Mokin 13-in-1 USB-C dock assessment: Energy and ports for nerds

Finest Costs Immediately: Mokin 160W GaN All in One Docking Station

For these of you who wish to know what’s occurring beneath the hood of your USB-C docking station, there’s Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station: a nerdy, compact 10Gbps 13-in-1 USB-C docking station designed to maintain your gadgets charged and also you knowledgeable — through an informative LCD display.

Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station seems on Amazon (at press time) because the “MOKiN Docking Station, 13 in 1 USB C Laptop computer Charging Station” and truly encompasses a pair of entries — one for $99.99, and one for $139.99. From what I can see, they’re equivalent, so select the cheaper choice in the event that they each seem.

The dock measures 7.8 x 7.2 inches and about 3 inches excessive, not taking as a lot area in your desk as a full-fledged Thunderbolt dock, however a couple of of our really helpful USB-C docks or hubs. It won’t sit vertically, and it’s actually too chunky to contemplate toting alongside in a backpack or carry bag.

By now, I’m used to docking stations whose ports do twin responsibility as charging choices. This isn’t the case right here, and the aesthetic appears to be within the vein of Anker’s fashionable charging merchandise: embrace a vivid, informative show, plenty of charging energy, and ports aplenty. That’s true right here, although concentrate: Some ports present knowledge, and a few ports present energy, they usually don’t actually overlap. There’s a brand new development in the direction of including screens to simply about every little thing, nonetheless, and that’s in play right here, too.

First, although, there’s the ability situation. On the left facet of the dock’s entrance sit two 10Gbps USB-C ports and a 10Gbps USB-A port — the latter highlighted in orange for aesthetics, apparently. These ports present knowledge, however not energy. The opposite three ports on the dock’s entrance facet, to the proper, additionally embrace two USB-C ports and a USB-A port, too. However these “dummy” ports solely present energy, not knowledge. Till you understand what’s occurring, it’s simple to assume that this dock is flawed — and primarily based on just a few critiques on Amazon’s website, some clients could not have learn the handbook carefully sufficient.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

However, when you do plug a tool into one in every of these right-hand “dummy” energy plugs, you’ll see an illustration of the best characteristic this dock affords: a 2.26-inch LDC display that tells you if a tool is plugged in, and the way a lot energy is being delivered to it per port. That form of issues tickles my nerd nerves, and USB-C hubs just like the DockCase 10-in-1 provide it as properly. Is it needed? After all not. But it surely does fulfill the a part of you that desires to know what’s occurring beneath the hood.

On the rear of Mokin’s dock lies the ability enter, in addition to the USB-C energy output to your laptop computer, which provides a rated 100W. (The dock reported that it provided 96W to my take a look at laptop computer through a shortish 2-foot twine, which matched my USB-C meter’s output as properly.) In case you want a further, purposeful USB-A port, there’s one other on the rear. You’ll additionally discover a pair of HDMI ports able to supplying sufficient knowledge for 2 4K shows at 60Hz. The dock will report the output for these shows, as properly.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

Lastly, there’s an Ethernet jack, although there’s no official ranking within the extraordinarily sparse handbook. I think that it’s simply a normal 1Gbps.

The ability that this dock delivers varies by port. In case you personal a USB charger, this could really feel acquainted: With only one port related, that port will obtain its most rated energy. (About 100W is at all times reserved for the laptop computer.) The opposite “dummy” ports differ: the primary “C1” USB-C port delivers between a rated 100W to 30W, relying on what else is plugged in; the “C2” USB-C port affords between 100W and 15W. The USB-A port gives 12W, at all times.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

(For comparability, an iPhone 17 Professional Max can draw as much as 40W whereas charging, whereas the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely can pull as much as 45W. All different gadgets usually want much less energy.)

All of that is displayed on the dock’s display when booted up, although there doesn’t appear to be a solution to cycle by the data as soon as related. (The dock will replace the display when you plug in a brand new machine, nonetheless.) In any other case, Mokin’s dock will at all times present how a lot energy it’s placing out in mixture, normally with the majority going to the laptop computer.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

Nonetheless, the ability output can get a little bit complicated, particularly as a result of there are variations between the 2 USB-C charging ports and the situations through which they output energy. However, I can’t consider too many gadgets that require 60W of energy from a charging port. One exception is an exterior energy financial institution or battery, which I exploit for testing.

For reference, right here’s how a lot energy every port can present, clipped proper from the handbook.

Mark Hachman / Foundry

How does the Mokin 160W GaN All-in-One Station carry out?

Bear in mind, it is a USB-C docking station, so the 10Gbps interface received’t permit for gaming with excessive refresh-rate shows. However for a conventional Workplace (Microsoft 365) workload, the dock was completely secure. A part of this may rely in your {hardware}; in case your laptop computer solely helps DisplayPort 1.2, anticipate as little as a single show with 4K30 decision or a pair of 1080p shows. DP 1.4 helps two 4K60 shows, which first rolled out with the Eleventh-gen Core chips (Tiger Lake) and the AMD Ryzen 4000.

PCWorld’s testing procedures for USB-C hubs haven’t modified: I examine thermals and port spacing, then join a number of shows utilizing just a few take a look at laptops. Lastly, I measure efficiency.

Mokin’s dock doesn’t get alarmingly sizzling, although it does get heat. Neatly, Mokin spaced out the USB-A ports, which may get congested with a number of gadgets plugged in subsequent to at least one one other. The USB-C spacing wasn’t a problem.

Basically, the ability output of the dock matched Mokin’s claims, although I wasn’t capable of get the USB-A port to supply greater than 7 watts. We principally stay in a USB-C world, nonetheless,

Mark Hachman / Foundry

Efficiency was near excellent, not less than on my newer take a look at laptops. Streaming a 4K video over Ethernet labored completely — solely two frames have been dropped out of over 10,000. My take a look at routine additionally connects an SSD to the USB-C port to measure if the dock or hub throttles knowledge, after which repeats the take a look at whereas once more streaming over Ethernet. My assessments measured about 113MB/s on each assessments, which informed me that the dock isn’t throttling knowledge.

Must you purchase the Mokin’s 160W GaN All-in-One Station?

Sure. On one hand, this dock’s LCD display is a little bit of a gimmick. Different docks do exactly high-quality with out passing on the information of how a lot energy your peripherals are consuming. Nonetheless, it’s an attention-grabbing solution to see how a lot energy your laptop computer sometimes consumes, and the way it will increase or decreases relying upon how a lot work it’s doing. I additionally like highly effective charging ports, particularly as a result of different docks appear to be falling behind the charging wants of at present’s most elite smartphones.

A primary USB-C dongle will present related connectivity for a lot much less, and the DockCase 10-in-1 does provide a few of that nerdy element that this dock gives. Nonetheless, it’s not a full-fledged USB-C docking station like Mokin’s providing. Simply take note of which ports provide knowledge, and which simply present energy. In any other case, try to be proud of Mokin’s charging dock.