Andrew O'Hara
The Kensington StudioDock is an all-in-one solution for power users who rely on their iPad Pro to get their work done by incorporating a magnetic stand, a bevy of ports, an Apple Watch charger, and two Qi chargers.
Apple seems to be taking the iPad Pro more seriously, upgrading it year after year with more powerful features transforming the device from a content consumption device to a content creation device. In that time, Apple brought USB-C to the tablet, iPadOS 13.4 delivered mouse and trackpad support. We also got support for external displays and split-screen apps.
Though Apple has been upgrading the device via software and hardware upgrade, accessories haven't evolved quite as fast.
We've seen countless USB-C hubs and a few keyboards with trackpads integrated, but otherwise, it's the same gear we see time and time again or perhaps borrowed from the Mac.
Kensington set out to do something truly unique with its StudioDock. It is the most unique and exciting iPad accessory to hit the market in years.
StudioDock design
StudioDock sets out to solve multiple issues while increasing the iPad Pro's functionality by a massive degree.
Just with StudioDock, you're able to replace a USB-C hub, two Qi charging pads, an Apple Watch charger, an SD card reader, a charger, and an iPad Pro stand. That's a lot to fit into one device, and as such, StudioDock isn't a small addition to your desk.
Depending on if you pick up the 11-inch or 12.9-inch model, this has a presence on your desk. Your iPad Pro magnetically attaches to the top, which has an angled edge to the top-left where the camera sits, and a USB-C connector on the right to power your iPad Pro.
Your iPad Pro will get up 37.5W of power when connected, significantly more than the 18W charger Apple includes in the box. It sits horizontal but also can rotate to portrait mode at any time.
The iPad mount sits on the StudioDock and can tilt up and down — even enough to face backward to a certain degree. This can be great for collaboration as you can rotate the screen around for others to see, though it doesn't go quite far enough if the other person is sitting.
Kensington made the StudioDock primarily of aluminum, including most of the base. The finish exudes off a pleasant, premium feel in line with Apple's offerings. The shape of the dock even matches Apple's own Pro Display XDR stand to a degree — though not as fancy.
On the front of the device are two Qi charging pads that are under a piece of heathered grey fabric with silicone edges. On the left pad is a ring that denotes it is used for smaller devices, such as your AirPods or AirPods Pro. That pad can achieve up to 5W of power and the pad on the right goes up to 7.5W for your iPhone.
That covers most user's devices already, but Kensington will also offer an optional Apple Watch adapter moving forward. This 5W Apple-certified charger clips onto the right edge and powers your watch at the same time as everything else.
Around the back are an assortment of ports to expand the iPad's abilities.
Ports include:
- USB-C port with 15W of output
- USB-A 3.0 port (3X)
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 4K HDMI 2.0
- UHS-II SD 4.0 reader
- Dual Kensington lock ports
Most of those ports sit around the back, with the SD card reader and the headphone jack on the right. The sole USB-C port sits on the left edge just below the power button.
An iPad-only workstation
A few of us at AppleInsider rely on iPads as our daily drivers. This means that we've cycled through a variety of different tools to get the job done. We've used USB-C hubs, docks, stands, cases, external input devices, and more. The ability to combine so many devices, so many chargers, and so many cables into one device is incredibly tempting.
There are several nice features that Kensington built-in. For example, rotating to portrait can be helpful for writing, editing code, or other tasks. When you do this with your Apple Watch on the charging puck, it rests against a slight lip, keeping it in place.
The iPad is, after all, a mobile-first device — but the StudioDock is intended for a desk. So it doesn't get lifted, those lock ports come in handy.
All too many USB-C hubs skimp on the card reader's speed and include slow UHS-I card readers. UHS-II has a max speed of 312MB/s — three times that of UHS-I. If you've ever imported a large batch of RAW images using a slow reader, you know how tedious and annoying it can be.
Should you invest in the Kensington StudioDock
There are a few aspects of StudioDock that give us pause. For example, how long will this last? A standard USB-C hub and a stand can last for many years, but StudioDock will only remain relevant as long as Apple keeps the iPad size relatively consistent. There's no obvious way to adapt a different size device.
Luckily, many pros will hold onto their iPads for years, and companies tend to hold on even longer, so it isn't presently clear how much of an issue this will be.
We'd like to see a few changes on a second-gen version, including a MagSafe charger rather than the half-as-slow Qi charger and more USB-C ports rather than USB-A. Otherwise, the onus is on Apple to do more with iPadOS, such as improved external monitor support.
But those quibbles aside, Kensington has done a remarkable job in creating a pro-level accessory. It feels like it belongs and does what we need it to do — be it connecting SSDs, equipping a mic, or relying on an external monitor.
Pros
- All-in-one design
- Aluminum and fabric exude premium build quality
- Tablet can roatee and tilt
- Lots of convenient ports
- Easy to dock and remove iPad
- Fast charges iPad Pro
- Can power all of your Apple gear
- Perfect for Bluetooth keyboard and mouse
- Can work as an easle
- Ultra-fast UHS-II card reader
- Good port placement
Cons
- Gets very expensive
- Apple Watch charger not included
- Power cable is very bulky
- Needs more type-C ports
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Where to buy
The Kensington StudioDock runs $379 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and fourth-gen iPad Air model and $399 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro model at B&H Photo. Third-party sellers are also selling the dock on Amazon.com.
Stephen Silver
Christine McKee
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
6 Comments
OK. Since you asked. This is ridiculous, to the extent that the review screams sponsorship.
Brushed aluminum does not mean Apple design, and the forced functionality and non modularity are not just generally questionable, but downright dumb in the case of the iPad Pro.
Not even addressed here is the fixed height. This would be very tiring to use much with fingers. Awful if not impossible to use with the pen (biggest reason to choose iPad imho). Maybe if your standing and drag it closer to you, but that will suit a fraction of people a fraction of the time.
There are great little USB-C mini docks for around $30 for all this connectivity (maybe 2 cheaper ones even better). That fit in your bag and go with you where you’ll likely be needing them!
The other device chargers are far from
elegant and have no place being cemented to this.
When the power supply burns out, you get a book holder and a boat anchor, along with lost functionality everywhere, although you couldn’t move them or take them anywhere else anyway....
yuck.
Do lots of people need to charge their watch...at their desk...while working...??? Filler Do people need 37.5w for charging? If your iPad is plugged in all the time to your station, why the extra watts? Filler You’d have to be using your phone a SHIT TON to need a dedicated charging pad built in. Filler it’s a neat idea, for a small market, for way too much money - like the MS Big Ass Table. All filler is added to jack up the price but the price doesn’t justify all the filler. And like the MS B.A.T., this will die and go away and no one will notice.