I’m relatively content within Apple’s walled garden of simple interfaces. I do, however, have a nasty habit of overestimating my devices’ powers sometimes — especially when it comes to my M3 MacBook Pro.
I upgraded to the M3 MacBook Pro in June 2024 — just five months before Apple announced its new M4. Was I a little sour about upgrading when the newest thing was right around the corner? Sure. But it’s just a processing chip. What revolutionary upgrades could the M4 have over the M3?
The native ability to connect to more than one external monitor, apparently. The M3 has a hardware limitation that supports only one external display — or two, but only if you close the lid. That wasn’t going to fly for me. I needed a workaround. Luckily, I found just the right device to bypass the hardware limitation — and while I was at it, a Targus dock that’s become my new travel companion as a fully remote worker.
4/5
- Brand
-
Targus
- Color
-
Black
- Weight
-
0.44lb (0.19g)
- Dimensions
-
4.13 x 4.13 x 1.13-inches
Targus’ USB-C Universal Dual HD Docking Station is a portable, universal dock that supports dual HDMI displays while providing 80W USB-C power Pass-Thru. It’s compatible with DisplayLink software and is helpful for users with hardware limitations to connect to multiple external monitors.
- Portable
- Compact and organized
- Pass-thru for power
- Lock slot feels unnecessary for users just trying to connect monitors at home
- DisplayLink software hard to find through Targus’ site
Targus provided a sample to Pocket-lint for editorial coverage, but the company had no continuing input as to the content of this article.
Price, availability, and specs
The USB-C Universal Dual HD Docking Station is available directly from Targus’s website for $150. It’s DisplayLink compatible — which is the software that makes the M3 hardware bypass possible — and supports single 2K (2560 x 1440 @50Hz) or dual HD (2048 x 1152 @60Hz) video via HDMI 1.4b. It has multiple ports including:
- One Ethernet port
- Two USB-C ports (one power-in only, and the other a 3.2 Gen 2)
- Another USB-C port
- Two USB-A ports
- Two HDMI ports
The dock connects to your computer via an embedded USB-C cable that wraps neatly around the side of the device, just below the lip. And if you’re working with USB-A compatibility (say, an older MacBook), there’s a handy little USB-A host adapter tucked into its own compartment next to the power-in port.
There’s also an integrated lock slot — though I don’t see myself using it much (if at all).
- Brand
-
Targus
- Color
-
Black
- Weight
-
0.44lb (0.19g)
- Dimensions
-
4.13 x 4.13 x 1.13-inches
- Connection Tech
-
USB 3.2 G2
- Host Port Compatibility
-
USB-A & USB-C (with adapter)
- Compatible OS
-
Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android, Ubuntu
- Ethernet
-
Yes
- Max Host Power
-
80W Pass-thru
- HDMI
-
2
- USB-A Ports
-
2
- USB-C Ports / 3.2 Gen 2
-
1 + 1 Pass-thru
How I used it to connect my M3 MacBook Pro to two external displays
Three screens are better than one
First things first: download the DisplayLink software for macOS, Windows, Android, ChromeOS, or Linux. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Targus’ website super helpful when it came to locating the right download — the included manual just directs you to targus.com, which isn’t specific. The best approach is to go to Targus’ driver support page, find the USB-C Universal Dual HD Docking Station, and download the compatible driver from there. After agreeing to the licensing agreement, the driver will download as a .zip file.
During installation (which I go more in-depth on here), you’ll have to approve screen recording permissions by opening Open System Settings > Privacy & Security and then toggle on DisplayLink Manager. But don’t worry — DisplayLink doesn’t record, store, or transmit any of your information. The screen recording just lets the software mirror your screen to the external monitors and create the loophole for the bypass.
What I love about this universal docking station
It’s universal, tidy, and surprisingly portable
I’ve used other adapters to make this work, but they’re one-trick ponies that still leave my cords on display. Because this docking station has every port I need short of a 3.5 mm headphone jack, I can plug everything into the dock and tuck it neatly behind my laptop while I work.
Now, there’s only one USB-C cable leading to the organized chaos hiding behind the clamshell lid. Out of sight, out of mind.
Thanks to the embedded USB-C cable and pass-through power, I was able to connect everything and move the dock behind my MacBook screen. I didn’t realize how much those dangling cables bothered me until they were gone. Decluttering my setup was a huge relief and makes my workspace feel wireless.
Now, there’s only one USB-C cable leading to the organized chaos hiding behind the clamshell lid. Out of sight, out of mind.
The physical, portable appeal
It’s not slipping and sliding
The dock’s rubber bottom keeps it from sliding around my desk — helpful since I’m unplugging it several times a week to work at coffee shops. I also appreciate that the USB-C cable is embedded, since I tend to lose cables in drawers and forget what they belong to. There’s no misplacing this one. If you do, you’ve lost the whole dock.
While I don’t have much use for the USB-A host adapter, I love that it has its own little slot. I doubt I’ll use it often, but it’s there if I ever need it.
Next time I travel between North Carolina, Tennessee, and New York, this dock’s coming with me. I travel often enough that I’m practically a digital nomad, and the monitor setups in each location are always different. My family’s set-up is chock-full of USB-A ports, so I can already see this dock earning its place in my carry-on.
4/5
- Brand
-
Targus
- Color
-
Black
- Weight
-
0.44lb (0.19g)
- Dimensions
-
4.13 x 4.13 x 1.13-inches
