TobenONE Docking Station 3 Monitors Review
Discover order amidst chaos with the TobenONE Docking Station. This compact marvel supports 3 monitors, connects effortlessly, and charges swiftly. Tech tranquility awaits!
Included 100W power adapter with 87W to the laptop, triple display through dual HDMI and DisplayPort, seven USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and audio in a vertical compact body. The TobenONE 13-port dock sits between TobenONE’s other two docks on your catalog: the 15-port triple-display dock (150W adapter, triple 1080p lid-closed, no DisplayLink) and the 18-in-1 DisplayLink dock (120W adapter, quad 4K@60Hz). This 13-port model provides triple display with its own power supply and plug-and-play operation on Windows and ChromeOS — no driver, no DisplayLink, no lid-closed requirement for triple mode. For the buyer who wants a TobenONE desk dock with fewer ports than the 15 but without the DisplayLink complexity of the 18, this is the middle option.
Thirteen ports. Two HDMI. One DisplayPort. Four USB 3.0. Two USB 2.0. One USB-C 3.0 (data only). Gigabit Ethernet. 3.5mm audio. 100W adapter included (87W to laptop). Vertical design. Plug and play. Windows and ChromeOS. Thunderbolt 4/3, USB4, USB-C compatible. Weight, dimensions, and warranty not provided.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Ports | 13 |
| HDMI | 2 |
| DisplayPort | 1 |
| USB 3.0 | 4 |
| USB 2.0 | 2 |
| USB-C 3.0 (data only) | 1 |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 1 |
| 3.5mm Audio | 1 |
| Power Adapter | 100W included |
| Power to Laptop | 87W |
| Display Count | Up to 3 (dual or triple) |
| USB-C Display | Not supported (data only) |
| Compatible Systems | Windows, ChromeOS. Thunderbolt 4/3, USB4, USB-C. |
| Driver Required | No. Plug and play. |
| Form Factor | Vertical, compact |
| Manufacturer | TobenONE (C-Smartlink Information Technology Co., LTD) |
| Weight | Not provided |
| Dimensions | Not provided |
| Warranty | Not provided |
TobenONE Laptop Docking Station, Grey-100W Power adapter-18
Triple Display: No Driver, No Lid Closed
Dual HDMI and one DisplayPort provide three video outputs. Triple display works through native DP Alt Mode with MST on Windows and ChromeOS — no DisplayLink driver, no software rendering, no HDCP restrictions. The laptop lid stays open. Compare that to the TobenONE 15-port dock (B0BN5R1XJQ), which requires lid-closed for triple display, and the TobenONE 18-in-1 DisplayLink dock (B0DKP1J8ZQ), which requires driver installation. This 13-port model provides the simplest path to three monitors from TobenONE.
Display resolution specs are not detailed in the product data. Based on the port types (HDMI + DisplayPort from USB-C through MST), expect the standard cascade: higher resolution on fewer screens, lower resolution on more screens, with the exact numbers depending on your laptop’s DP version and bandwidth.
87W to Laptop from 100W Adapter
The 100W adapter powers the dock and delivers 87W to the laptop. The dock keeps 13W for its own operations. 87W charges MacBook Air (30-45W) and most Windows ultrabooks (45-65W) at full speed. MacBook Pro 14″ (70-96W) charges at near full speed. The laptop charger stays in the bag — the dock’s own adapter handles charging. The 15-port TobenONE provides a 150W adapter. This 13-port provides 100W. The 18-in-1 DisplayLink provides 120W. Choose based on how much power your laptop draws.
Seven USB Ports
Four USB 3.0 at 5 Gbps for external drives and fast peripherals. Two USB 2.0 for keyboard and mouse. One USB-C 3.0 for modern USB-C accessories (data only, no video output through this port). Seven USB ports covers a full desk without a separate USB hub. The USB-C data port is the same design as the TobenONE 15-port — charging and data on separate USB-C connections, display through HDMI and DP only.
Vertical Compact Design
The dock stands vertically like the Baseus Spacemate, taking less desk surface than a flat slab dock. The vertical orientation places ports along the sides rather than the back, which changes how cables route on the desk. For a desk where horizontal space is limited, vertical docks trade height for footprint.
Drawbacks
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display Resolutions Not Specified | No per-port resolution detail in product data. |
| Weight/Dimensions Not Provided | Cannot assess portability or desk footprint. |
| Warranty Not Provided | Not listed. Other TobenONE docks carry 24 months. |
| USB-C: Data Only | No video through USB-C port. |
| USB 3.0, Not Gen 2 | 5 Gbps. No 10 Gbps ports. |
| macOS Not Listed | Windows and ChromeOS only in compatible devices. |
TobenONE Dock Comparison
| Feature | 13-Port (this unit) | 15-Port (B0BN5R1XJQ) | 18-in-1 DisplayLink (B0DKP1J8ZQ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Count | 3 | 3 (lid closed) | 4 Win / 3 Mac |
| Display Technology | Native MST | Native | DisplayLink |
| Driver Required | No | No | Yes |
| Power Adapter | 100W | 150W | 120W |
| Laptop Charging | 87W | 15W USB-C (phone) | 100W |
| USB Ports | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| Lid Closed for Triple | No | Yes | No |
| Mac Support | Not listed | One monitor | 3 monitors |
For the TobenONE 15-port review, see the TobenONE USB-C Docking Station review. For the TobenONE 18-in-1 DisplayLink, see the TobenONE DisplayLink Docking Station review.
