Is It a Hub or a Docking Station, and Does the Label Matter?
Summary
The label matters less than the spec sheet, because makers don't use the two words the same way. In USB-IF's own definition, a hub carries only USB and a dock also carries video, but products with two HDMI ports are sold as hubs. What separates a small travel adapter from a desk dock in practice is how many screens it drives, whether it has its own power supply, and how much of that power reaches the laptop.
The official line and the shop shelf
The DisplayPort FAQ quotes USB-IF's definition of a hub as "a product that only supports USB, and in particular does NOT support Alt Modes, including the DisplayPort Alt Mode." A product that also carries DisplayPort video "is not identified as a 'hub', but is instead identified as a 'dock'."
By that rule, a USB-C hub whose HDMI port runs on DisplayPort Alt Mode is a dock, and the DisplayPort FAQ says products claiming "video over USB-C" are typically using that mode. Product names don't follow the rule. Lemorele's TC96 has two HDMI ports, a VGA port, Ethernet and a 100W charging input, and its product page calls it a "13-in-1 USB-C Hub for Triple Display." The address of the same page ends in "usb-c-13-in-1-docking-station."
Three products side by side
Comparing actual spec sheets shows the differences better than the names do. The first two are sold as hubs and the third as a docking station.
| Spec | Lemorele TC38L | Lemorele TC96 | StarTech 129N-USBC-KVM-DOCK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video outputs | One HDMI, up to 4K at 30Hz | Two HDMI up to 4K at 30Hz, plus VGA | Two DisplayPort, up to 4K at 60Hz |
| Wired network | None | Gigabit Ethernet | Gigabit Ethernet |
| Power | PD port, "up to 100W" | 100W input, about 85W to the laptop | Included 180W adapter, 90W to the active laptop |
| Software | None mentioned | None for display; Ethernet driver only on Windows 8 or earlier | "Driver installation required on Windows/macOS" |
| Laptops | One | One | Two, switched by a button or hot keys |
The TC38L lists no adapter of its own, and charging runs through its PD port from a USB-C charger. The StarTech comes with its own 180W adapter and charges two laptops at once, 90W to the one in use and 45W to the other. Our guide to what a USB-C hub can do reads one hub's spec page in full.
How the difference shows up at a desk
A hub like the TC38L goes in a laptop bag. Plugged in at a hotel desk, it gives you HDMI for one screen, a few USB ports and a place to plug the charger. A dock like the StarTech stays on the desk with its adapter, two monitors, the network cable and the keyboard and mouse all attached, and the laptop joins with one cable. The TC96 sits between them, with more ports than a travel hub but the same 4K at 30Hz limit on its screens.
Browsing for one? Browse docks and hubs in the feed →
Sources
- DisplayPort (VESA), FAQ
- Lemorele, TC96 13-in-1 USB-C Hub
- Lemorele, TC38L USB-C 8-in-1 Hub
- StarTech.com, 129N-USBC-KVM-DOCK datasheet
We have not tested these products. Specs and guidance are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; the manufacturer's page for your model has the current details.