Android Docking Station

ALL THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Table of contents

● What is android docking station?

● What types are the most popular?

● Docking station and smartphone connection options.

● Android docking stations vs regular home sound systems and speakers.

● Most popular applications for docks

● TOP 5 android docking stations and manufacturers.

● Docking station buying guide.

What is an android docking station?

● Device that allows to connect your Android

smartphone, tablet or other device to it,

usually to play music through docks speakers

and charge phone at the same time;

● There are many types of Android docking

stations that provides different features for

your android device.

Android docking station Types

Android speaker dock

● The Most popular type of android docking stations;

● Plays music from your android device through docking stations speakers;

● Comes with different size and power speakers:○ starting from small single

speaker docks;

○ to large and powerful speaker docking stations, with clear

and loud sound speakers and

subwoofers with poweruful

bass options.

Android alarm clock dock

● Mainly used in bedrooms on nightstands;

● Has got build in clock and alarm clock function that plays your phone alarm clock through docking stations speakers;

● Helps you to better wake up in the morning with your favourite soundtrack.

Android charging dock

● Charges Android device through microUSB cable;

● Usually made as smartphone stands, to

hold your phone in

convenient position:

○ when phone is charging;

○ When your are watching video or movies on your

smartphone.

Multimedia docking station

● Also popular docking station stype among

smartphone users;

● Has got all functions built in one device:

○ Sound speakers;

○ Digital clock and alarm function;

○ Charging option for your Android device.

Android dock for car

● The main purpose is to hold device in convenient place in a car for you to use it more easily while driving

● There are three types of car docks:○ Smartphone holder;○ Smartphone holder +

charger;

○ Smartphone holder + charger + audio playback throught cars speakers

Docking station and smartphone connection options

3.5mm AUX plug

● The most popular connection type for

sound streaming from

any device to sound

system

○ + Great sound quality;

○ + Can use for practically any device;

○ - Is not wireless;

○ - Device must be as close to docking station as long

the AUX wire is.

Bluetooth

● Probably the best connection type for sound streaming for docking stations

● Many android docking stations and smartphones offers bluetooth connection option○ + No wires○ + A lot more convenient than

wired connection

○ - May have more problems with connection, depending on your smartphone and android speaker dock

MicroUSB

● Used for charging android devices;

● Practically all android docking stations offers

this connection type;

○ + Standard for all android devices for charging;

○ - Is not possible to transmit audio through

MicroUSB cable, so other

type of connection is

required for speaker

docks

Android docking stations vs

home sound systems with speakers

Android docking stations

Home sound systems

AUX connection – practically all have;

AUX connection – practically all have;

Bluetooth connection – many docking stations have;

Bluetooth connection – not so common option;

MicroUSB charging cable – almost all have;

MicroUSB charging cable – only few offers this option;

Smartphone holder – almost all have;

Smartphone holder – not provided;

Docking station android apps – specific and universal android apps

Sound system android apps – practically none;

Most popular applications to use with android docks

Android Docking station applications

● Philips DockStudio

● Samsung Wireless Audio

Dock application

● Dock Clock (Night Clock)

application

● Car Dock Home v3

Android music streaming and music player applications

● Google Play Music

● Spotify

● Shazam

● TuneIn Radio

● SoundCloud

● Jango Radio

● Winamp music player

● MX Player

TOP 5 Android docking stations

Philips Fidelio series

● Most popular series of android docking stations;

● Starts from smaller alarm clock docks to large and powerful android speaker docking stations.

SONR Labs Speaker Android Docking station

● One of the most popular docking station among users;

● Easy to use with audio cable;

● Does not have bluetooth connection.

Samsung Galaxy Multimedia Desktop Charging Dock

● Made for Samsung Galaxy devices, but can be used with other android smartphones;

● Used as smartphone charger and holder;

● Good grip and design.

RCA RC117V universal two smart device dock

● Offers multi-charging option;

● Can be used with both android and Apple devices;

● Has got clock and built in speakers.

Sinjimoru Sync Charge Dock

● Simple dock for android smartphone charging and holding;

● Elegant and innovative design;

● Adjustable viewing angle for watching movies on android device while it charges.

TOP 5 Android docking station manufacturers

Samsung

● Makes good quality android docking stations;

● Docks start from smaller charger docks to loud, powerful speaker docks with subwoofers.

Philips

● Manufactures Fidelio series Android docking stations;

● Currently the most popular android docking station manufacturer.

SONR Labs

● Small company with only one android docking station;

● Their android dock has got great quality and is popular among docking station users.

RCA Corporation

● Manufactures more than 12 docking stations;

● Docks from smaller alarm clock docks to large speaker docks;

● Makes docking stations for android and Apple devices.

iLuv

● New company made in 2006;

● Iluv focus on design and usability making their docking stations;

● Their docks can be used for almost any android device including different android smartphones and tablets.

Docking station buying guide

Manufacturer

● Some docking stations are made for certain manufacturer devices like couple Samsung

docking stations;

● Top manufacturer devices usually have better quality products and better customer service.

Size

● Smaller android devices have less problems with connection to docking station;

● Always choose the right size docking station depending on your smartphone size;

● Other device have bad support for phone cases, so you will not be able to connect your

phone with case to some docking stations.

MicroUSB placement

● Different android phones have microUSB port in different places on phone (some have on

top and bottom like Samsung and others have

on sides like HTC);

● Some docking stations offer option to adjust microUSB socket for different mobile phones;

● Other docking stations do not offer adjustable microUSB ports.

AUX and Bluetooth option

● All android music docking stations offers AUX, Bluetooth or both connection options;

● Bluetooth connection has become the most popular connection type for docking stations;

● AUX connection is still popular among docking stations, but users prefer wireless connection

instead of cables.

Built in speakers

● Music docks are most popular type of docking station;

● Android speaker docks range from small alarm clock docks to powerful speaker docking

stations;

● Best android docking stations have top quality speakers that are equal in sound quality to

home sound systems.

Built in alarm

● Alarm clock docks have built in digital watch and can play your favorite song as alarm in the

morning;

● Alarm clocks are great used on bedroom stands and also have few application to

improve your smartphone and docking station

usage.

Application

● Some docks offers applications with their docking station;

● Most of these application do not have the best quality and are not compatible with different

android devices;

● However, there are many other universal docking station and android application that

can be used with android docking stations.

Equipment

● You always need to check what comes equipped with docking station;

● Some docking stations comes with no cables and batteries and you need to buy them afterward;

● Also check if your docking station can work on batteries, because only few docks (usually smallest)

offers this option;

● Docks that work on batteries can be used outside, when camping or in any other place with no direct

power source.

Additional information

If your would like to know more about android

docking stations, read detailed reviews about best

android docking stations and view any new devices

coming in market please visit our website:

www.dockingstationhq.com

Thanks for reading!