Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station review

Price When Reviewed

$289.95

Best Prices Today: Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1)

There are many Thunderbolt 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 resolution for those who require one or two exterior 4K/60Hz shows plus super-fast TB4 ports.

Further studying: Best Thunderbolt docks: Extend your laptops capabilities

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.

Plugable

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 100W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One HDMI 2.0 video port
• Four 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

Other docks have extra ports, however this explicit mixture provides show flexibility through two several types of port. Read our fuller roundup of our different suggestions for the best Thunderbolt docks.

Plugable

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

If 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 Dual 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 different Plugable dock may deal with two 4K shows at 120Hz however lacks the 2 downstream TB4 ports (and isn’t really helpful for Macs).

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

This dock’s front-mounted USB-A port can cost a related gadget at 7.5W, which is ok for gradual charging however inadequate for hungrier units. If you will 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 by way of 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. In phrases of 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 may go well with customers who need two to attach 4K shows at 60Hz and nonetheless have one downstream TB4 port free.

While we favor Plugable’s cheaper UD-4VPD to the TBT4-UDX1 on a number of fronts, it ought to be famous that in addition to missing a downstream 40Gbps port, it isn’t really helpful for Mac customers.

Portable storage

You should purchase a high quality 512GB card for round $75 / £75, they usually supply a reasonable 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 provides extra flexibility with each SD and MicroSD readers. However, one SD card slot ought to be nice for many customers as many of the smaller, cheaper playing cards ship with an SD adapter.

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

Super-fast Ethernet

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 occasions sooner than customary Gigabit Ethernet.

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

Foundry

Docking energy

With 100W Power Delivery (PD), the UD-4VPD can maintain even the biggest related laptop computer powered up in full use.

Design

The UD-4VPD is a horizontal dock that’s compact and light-weight. Remember that it comes with an influence brick, so isn’t as transportable as a dock powered by USB-C. However, 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 nonetheless 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.

Price

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1) prices $289.95, which is cheaper than different top-end docks akin to Caldigit TS4 ($399.99) and different Thunderbolt 4 docks akin to Kensington’s superb 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 definitely wins within the Plugable dock stakes, however we predict the Sonnet Echo 20 provides extra for a similar cash.

Verdict

The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 HDMI Docking Station (TBT4-UDX1) lacks fast-charging USB-C however does supply each two 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports and one HDMI 2.0 port, giving flexibility when selecting your exterior show choices. If 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 well-liked at the least one USB-C port, ideally with 20W charging, however the 2.5Gb Ethernet provides quick wired entry now in case you are a part of such a community or a degree of networking future-proofing.

This evaluation initially appeared on techadvisor.com.