IOGear Nano Dock Pro Review: A Small but Mighty USB-C Hub

IOGear Nano Dock Pro Review

What we like

First off, the $49.95 Nano Dock Pro delivers its value through a small package. The hub’s primary value proposition comes not from its USB-A ports but from the dual HDMI ports that support up to two 4K monitors at 30Hz, or one 8K monitor at 30Hz.

As an iPad Pro user, I appreciate the long 13″ USB-C cable leading from the hub. It makes it so that regardless of how I mount my iPad, the dock will not dangle in the air. It also makes for a more convenient and flexible connection to laptops, with peripherals often scattered across a desktop.

The IOGear Nano Dock Pro includes Power Delivery (PD 3.0) at 100Ws, which is enough to charge most laptops via the USB-C port being used for the hub.

The Nano Dock Pro also includes 3 USB Type-A ports, two of which are USB 2.0, and one is a 5GPs USB 3.0 port.

The all-undyed cardboard packaging demonstrates thoughtful, environmentally conscious package design.

What could be improved

The biggest issue with the smallish Nano Dock Pro comes from the supported refresh rate of 30hz, regardless of the resolution. Native resolution is often at a minimum of 60hz to offer smoother video, an especially important feature for gamers. Some laptops, like the MacBook Pro, now support what they call promotion, which runs 120hz.

I would like to see all the USB Type-A ports support USB 3.0. I would also like to see an audio port, but that’s a wish from an iPad Pro owner who tests audio devices.

The Nano is also not Thunderbolt compatible, so it will not offer any Thunderbolt-related functionality or speeds.

IOGear Nano Dock Pro: The Bottom Line

The well-made IOGear Nano Dock Pro offers flexible connectivity for most day-to-day work. But the refresh rate of only 30hz limits its value for video editing or gaming.

IOGear provided the 8K IOGear Nano Dock Pro for review. Images courtesy of IOGear.

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