The Best Monitors With Built-in Docking Station (2023 Reviews)

Want a neat and tidy desk? Don’t bother with a bunch of cables every time you need to connect your laptop, just get a monitor with built-in docking!

In this guide, you’ll find the best docking monitors available and everything you need to know in order to pick the model that’s best suited for your preferences and use case!

We’ve only selected docking monitors that offer at least: one HDMI and DP input, an RJ45/Ethernet port, built-in speakers, a USB hub and USB-C with Power Delivery of at least 60W.

All of the included monitors will therefore provide you with audio/video signal, Internet, sound output, USB ports for peripherals/data and power charging – and all you have to do is plug in one USB-C cable from your already set up monitor to your laptop!

In case your laptop doesn’t support DisplayPort Alternate Mode over USB-C, you’ll have to use a USB cable (type B to type A for peripherals, data and Internet) and your standard laptop charger along with the display input of your choice (HDMI, DisplayPort).

You can view our changelogs for this buying guide at the end of this article.

About The Monitor

The ASUS VA24ECPSN is the cheapest monitor with built-in docking that’s actually good and offers everything you need for a clean setup!

Image Quality

Like most monitors included in this guide, the ASUS VA24ECPSN uses IPS panel technology that provides accurate and consistent colors with 178° wide viewing angles, ensuring that the image remains perfect regardless of the angle you’re looking at the screen.

The 1920×1080 Full HD resolution results in a decent pixel density on the 24″ sized screen of the VA24ECPSN. With roughly 92 PPI (pixels per inch), you get a fair amount of screen real estate with reasonably sharp details; at a normal viewing distance, you won’t be able to notice individual pixels, unlike on 27″ 1080p monitors.

Peak brightness amounts to 300-nits, so the screen can get more than bright enough under normal lighting conditions.

As with all IPS monitors, there’s is some IPS glow and the contrast ratio is limited to around 1,000:1, so you won’t get quite as deep blacks as that of VA panel monitors. Of course, VA displays have other flaws and it’s rare to find one with a built-in stocking station anyway.

The ASUS VA24ECPSN has a 100% sRGB gamut coverage and 8-bit color depth support (6-bit + 2-bit FRC) for 16.7 million colors, which along with its IPS panel makes it suitable for entry-level color-critical work after proper calibration.

Features

Moving on, the monitor even supports variable refresh rate with a 48-75Hz dynamic range for tear-free gameplay up to 75FPS.

75Hz also provides a tiny (but noticeable) boost in motion clarity as opposed to 60Hz.

Further, thanks to its quick response time, low input lag and vivid colors, video games will still look good and run smoothly.

Other features include QuickFit (places various alignment grids on the screen for certain document sizes), on-screen timers and crosshair overlays.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers full ergonomic support, including up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, -5°/35° tilt, +/- 180° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4, USB-C (DP 1.2 Alt Mode, 65W PD), RJ45, three downstream USB-A 3.0 ports, a headphone jack and dual 2W integrated speakers.

About The Monitor

If you want a clean multi-monitor setup, the VG2456 has a DisplayPort output for daisy-chaining.

Image Quality

In terms of image quality, you get the same viewing experience as with the ASUS VA24ECPSN, though the VG2456 is not quite as bright with 250-nit maximum brightness.

Next, since the monitor doesn’t support Adaptive-Sync and it’s limited to 60Hz, it won’t be particularly interesting to gamers.

Noteworthy features include Black Stabilizer (improves visibility in dark scenes), low-blue light filter modes and advanced image adjustment tools, such as 6-axis hue/saturation, 6 gamma presets (from 1.8 to 2.8) and sharpness.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 130mm height adjustment, -5°/40° tilt, 90° pivot, +/- 60° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, USB-C (DP 1.2 Alt Mode, 60W PD), RJ45, DP-Out for daisy-chaining up to 4 monitors, dual 2W integrated speakers, a USB-B upstream port and two 5Gbps downstream USB-A ports at the side of the screen.

There’s also the ViewSonic VG2456A variant with a higher 90W PD for $40 extra.

In order to daisy-chain monitors, the main display must be connected via either DP or USB-C and the ‘DP’ option enabled in the OSD menu (maximum 1080p resolution). Ethernet connection can be passed through via either USB-C or HDMI/DP + USB upstream.

Alternatives

The Dell P2422HE is another premium model based on the same panel, offering basically identical image quality and performance. It has two additional 5Gbps USB-A ports and a slightly higher 65W PD over USB-C, but it has no USB-B port or speakers and it’s ~$50 more expensive.

If you’re looking for a premium 1080p docking monitor, there’s the Dell U2422HE model with 90W PD and an integrated KVM switch.

It also has more extensive connectivity options (DP, DP-Out, HDMI, USB-C with 90W PD, USB-C upstream, USB-C downstream with 15W PD, four USB-A downstream ports with 10Gbps, a headphone jack and RJ45. However, it goes for around $450; no built-in speakers.

