Kensington is one of the premiere brands in computer peripherals and accessories. The company is showcasing a slew of new products at CES 2023 that will appeal to office workers, students, and work-from-homers. From new docking solutions to a mechanical keyboard, Bluetooth headset, mice, and more, here are the highlights.
Kensington’s new docking stations help increase productivity
Kensington is showcasing four new docking stations that will help improve productivity at your desk: the MD120U4 USB4 Mobile Dock, SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 Dock, SD1700P Mobile Dock with Qi Charging, and a new universal Thunderbolt 4 docking station.
MD120U4 USB4 mobile dock
The MD120U4 USB4 Mobile Dock is lightweight and compact, ideal for use on the go. It delivers USB4 power with dual 4K support, up to 40Gbps upstream speed, and up to 100W power pass-through. Supporting macOS, Windows, iPadOS, and Samsung DeX, it can be used with virtually any USB-C or USB4 laptop that supports Power Delivery. This includes USB4, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB-C 3.2 devices running Windows 10 or above.
Equipped with a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports that deliver up to 8K at 60Hz for a single monitor, you can also pair two monitors for up to 4K at 120Hz. The 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, meanwhile, helps eliminate bandwidth bottlenecks. The docking station comes with two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports and one USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port with power pass-through support.
SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 desktop docking station
For use on the desktop, the SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 Desktop Docking Station makes it simple to turn a MacBook, Surface device, or other Thunderbolt 4-enabled laptop into a desktop workstation using a single Thunderbolt 4 port. It supports up to one 8K monitor or two 4K monitors. You can also connect a mouse, keyboard, and other necessary USB peripherals to complete your set-up.
You’ll enjoy fast transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps along with fixed 96W of power for charging the connected laptop and connected USB-C or USB4 accessories. With a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, it’s compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C devices running Windows (10 or later) or macOS (11 or later). It also comes with a one-metre Thunderbolt 4 passive cable.
SD1700P USB-C dual 4K portable dock with Qi charging
An essential device that is part of the office set-up nowadays is the smartphone. The SD1700P USB-C Dual 4K Portable Dock w/Qi Charging is designed to also wirelessly charge your phone at up to 10W speeds. It also supports Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and Samsung DeX. Get up to dual 4K at 60Hz through two HDMI 2.0 ports. The dock also features one 1Gbps Ethernet port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen2 ports, and one USB-C 3.2 Gen2 port that supports up to 100W power for pass-through charging.
Universal Thunderbolt 4 docking station
Finally, the last new docking station is the Universal Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station. Using this, it’s easy to connect multiple USB and Thunderbolt accessories using a single Thunderbolt port.
Set to be available in Q2 2023, it will ship with an ergonomic riser to help reduce eye strain. When used with a tablet, the riser has a groove at the front for holding it, positioned at a 20° angle, which is ideal for sketching, something creative professionals will appreciate. The groove can also be used with a laptop in closed lid mode, Surface Pro with the keyboard in open or closed modes, or to stand a cellphone upright.
A new Bluetooth headset for workers on call (literally)
If your job involves being on the phone for hours a day, a headset is a must, and a Bluetooth headset makes it easy to move around the home or office without worry about being tethered to a screen or phone. Kensington’s latest in this space is the H3000 Bluetooth Over-Ear Headset. This headset is among the first to be certified in the “Engineered for Intel Evo Laptops Bluetooth accessories program.”
The premium headset features AI and noise cancellation technologies. The comfortable fit will suit all-day wear thanks to cooling gel infused memory foam earpads that are covered in heat transferring fabric. The headband is also adjustable while the mic can rotate up to 270° and be worn on the left or right side. It also features hearing protection that shields your ears from sounds above 100dBA. The earcups also swivel up to 90°. The earcups include controls for volume, play/pause, and mute with LED lights that provide confirmation of call status. This can help reduce interruptions when working at home with the kids or in an office with co-workers.
