My largest grievance about docking stations is that they by no means appear to have sufficient connectivity. I exploit, I am all the time compelled to drag out a hub or dongle to complement the docking station’s connectivity. That is true of many docking stations I’ve used through the years. HP, Lenovo, Microsoft, a wide range of different model units and most just lately Ugreen merchandise have all left me in want. Then select the NewQ 16-in-1, with its refreshingly considerable vary of connectivity.
![NewQ 16-in-1 docking station box](https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PXL_20230506_201040199.NIGHT_-1024x576.jpg)
Not like merchandise whose advertising and marketing makes daring claims concerning the variety of options which are filled with nonsense, NewQ’s 16-in-1 docking station principally refrains from doing so. The “16” within the 16-in-1 identify contains the facility enter, a primary performance of a docking station, which in my view shouldn’t be included. Nonetheless, there are different the reason why this system can lay declare to that 16-in-1 title, as we’ll see additional down.
NewQ 16-in-1 at a look
The NewQ 16-in-1 has options that aren’t so frequent with docking stations. Issues like USB PD passthrough for secondary units like smartphones and tablets, card readers and audio jacks. The spectacular versatility and selection will not be frequent for docking stations on the value of the NewQ 16-in-1, which is at present obtainable on Amazon for $169.99 USD.
Entrance
- Micro SD card slot
- Full-size SD card slot
- 1x USB Kind-A PD 18W out
- 1x USB Kind-C PD 18W out
- 2x USB Kind-A 10Gb/s
- 1x USB Kind-C 10Gb/s
- 3.5mm audio jack
Rear finish
- 1x DisplayPort 1.4
- 2x HDMI 2.0
- 3.5mm audio jack
- 2x USB Kind-A 2.0
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 150W DC energy connection
(20V x 7.5A)
There’s additionally an influence button on prime of the NewQ 16-in-1 that doubles as a method to modify the show mode. This can be a Home windows unique, however a characteristic nonetheless. And as well as, each the HDMI ports and the DisplayPort of the NewQ can be utilized collectively, permitting for as much as three shows.
One factor I all the time remorse is the overall lack of Ethernet connectivity past Gigabit speeds. Some argue that this isn’t essential as a result of wi-fi is quicker than gigabit speeds. However wi-fi pace measurements will not be the identical in any respect. Ethernet speeds are measured as a personal full-duplex medium, however wi-fi is measured as a shared half-duplex medium. What which means is that wired speeds are Gigabit in each instructions between simply the units linked to the wire. Wi-fi, then again, is half the claimed pace for every route and is shared between all linked units.
![NewQ 16-in-1 docking station front](https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PXL_20230506_201612002.NIGHT_-1024x576.jpg)
That’s, if six units have a pace of 1200 Mb/s, a bigger than gigabit pace, every system would share that 1200 Mb/s, that means 200 Mb/s every, however then that pace can be halved, allocating 100 Mb/s for importing and 100 Mb/s for downloading. In fact, it is a contrived assertion that assumes all units request knowledge equally in each instructions. However in distinction, six units linked through a gigabit change can realistically concurrently add 1Gb/s and obtain 1Gb/s, which is far higher than the wi-fi instance, regardless of the so-called bigger than gigabit pace of wi-fi. And that is why, as a lot as I really like wi-fi applied sciences, the shared entry medium will all the time be the largest limiting issue. And in addition why distributors must normalize Ethernet connectivity past the Gigabit speeds which have been commonplace for greater than a decade.
Repetitive rants apart, the NewQ 16-in-1 has wonderful connectivity, particularly in comparison with different choices on the value.
NewQ 16-in-1 first impressions
The NewQ 16-in-1 is available in a pretty big bundle and makes use of closed-cell foam for defense. The bundle is sort of heavy, in contrast to different docking stations. Nonetheless, that is largely as a result of 150W energy provide that comes with it.
![NewQ 16-in-1 docking station in box](https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PXL_20230506_201323201.NIGHT_-1024x576.jpg)
The field incorporates the docking station itself, the facility provide and the consumer guide. Curiously, NewQ has determined to go along with a hard-wired cable as an alternative of a USB Kind-C port and removable cable. This might be their method to addressing the slew of incompatible and probably harmful cable choices ensuing from the ubiquity of USB Kind-C and the shortage of a correct minimal energy specification to be used with the Kind-C connector.
The housing of the NewQ 16-in-1 is steel, which undoubtedly provides to the general weight of the system. The general aesthetic appears, not less than to me, to belong to a bygone period. A minimum of it does not look dangerous. It simply does not embody the simplicity or less-is-more design language of at present’s units. Due to this, the NewQ 16-in-1 provides me the impression of a not-so-retro-almost-future attraction. Once more, the NewQ 16-in-1 is not poorly designed. My opinion is solely that there is a lot happening for one thing that should not be the main target of your desk.
![NewQ 16-in-1 docking station rear](https://fossbytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/PXL_20230506_201635211.NIGHT_-1024x576.jpg)
My tastes apart, the NewQ 16-in-1 would look completely high-quality in any skilled enterprise atmosphere. Its attraction, whereas outdated in my view, remains to be properly inside the realm {of professional} and business-oriented design language. It would not look misplaced in a house or enterprise atmosphere. In actual fact, as a result of density of connectivity, I believe some environments may look much more skilled as a result of potential to clear up desks and muddle cables.
Day by day driving with the NewQ 16-in-1
The NewQ 16-in-1 makes use of the DisplayLink driver. Earlier than I set up that driver, there are some limitations to its performance. Nonetheless, I can not say precisely what limitations these are as a result of it was already put in on my system. That mentioned, the driving force can and may set up routinely for Home windows customers, because it has carried out for me prior to now. Mac customers can discover it on-line. Linux customers can even discover directions for set up on their respective distributions within the related documentation.
To place it succinctly, the NewQ 16-in-1 is my new each day driver. My day job as a System Administrator (not at FossBytes) lets me do business from home a couple of days every week. Consequently, I preserve switching between my setup on the workplace and my setup at house. Docking stations have made that course of very simple. And with the NewQ 16-in-1, I not have to fret about the place my USB hubs or card readers are. I did not discover any distinction in high quality of life between the NewQ 16-in-1 and the Ugreen docking stations I reviewed, and even the quote-unquote skilled high quality docking stations I’ve used, such because the Floor Dock or the HP Thunderbolt G2.
Along with the varied connectivity choices for workflows, there’s additionally the 18W charging possibility, which is helpful after I work late. This eliminates the necessity for a standalone charger that has taken up house on my desk for the previous three years. Docking stations are unbelievable on the subject of tidying up desk areas (not less than on the subject of cable administration)however this was positively a stable bonus.
Last ideas
Total, the NewQ 16-in-1 presents a wonderful worth proposition by combining a helpful mixture of connectivity and options with aggressive pricing in an already extremely aggressive product phase. It is not usually that I really feel like I could make broad suggestions with out understanding a person consumer’s wants, however NewQ’s 16-in-1 docking station appears to be an exception. I positively advocate anybody in search of a docking station for on a regular basis connectivity to check out the NewQ 16-in-1.