Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI dock review: Budget price, tomorrow’s tech

Price When Reviewed

199.95

Best Prices Today: Plugable USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station (UD-4VPD)

Plugable’s UD-4VPD, formally often called the USB4 Dual HDMI Docking Station, guarantees two probably welcome traits: a push into 120Hz 4K show capabilities, and a startling discount in worth.

Why contemplate the Plugable UD-4VPD?

Most Thunderbolt docks provide the choice of connecting to 2 4K shows at 60Hz. That’s completely tremendous for workplace use. Higher-rate 120Hz shows, although, are the minimal threshold that avid gamers favor, opening a possible new world of prospects for these docks. And this dock drives a pair of 4K shows at 120Hz, in keeping with Plugable! Alternatively, the identical dock ought to drive a single 8K show.

As we level out in our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks, USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are functionally equal. Because of what we suspect are licensing points, Thunderbolt docks appear to be widespread on Intel laptops, whereas AMD Ryzen laptops use USB4. A Thunderbolt laptop computer ought to work simply as properly with a USB4 dock. Be conscious, although, that in keeping with Plugable founder and CTO Bernie Thompson, a laptop computer with a Thunderbolt 3 connection in all probability received’t work with this dock.

The Plugable UD-4VPD continues to be dramatically cheaper than most Thunderbolt or USB4 docks, with out attempting to chop corners, and shakes up what a “budget” dock actually is.

The Plugable UD-4VPD specs

Unfortunately, we lack the assets to check the dock with a pair of 120Hz 4K screens in the intervening time. (Most 4K screens at 120Hz or above price about $600 or so.) We do have a 1440p widescreen monitor to check, which might run at as much as 144Hz, plus two 4K shows, which is as shut as we will get.

Plugable’s UD-4VPD is an 11-in 1 dock, with the 2 HDMI ports, two 10Gbps USB-A (10Gbps) ports, a legacy 5Gbps USB-A port, and a single 10Gbps USB-C port which might provide as much as a rated 20W of charging energy for a telephone. There’s additionally a microSD and SD slot rated at UHS-II (312MB/s) speeds, plus an audio/mic jack.

Mark Hachman / IDG

The two HDMI 2.1 show ports mirror HDMI’s reputation, however their efficiency will fluctuate. Here’s the issue: Not solely do that dock’s ports require your laptop computer to assist an HDMI 2.1 output, however the chipset inside it’s required to assist each HBR3 (High Bitrate 3) and DSC (Display Stream Compression). The latter know-how is sort of a DisplayLink dock: It makes use of some compression to allow the upper show capabilities. If your laptop computer lacks each of those latter options, you’ll get a extra normal 4K60 expertise as a substitute. You shouldn’t have the choice of plugging in an HDMI-to-DisplayPort cable into this dock, both.

How are you aware your laptop computer contains HBR3 and DSC? Chances are you don’t, and your laptop computer maker might not even inform you. According to Thompson, one clue could also be whether or not it’s Intel Evo licensed, as Thompson claims that these all meet the HBR3/DSC necessities.

Otherwise, the dearth of accessible data makes buying this dock a little bit of a crapshoot, sadly. On the opposite hand, you can also make the argument that investing on this dock is an funding sooner or later, when 4K120 shows develop into cheaper and extra commonplace.

Mark Hachman / IDG

How did the Plugable UD-4VPD carry out?

We weren’t capable of check the entire dock’s show options, however a few of the elements that we had been capable of check had been a bit disappointing. The first is a nitpick: While Thunderbolt cables are clearly labeled with the lightning-bolt emblem and both a “3” or “4” to tell apart them, Plugable’s 3.3-foot cable was jet black, and linked to the rear of the dock, not the entrance. It can be helpful if the cable neighborhood or Plugable might higher label these cables.

Second, the dock warmed surprisingly below load, to the purpose that it grew a little bit alarming. But it didn’t persistently attain these temperatures, both. (If you’re involved, Plugable’s dock ships with a two-year restricted components and labor guarantee.)

Finally, the dock’s efficiency was a bit blended. When writing to an exterior check SSD, the drive’s bandwidth clocked in at about 122MB/s, about 11 % lower than the 137.51MB/s that rival-dock Anker 568 generated. On the opposite hand, working the identical check whereas streaming a 4K video — a activity we carry out to see if there’s any knowledge congestion — handed with flying colours. Anker’s dock additionally confirmed occasional instability; the Plugable UD-4VPD was rock-solid in our checks.

Plugable principally lived as much as its charging claims, too. While the dock’s emblem claims that the entrance 10Gbps charging port can ship 20W of energy to cost a smartphone, our checks confirmed that it delivered about 18.7W below load. That’s sufficient to fast-charge a smartphone.

Should you purchase the Plugable UD-4VPD?

Plugable, although, affords an enormous benefit: It’s primarily $100 lower than the competitors, and that’s earlier than any reductions. Plugable’s Thompson says that the prices of obligatory Thunderbolt testing elevate the costs of Thunderbolt docks, and right here the lowered prices are handed alongside to the patron. The Plugable UD-4VPD continues to be dramatically cheaper than most Thunderbolt or USB4 docks, with out attempting to chop corners, and shakes up what a “budget” dock actually is. That’s a key promoting level, even earlier than you begin speaking about its superior show capabilities.