It works with all of the most popular online platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, as well as voice assistants like Siri and Google Assistant. It’s also compatible with Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS as well as iOS and Android.
Thanks to multi-point Bluetooth 5.2 technology, you can pair it with up to eight devices, two of which can be active at the same time. Get up to an impressive 60+ hours of battery life per charge when listening to music, or 40+ with calls. Meanwhile, you can rapid charge the headset in 15 minutes to get another eight hours of use when in a bind: it fully charges in just 90 minutes.
The H3000 headset comes with a USB-C to USB-A adapter, USB-C charging cable, and premium hard case. It’ll be perfect for use during a hybrid work schedule, going from home to the office and back again.
Quiet typing with the new Kensington mechanical keyboard
Kensington’s new QuietType Pro Silent Mechanical Keyboard is designed for professionals. It has an adjustable white backlight for easily identifying keys, a sturdy build, and quiet operation so as not to disturb others in the home or office as you clack away at the keys. Universally compatible with both Windows and macOS, the keys are engineered with Kailh Midnight Pro Silent Tactile Switches and sound dampening pads. This affords a quiet experience, great for not only when others are in the same room or office, but also while typing during meetings.
Built with an aluminum frame, it also employs an ergonomic design with dual-position feet and gel wrist rest. This is complemented by the laser-etched ABS keycaps and sealed IPX4-certified spill-proof housing. It also meets MIL-STD-810H Method 504.3 Contamination by Fluids. This means you can confidently wipe it down using common household disinfectants.
Powered by a built-in rechargeable battery, you’ll get up to 90 hours per charge, even when the backlight is set to 100% brightness. There’s also built-in meeting controls for the camera and audio. These work with popular conferencing apps like Microsoft Teams and Zooms. Use the four programmable hot keys for shortcuts in both Windows and macOS.
With optional Kensington Konnect software, you can program additional keys, create macros, adjust key mapping, manage profiles, and more. The QuietType keyboard will be available in late Q1 2023.
Unlike traditional mice that are operated with the index finger, the new Kensington Thumb-Operated Pro Fit Ergo Trackball is designed to, as the name implies, be operated using your thumb. The company says this can help reduce the risk of potential repetitive use injuries.
There are two models in the new line, the Pro Fit Ergo TB450 and TB550. Both are ideal for tight spaces or anyone who wants to improve the wrist and forearm alignment as they type. The TB450 is the entry-level model that works with Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS. It comes with five programmable buttons and the familiar left and right clicks and scroll wheel design.
The TB550, meanwhile, adds two additional programmable buttons for a total of seven. It also includes an enhanced 4D scroll wheel with four-direction scrolling left, right, up, and down. Both are designed to contour to the natural angle of the human hand. With both, you can also connect to up to three devices via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, switching among them using a single button. They are also easy to clean thanks to the built-in, patented trackball ejection button. Both will be available in Q2 2023.
A third, innovative product, which was introduced just prior to CES, is the Kensington SlimBlade Pro Trackball. It offers a similarly ergonomic design and dual-band ambidextrous control. It has a larger 55mm finger-operated trackball for greater accuracy and control, dual sensors, and twist scrolling. Available now, this plug-and-play mouse works with both PC and Mac, It connects via 2.4GHz or Bluetooth, but can also use a wired connection is desired. It runs for up to four months per charge.
The futuristic-looking trackball can work with the free KensingtonWorks software as well to further customize it. Using this software, you can assign customized functions to the four buttons as well as combo buttons. Get enhanced security as well thanks to 128-bit AES encryption.
For office, home office, or hybrid workers, all of these gadgets and gizmos will be welcome additions to the set-up. You’ll enjoy a more comfortable and convenient work experience. It will make it simple to connect a variety of peripherals and work in comfort. Thanks to the portability of these computer peripherals, they’re also easy to take with you.
See more from CES 2023 in the dedicated section on the Best Buy Blog.
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