SD and microSD up to 2TB.
- Audio: 3.5mm combined audio port for wired headphones and microphones.
- Power supply: DC 12V adapter rated at 36W DC.
- Ethernet: RJ45 LAN port compatible with 10M/ 100M/ 1,000Mbps.
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