Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station review

Most Thunderbolt docking stations have not less than one downstream Thunderbolt port in addition to the upstream Thunderbolt port that connects to the host (laptop computer).

Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Show Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ ) has 16 ports however simply the one upstream TB4 port, and it bucks the development however with an excellent purpose: it’s constructed for multiple-screen setups utilizing each HDMI and DisplayPort relatively than Thunderbolt/USB-C monitor connections.

The opposite 11 ports embrace super-fast 2.5Gb Ethernet, quick SD, audio and 7 USB connectors.

It’s accessible to pre-order now, with gross sales beginning on January 17.

Specs and options

The TBT4-UDZ has 16 ports, which makes it one of the loaded docks we’ve examined—though Caldigit’s Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) goes two higher.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 98W)
• Two DisplayPort 1.2 video ports
• Two HDMI 2.0 video ports
• Three USB-A ports (10Gbps, 4.5W)
• Two USB-A ports (5Gbps, 4.5W)
• One USB-A ports (480MBbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD and microSD card readers (320MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (entrance)
• 135W energy provide

Other than the DisplayPort and HDMI connections, the TBT4-UDZ boasts seven USB ports: six USB-A and one USB-C.

Whereas there are many USB-A gadgets nonetheless on the market, we’d have most well-liked a extra even divide between sort C and kind A USB ports, particularly as there are not any downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports on the again and USB-C is definitely the longer term.

Two of the seven USB ports (one sort A and one sort C) can cost gadgets at 7.5W, whereas the others are weaker at 4.5W. With the ability provide at 135W and an honest laptop computer demanding a lot of the 98W from the upstream connection, that is smart.

Nevertheless, Caldigit’s TS4 boasts a whopping 230W energy provide so can provide seven USB ports at 7.5W and one at 20W.

However the TBT4-UDZ and the TS4 are aimed toward completely different customers, with the TS4 supporting simply the 2 4K 60Hz exterior shows.

In order for you extra, then the TBT4-UDZ is constructed to your wants.

Just like the TS4, Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ boasts 2.5Gb Ethernet, 2.5x sooner than customary Gigabit ethernet. Notice that to reap the benefits of this velocity, your related system must help 2.5GbE or above. This might be a router/community change that has a 2.5GbE port or increased, or you’ll be able to join a NAS storage system that has a 2.5GbE port or increased.

Quad show dock

Mac customers look away, Home windows customers with Thunderbolt 4 and lots of USB4 laptops can join as much as 4 4K (3840×2160) 60Hz shows utilizing this dock, mixing the show connectors as they see match.

MacBook Professional (M1 Professional and M1 Max) customers and house owners of much less superior Home windows laptops, however, are restricted to at most two 4K 60Hz shows.

And plain M1 or M2 MacBooks are restricted to only the one exterior show, though there are methods that M1/M2 Macs can help a number of screens.

The TBT4-UDZ’s DisplayPorts are 1.2 relatively than 1.4, so can’t join a single show at 5K, 6K or 8K (not like the TS4 that does). This dock is for a number of high-resolution shows relatively than fewer super-resolution screens.

Developments with DisplayPort video applied sciences, similar to DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 (Excessive Bit Price 3) with DSC (Show Stream Compression), there’s sufficient bandwidth when utilizing the TBT4-UDZ to realize the 4 4K 60Hz prolonged shows by way of the 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 on Home windows programs.

Most Thunderbolt 4/USB4 laptops with Intel UHD or Intel Iris primarily based graphics chipsets can have this help—together with Intel Evo platform-based laptops such because the MSI Status 14 Evo, Dell XPS 9520 and Acer Predator Triton 500 SE.

What’s sure is that your laptop computer must have Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, relatively than USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 if you wish to join 4 shows. USB4 system help could range relying on system producer specs.

Notice that many TB4 Home windows laptops would require the interior show to be disconnected within the Home windows Show Settings to allow 4 exterior prolonged shows.

Design

The nice-looking TBT4-UDZ docking station can lie horizontal or stand upright. Plugable features a weighty stand for added stability when the dock is vertical.

The upstream Thunderbolt 4 port is located on the entrance, which isn’t to our liking however appears to be the best way most producers design their docks. We’d desire the one cable that’s all the time related to be positioned on the again out of the best way, with all of the messy show cables.

It does make it simpler when connecting and disconnecting, and subsequently excellent for hot-desking environments however why ought to the one consumer who connects perhaps simply as soon as within the day or is related 247 have that cable poking out at all of them day?

This, after all, is a minor quibble, and doesn’t detract from the performance in any respect.

Foundry

Thunderbolt 4 compatibility

Suprisingly that is Plugable’s first Thunderbolt 4 docking station. The corporate has a full roster of high quality USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 docks and certainly one of our favourite Thunderbolt 4 hubs however till now now full TB4 docking station.

Even now, nonetheless, some may argue that it hasn’t included sufficient TB4 ports—certainly it has none aside from the connection to the host pc.

That is due to the 4 show connections that require all that bandwidth for themselves.

The Caldigit TS4 has two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, and few have three—the Kensington SD5700T and Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze being exceptions.

In order for you a number of TB4 ports, then one of many many Thunderbolt 4 hubs provide this flexibility of selection. Learn our roundup of the very best Thunderbolt 4 docks and hubs for comparisons.

Worth

The TBT4-UDZ is priced at $299; in the meanwhile its accessible within the US solely.

This makes it one of many extra inexpensive Thunderbolt 4 docks—a full $100 cheaper than the Caldigit TS4 that’s restricted to only two exterior shows however affords an analogous set of ports to this spectacular Plugable docking station.

Verdict

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Show Docking Station is a robust dock constructed for customers who want most display screen area—creatives, merchants or analysts perhaps.

The built-in 4 show connections imply there’s no want for adapters and the combination of DisplayPort and HDMI fits offers the consumer selection.

Alongside the unrivalled show prowess are a beneficiant unfold of different ports, together with 2.5Gb Ethernet, that make the TBT4-UDZ is powerful possibility for the display screen hungry.