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- Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: Pricing and availability
- Design and build quality: The metal chassis gives it a premium feel
- Ports and connectivity: Up to four 4K displays, and all the ports you need
- Should you buy the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
Plugable has been making a name for itself with some pretty good docking stations. The first one that caught my eye was the Triple 4K Docking Station that I reviewed last year, which supported three 4K displays without Thunderbolt support. As somebody with an AMD-powered laptop, this ended up very useful. One of the company's latest additions is the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock (TBT4-UDZ), which is the first fully-featured Thunderbolt 4 docking station it's ever made.
At first glance, it may look just like the Thunderbolt 3 dock that's already part of its portfolio, but this new model comes with big upgrades, including support for up to four 4K displays, in addition to having a lot of other ports, even a 2.5Gb Ethernet port. Not only that, it adds a power button, which is a feature I really appreciate in a docking station.
Frankly, I can't think of many downsides to the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 dock. It has a ton of ports, and the number of displays you can run out of it is impressive. You do need a Windows laptop with Thunderbolt 4 support, which isn't great for anybody else. The only other major problem is that the microSD card slot is finicky, and it can be hard to remove a card once you've inserted it.
About this review: Plugable sent us the 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock for review. The company did not have any input in its contents.
Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The Best
Tons of ports for a surprisingly reasonable price
The Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock is an impressive docking station with a total of 16 ports, including support for up to four 4K displays at 60Hz on Windows. It also includes 2.5Gb Ethernet, lots of USB ports, power delivery, and a power button.
- Ports
- 3 x USB Type-A 10Gbps, 2 x USB Type-A 5Gbps, 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A (7.5W charging), 1 x USB Type-C (10Gbps, 7.5W), 1x RJ45 Ethernet (2.5Gbps), 2 x HDMI 2.0, 2 x DisplayPort 1.2, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1 x SD card slot (UHS-II), 1 x microSD card slot, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (to host)
- USB Power Delivery
- 98W power delivery to host, 7.5W USB Type-A, 7.5W USB Type-C
- Power supply included
- 135W power supply
- Max display res.
- Up to 4 x 4K (3840 x 2160) displays at 60Hz (2 x 4K 60Hz on Mac)
- Price
- $299
Pros
- 16 ports is enough for just about any peripheral you might have
- Support for four 4K displays, extremely rare in a docking station
- Premium build quality
- A power button
Cons
- Support for four displays requires a Windows laptop
- No downstream Thunderbolt ports
- microSD cards tend to get stuck
$299 at Amazon
Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: Pricing and availability
- The Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock launched in January 2023
- It costs $299 and it's available from Amazon and other retailers
Plugable announced the 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock in early 2023 during CES, and it became available for purchase immediately after it was announced. The easiest place to find it is Amazon, though it's also available at retailers like Walmart and Newegg.
Official pricing puts it at just $299, which is actually surprisingly cheap for what you're getting here. Thunderbolt docks have been getting more expensive in recent months, and with super-premium options like the CalDigit TS4 running you $400, it's kind of amazing that Plugable could fit this much functionality into a relatively affordable package.
- The dock can be used horizontally or with a vertical stand
- It has a power button, so you can easily turn off all your peripherals
Even with its relatively affordable pricing, the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock doesn't feel like it cuts a lot of corners, and that goes for the design, too. Just like the Thunderbolt 3 model, it uses a chassis that's partly made of metal, which also serves as a heatsink to cool the components inside the dock. It looks and feels premium, though options like the CalDigit TS4 do have a more imposing all-metal design that's hard to top.
One of my favorite features about this dock is, frankly, the power button.
The dock is designed to be used horizontally or vertically, and it comes with a stand for the latter option. The stand has a rubber base that keeps the dock firmly in place, and it's unlikely you'll accidentally push it off the table. That's not the case if you plan to use it horizontally, as there's no kind of grip if you lay it out that way.
One of my favorite features about this dock is, frankly, the power button. It's a new addition compared to the previous model, and it's definitely a welcome one. When your office is also your bedroom, it's great to have a way to easily turn off any unnecessary lights at night, though the power-on light is soft, so it's not a big deal in the first place. Even if the light doesn't bother you, you can save power by turning off the dock when you're not using it, and it's easier to do it this way than having to unplug the power cables every time.
