With notebooks getting slimmer and losing out on the wired I/O you want, there's a sprout in "docking stations," devices that provide many kinds of downstream wired connectivity, tapping into a single high-bandwidth upstream connection to your notebook. The DS10 from Cougar does this, except it's also targeted at gamers, with its RGB illumination. The device features a rugged, sporty design, with an illuminated infinite-mirror element on top. Unlike some other docks that use 40 Gbps Thunderbolt upstream, the DS10 relies on USB 3.2 Gen2x2 (20 Gbps), with DisplayPort passthrough, which supports up to 4K @ 60 Hz.

Downstream connectivity of the Cougar DS10 includes three USB 3.x Gen 1 (5 Gbps), one USB 3.2 Gen2 (10 Gbps), stereo audio with a single 4-pole headset jack, a microSD slot, a 1 Gbps Ethernet interface, two HDMI ports (each capable of 4K @ 60 Hz), and a USB-PD port capable of up to 100 W output. A button lets you toggle between lighting presets. The company didn't reveal pricing.