Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1) review

There are a lot of Thunderbolt 4 docking stations to select from, and sometimes this alternative comes all the way down to the precise port choices on every, which varies extensively.

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1) boasts 11 top-end ports, and is differentiated from its rivals by its two downstream Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) ports and one HDMI port amongst 4 USB, 2.5Gb Ethernet, SD card reader, and audio ports.

It’s an reasonably priced answer should you require one or two exterior 4K/60Hz shows plus super-fast TB4 ports.

Specs and options

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station has 11 ports, together with the upstream TB4 port that connects to your laptop computer.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One HDMI 2.0 video port
• 4 USB-A ports (10Gbps, one at 7.5W)
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD card reader (312MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (entrance)
• 135W energy provide

Different docks have extra ports, however this explicit mixture gives show flexibility through two various kinds of port. Learn our fuller roundup of our different suggestions for the most effective Thunderbolt 4 docks.

Plugable

Utilizing the HDMI port plus one of many TB4 ports (with the handily included USB-C to HDMI adapter) you possibly can join two 4K shows at 60Hz, which is nice for anybody however the players who choose even sooner refresh charges.

In case you require an 8K show (at 30Hz), you utilize simply one of many TB4 ports. Some latest docks boast HDMI 2.1, which is extra succesful and helps one 8K show at 60Hz. As Plugable’s personal USB4 Twin HDMI docking station (UD-4VPD) is fitted with HDMI 2.1 it’s a disgrace that the TBT4-UDX1 sticks with model 2.0. The opposite Plugable dock may deal with two 4K shows at 120Hz however lacks the 2 downstream TB4 ports (and isn’t really useful for Macs).

All of the TBT4-UDX1’s USB ports are 10Gbps (twice the bandwidth of the numerous docks’ USB ports) however all are old-school USB-A quite than USB-C. Whereas many units nonetheless depend on USB-A as a connector, USB-C is extra succesful–for instance, quick cellphone charging usually requires USB-C on the energy finish.

This dock’s front-mounted USB-A port can cost a related system at 7.5W, which is ok for sluggish charging however inadequate for hungrier units. In case you have one TB4 port spare, you should use that to cost a tool at a extra helpful 15W however 20W is the minimal for cellphone fast-charging.

The Plugable USB4 UD-4VPD has a front-mounted 20W USB-C port, as does the Caldigit TS4.

Sonnet’s Echo 20 SuperDock is the closest rival when it comes to ports, boasting an identical variety of downstream TB4 ports and one HDMI because the TBT4-UDX1, though that’s on the extra succesful HDMI 2.1. When it comes to port energy, the Echo 20 beats the TBT4-UDX1 on a number of factors.

With its HDMI pegged again at model 2.0, the TBT4-UDX1 is extra of a middle-ground dock that can swimsuit customers who need two to attach 4K shows at 60Hz and nonetheless have one downstream TB4 port free.

Whereas we choose Plugable’s cheaper UD-4VPD to the TBT4-UDX1 on a couple of fronts, it ought to be famous that in addition to missing a downstrwam 40Gbps port, it isn’t really useful for Mac customers.

Transportable storage

You should buy a high quality 512GB card for round $75 / £75, and so they provide an affordable manner of upping the storage in your laptop computer and are tremendous transportable, too.

The TBT4-UDX1 options only one SD card reader for transportable storage, whereas the UD-4VPD gives extra flexibility with each SD and MicroSD readers. Nevertheless, one SD card slot ought to be nice for many customers as a lot of the smaller, cheaper playing cards ship with an SD adapter.

It’s rated UHS-II (312MBps), so sooner than the UHS-I (104MBps) card readers on some docks.

Tremendous-fast Ethernet

Just like the UD-4VPD and different latest Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, the TBT4-UDX1 boasts super-fast 2.5Gb Gigabit Ethernet, which has the potential to be 2.5 instances sooner than customary Gigabit Ethernet.

The two.5Gb Ethernet port is backwards and forwards suitable with different speeds of Ethernet, so will work with an ordinary Gigabit Ethernet community, however to benefit from the two.5GbE velocity, you want a related system—reminiscent of a router/community swap—that’s 2.5GbE or above. These aren’t frequent proper now however ought to change into the norm within the subsequent few years.

Foundry

Docking energy

With 100W Energy Supply (PD), the UD-4VPD can hold even the most important related laptop computer powered up in full use.

Design

The UD-4VPD is a horizontal dock that’s compact and light-weight. Keep in mind that it comes with an influence brick, so isn’t as transportable as a dock powered by USB-C. Nevertheless, having its personal energy provide means it’s extra highly effective, with a complete output of 135W.

Like many docks, the upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (to the host laptop computer) is on the entrance, which implies a trailing cable messing up your desk.

It does nevertheless boast one thing lacking from many docks: an on/off energy button, which makes it simpler to recollect to cease charging your laptop computer when leaving it on the finish of the day.

Value

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1) prices $289.95, which is cheaper than different top-end docks reminiscent of Caldigit TS4 ($399.99) and different Thunderbolt 4 docks reminiscent of Kensington’s SD5700T ($369.99).

Plugable’s personal UD-4VPD is considerably cheaper at $199.95 and extra succesful in some methods: 2x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.0, SD and MicroSD card readers, and 20W USB-C charging. The TBT4-UDX1 wins out with its two downstream TB4 ports, sooner Ethernet and Mac compatibility. If connecting to Thunderbolt units, the TBT4-UDX1 actually wins within the Plugable dock stakes, however we expect the Sonnet Echo 20 gives extra for a similar cash.

Verdict

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1) lacks fast-charging USB-C however does provide each two 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI 2.0 port, giving flexibility when selecting your exterior show choices. In case you want a 8K show at 60Hz, search for a dock with HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 1.4, however the TBT4-UDX1 is a nice alternative for 2 4K shows at 60Hz.

We’d have most popular not less than one USB-C port, ideally with 20W charging, however the 2,5Gb Ethernet gives quick wired entry now if you’re a part of such a community or a degree of networking future-proofing.