This MacBook Pro dock saves space, adds style [Review]

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Henge Docks' Vertical Docking Station, a MacBook Pro dock
Henge Docks' Vertical Docking Station for MacBook Pro makes for a sleek desktop. (The Gravitas, for iPhone and iPad, helps.)
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A recent move into a new studio put my OCD on high alert. Determined to maintain a truly “clean workspace,” I wanted to avoid a jumble of cables slowly creeping across my new desk at all costs. A MacBook Pro dock definitely seemed in order.

For a sleek solution to any pending cable chaos, I added Henge Docks’ Vertical Docking Station for MacBook Pro to my desktop. So far, it’s the best solution I’ve found.

Check out my full video review below.

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Best List: Henge Docks Vertical Docking Station

The Vertical Docking Station from Henge Docks is a beautifully designed dock, available for any MacBook out there. I use a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, so I got the dock for that particular laptop.

Henge Docks Vertical Docking Station review
The Vertical Docking Station for MacBook Pro saves desk space, eliminates cord clutter, and reduces setup and disconnect time.
Photo: Henge Docks

All versions of the dock look super-sleek, with an Apple-esque design that matches the MacBook perfectly. Made from high-grade aluminum, the dock comes in aluminum, space gray or white to match the MacBook, MacBook Air or MacBook Pro. The docks project a really clean look, with only the logo on the front and side.

Read the instructions

Upon initial setup, I thought I’d be able to get the dock up and running without the need for instructions. A few moments of frustration later, I dove back into the box to dig them out. It’s a super-simple process, but I missed the oh-so-important hex screw to keep the MagSafe charger in its place. To set it up, I needed to flip the dock upside-down and release the hidden hex key to loosen the screw, slide my MacBook in and then the charger. Tighten up the screw and — presto! — all done.

With the dock having all the necessary connections built right in, using it is as simple as sliding in my MacBook when I get home. When I need to leave, I just eject any connected drives and pull it straight out. At 3 pounds, the dock proves hefty enough to remain upright, and won’t pull away with my MacBook. For something so simple in principle, it saves a lot of time every time I want to connect to my screen setup.

A MacBook Pro dock that kills dangling cables

Several cables dangle from the bottom of the dock to connect all the peripherals I could possibly need, including an audio jack, USB and two display port connections. Thankfully, I didn’t need to leave all these cables in a messy pile: The MacBook Pro dock’s built-in cable management system at the back held them together in a neat, ordered row.

Henge docks review
The dock keeps cables together in a neat, ordered row.
Photo: Henge Docks

The vertical dock also ensures that I save some desk space. No longer must my MacBook Pro lie flat on my desk, with cables sprouting off in all directions. Instead, it stands up neatly.

It’s also worth mentioning Gravitas, Henge Docks’ iPhone and iPad dock, as it accompanies the Vertical Docking Station perfectly. Made of the same high-quality aluminum, Gravitas boasts the same amazing build quality as the vertical dock.

Buy from: Amazon

Henge Docks provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See Cult of Mac’s reviews policy and check out more stuff we recommend in our Best List reviews.

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