Ports and connectivity: Up to four 4K displays, and all the ports you need
- You can connect up to four 4K displays at 60Hz, but only on Windows
- The dock also includes 2.5Gbps Ethernet and six USB Type-A ports
The feature that stands out to me the most with this dock is the ability to connect up to four 4K displays at 60Hz using a single port on your laptop. That's a claim I have yet to see, and it's especially interesting for a Thunderbolt dock. Plugable has made triple 4K display docking stations before, but only using DisplayLink, which doesn't use the typical display drivers on your PC. Most Thunderbolt docks only support two 4K displays at 60Hz, but here, you can use the two HDMI and two DisplayPort outputs all at the same time.
To use four displays at once here, you will need a Windows PC with Thunderbolt 4 support, so even high-end Macs are still limited to just two displays. That's because macOS doesn't support DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport (MST), which is what enables this capability. This is also not supported on laptops with Thunderbolt 3, so if you have an older laptop, you'll also be limited to two 4K displays rather than four.
There's 2.5Gbps Ethernet for fast, wired internet connections.
I don't have this many 4K screens, but I tested this to the best of my ability by connecting four monitors I had during this time. This includes one ultrawide monitor running at 5120 x 1440 and 144Hz, and three others at Full HD (1920 x 1080) and 165Hz, 75Hz, and 60Hz refresh rates. Indeed, even with some of the higher refresh rates and resolutions, all the monitors worked just fine. I even made a somewhat comedic tweet about it.
The rest of the port setup is just as impressive, too. There are six USB Type-A ports here, and four of them are on the back, so it's easy to connect all my most frequently-used peripherals on the same side. My keyboard, mouse, and webcam are all plugged in there at all times, and I still have room to spare. There's also an additional USB Type-C port for more modern devices to connect to. Additionally, there's 2.5Gbps Ethernet for fast, wired internet connections, and you also get SD and microSD card readers as well as a 3.5mm combo audio jack.
Unfortunately, just as with the previous Thunderbolt 3 model, I've found the microSD card slot to be extremely cumbersome. It uses a spring-loaded mechanism to eject the card, but my experience has always been that the card gets stuck in the slot, and I have to use my fingernail to actually pull it out. It seems like there's a design flaw here preventing the mechanism from properly ejecting the card.
Should you buy the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
Ultimately, I came away very impressed with the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock and the features it offers considering the price. The fact that you can use four 4K displays with a single port on your laptop is incredibly impressive, and on top of that, there are a ton of ports, and fast ones at that. It all comes in a nice design with a (partly) metal chassis, too.
You should buy the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock if:
- You need a lot of ports for peripherals
- You want to use four 4K displays with a single port on your laptop
- You have a Windows PC with Thunderbolt 4
- You don't want to buy a super-premium $400 dock
You shouldn't buy the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock if:
- You use the microSD card slot very frequently
- You have a ChromeOS or Linux PC
- You need downstream Thunderbolt ports
Outside of having an incompatible device, the biggest reason to reconsider getting this dock is how finicky the microSD card slot can be. It can cause quite a bit of frustration to have the card stuck in the slot, and that will be greatly amplified if you do it regularly. Otherwise, the Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt Dock is a phenomenal choice with a price that really helps it stand out from the competition.
Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
The Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock is an impressive docking station with a total of 16 ports, including support for up to four 4K displays at 60Hz on Windows. It also includes 2.5Gb Ethernet, lots of USB ports, power delivery, and a power button.
$299 at Amazon
FAQs
How many monitors can Thunderbolt 4 support? ›
One Thunderbolt 4 port can connect up to two 4K 60hz DisplayPort or HDMI monitors through a compatible dock or an adapter.
Why is Thunderbolt 4 dock so expensive? ›They often come with bigger power adapters than the laptop itself. The value of 'one device to connect them all' is high, and so is the complexity.” Sure, a dock may not have a display, keyboard, trackpad, or any viable use without connecting it to another device, but it's what's powering it that bumps up the price.
Can you daisy chain Thunderbolt 4 docks? ›Kensington Thunderbolt™ Docking Stations provide the ability to daisy chain monitors and other devices together to help you get the most from your desktop setups. The SD5700T Thunderbolt™ 4 Dual 4K Docking Station can daisy chain up to three additional Thunderbolt™ devices, and up to five in total.
Can you use multiple Thunderbolt docks? ›Yes, you can connect two Elgato Thunderbolt™ 3 Docks together, using the Thunderbolt ports. Connecting two Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Docks together may let you use certain combinations of multiple displays.
Can Thunderbolt 4 support 3 monitors? ›Thunderbolt 4 includes support for DisplayPort 2.0, allowing it to power up to three 10K monitors at the same time, or one 16K monitor at 60Hz. Thunderbolt 3 supports DP 1.4 and has enough bandwidth to support two 4K (3840 x 2160) displays at 60 Hz, a single 4K at 120 Hz or a single 5K display at 60 Hz.
