IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand Review: An Efficient and Ergonomic Workspace, Even On-the-Go

People are traveling for work once again. Fortunately, more thin, light, powerful laptops are available than ever before. Unfortunately, most of those laptops fall short in the port department, and I’m not just speaking only about Macs! That’s where the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand comes in; it’s light and portable and adds some important ports for on-the-go computing.

My MacBook Pro largely functions as a desktop computer. My home office has an elevated laptop stand, and a dock lets me connect multiple peripherals to the computer with a single USB-C cable.

Thanks to the dock, my laptop is connected to a large external monitor, a keyboard, a ScanSnap scanner, and external storage. It works well for me and lets me work efficiently at home while still being able to disconnect a single cable and take my laptop with me when I travel.

However, when I do travel, I’m limited to the laptop’s meager offering of just three USB-C ports. On top of that, without a laptop stand, the ergonomics of the laptop are not ideal.

The IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand is a small, light accessory that not only elevates my laptop, making it easier to view but also offers additional ports for on-the-go computing. While you might opt to use the dock at home, the design really does make it ideal for travel.

With the $89.95 accessory, you can use one USB-C port to add an HDMI, 2 USB-A, Type-C data, RJ45, and a PD Charging port.

The two USB-A are USB3.2 Gen1 and deliver a maximum of 5Gbps of data speeds. The single USB-C means that, while using the dock, you don’t lose the port into which the dock is plugged; it delivers a maximum of 5Gbps. The single HDMI port can support up to 4K at 30Hz.

In other words, while the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand doesn’t have the abundance of ports we have seen in other dock/hubs, it likely offers more than enough expansion for work on the go.

The device itself is small, light, and collapsible. Weighing just .65 pounds, in its closed position, it is 11′ long, 2 1/2 inches wide, and just one inch thick. That makes it simple to throw in your gear bag when heading out for the day or packing for a trip.

It extends to 7 1/2 inches wide enough to maintain a stable base for pretty much any laptop.

The IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand’s adjustable support arms are held in position by magnets, so the legs won’t accidentally open when carried in a bag. That helps prevent the arms from bending.

Each support arm has an additional piece that extends from the bottom and can lock into one of five different positions.

As a result, any laptop placed on the stand can be securely held at an angle as shallow as 15 degrees and as steep as 36 degrees.

Rubber feet on the bottom keep the dock from sliding. Rubber pads along the top surface ensure that the laptop never directly interacts with the aluminum stand. That’s especially important if you are using a loopy with a metal enclosure.

Beneath the stand, there is a USB-C cable. It is permanently affixed to the stand and has four strategically-placed clips to safely hold the cable when not in use.

The expansion ports are found on the left side when facing the stand. There’s an HSMI port that supports 4k video at 30GHz, the two USB-A ports supporting speeds up to 5Gbps, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a single, data-only USB-C port that can deliver speeds up to 5Gbps.

Finally, there is a second USB-C port at the point where the USB-C cable connects to the dock/stand. It is a PD Pass-through port that can deliver up to 100W of power.

IOGEAR does not include a wall adapter, so you must supply your own. Obviously, the amount of power passing to the laptop will depend on the wall adapter you choose. (IOGEAR offers a 100W USB-C GaN charger for just $45.95. a 60W version is just $34.95)

Despite being as small, collapsable, and light as it is, the IOGEAR 6-in-1 multi-functional laptop stand/USB-C hub creates a secure laptop stand. I’ve used it at each of the five angles, and I never once worried whether or not it was stable enough.

IOGEAR notes that it can hold any standard laptop size so long as the weight does not exceed the maximum weight of 11 pounds — although, let’s face it, an 11-pound laptop isn’t a laptop.

The IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand features include:

• 4K: Supports an External HDMI Display up to 4K
• Ergonomic: Adjustable Viewing Angles Helps Promote Better Posture
• PD 3.0: Fast Charging with USB-C PD 3.0 100W Charging Port
• Cooling: Adjustable Stand Keeps Laptop Cool
• Adjustable to Your Personal Preference: Five adjustable height settings from 15 to 35 degrees to select, ensuring the optimal height for your workstation. Additionally, raising the laptop off a surface achieves better ergonomics and creates more airflow.
• Power Your Laptop: Charge your laptop while docking with the USB-C power delivery port and USB-C power adapter.
• Lightweight and Portable: Lightweight, weighing just .65 lbs (.3 kg). The stand collapses and folds neatly for travel/storage with attached USB-C cable secured neatly in the stand’s base when not in use. Additionally, small magnets secure the closed position.
• Flexibility: 5 adjustable gears from 15 degrees to 36 degrees
• Cable wrap design: Secure cable under the stand for storage when not in use
• Folding design: collapsible stand for easy storage
• Multiple Ports: Connect multiple devices with two USB-A ports, one USB-C port for data, one USB-C port for PD pass-through charging, and an RJ45 Ethernet port. Mirror or extend a monitor for Windows and Mac.

I have other portable hubs that can extend the number of available ports when I work on the go; they all work well, and some even offer more ports than this dock. None of them, however, double as a laptop stand. Until I got this for review, I didn’t realize how much I missed being able to adjust the height of my laptop when working on the go!

With the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand, I can bring a keyboard and mouse with me and, in a few seconds, have a complete desktop-like setup anywhere I go. Thanks to its collapsable design and lightweight, I can bring this dock/hub/stand anywhere.

Since it is designed for travel, I wish IOGEAR included a protective bag. I think the choice not to have one was a mistake, but it doesn’t dampen my enthusiasm for the accessory.

There’s also an additional feature that the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand brings to the table.

My newer iPad Pro has a USB-C port; thanks to Apple finally loosening its grip a bit, it is now possible to use that port with peripherals such as a keyboard.

I tried connecting my iPad Pro to the dock/stand and then plugged a wired keyboard into the dock; it works like a charm. So while the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand is marketed as a laptop stand, it also offers serious benefits to anyone trying to use their USB-C-enable iPad as a laptop replacement!

I don’t see the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand replacing the hub I use at home since that one has even more ports. But as a travel dock, I have not seen anything quite as practical as this.

It does the job of a portable hub but also makes working on a laptop more ergonomic. That’s a great combination, and it makes the IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand worth serious consideration.

The IOGEAR Dock Pro 6-in-1 4K Dock Stand sells for $89.95, and you can learn more about it here; it is available for purchase from Amazon and other retailers.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Thin, light, and collapsable for easy transport; Offers five different viewing angles; Rubber feet keep it stable; Rubber pads protect your laptop; USB-C cable clips into the bottom for safe, easy packing; HDMI, USB-A ports, Ethernet port, and the USB-C data port are on one side and can be easily accessed; USB-C PD charging port can deliver up to 100W of power

What Needs Improvement: This is designed for travel, so it odd for IOGEAR not to include a protective bag or case