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Review: Henge Docks Vertical Docking Station For 13-Inch MacBook Air

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Need More Desk Space? Go Vertical

I’m one of those people who carries around a 13-inch MacBook Air as my primary computer. However, 95 percent of the time I’m actually using it while sitting at my desk. It’s connected to a 27-inch iMac that does double duty, serving as both an external monitor for the laptop and a home media server. That takes care of the MBA’s small and terribly low resolution display for day-to-day working. I also have a mechanical keyboard and Bluetooth mouse connected, with the MacBook Air sitting on a horizontal stand.

This configuration means there are a few wires, and the laptop stand has a pretty big footprint, cutting into the available desk space.

That’s not a problem for me, since I use the MBA’s display as a second screen and I have plenty of space. But what if desk space is at a premium, and you switch to an external display when connected? Many people use their laptop with the lid closed when connected to a monitor. That’s where the Vertical Docking Station from Henge Docks comes in. It docks the laptop vertically, saving desk space while offering a sleek, thin look.

13-Inch MacBook Air in Vertical Docking Station from Henge Docks (Credit: Brad Moon)

Henge Docks Vertical Docking Station for 13-Inch MacBook Air

I was expecting the Vertical Docking Station to be made of the same aluminum as the 13-inch MacBook Air. The description on Henge Docks’ website does note the “solid metal chassis of the Vertical Dock.” The review unit that arrived was actually made of glossy white plastic, but it does still offer a premium appearance and solid build that fits well with the Apple look.

Inside, a soft gray lining holds the MBA snugly without scratching. You slide the laptop in, with its Thunderbolt port facing down. Inside the dock are a pair of passthrough connectors that fit securely into the corresponding ports on the MacBook Air. At the bottom rear of the Vertical Docking Station are a USB port and a Mini DisplayPort for connecting a USB peripheral and an external monitor.

Pass-though ports inside the Vertical Docking Station (Credit: Brad Moon)

It’s a pretty elegant solution except for several potential issues. 

This entire vertical docking concept only works if an external monitor is connected to the MBA. Apple’s design puts power and Thunderbolt --which serves as the 13-inch MacBook Air’s video out-- on two different sides of the laptop. Henge Docks’ design makes Thunderbolt one of the passthrough connectors, which means the power connector is exposed at the top. And if you want to plug in the power adapter, it's exposed on the top of the vertically docked laptop (although a cable clip is provided on the back of the dock to help keep things tidy). 

Need to charge? You'll need to connect the MagSafe power adapter to the top (Credit: Brad Moon)

That exposed MagSafe connector and cable detracts a bit from the overall sleek look of the setup, but it was probably the right choice given that users will always be connected to a monitor, but have the option of ditching the power cable virtually all day if they wish (thanks to the 13-inch MacBook Air’s 12-hour battery life).

Unfortunately, there are a few more gotchas because of this design. And while they won’t affect everyone, they could be an issue for some MBA owners. The first is that the passthrough port is not compatible with Thunderbolt displays; you’ll need a monitor with a Mini DisplayPort connection, or you can use an adapter that converts Mini DisplayPort to DVI or HDMI (Henge Docks sells these, as does Apple).

The 13-inch MacBook Air’s SD card slot is on the same side as its Thunderbolt port. Which means it’s inaccessible while the laptop is docked in the Vertical Docking Station. The only real solution if  you frequently load content from an SD card --short of undocking every time you need access-- is to connect an external USB card reader. For many people it's a non-issue; for photographers, it could be a problem.

Recommendation

Credit: Henge Docks

Henge Docks’ Vertical Docking Station for 13-Inch MacBook Air is an elegant solution for getting your MacBook Air up off the desk. It’s attractive and sturdy. If space is at a premium or you’re looking for a minimalist appearance when connected to an external display, then the $65 price isn’t unreasonable. However, before springing for it, make sure your setup isn’t one that might be affected by the port limitations.

Complete Your Mac Desktop Organization With Gravitas Dock and Clique

Henge Docks also sent over a few desktop accessories to try out. 

Vertical Docking Station, Clique and Gravitas Dock from Henge Docks (Credit: Brad Moon)

The Gravitas Dock is a solid (2.5 pound) chunk of zinc alloy that provides an upright, Lightning port-equipped dock for iOS devices. I swapped out the default plastic liner for the supplied larger version with a supporting back, making the $59 Gravitas Dock perfect for charging and viewing my iPhone 7 Plus (it can even accommodate an iPad).

The Henge Docks Clique is a white plastic keyboard tray that integrates Apple’s Wireless Keyboard and Magic Trackpad into a single accessory. For $29, it’s an attractive solution to keeping your desktop organized. There is also a newer Clique 2 that has an aluminum frame and is compatible with Apple’s latest Magic Keyboard and Magic Trackpad 2.

Disclosure: Henge Docks provided review units