Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station review

Price Whenever Reviewed

$299

Best Costs Today: Plugable Thunderbolt four & USB4 Quad Screen Docking Station

Most Thunderbolt docking channels have one or more downstream Thunderbolt port and also the upstream Thunderbolt port that will connects towards the host (laptop).

Plugables Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ ) offers 16 slots but only the one upstream TB4 slot, and it dollars the trend using a very good cause: its constructed for multiple-screen setups making use of both HIGH-DEFINITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE and DisplayPort rather than Thunderbolt/USB-C monitor contacts.

The additional 11 slots include super-fast 2 . 5Gb Ethernet, quick SD, sound and 7 USB fittings.

Its open to pre-order right now, with product sales starting upon January 17.

Specs plus features

The TBT4-UDZ has 16 ports, that makes it one of the most packed docks weve testedalthough Caldigits Thunderbolt Place 4 (TS4) goes 2 better.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 slot (40Gbps, 98W)
• Two DisplayPort one 2 movie ports
• Two HIGH-DEFINITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE 2 . zero video ports
• Three USB-A slots (10Gbps, four. 5W)
• Two USB-A ports (5Gbps, 4. 5W)
• One USB-A slots (480MBbps, seven. 5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7. 5W)
• 2. 5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SECURE DIGITAL and microSD card visitors (320MBps)
• 3. 5mm combo sound jack (front)
• 135W power supply

Aside from the DisplayPort and HIGH-DEFINITION MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE connections, the particular TBT4-UDZ offers seven UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS ports: 6 USB-A then one USB-C.

While there are plenty of USB-A devices nevertheless out there, get married have favored a more actually divide among type Chemical and kind A UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS ports, specifically as you can find no downstream Thunderbolt four ports around the back and USB-C is certainly the long run.

Two from the seven UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS ports (one type The and one kind C) may charge devices in 7. 5W, while the other medication is weaker from 4. 5W. With the power at 135W and a good laptop challenging much of the particular 98W through the upstream link, this is practical.

However, Caldigits TS4 has a whopping 230W power supply therefore can offer 7 USB slots at seven. 5W then one at 20W.

But the particular TBT4-UDZ as well as the TS4 are usually aimed at various users, using the TS4 assisting just the 2 4K 60Hz external shows.

If you would like more, then your TBT4-UDZ is made for your needs.

Like the TS4, Plugables TBT4-UDZ boasts second . 5Gb Ethernet,, 2 . 5x faster compared to standard Gigabit ethernet. Remember that to take benefit of this acceleration, your linked device has to support second . 5GbE or even above. This might be a router/network switch which has a 2 . 5GbE port or more, or you can link a EM storage gadget that has a second . 5GbE interface or higher.

Quad display dock

Mac users appear away, Home windows users along with Thunderbolt four and many USB4 laptops may connect as much as four 4K (38402160) 60Hz displays by using this dock, combining the screen connectors as they observe fit.

MacBook Pro (M1 Pro plus M1 Max) users plus owners associated with less sophisticated Windows notebooks, on the other hand, are usually limited to for the most part two 4K 60Hz shows.

And simple M1 or even M2 MacBooks are restricted to just the a single external screen, although there are usually ways that M1/M2 Macs support multiple screens.

The TBT4-UDZs DisplayPorts are usually 1 . two rather than 1 ) 4, therefore cant link a single screen at 5K, 6K or even 8K (unlike the TS4 that does). This boat dock is for several high-resolution shows rather than less super-resolution displays.

Advancements along with DisplayPort video clip technologies, like DisplayPort 1 ) 4 HBR3 (High Little bit Rate 3) with DSC (Display Flow Compression), there is certainly enough band width when using the TBT4-UDZ to achieve the 4 4K 60Hz extended shows via the 40Gbps Thunderbolt four and USB4 on Home windows systems.

Most Thunderbolt 4/USB4 laptops along with Intel UHD or Intel Iris dependent graphics chipsets will have this particular supportincluding Intel Evo platform-based laptops like the MSI Respect 14 Evo, Dell XPS 9520 plus Acer Predator Triton 500 SE.

Whats certain that the laptop should have Thunderbolt four or USB4, rather than USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 if you need to connect 4 displays. USB4 system assistance may vary based on system producer specifications.

Note that many TB4 Windows laptop computers will require the interior display to become disconnected within the Windows Screen Settings to allow four exterior extended shows.

Design

The good-looking TBT4-UDZ docking station may lie horizontally or endure upright. Plugable includes a large stand for additional stability once the dock is certainly vertical.

The upstream Thunderbolt 4 interface is situated in front, which is never to our preference but appears to be the way the majority of manufacturers style their docks. Wed like the one cable connection that is often connected to end up being placed in the back taken care of, with all the untidy display wires.

It really does make it simpler when linking and disconnecting, and therefore ideal for hot-desking conditions but so why should the one user who also connects probably just once within the day or even is linked 247 possess that cable connection poking out there at all of them day?

This, of course , is really a minor sidestep, and does not take away from the efficiency at all.

Thunderbolt 4 compatibility

Suprisingly this is Plugables first Thunderbolt 4 docking station. The organization has a complete roster associated with quality USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 docks and one of our own favorite Thunderbolt 4 hubs but so far now complete TB4 docking station.

Even now, nevertheless , some may argue that this hasnt integrated enough TB4 portsindeed they have none aside from the connection towards the host personal computer.

This is due to the 4 display contacts that require all of that bandwidth regarding themselves.

The Caldigit TS4 has 2 downstream Thunderbolt 4 slots, and couple of have threethe Kensington SD5700T and Alogic Thunderbolt four Blaze getting exceptions.

If you want several TB4 slots, then one of the numerous Thunderbolt four hubs provide this versatility of choice. Study our roundup of the best Thunderbolt 4 docks and hubs for evaluations.

Price

The TBT4-UDZ is priced at $299; at the moment the available in the united states only.

This makes it one of the most affordable Thunderbolt 4 docksa full $100 cheaper compared to Caldigit TS4 that is restricted to just 2 external shows but provides a similar group of ports for this impressive Plugable docking place.

Verdict

The Plugable Thunderbolt four & USB4 Quad Screen Docking Place is a effective dock constructed for customers who need optimum screen spacecreatives, traders or even analysts probably.

The built/in four screen connections suggest theres you do not have for connectors and the mixture of DisplayPort plus HDMI fits gives the consumer choice.

Alongside the unmatched display ability are a ample spread associated with other slots, including second . 5Gb Ethernet,, that make the particular TBT4-UDZ is definitely strong approach to the display screen hungry.