Hubs and docks overlap, but they are designed around different levels of permanence. A hub is usually compact and bus-powered; a dock is often larger, externally powered and intended to anchor a desk setup.
Hubs win on portability
A small hub can travel with a laptop and provide HDMI, USB and card-reader ports without a separate power brick. That makes it useful for presentations, hotels and flexible desks.
Docks win on permanent connectivity
A powered dock can stay connected to monitors, Ethernet, speakers, storage and charging. One host cable then reconnects the laptop to the desk. The benefit is convenience rather than simply having more ports.
Display requirements can force the decision
Multiple high-resolution displays require enough host bandwidth and operating-system support. Some laptops have strict limits regardless of the dock. Check the exact laptop before choosing expensive display hardware.
Power delivery is usually stronger on a dedicated dock
Many docks include a power adapter sized for the dock and host laptop. Portable hubs usually rely on a separate USB-C charger and may reserve part of the input power for themselves.
Price should be compared to the whole setup
A hub plus separate charger, Ethernet adapter and display adapter can approach the cost of a dock. Conversely, a dock is wasteful if you only need two extra USB ports and HDMI once a week.
Bottom line
Choose a hub for mobility and a handful of ports. Choose a dock when a laptop repeatedly connects to a full desk ecosystem. Host compatibility remains the first check in either case.