MacBook M1 Pro is an amazing device with great design and high-end performance, but the device isn’t without flaws.
One of the biggest issues are extension options, and since Macs usually have only HDMI and Thunderbolt ports, connecting certain devices might be a problem.
This is especially true if you want to connect a USB Type-A device to your Mac. That’s simply not possible since Apple has removed all Type-A ports.
However, there’s a way around this limitation, and in today’s guide, we’re going to show you the best MacBook M1 Pro dock that you can get.
What is the best MacBook M1 Pro dock to buy?
Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
If you need more ports on your MacBook, then this dock might be just what you need. This device uses Thunderbolt 3 port and it works with both Macs and PCs.
With this dock, you’ll get a 4K 60fps signal on dual monitors, but sadly, this feature isn’t supported on MacBooks with an M1 chip due to Thunderbolt limitations.
However, you can get an 8K signal at 60fps on a single monitor and with the included USB-C to HDMI adapter you’ll be able to use the second monitor as well.
2.3-foot Thunderbolt 3 cable is also included allowing you to easily connect the dock with your MacBook.
Regarding the available ports, there’s a 60W Thunderbolt 3 port that is used for laptop charging and a 15W Thunderbolt 3.
HDMI 2.0 port is available along with a Gigabit Ethernet port on the back, so you can connect your device to a wired network.
The back also has three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports that deliver 5V and 0.9A and allow you to use all types of USB devices.
On the front, there are two USB 3.1 gen 1 ports, and one of them delivers 5V and 2.1A, so it’s perfect if you need to recharge your phone or any other device.
A 3.5mm audio/microphone jack is available as well, and there’s even an SD 3.0 card reader at the front. Kensington Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station offers amazing features, and it’s a must-have for all MacBook owners.
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock for Mac
This is a Thunderbolt 4 dock, and it delivers the best possible performance and transfer rate to its users. The device supports extensive connectivity, and in the back, you’ll find three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
There are also three USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, allowing you to connect an external hard drive or any other USB device and get the maximum speed.
Ethernet port is present as well, so you can share files over the local network or use a wired Internet connection.
On the front, you can find a 3.5mm audio/microphone jack and a Thunderbolt 4 upstream port. Lastly, there’s a UHS-II SD card slot present as well.
Charging is supported, and you can use this dock to recharge your MacBook while using it. As for the number of monitors, on M1 models there’s support for only one monitor and 4K 60Hz signal.
Unfortunately, there’s no HDMI port available, but that won’t be a dealbreaker for most users. Regarding the design, this dock has a sleek and metallic design, so it will fit perfectly with your MacBook.
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock offers great features and performance, so if you need a dock for your MacBook M1 Pro, you should consider this model.
iVANKY Docking Station
This docking station has a built-in cable and it connects to your MacBook via two Thunderbolt ports. The device delivers 180W of power, so you can use it to charge your MacBook as well as your iOS device.
The 96W goes to your MacBook while 18W is dedicated to charging your iPhone, iPad or any other compatible device.
On the front, there are two USB 3 Type-A ports, and each port supports a 5Gbps transfer rate while delivering 5V and 1.5A.
Two USB-C ports are available on the front, and they are using the USB 3.0 standard. There’s also an SD/TF card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack available.
On the backside, there are two USB Type-A 3.0 ports rated at 0.9A, as well as a Gigabit Ethernet port. Lastly, two HDMI 2.0 ports are available, and they can deliver a 4K signal at 60Hz.
Do keep in mind that models with an M1 processor can only work with a single external display. It’s also worth noting that USB-C ports can’t support video display, so using an adapter isn’t an option.
Overall, iVANKY Docking Station offers great features, and while it might not be the fastest, it offers more than enough features to its users.
Anker USB C Hub for MacBook
This dock comes from Anker and it delivers 8 additional ports. It doesn’t have any cables, instead, it attaches directly to your MacBook, and with its design, it should fit perfectly with your laptop.
The device has a Thunderbolt 3 port that can deliver 100W to your laptop and recharge it. An additional USB-C data port is available, and you can use it to attach additional devices.
Two USB Type-A ports are present, and they are using the 3.0 standard, so they aren’t the fastest ones, but they will deliver decent speeds.
Lastly, there’s a microSD and SD card reader as well as a Lightning audio connector available. On the side, there’s one HDMI port available.
The HDMI port supports 4K resolution at 30Hz while the multi-function port can work with 5K resolution at 60Hz.
Unfortunately, with the M1 chipset, it’s not possible to use two external monitors. Another flaw is the lack of an Ethernet port, but that won’t be a dealbreaker for most users.
Anker USB C Hub for MacBook is slim and since it connects directly to your laptop, you can carry it with you at all times, so with quite convenient to use.
Purgo USB C Hub
Just like the previous entry, this dock connects directly to your MacBook, without any cables, so you can carry it with you at all times.
The connection is achieved through the two Thunderbolt ports on your Mac and the dock delivers 7 additional ports that you can use.
First off, there’s a Thunderbolt 3 port available and it provides 100W power, so you can use it to charge your laptop.
It also supports data transfer up to speeds of 40Gbps and you can even use it for 5K 60Hz video output.
Additional ports include a single USB Type-C data port and two Type-A 3.0 ports that you can use to attach flash drives or other hardware devices.
Next to them, you can find an SD and TF card reader, so you’ll be able to access data from digital cameras and other similar devices.
The dock also features an HDMI port that can deliver a 4K signal at 30Hz, however, due to M1 limitations, you can’t use it with two external displays.
Purgo USB C Hub is a sleek dock that will match the look of your MacBook, and the lack of an Ethernet port and audio jack won’t be a dealbreaker for most users.
When it comes to MacBook M1 Pro docks, there is a wide array of devices to choose from, and we hope that this guide helped you find the right device for you.
Just be aware that most docks can’t support dual monitors if you’re using an M1 chip, but in some cases, you can circumvent that with a proper adapter.
What is your dock of choice for Mac? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.