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Targus Docking Stations 2026 - Brand Overview, Products & Buying Guide

Adrian Cel By Adrian Cel

Targus is one of the oldest names in laptop accessories. Founded in 1983 in Anaheim, California, the company began by making carrying cases and bags for portable computers, back when “portable” meant a 25-pound Compaq luggable. Over four decades, Targus expanded into peripherals, security locks, and eventually docking stations. Today, the company is owned by B. Riley Financial and continues to operate out of its Anaheim headquarters.

In the docking station space, Targus occupies a specific niche: enterprise-grade universal docks built on DisplayLink technology. While brands like CalDigit focus on Thunderbolt performance and Mac optimization, and Dell builds docks tightly integrated with Dell laptop ecosystems, Targus prioritizes universal compatibility and multi-display output. Their docks connect via USB-C (or even USB-A on older models) and work with virtually any laptop, regardless of manufacturer. This universal approach makes Targus a popular choice in corporate environments where IT departments need to dock a mixed fleet of Dell, HP, Lenovo, and other laptops with a single dock model.

Targus also brings genuine expertise in DisplayLink technology. They were among the early adopters of DisplayLink chipsets for commercial docking solutions, and their deployment base in enterprise accounts is one of the largest in the industry. If you have ever worked at a large company with shared desks and universal docking stations, there is a reasonable chance those docks were made by Targus.

Targus Docking Station Product Lineup

Targus offers a range of docking stations, from basic USB-C hubs to the high-end quad-display DOCK570. The lineup leans heavily toward enterprise buyers, with features like Kensington lock slots, TAA compliance, VESA mounting, and fleet management software appearing across most models.

The Targus DOCK570 (officially the Targus USB-C Universal Quad 4K Docking Station with 100W PD) is the top of the Targus docking lineup and the model we have reviewed on this site. It uses dual DisplayLink DL-6910 chips to drive up to four independent 4K displays from a single USB-C connection. That quad-display capability is its headline feature and the reason it exists.

The DOCK570 provides four HDMI 2.0 outputs and four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs (eight video outputs total), four USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 downstream port, Gigabit Ethernet, and a combo audio jack. It delivers 100W of USB-C Power Delivery to your laptop via the included 180W AC adapter. Enterprise features include a Kensington lock slot, TAA compliance for government procurement, and VESA mount compatibility.

At an MSRP of $482.99, the DOCK570 is not cheap. But the quad 4K capability fills a niche that most docking stations simply cannot. If your workflow involves financial trading floors, surveillance monitoring, design work across multiple canvases, or any scenario that demands four independent 4K screens from one cable, the DOCK570 is one of very few docks that delivers.

Dual and Triple Display Docks

Below the DOCK570, Targus offers several dual-display and triple-display universal docking stations. These use single DisplayLink chips and support two or three external monitors at various resolutions. They follow the same universal USB-C approach, making them compatible with a wide range of laptops. Pricing on these models is significantly lower than the DOCK570, typically in the $150-300 range, making them more accessible for smaller deployments or home office use.

USB-C Hubs and Travel Docks

Targus also produces compact USB-C hubs and travel-sized docks for users who need basic port expansion without multi-display support. These smaller products provide a few USB-A ports, HDMI output, and sometimes Ethernet in a pocket-sized form factor. They do not use DisplayLink and instead rely on USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode for video, meaning they work without drivers but support only one external display on most laptops.

Who Is Targus For?

Targus docking stations have a clear target audience, and it is not the same audience that buys a CalDigit TS4 or an Anker hub from Amazon.

Corporate IT departments are Targus’s bread and butter. If you manage a fleet of laptops from multiple manufacturers and need a standardized docking solution for shared desks or hot-desking environments, Targus makes strong sense. The universal USB-C connectivity means one dock model works across Dell, HP, Lenovo, and Apple laptops without compatibility headaches. The DOCKX Manager software lets IT admins push firmware updates to every dock on the network without visiting each desk individually. Kensington lock slots and VESA mounting round out the enterprise feature set.

Multi-monitor power users who need more than two external displays will find the DOCK570 compelling. Most Thunderbolt 4 docks max out at two 4K displays. The DOCK570 doubles that to four, which is valuable for financial analysts running multiple Bloomberg terminals, surveillance operators monitoring camera feeds, developers running code on one screen and documentation on three others, or graphic designers working across extended canvases.

Users with older or non-Thunderbolt laptops benefit from Targus’s universal approach. Because DisplayLink docks work over standard USB-C (5 Gbps), you do not need Thunderbolt 3 or 4 hardware. Even budget laptops with basic USB-C ports can drive multiple external displays through a Targus dock, something that native USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode cannot achieve on most systems.

