Maximize your setup anywhere

One of the most annoying parts of working from a laptop is the limitations that come with its size. External accessories help, but what do you do with all the peripherals you need to connect? You can turn to a docking station like the IOGEAR Dock Pro USB-C 6 in 1 Dock Stand!

My “day job” involves graphic design and creating digital products, while my “sideline” involves research and writing. This means I often have multiple Chrome windows open at once while using graphic design software, communicating with co-workers on Slack, and randomly sorting files in and out of Dropbox.

Doing all this on a small 14-inch laptop is impossible. So, I connect my computer to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Over the past week, I decided to throw out my usual setup (a cheap USB-C hub and a cheap plastic laptop stand) and give this stand from IOGEAR a try.

Compact and rugged design

When I took the IOGEAR 6-in-1 USB-C Dock Stand Pro out of the box, I was amazed at how small and light it was. At just 10 inches long and less than 1 inch tall, it maintains a fairly low profile and fits in virtually any laptop bag. Even when unfolded, the size is only 10 x 7 inches, which is smaller than most laptops. The lightweight metal design also makes it incredibly easy to transport.

Note: IOGEAR states: “The docking station supports all standard laptop sizes up to 5kg (11lbs)”.

The IOGEAR Dock Pro includes a single HDMI port, 1 Gigabit RJ45 Ethernet port, 2 USB-A 3.2 ports, and 1 USB-C 3.2 port (all of which support up to 5 Gbps). Underneath the base stand, there is a PD (Power Delivery) 3.0 port. It provides 100W of power, but only a total of 88W can be used to charge your laptop as the dock itself uses 12W.

To use either of these ports, make sure to connect your laptop with the provided USB-C cable that’s plugged into the dock. Also, your laptop must support Power Delivery pass-through for the PD port to work. Unfortunately, my Lenovo doesn’t support this feature, but if your device supports it, you can easily pair the dock cradle with IOGEAR’s 100W charger or another charging brick like the UGREEN Nexode 65W.

The stand also offers a total of 5 levels of tilt, starting with a slight 15 degree bump and gradually moving up to 35 degrees at the highest setting. The arms lock in nicely once you select the desired height, and the laptop appears to sit without much movement. However, I didn’t feel like the rubber feet at the end did much to secure the device, and my laptop seemed a little too tilted for my liking.

When you connect everything, keep in mind that all the ports are on the left side of the base stand. I usually place my laptop to the left of my monitor, and I didn’t have any issues with the reach of my cables.

However, if you have short cables or a long distance between the stand and other items on your desk, it may be worth considering a location that reduces the distance between ports and peripherals. Also, some may have issues with the length of the included USB-C cable, as it’s only about 2 feet long and located at the bottom of the stand.

Not a perfect solution for dual monitors

When I received IOGEAR Dock Pro, I thought it would be the perfect solution for my desktop. I currently use a USB-C hub with my Lenovo Yoga laptop and have a separate plastic laptop stand. I connect an external keyboard and wireless mouse, then use the external monitor along with the laptop monitor to have a second screen. As someone who often needs to refer to materials while working, having two screens is a must.

Unfortunately, after attaching everything to the base stand, I found out that it doesn’t support dual monitors. Instead, it mirrors the laptop screen or gives you the option to close your laptop and use only the external monitor.

However, several other IOGEAR products support dual displays, so perhaps there is hope that a future update to this connection support will include such a feature.

Should I buy the IOGEAR Dock Pro USB-C 6-in-1 Stand?

Overall, the IOGEAR Dock Pro USB-C 6-in-1 Stand is a great option for anyone who wants an easy way to connect multiple external items to a single laptop (as long as it’s USB-C compatible).

I felt the number of ports was enough for most home or office setups, and the lightweight design makes it portable for those working in a hybrid environment. However, if you rely on dual monitors or need something with more features, you may want to look at other options that better meet your needs.