The latest Mac mini is a very impressive machine. Being one of the cheapest ways to get Apple's line of M chips, it's a great compact, budget choice for anyone looking to do some work or play games. However, it does come with one flaw — it has no ports on the front, which can make working a little harder. However, the best Mac mini docks are capable of sitting right under it and giving extra ports, and some even come with the option to mount your own SSD or HDD.
Luckily, there are so many good dock options out there right now, and one of the hardest decisions will be whittling it down to just one. That's what the iMore team is here for — we have counted up some of the best Mac mini docks out there. Before you pick one, it is worth mentioning that the newest Mac mini is a little bit bigger than the previous one so buying older docks may result in a slight size mismatch. Everything will work fine but this is worth bearing in mind if you like a clean aesthetic. We have picked a brand new dock here too though that should work perfectly.
Best docks for Mac Mini 2023
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Quick List
Best overall
This dock is made in the same aluminum finish as the Mac mini itself and gives you a bunch of extra ports. There are three extra USB ports for the front a pair of SD card slots, and a USB C port. The cool part is that there are two slots for extra storage underneath. Hidden below there is space for an SSD and a mini hard drive, so you can get a few extra gigs for your files.
Best Vertical
This stand will save you some horizontal space by putting your Mac mini vertically. You also get some extra ports, like three extra USB ports, a USB C port, a headphone jack, and a pair of SD card slots. There's a power button on the side as well, so you won't have to reach around the back of the machine to turn it on. It should help with cooling too.
Best M.2 compatibility
This dock matches the finish of the Mac mini that you'll be plonking on top, and has a specific slot underneath to stick an M.2 SSD drive. The bottom is plastic, and it has little rubber feet to stop it from slipping around on the desk. The divet in the top means that the Mac mini sits properly, and it leaves a line around the bottom so there's still room for cooling.
Slimmest
This dock is a little different, in that it sits on top of your Mac mini rather than the other way around. It comes with a whole bunch of ports, like three USB A ports, SD card slots, and a USB C socket. It comes in Space Gray or Aluminum, so there's one to match your Mac. There's even a sneaky little hard drive inside, for some hidden extra storage.
Best for multiple devices
This is another dock that holds the Mac mini in a vertical orientation, but it comes with extra goodies on top of the extra ports and an M.2 SSD slot. There's a spot to put your iPhone, so you only need one stand on your desk. It also means you can plug your iPhone in to charge more easily, and then leave it in standby mode like a desk clock.
Best for mini and Studio
This docking station is designed to be used with both the Mac mini and the bigger Mac Studio. There's an HDMI port here in addition to the USB ports and the now requisite SD card slots. There's also a hard drive cage inside to extend that storage, and the whole thing sits on vibration-dampening rubber feet so there won't be any moving about.
Dock that Mac mini
If you've picked up a Mac mini recently, you'll notice that it doesn't have any ports on the front. There are plenty on the back, but those are a pain to get to when it's sitting on your desk, sometimes slightly out of arm's reach. One of these docks will make it a little easier to plug stuff in, as well as give you more ports.
The best in our minds on this list is the Satechi Dock. It's made of aluminum and has a cooling divet for the Mac mini to sit in. You'll get all the ports you could want, as well as a couple more on the back. You can even add storage with the SSD slot at the bottom. The feet will stop it from sliding around your desk as well, so everything is covered.
There are other docks for the best Macs as well. Maybe you want to find one of the best USB hubs for Mac, or even one of the best USB hubs for the MacBook Pro, so there's one that fits with your MacBook.
Q&A
Can a Mac mini use a docking station?
Yes, it can — thanks to its USB-C ports, it can connect to any USB docking station that support Apple M-series chips. These docks are all designed with the Mac mini in mind, so they use design elements of the machine to work well on your desk and better blend in to your setup.