How many monitors can i daisy chain to Thunderbolt 4? ›Thunderbolt supports higher bandwidth relative to DisplayPort in daisy chain, which allows for 4K@60Hz for two monitors, and up to six monitors at 1080p@60Hz.
Is Thunderbolt 4 better than HDMI? ›While HDMI is used primarily as a display connector on many types of electronics, Thunderbolt is used for both video and data applications, and is only found on computers. In direct comparison of their video capabilities, Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 are evenly matched in support for a maximum resolution of 8K.
What is Thunderbolt 4 best for? ›Thunderbolt 4 ports support high-speed SSDs, gaming monitors, and external graphics. Thunderbolt™ SSDs. A fast external drive can be an asset for gaming. For example, you can store your gaming library on an external drive and carry it with you to another PC.
Is Thunderbolt 4 worth it? ›Some of the other benefits of Thunderbolt 4 are listed below: It can support multiple 4K displays. It can transfer data at a much faster rate than USB 3.0, making it ideal for video editing. It can be used as either an external or internal cable, so it can be used behind your computer or in a dock.
How many monitors can a Thunderbolt dock support? ›The Thunderbolt 3 dock supports two 4K (3840 x 2160p or 4096 x 2160p) monitors through the DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port (a USB-C video adapter might be required).
Can you split a Thunderbolt 4 port? ›
Device. You've always been able to “daisy chain” Thunderbolt devices, but with Thunderbolt 4 hubbing, you can now have up to four Thunderbolt ports in a hub or dock – each in a separate “branch” that can be disconnected without affecting any of the other Thunderbolt devices connected in other ports.
Can Thunderbolt 4 be split? ›One of the long-anticipated features of Thunderbolt 4 is the ability to add multiple Thunderbolt devices to one dock, creating up to three independent chains.
Is a Thunderbolt dock better than a USB-C dock? ›A Thunderbolt 3 cable is capable of transferring up to 40 gigabytes of data per second, which is twice the maximum data transfer speed of USB-C. However, in order to hit these data transfer speeds, you must use a Thunderbolt cable with a Thunderbolt port, and not a USB-C port.
What is the benefit of Thunderbolt dock? ›Allows You To Establish Connection Between Two 4k Monitors
It helps you establish a connection to a single screen directly, all you need is a Thunderbolt to DP (DisplayPort) cable. If you are someone who uses multiple monitors, then you will need a Thunderbolt dock to connect more than two monitors at once.
However if you want to connect two external monitors, your laptop will need two Thunderbolt ports. The process of using a dock or a hub is the same. You simply plug the Thunderbolt cable into your laptop and plug each monitor into the appropriate ports on the device.
Can Thunderbolt 4 be used for display? ›A Thunderbolt 4 port gives you a multitude of monitor options. Connect Thunderbolt™ displays, DisplayPort 1.4 displays, or use a Thunderbolt™ adapter or dock to connect HDMI, DVI, and VGA displays.
Is Thunderbolt 4 just USB-C? ›Thunderbolt™ 4 is not the same as USB-C; however, Thunderbolt™ 4 uses the USB-C connector type, recognizable by its oval shape.
Is DisplayPort better than HDMI? ›Laptop dock with multiple monitors: DisplayPort is the better option for two or more external screens. HDMI is usually sufficient for a single screen. Workstation with three or more displays: DisplayPort is the better option because it may be the only way to connect all those screens to your device.
What is the maximum throughput of Thunderbolt 4? ›And when a Thunderbolt 4 laptop is connected to a Thunderbolt 4 dock, it must be able to wake from sleep from a connected keyboard or mouse. Thunderbolt 4 cables also support 40Gbps throughput at up to two meters in length, up from the 0.5-meter maximum of a passive Thunderbolt 3 cable.
Can you run 2 monitors off 1 DisplayPort? ›DisplayPort Multi-Stream Transport allows you to daisy chain monitors with DisplayPort 1.2 ports. Daisy chaining describes the ability to connect a series of monitors to a single video output port on your computer or docking station.
What is the max transfer for Thunderbolt 4? ›
It supports Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps and USB 3.1 Gen 2 data transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps. Check the specifications of your device to determine which data transfer standard it supports.
Is there anything faster than Thunderbolt 4? ›Intel's Thunderbolt 5 has twice the speed of Thunderbolt 4.
Which is better for display HDMI or Thunderbolt? ›...