Home office buyers on a budget should probably look elsewhere. Targus docks are priced for enterprise procurement, and the DOCK570’s $483 MSRP is hard to justify for a dual-monitor home setup. An Anker dock or a used Dell D6000 will serve most home office needs at a fraction of the cost. Targus’s value proposition only clicks when you need quad-display support or centralized fleet management.

Creative professionals and gamers should avoid DisplayLink docks entirely. The DL-6910 chips compress video through the CPU, not the GPU, which means external displays connected through the DOCK570 are not suitable for video editing, color-critical design work, 3D rendering, or gaming. For those workflows, a Thunderbolt dock that passes native GPU output is the right choice.

Our Targus Dock Reviews

We have reviewed the following Targus docking stations on our site:

  • Targus DOCK570 Review - Score: 6.8/10. A specialized quad-4K DisplayLink dock with dual DL-6910 chips, 100W PD, and enterprise security features. Best for multi-monitor office setups where four independent 4K displays are a firm requirement. Badge: Best for Quad Displays.

The DOCK570 earned a 6.8 out of 10 in our review. That score reflects its genuine strengths in multi-display capability and enterprise features, balanced against its high price, DisplayLink driver dependency, and unsuitability for GPU-accelerated workloads. It is a solid tool for its specific niche, but it is not a general-purpose docking station.

Our analysis found that the DOCK570 delivers on its core promise of four 4K displays from a single USB-C cable. Setup does require installing the DisplayLink driver before connecting displays, and macOS users in particular should be prepared for occasional compatibility hiccups after OS updates. The 3-year warranty is a reassuring inclusion for a dock at this price point.

If you are comparing the DOCK570 to other multi-monitor solutions, our docking station buying guide explains the differences between DisplayLink, Thunderbolt, and native USB-C display output. We also maintain a dedicated page for dual-monitor docking stations if two screens are sufficient for your workflow.

Targus vs Competitors

Targus vs Dell

Dell and Targus both sell docking stations aimed at enterprise environments, but they approach the market differently. Dell’s Thunderbolt 4 docks (like the WD22TB4) deliver native GPU-driven display output and tight integration with Dell laptops through ExpressCharge and Dell Command Update. Targus offers universal compatibility across all laptop brands and higher display counts through DisplayLink. If your organization is standardized on Dell laptops, Dell docks are the natural fit. If your organization has a mixed laptop fleet and needs universal docking, Targus has the edge.

Dell also competes with Targus in the DisplayLink space through the Dell D6000, which supports triple 4K displays at a much lower price point. However, the D6000 caps out at three displays and delivers only 65W of charging, compared to the DOCK570’s four displays and 100W PD.

Targus vs Plugable

Plugable is Targus’s closest competitor in the DisplayLink docking station market. Plugable offers a range of DisplayLink docks at competitive prices, often with strong community support and detailed compatibility documentation. For individual buyers, Plugable frequently offers better value: comparable DisplayLink performance at lower prices, with more consumer-friendly support channels.

Where Targus pulls ahead is in enterprise fleet management. Plugable does not offer anything equivalent to DOCKX Manager for centralized firmware deployment. Large organizations deploying hundreds of docks will find Targus’s management tools and enterprise sales support more practical than ordering Plugable docks from Amazon. For home office or small business use, Plugable is often the smarter buy.

Targus vs CalDigit

These two brands rarely compete directly because they use fundamentally different technologies. CalDigit builds Thunderbolt docks with native display output, zero driver requirements, and premium Mac-first design. Targus builds USB-C DisplayLink docks with universal compatibility and high display counts. The CalDigit TS4 drives two 4K displays at higher quality (no compression, no drivers) for $380. The Targus DOCK570 drives four 4K displays via DisplayLink (with compression and drivers) for $483. If you need two displays and value quality, CalDigit wins. If you need four displays and value universality, Targus wins. They solve different problems.

Targus vs Kensington

Kensington, like Targus, has a long history in laptop accessories and enterprise docking. Both brands offer DisplayLink-based universal docks with similar enterprise features (lock slots, VESA mounting, fleet management). The competition between these two often comes down to which brand has a better relationship with your organization’s procurement department. Feature-wise, they are closely matched in the enterprise DisplayLink segment.

Enterprise Management: DOCKX Manager

One of Targus’s strongest differentiators is the DOCKX Manager software platform. In enterprise environments where IT teams deploy and maintain hundreds or thousands of docking stations, managing firmware updates manually is not practical. DOCKX Manager provides a centralized interface for pushing firmware updates to all connected Targus docks across the organization, monitoring dock status and health, and streamlining initial deployment and configuration.