About The Monitor

The Viewsonic VG2756-2K is the 27″ 1440p version of the above-mentioned VG2456.

Image Quality

With the 2560×1440 QHD resolution on a 27″ monitor, you get a high pixel density of 108 PPI (pixels per inch). As a result, you’ll have plenty of screen space as well as sharp text and details, without any scaling necessary.

Further, in comparison to the VG2456, the 27″ variant has a higher 350-nit peak brightness and true 8-bit color depth without dithering.

Other features and specifications are identical to the 24″ version.

Design & Connectivity

The design and connectivity options are the same as they are on the VG2456. The main difference is that the DisplayPort-Out allows you to daisy chain two 1440p monitors, four 1080p displays, or two 1080p + one 1440p.

Alternatives

Once again, you have the option to go with two more expensive Dell variants:

• P2722HE – HDMI, DP, DP-Out, USB-C with 65W PD, 4x USB-A 5Gbps, RJ45, no built-in speakers
• U2722DE – HDMI, DP, DP-Out, USB-C with 90W PD, 4x USB-A 10Gbps, USB-C downstream, USB-C with 15W PD, RJ45, headphone jack, KVM switch, no built-in speakers

About The Monitor

ViewSonic also offers a 4K version of the VG2756-2K, the VG2756-4K with 90W PD; however, we recommend the Philips 279P1 instead as it offers additional features at a lower cost. Depending on region and availability though, both are worth considering.

Image Quality

On a 27″ monitor, 4K UHD resolution provides stunning detail clarity and a lot of screen space with 163 PPI. You will need to use scaling in order to make small text readable, as a result, you get less screen real estate, but the details are even sharper.

While having a 4K monitor for office-related use and content consumption is great, if you plan on doing video editing or gaming, make sure your PC will be able to handle it.

The Philips 279P1 has a peak brightness of 350-nits, a static contrast ratio of 1,000:1, ~122% sRGB gamut size (with an sRGB mode) and dithered 10-bit color depth support for 1.07 billion colors.

It’s also factory calibrated at Delta E < 2 for excellent accuracy out of the box.

Although limited to 60Hz and without a variable refresh rate, its vibrant colors, crisp details and quick response time still provide an enjoyable gaming experience.

Features

The screen has a built-in sensor that can adjust brightness according to ambient lighting and reduce it after detecting that nobody is in front of the screen.

You’ll also find advanced image adjustment tools, such as five gamma presets and six color temperature modes. SmartUniformity is available as well for improved screen uniformity at a cost of contrast ratio.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is sturdy and offers full ergonomic support with up to 150mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, +/- 180° swivel, -5°/35° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD), four downstream USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack, RJ45 and two 3W built-in speakers.

Alternatives

If you need a 27″ 4K monitor for professional color-critical work that also has a built-in dock, we recommend the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE.

About The Monitor

The Philips 329P1H is basically a 32″ version of the 279P1, but with a few extra features too!

Image Quality

The 4K UHD resolution looks great even on 32″ sized screens. With 140 PPI (pixels per inch), you get plenty of screen space and vivid details, but depending on your preference, you might not need to use scaling at all!

Just like the 27″ version, the 329P1H has a peak brightness of 350-nits, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and a bit wider 128% sRGB gamut size with a factory-calibrated sRGB emulation mode at Delta E < 2.

Features

In addition, the Philips 329P1H supports Adaptive-Sync, providing you with a variable refresh rate within the supported 40-60Hz/FPS range for tear-free gameplay if you have a compatible AMD or NVIDIA graphics card.

There’s an integrated sensor that can automatically change the brightness according to ambient lighting or reduce it once it detects nobody is in front of the screen.

Moreover, there’s a built-in 2MP webcam with Windows Hello support.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is robust and offers full ergonomic support with up to 180mm height adjustment, +/- 90° pivot, +/- 180° swivel, -5°/25° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.0 ports, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD), RJ45, four downstream USB 3.0 ports (one with 7.5W fast-charging), a headphone jack and dual 5W integrated speakers.

Alternatives

If the Philips 329P1H is not available, check out the Dell P3222QE though it’s more expensive and doesn’t have as many features (only 65W PD, no webcam).

If you need a 27″ 4K monitor for professional color-critical work that also has a built-in dock, we recommend the Dell UltraSharp U2723QE.

In case you don’t need consistent colors, but would rather have a higher contrast ratio for deeper blacks, check out the Samsung F32TU872 with a VA panel and Thunderbolt 3 input (90W PD) and output for daisy-chaining.

Philips also offers a 43″ 4K VA monitor with USB-C docking, the Philips 439P1, but it’s not available in the US at the moment.

The Samsung 43M70A is another 43″ 4K VA monitor with USB-C (65W PD). It has no RJ45 port, but it has WiFi, Bluetooth and built-in smart features (DeX, streaming apps, AirPlay 2 and Microsoft 365).