Difference between Thunderbolt and HDMI.
| Features | Thunderbolt | HDMI |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Support two or higher resolution 5K display | Support single display at maximum of 4K 60 Hz. |
Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 have the same specs, but Thunderbolt 4 is more reliable with tighter minimum specs. Both can drive dual 4K displays, transfers data at 40Gbps, and provide power to charge a laptop. But USB4 has lower minimum specs, and makers can choose not to implement all the features to minimize costs.
Is Thunderbolt 4 future proof? ›So Thunderbolt 4 standardises Thunderbolt 3 for all computer users. It's backwards compatible, but buying Thunderbolt 4 devices will also future-proof your setup. So if your Mac has “just” Thunderbolt 3, don't worry.
Is Thunderbolt 4 better than USB-C? ›While both can transfer data at up to 40Gbps, a Thunderbolt 4 port is significantly better at outputting video. For example, a USB-C port that supports Thunderbolt 4 is capable of supporting two external 4K monitors or one 8K monitor.
How much faster is Thunderbolt 4 than USB? ›Thunderbolt 4 has a maximum bidirectional bandwidth of 40Gbps and is four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 1. Thunderbolt 4 has a maximum bidirectional bandwidth of 40Gbps and is four times faster than USB 3.2 Gen 1. You can also connect up to five Thunderbolt devices to a single PC.
What devices take advantage of Thunderbolt 4? ›Thunderbolt 4 ports support high-speed SSDs, gaming monitors, and external graphics. Thunderbolt™ SSDs. A fast external drive can be an asset for gaming. For example, you can store your gaming library on an external drive and carry it with you to another PC.
Is Thunderbolt 4 faster than SSD? ›Thunderbolt 3 is up to 40 Gb/s and USB 3.1 Generation 2 is up to 10 Gb/s. The SSD used in both the Samsung T7 and X5 Portable SSDs is faster than 10 Gb/s. Therefore, the SSD can utilize this difference.
Can I plug a USB into a Thunderbolt 4 Port? ›Thunderbolt 4 uses the USB-C connector, and it's backward compatible with all USB standards. So, in the sense of (for example) whether you can connect your USB-C custom flash drives to your laptop's Thunderbolt port, the two are the same.
What is the maximum number of external monitors that can be connected to the tb16 dock? ›
The docking station supports up to 4 monitors that are connected simultaneously.
Does Thunderbolt 4 support 4K 120Hz? ›Single 8K @60Hz via the Thunderbolt 4 ports (host with DSC 1.2 HBR3) or Single 4K @120Hz / Dual 4K @60Hz or Dual 1080p (@120Hz) video output for Thunderbolt 4-enabled Windows host devices let you extend visual productivity with the crisp resolution, contrast, and color depth of Ultra HD.
Can I connect 2 4K monitors to laptop? ›Use a pluggable 4K display port and HDMI dual monitor adapter: This is a small box that has a USB-C cable that plugs into the USB-C outlet on your laptop and can support multiple monitors through the use of dual HDMI ports.
Why is the Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port great for those working across multiple screens? ›The benefits of Thunderbolt 4
Connecting a Thunderbolt 4 cable from PC to monitor provides a high-speed, 8K-ready display signal and supports multiple peripherals. Thunderbolt 4 is also bidirectional: while the cable is sending a signal and commands to the screen, the screen can send back power to charge the laptop.
What is Thunderbolt 4? Thunderbolt 4 is an upgraded cable connection interface from Intel capable of powering your devices, transferring data, and displaying a video source to an external monitor all at once — all with just one port.
How many devices can you run on a single Thunderbolt connection as one time? ›Thunderbolt I/O technology lets you move data between your devices and your computer with 2 channels of 10Gbps flowing both ways (upstream and downstream) at the same time. And it allows you to connect as many as 6 devices, daisy chained, through a single compact port.
Can I use any USB-C cable for Thunderbolt 4? ›If you're using a USB-C or Thunderbolt adapter to connect a display, the adapter must be compliant with DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4. To find the right cable or adapter for your Mac, check the connector on the end of the cable meant to plug into your computer.
Is Thunderbolt better than DisplayPort? ›Thunderbolt is a specialized type of Mini DisplayPort connectivity. Although the shape and size of the connector is the same, it does more and does it faster. Thunderbolt can carry data, so it can be used to connect devices such as docking stations and hard drive enclosures.
Why are Thunderbolt ports so expensive? ›Yes, they're cables, but they're not just cables. Thunderbolt's tight manufacturing tolerances make the cables expensive, and when you extend the cables to three meters, the tolerances are even more important. So it seems that high Thunderbolt prices are the norm and aren't ever going to drop by much.
