I fixed my PC setup with a 15-in-1 docking station, and the benefits outweigh the multiple ports

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Of all the dock stations I’ve tested, i Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro it’s one of the most unique, sporting things rarely seen on other docks.

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It quickly sets itself apart with an adjustable wireless charging pad on top and a small, high-resolution display on the front. The good thing is that these additions don’t sound like gimmies; they bring real useful information for busy work setups, in addition to all the advantages of a high-quality docking station.

All ports

The Spacemate RD1 Pro is a large enough docking station with an array of ports and controls:

Previously:

• 2 × USB-C (up to 100W PD)
• 2 × USB-A (5 Gbps)
• 240 x 240 display with control button (resolution TBD)

Back:

• 2 × USB-C (10 Gbps)
• SD/TF card slot (V3.0)
• 2 × USB-A (480 Mbps)
• HDMI (up to 4K@60Hz)
• HDMI (up to 4K@120Hz)
• 1 Gigabit Ethernet
• Full-featured USB-C host port
• DC input (up to 100W PD)

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It’s a fully loaded docking station with fast USB ports for quick file transfers and a full gigabit Ethernet connection for low-speed connections. For the average user, this is overkill, but for power users, I think it’s almost perfect.

Something you may not notice at first glance are the heat vents, which are part of your cooling system. The Spacemate RD1 uses an advanced graphene thermal structure and holes for efficient heat dissipation. In my experience, the cooling system does a good job of keeping it cool. It got a little warm during testing, but not uncomfortably hot, and there were no signs of overheating.

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What’s interesting about the dock is that it ships with two interchangeable plugs: one for the US standard, the other for the European standard. Both attach by sliding over the adapter pins on the front. I found the US plugs easy to remove: just push the button up, and it slides out.

The European plug, however, was surprisingly difficult to remove. It uses the same extraction method, but in my experience, it is stuck in progs. I had to use elbow grease to get them off.

For all its power, my biggest complaint with the Spacemate RD1 Pro is the power adapter. It is great; it’s about half the size of a booth, and you can’t leave it behind. The device can’t be powered off just from the laptop, it needs an adapter. Good luck finding your place. I actually had to unplug my desktop PC from the power line during testing to find room for both the adapter and monitor power cable.

You don’t see this every day

The most eye-catching feature is the Qi 2.2 wireless charging pad on top. It delivers up to 25W of wireless charging power and can be placed in one of three positions: completely flat, at about 45 degrees, or almost straight. To get the most out of this pad, make sure your mobile device supports the Qi standard; otherwise, you will be waiting for a long time. I put the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 on top, which doesn’t support Qi2.2, and it took about four hours to reach 50% charge from a completely drained battery.

After that, I put an old iPhone 13 Mini (which supports Qi) on top, and the time to recharge to 50% was almost cut in half: 2 hours and 14 minutes, to be exact. It is possible to achieve higher speeds, as long as your mobile device supports Qi 2.2.

These numbers were obtained while the Spacemate was in Charging Mode. In charging mode, almost all features of the device are disabled except for charging. You cannot transfer files or output a video signal. If you press and hold the button above the display for two seconds, it switches to Hybrid Mode.

Work methods

Hybrid Mode is the default setting and enables all dock functionality. You can connect external displays, transfer files between devices, and charge connected hardware. However, the charging performance is limited compared to charging mode as the power is distributed across multiple devices.

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I wanted to see how the Spacemate RD1 Pro handled real-life workloads, especially multi-monitor setups and file transfers. Undoubtedly, the booth did well. It had no problem driving high resolution video signals. Text looked sharp on my HP Omen gaming monitor, colors looked accurate, and I didn’t experience any flickering or weird visuals. It even adjusted the aspect ratio of the laptop’s video signal to match that of the monitor.

File transfer performance was equally good. Transferring a 22GB movie from the WD_Black SN770M SSD to my laptop took about 43 seconds, while another 85GB transfer took about two minutes and 30 seconds.

One nice feature is the small 240 x 240 pixel RGB display on the front. It produces a visual map of your setup, explaining what’s connected and how power is distributed. You’ll see things like host device setup, connected peripherals, active displays, and real-time power delivery.

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Multi-monitor support varies depending on whether you are using a Windows or Mac device. Windows users get more flexibility, as they can match a laptop screen, extend the video signal to multiple monitors, or have each screen use an independent video signal.

In macOS, you can only display content or extend the signal to all monitors, but you can’t have all three independent of each other.

ZDNET shopping advice

I Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro available on Amazon and Baseus for $300. To help ease the sticker shock, Baseus is currently offering a promotional discount on Amazon with the code BASEUSPR at checkout for $100 off.

Overall, the Spacemate RD1 Pro is one of the best dock stations I’ve used, and it’s certainly quite unique. It’s a great combination of generous port selection, thoughtful thermal management, and other useful features like its Qi2 wireless charging pad. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, consider the Baseus Nomos Air 12-in-1, which has similar features, such as a charging pad.