About The Monitor

Ultrawide monitors offer extra horizontal screen space for a wider field of view in games and more screen real estate for your spreadsheets and office-related apps.

Image Quality

Based on a VA panel, the ViewSonic VG3456 has a decent peak brightness of 300-nits and a high contrast ratio of 3,000:1, which makes for deep and inky blacks.

It covers the entire sRGB color space and while the colors aren’t as consistent as they are on IPS monitors, they’re good enough for basic content creation.

The 34″ 21:9 screen is basically a 27″ 16:9 display that’s ~33% wider. It has a resolution of 3440×1440 hitting the pixel density sweet spot of 110 PPI.

This means that you’ll have plenty of screen space with sharp details and text without having to apply any scaling.

Features

AMD FreeSync is supported with a 48-75Hz VRR range, providing you with tear-free gameplay up to 75FPS if you have a compatible GPU.

Other features include Black Stabilizer (improves visibility in dark scenes) and advanced image adjustment tools, such as hue/saturation, sharpness and gamma presets (from 1.8 to 2.8).

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers a good range of ergonomics, including up to 130mm height adjustment, +/- 60° swivel, -5°/40° tilt and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI ports, DisplayPort, USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 90W PD), RJ45, a dual-USB 3.0 hub (2 downstream + 1 upstream) and two 3W built-in speakers.

Alternatives

If you want a 34″ 3440×1440 monitor with an IPS panel a built-in docking, there’s the Dell U3421WE, but it’s much more expensive (~$,1000). The LG 34WN80C is a more affordable model with USB-C (60W PD), but it lacks RJ45.

About The Monitor

In case you want a larger ultrawide monitor with built-in docking, the Dell U3821DW is for you.

Image Quality

With a 38″ ultrawide monitor, you get the same height as that of a 32″ 16:9 display, but with around 33% extra horizontal screen space. The U3821DW has a screen resolution of 3840×1600, which results in a high pixel density of 111 PPI.

Moreover, the monitor supports a wide color gamut with 95% DCI-P3 color space coverage and it has a factory-calibrated (Delta E < 2) sRGB mode.

Other panel-related specifications include a 300-nit peak brightness, a 1,000:1 contrast ratio and dithered 10-bit color depth support.

Features

The Dell U3821DW supports Picture in Picture, Picture by Picture, Uniformity Compensation and hue/saturation/sharpness image adjustment tools.

It also has an integrated KVM switch.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor is robust and versatile with up to 120mm height adjustment, -5°/21° tilt, +/- 30° swivel and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility; the screen has a subtle 2300R curvature.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD), an additional downstream USB-C port with 15W PD, a quad-USB 3.0 hub (4 downstream + 1 upstream), a headphone jack, RJ45 and dual 9W speakers.

Alternatives

If you’re looking for something even bigger and with a higher resolution, check out the Dell U4021QW with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, 98% DCI-P3 gamut and 5120×2160 screen resolution, though it’s quite expensive.

About The Monitor

The Samsung S95UA is a 49″ super-ultrawide monitor with an aspect ratio of 32:9!

Image Quality

A 49″ 32:9 monitor is basically equivalent to two 27″ 16:9 monitors side by side, without the bezels in-between and since the Samsung S95UA has a screen resolution of 5120×1440, you also get the same ~108 PPI pixel density.

Further, the display offers rich and saturated colors with 95% DCI-P3 gamut coverage. Other specifications include a strong 400-nit peak brightness, a high 3,000:1 contrast ratio and basic DisplayHDR 400 support.

It even has a high 120Hz refresh rate, but its USB-C port is limited to 60Hz. Moreover, there’s no variable refresh rate support, so if you’re looking for something similar for gaming, check out the AOC AG493UCX2 instead. It supports 120Hz over USB-C and has 65W PD and KVM, but no RJ45 port.

Design & Connectivity

The stand of the monitor offers height adjustment up to 120mm, tilt by -4°/17°, swivel by +/- 15° and 100x100mm VESA mount compatibility.

Connectivity options include two HDMI 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, USB-C (DP 1.4 Alt Mode, 90W PD), three downstream USB 3.0 ports, RJ45, a headphone jack, two integrated speakers and a KVM switch.

Conclusion

Did you find the best docking monitor for you? Feel free to ask us anything in the comments below, and we’ll gladly help you pick the best model for you!

Overall, the ASUS VA24ECPSN and VG2756-2K offer excellent value for money and depending on region and availability, you should consider the Dell models we mentioned as alternatives too.

If you want a bit higher pixel density for sharper details, Philips’ 4K models, the 279P1 and 329P1H both offer amazing image quality and features for the price.

We find that the Dell U3821DW is the absolute best docking monitor you can get right now, while the ViewSonic VG3456 is a decent cheaper alternative, and in case you want something in the 32:9 form factor, the Samsung S95UA is your best bet.