This is not a feature that matters to individual buyers. But for IT administrators at companies with 500 or more desks, it can save significant time and reduce support tickets related to outdated dock firmware.

Since every Targus multi-display dock runs on DisplayLink technology, understanding its trade-offs is essential before buying.

How it works: DisplayLink chips (the DL-6910 in the DOCK570) use software-based video compression. Your laptop’s CPU compresses the display output and sends it over USB to the dock, where the DisplayLink chip decompresses and outputs it to your monitors. This approach works over standard USB-C at 5 Gbps, which is why it does not require Thunderbolt hardware.

What it does well: DisplayLink enables multi-display output from any USB-C laptop, including budget models with no Thunderbolt or DisplayPort Alt Mode support. The DOCK570’s four simultaneous 4K displays would be impossible without it on most USB-C laptops.

What it does poorly: The CPU-based compression adds latency and prevents GPU acceleration on external displays. This makes DisplayLink docks unsuitable for gaming, video editing, color grading, 3D modeling, and other graphics-intensive tasks. On macOS, DisplayLink requires the DisplayLink Manager app with Screen Recording permission, and major macOS updates can break compatibility until Synaptics releases an updated driver.

For general office productivity (email, spreadsheets, documents, web browsing, video calls), DisplayLink works well. For anything that demands GPU performance on external monitors, a Thunderbolt dock is the right choice. Our buying guide covers this distinction in more detail.

The Bottom Line

Targus has been making laptop accessories since 1983, and their docking station lineup reflects decades of enterprise-focused experience. The DOCK570 fills a genuine niche with its quad-4K DisplayLink capability, 100W Power Delivery, and enterprise management features. Few docking stations can match its display count, and the universal USB-C compatibility makes it deployable across mixed laptop fleets without headaches.

That said, Targus docks are purpose-built tools for specific use cases. The DisplayLink driver requirement, CPU-based video compression, and enterprise-tier pricing make them a poor fit for home office users, creative professionals, or anyone who needs only one or two external displays. For those buyers, a Thunderbolt dock from CalDigit or a budget-friendly option from Anker will deliver a better experience at a lower price.

If your use case matches what Targus does best (four monitors, universal compatibility, enterprise fleet management), start with our Targus DOCK570 review for the full breakdown. For help deciding between DisplayLink and Thunderbolt, check our buying guide. And if you are exploring dual-monitor docking stations rather than quad-display setups, you will likely find better options from Dell or Plugable at more accessible price points.

Targus Docking Stations

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Targus docking stations require drivers?
Yes. Targus docks use DisplayLink technology for display output, which requires software drivers on every operating system. On Windows, you can download the driver from the Targus support page or directly from Synaptics. On macOS, you need the DisplayLink Manager app with Screen Recording permission enabled. ChromeOS has built-in DisplayLink support and does not need a separate driver. Without the driver installed, USB ports and Ethernet will still function, but no displays will work.
Can Targus docking stations support four monitors?
Yes. The Targus DOCK570 supports up to four independent 4K displays simultaneously using its dual DisplayLink DL-6910 chips. It provides four HDMI 2.0 outputs and four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, giving you flexibility in how you connect your screens. DisplayPort outputs support 4K at 60Hz, while HDMI outputs support 4K at 50Hz.
Are Targus docking stations good for Mac users?
Targus docks work with MacBooks via USB-C, but the experience is not as smooth as with Windows. You must install the DisplayLink Manager app from Synaptics and grant Screen Recording permission. Major macOS updates can break DisplayLink compatibility, and you may need to wait for an updated driver before upgrading. If Mac compatibility is your top priority, a Thunderbolt dock like the CalDigit TS4 will give you a more reliable, driver-free experience.
What is the DOCKX Manager and do I need it?
DOCKX Manager is Targus's firmware management software designed for IT administrators. It allows centralized firmware updates across all Targus docks in an organization, monitors dock status, and simplifies fleet deployment. Individual home office users do not need it. It is primarily useful for corporate IT departments managing dozens or hundreds of docks simultaneously.
Is the Targus DOCK570 worth the price at $483 MSRP?
The DOCK570 is worth the price only if you specifically need four 4K displays from a single USB-C connection. That is a niche requirement, but for users who need it (financial trading desks, design workflows, video walls), few docks can match the DOCK570's quad-display capability. For standard dual-monitor setups, a Thunderbolt 4 dock from CalDigit or Dell delivers better performance for less money. Street prices for the DOCK570 frequently drop to the $350-450 range, which improves the value proposition.