Who This Dock Is For
Windows and ChromeOS users who want triple display with a 100W power adapter, seven USB ports, Ethernet, and audio from TobenONE without DisplayLink or lid-closed requirements: The 13-port dock is the simplest triple-display TobenONE. Plug and play. No driver. Lid stays open. 87W to the laptop. Vertical compact design. For Mac triple display or quad monitors, the TobenONE 18-in-1 DisplayLink handles that with driver installation.
Mac users, buyers who need 10 Gbps USB, or anyone who needs display resolution specs before purchasing: macOS not listed. All USB at 5 Gbps. Display resolutions not specified in product data. For those needs, see the docking stations hub page.
Final Verdict
The TobenONE 13-port dock provides the easiest path to triple display from TobenONE: plug and play, no driver, lid open, 87W charging from an included 100W adapter. It sits between the 15-port (more power, lid-closed triple) and the 18-in-1 DisplayLink (more monitors, driver required) in TobenONE’s lineup. The comparison table gives a buyer looking at all three TobenONE docks a clear view of what each provides and what each requires. The missing display resolution detail, weight, dimensions, and warranty are gaps that the buyer should confirm with TobenONE before purchasing. For the Windows or ChromeOS user who wants three monitors from one cable with zero setup complexity, this dock delivers that from a brand with multiple docks on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to install a driver?
No. Plug and play on Windows and ChromeOS. No DisplayLink driver required.
Does the laptop lid need to be closed for triple display?
No. Unlike the TobenONE 15-port dock, this 13-port model supports triple display with the lid open.
How is this different from the other TobenONE docks?
The 15-port has a bigger adapter (150W) but needs lid closed for triple. The 18-in-1 has quad display but needs DisplayLink driver. This 13-port is the simplest: no driver, lid open, triple display, 87W charging.
Does this work with Mac?
macOS is not listed in the compatible devices. Windows and ChromeOS only.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Docking Station Intelligence
The standards are confusing by design. These three panels decode what manufacturers won’t explain clearly. Applicable to every docking station.
The USB-C Confusion Matrix
The USB-C connector is the single greatest source of buyer confusion in docking stations. The physical plug looks identical whether it carries USB 2.0 at 480 Mbps or Thunderbolt 5 at 120 Gbps — a 250x difference in capability hidden behind the same shape. Manufacturers exploit this by labeling everything "USB-C compatible" without specifying which protocol runs through it. Two docks can look identical on the outside and behave completely differently once you plug them in.
The hierarchy matters because it determines everything: how many monitors your dock can drive, how fast files transfer, whether your laptop charges while docked, and whether you need third-party drivers. Here is the real capability ladder, from slowest to fastest:
The practical takeaway: if your laptop has Thunderbolt 4, buy a Thunderbolt dock. If it only has generic USB-C, verify whether it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode before buying anything with multi-monitor claims. Our buying guide walks through verification steps for every major laptop brand.
Power Delivery: What the Watts Mean
Power Delivery (PD) determines whether your docking station can charge your laptop while you work, or whether you need a separate charger cluttering your desk. The math is simple but rarely explained: your laptop draws a specific wattage under load, and the dock must match or exceed it. If the dock delivers less than your laptop needs, the battery slowly drains even while plugged in — defeating the purpose of a docking station entirely.
Most ultrabooks need 45–65W. Standard business laptops need 65–100W. Gaming and workstation laptops can demand 100–140W or more. The dock’s advertised PD wattage is the maximum it can deliver to your laptop — but this drops if you charge other devices (phones, tablets) through the dock simultaneously. Always leave a 15–20W margin above your laptop’s requirement.
Check your laptop’s original charger wattage — that’s your baseline. Our FAQ covers how to find this for every major brand.
Native Display vs DisplayLink: The Hidden Factor
This is the decision most buyers don’t know they’re making. When a docking station outputs video to your monitors, it uses one of two fundamentally different methods: native (the dock passes your laptop’s GPU signal directly to the monitor) or DisplayLink (the dock compresses video over USB and a software driver renders it). The difference is invisible in marketing materials but profoundly affects your daily experience.
Native output through DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt uses your laptop’s actual graphics hardware. There is zero added latency, full DRM support for streaming services, no CPU overhead, and no driver to install. DisplayLink, by contrast, adds 5–15ms of latency (noticeable in video calls and cursor movement), blocks DRM content on connected monitors (Netflix, Disney+ show black screens), consumes 3–8% of your CPU constantly, and requires a driver that Apple’s macOS security updates occasionally break.
DisplayLink exists for one reason: Apple Silicon base chips (M1, M2, M3) can only drive one external display natively. If you need two or more monitors on a base MacBook Air or 13” MacBook Pro, DisplayLink is your only option. For everyone else — Windows users, Mac Pro/Max chip users, Intel/AMD laptops — native is always the better choice.
Native (Alt Mode / Thunderbolt)
DisplayLink (USB compression)
The bottom line: if your laptop supports native multi-display output, always choose a native dock. DisplayLink is a workaround, not an upgrade. See our glossary for detailed definitions.
COMMAND CENTERCOMMAND CENTER
Six tools that decode the confusion manufacturers create. Port protocols, power budgets, display configurations, compatibility, desk planning, and future-proofing. Full buying guide →
Port Protocol DecoderWhat does your connection type actually support? Glossary
Power Delivery CalculatorCan this dock keep your laptop charged?
Display Configuration PlannerCan your dock push enough pixels?
Laptop-to-Dock CompatibilityWill this dock work with YOUR laptop?
Desk Setup ArchitectWhat ports do you actually need?
Select everything you need to connect: