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Dell DA310 Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons

7.2 Very Good
Adrian Cel By Adrian Cel

The Dell DA310 is a pocket-size USB-C travel hub built for people who need old and new ports from one laptop connector. It is not a full desktop dock like the WD19S or UD22. Instead, it is a round 7-in-1 adapter with an integrated 12 cm USB-C cable, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, one multifunction USB-C port, HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort, VGA, and Gigabit Ethernet. Dell rates the video outputs for one external display at a time: up to 4K at 60Hz through HDMI, DisplayPort, or the USB-C MFDP port, and up to 1080p at 30Hz through VGA. The USB-C port can also take a USB-C power adapter for passthrough charging, with up to 90W delivered to the laptop when the source adapter has enough headroom. The appeal is travel flexibility. You can walk into a conference room and handle HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, Ethernet, and USB peripherals without carrying separate dongles. The tradeoff is that the DA310 cannot run multiple monitors at once, has no SD card reader or audio jack, and its wraparound cable design is clever but fussy.

Best Dell Travel Hub

Pros & Cons

What We Like

  • Very broad travel port mix with HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, USB-C display output, Ethernet, and dual USB-A
  • Digital video outputs support up to 4K@60Hz from a compatible USB-C DP Alt Mode host
  • Up to 90W USB-C passthrough charging when paired with a high wattage USB-C power adapter
  • Pocketable round design with an integrated wraparound cable
  • Enterprise-friendly features such as PXE, Wake-on-LAN, MAC address pass-through, and Fast Role Swap are listed by Dell

What Could Be Better

  • Only supports one external display at a time despite having four display-capable ports

    Workaround: Use one display output only. For dual monitors, choose a real USB-C, DisplayLink, or Thunderbolt dock.

  • Dell direct pricing is high for a compact USB-C hub

    Workaround: Check Amazon or business resellers before buying direct from Dell. Laptop Mag found the Amazon price substantially lower than Dell's direct price during its review.

  • No SD card reader or 3.5mm audio jack

    Workaround: Carry a separate USB card reader or USB audio adapter if those ports matter.

  • Integrated cable is short and the wraparound design can be awkward
  • Passthrough charging output depends on the power adapter connected to the hub

    Workaround: Use a 100W or 130W USB-C charger if you want the laptop to receive close to the DA310's maximum passthrough output.

Display Support

Max Displays: 1
1 display (Single 4K@60Hz through HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort, or USB-C MFDP when the host USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. Dell's guide says the DA310 supports only one display at any given time.)
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
1 display (Single 1080p@30Hz through VGA. VGA is useful for legacy projectors but should be treated as a fallback.)
1920x1080 @ 30Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

1x USB-C 3.2 90W
2x USB-A 3.2 7.5W

Video Outputs

1x HDMI 2.0
1x DisplayPort
1x USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
1x VGA

Network

1x Ethernet (1 Gbps)

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer Dell
Model DA310
Release Date 2021-01
MSRP $119
Connectivity
Host Connection USB-C
Max Data Rate 10 Gbps
Driver Required No (native)
Display Output
Max Displays 1
1x Display 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Single 4K@60Hz through HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort, or USB-C MFDP when the host USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. Dell's guide says the DA310 supports only one display at any given time.)
1x Display 1920x1080 @ 30Hz (Single 1080p@30Hz through VGA. VGA is useful for legacy projectors but should be treated as a fallback.)
Ports (7+ total)
USB-C 3.2 1x (90W)
USB-A 3.2 2x (7.5W)
HDMI 2.0 1x
DisplayPort 1x
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode 1x
VGA 1x
Ethernet (RJ45) 1x 1 Gbps
Power
Power Input USB-C
Laptop Charging Up to 90W

Compatibility

Windows (10+)

Best supported platform, especially with Dell business laptops that can use MAC address pass-through, PXE, Wake-on-LAN, and firmware management features.

macOS

Works as a USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode hub when the Mac supports the requested display mode. User feedback reports successful Intel MacBook use, while some Apple Silicon users report Ethernet or detection issues.

Linux

May work as a standards-based USB-C hub on systems with DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB networking support, but Dell does not market Linux as the primary platform for this adapter.

ChromeOS

Can work with compatible Chromebooks that support USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode and USB Ethernet.

Known Issues

Multiple external displays

Only one display output works at a time

USB-C ports without DisplayPort Alt Mode

No video output

High power laptops connected to smaller USB-C chargers

Reduced or no passthrough charging

7.2 /10

Our Verdict

Very Good

The Dell DA310 makes the most sense as a travel adapter, not as the main dock for a permanent desk. Its port mix is excellent for a small puck: HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, USB-C display output, dual USB-A, and Ethernet cover the awkward ports you still find in meeting rooms and offices. Performance is also better than the tiny adapters that top out at 5 Gbps, since the USB data ports are rated for 10 Gbps and the digital display outputs can hit 4K at 60Hz. Laptop Mag gave it a positive 4 out of 5 review and liked the portability, display support, and 90W passthrough charging, but called out the high Dell direct price, fragile-feeling plastic in places, and poor cable management. Those caveats are fair. The DA310 is useful, but it is expensive if you pay full Dell pricing, and it does not replace a real docking station for dual-monitor work. Dell's own user guide is clear that only one display output works at a time. If you need a compact adapter for travel, presentations, Ethernet, and occasional 4K monitor use, the DA310 is one of the better premium USB-C hubs. If you need two or more displays, a card reader, audio, or a stable desk setup, buy a larger dock instead.

Available at Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Dell DA310 support dual monitors?
No. Dell's DA310 user guide says the adapter supports only one display at any given time. You can connect one display through HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, or USB-C, but not two at once.
Can the Dell DA310 do 4K at 60Hz?
Yes, with a compatible USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode host, the HDMI, DisplayPort, and USB-C MFDP outputs can support up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz. VGA is limited to 1080p at 30Hz.
How much power can the Dell DA310 pass through?
Dell lists up to 90W passthrough charging. The actual power depends on the charger connected to the DA310: a 130W source can provide up to 90W to the laptop, while smaller chargers provide less after the adapter reserves power for itself.
Does the Dell DA310 need drivers?
No DisplayLink driver is required because the DA310 uses native USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode for video. Some Dell enterprise features and firmware updates may require Dell support tools on Windows.
Is the Dell DA310 a docking station?
It is better described as a travel hub or multiport adapter. It adds useful ports and passthrough charging, but it does not have the multi-display support, power brick, audio, card readers, or desk-friendly cable layout of a full docking station.

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