This 15-in-1 docking station did more than add ports - it finally brought order to my desk

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Out of all the docking stations I've tested, the Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro is one of the most unique, sporting features not commonly seen on other docks. 

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It immediately distinguishes itself with an adjustable wireless charging pad on top and a small, high-resolution display on the front. What's great is that these additions don't feel like gimmicks; they deliver genuinely useful information for busy work setups, in addition to all the benefits of a high-end docking station.

All the ports 

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

Front:

• 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 near-instant file transfers and a full-gigabit Ethernet connection for low-latency networking. For the average user, this is overkill, but for power users, I think it's nearly perfect.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Something you may not notice at first glance is the heat vents, which are part of its cooling system. Spacemate RD1 uses a graphene-enhanced thermal structure along with vents to efficiently dissipate heat. In my experience, the cooling system does a fine job of keeping it cool. It got a little warm during testing, but never uncomfortably hot, and there were no signs of instability due to overheating.

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What's interesting about the dock is that it ships with two interchangeable power plugs: one for the US standard, the other for the European standard. Both attach by sliding over the adapter's pegs on the front. I found the US plugs easy to remove: just press the button on top, and it slides off. 

The European plug, however, was surprisingly more difficult to detach. It uses the same release mechanism, but in my experience, it got stuck on the progs. I had to use a bit of elbow grease to remove.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

For all its strengths, my biggest complaint about the Spacemate RD1 Pro is its power adapter. It's huge; nearly half the size of the dock, and you can't leave it behind. The device cannot operate off just power siphoned from a host laptop, it needs the adapter. Good luck finding a space for it. I actually had to unplug my desktop PC from a power strip during testing just to make room for both the adapter and my monitor's power cable.

You don't see this everyday 

By far the most eye-catching feature is the Qi 2.2 wireless magnetic charging pad on top. It delivers up to 25W of wireless charging power and can be positioned in one of three positions: completely flat, at roughly 45 degrees, or nearly upright. To get the most out of this pad, be sure your mobile device supports the Qi standard; otherwise, you'll be waiting for a long time. I placed a 2026 Motorola Razr Ultra on top, which doesn't support Qi2.2, and it took roughly four hours to reach 50% charge from a fully depleted battery.

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

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

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

Operational modes

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

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I wanted to see how the Spacemate RD1 Pro handled real-life workloads, specifically multi-monitor setups and file transfers. Unsurprisingly, the dock did great. It had no trouble driving high-resolution video signals. Text looked crisp on my HP Omen gaming monitor, colors looked accurate, and I didn't encounter any strange flickering or weird visual artifacts. It even adjusted the aspect ratio of the laptop's video signal to match the monitor's.

File transfer performance was equally impressive. Moving a 22GB movie from a WD_Black SN770M SSD to my laptop took roughly 43 seconds, while a separate 85GB transfer finished in approximately two minutes and 30 seconds. 

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

One neat feature is the small 240 x 240 pixel RGB display on the front. It generates a visual map of your setup, detailing what is plugged in and how power is being distributed. You'll see things like the setup's host device, connected peripherals, active displays, and real-time power delivery.

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Multi-monitor support varies depending on whether you're using a Windows or Mac device. Windows users get the most flexibility, since they can mirror a laptop's screen, extend the video signal across multiple monitors, or have each screen run an independent video signal. 

On macOS, you can only mirror content or extend the signal across the monitors, but you can't have all three be independent from each other.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro is available from Amazon and Baseus for $300. To help soften 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 better docking stations I've used, and certainly the most unique. It is a great combination of a generous port selection, thoughtful thermal management, and useful extras like its Qi2 wireless charging pad. If you're looking for a more affordable alternative, consider the Baseus Nomos Air 12-in-1, with similar features, like the charging pad.