Do Thunderbolt docks get hot? ›It is normal that the enclosure feels warm. However, if you have a concerns, please use the dock in a place with good ventilation (for example, not stacking up stuff on or around the dock).
Are Thunderbolt ports worth it? ›
The Thunderbolt is fast and flexible, but it's not cheap. You'll pay a lot more for a Thunderbolt-equipped drive than you will for a USB 3-equipped drive, but the performance can be worth it, depending on what you're doing. Your mileage, as in all things, may vary.
What is the advantage of Thunderbolt over USB? ›The Thunderbolt 3 cable doubles the max data transfer speed of USB-C, running as fast as 40Gbps. While it has a default charging speed of 15 watts (six times faster than USB-C's default speed), if you connect your device with USB PD, you achieve about the same 100 watts of power as USB-C.
Is Plugable a good brand? ›It's no accident Plugable has grown to be one of the top five brands globally for docking stations; we've been in the game for a while.
Does Thunderbolt 4 support multiple monitors? ›Connect multiple displays. One Thunderbolt 4 port can connect up to two 4K 60hz DisplayPort or HDMI monitors through a compatible dock or an adapter. Thunderbolt designated monitors can be connected directly. Storage.
Can you run 2 monitors off 1 Thunderbolt? ›For Mac computers with Mini DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, or Thunderbolt 2: You can connect up to two displays. If the displays themselves have Thunderbolt ports, you can connect one display to another, and then connect one of the displays to a Thunderbolt port on your Mac.
Is Thunderbolt 4 monitor better than HDMI? ›While HDMI is used primarily as a display connector on many types of electronics, Thunderbolt is used for both video and data applications, and is only found on computers. In direct comparison of their video capabilities, Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 are evenly matched in support for a maximum resolution of 8K.
Are there Thunderbolt 4 monitors? ›Besides decluttering workstations, Thunderbolt 4 is also cheaper than other connection technologies and supports desktop IT demands, such as greater data transfer speeds — eight times faster than conventional USB 3.0 cables. Thunderbolt 4 monitors, such as Samsung's S80TB, have everything in one bundle.
How many monitors can be connected through Thunderbolt? ›For Mac computers with Mini DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, or Thunderbolt 2: You can connect up to two displays. If the displays themselves have Thunderbolt ports, you can connect one display to another, and then connect one of the displays to a Thunderbolt port on your Mac.
Why is Thunderbolt 4 so good? ›Thunderbolt 4 ports support high-speed SSDs, gaming monitors, and external graphics. Thunderbolt™ SSDs. A fast external drive can be an asset for gaming. For example, you can store your gaming library on an external drive and carry it with you to another PC.
What is the advantage of Thunderbolt 4? ›Thunderbolt 4 ports support high-speed SSDs, gaming monitors, and external graphics. Thunderbolt™ SSDs. A fast external drive can be an asset for gaming. For example, you can store your gaming library on an external drive and carry it with you to another PC.
Can Thunderbolt 4 do 4K 120Hz? ›
Single 8K @60Hz via the Thunderbolt 4 ports (host with DSC 1.2 HBR3) or Single 4K @120Hz / Dual 4K @60Hz or Dual 1080p (@120Hz) video output for Thunderbolt 4-enabled Windows host devices let you extend visual productivity with the crisp resolution, contrast, and color depth of Ultra HD.
How many PCI lanes does Thunderbolt 4 have? ›With Thunderbolt 4, you're assured to have all four lanes of PCI Express available—so PCIe can consume up to 32Gbps of the total 40Gbps Thunderbolt bandwidth. With Thunderbolt 3, depending on your laptop manufacturer and model, some implementations offer only 16Gbps of PCIe bandwidth.
What is Thunderbolt 4 equivalent to? ›Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 have the same specs, but Thunderbolt 4 is more reliable with tighter minimum specs. Both can drive dual 4K displays, transfers data at 40Gbps, and provide power to charge a laptop. But USB4 has lower minimum specs, and makers can choose not to implement all the features to minimize costs.
How do I connect two monitors to Thunderbolt 4? ›However if you want to connect two external monitors, your laptop will need two Thunderbolt ports. The process of using a dock or a hub is the same. You simply plug the Thunderbolt cable into your laptop and plug each monitor into the appropriate ports on the device.
Can I use HDMI and Thunderbolt at the same time? ›At the same time, you can connect another HDMI display, using an HDMI adapter with the Thunderbolt 3 port. However, if you use an active HDMI 2.0 adapter via either Thunderbolt 3 or DisplayPort, you can receive 4096 x 2160 pixels.
How many DisplayPort monitors can you daisy chain? ›...
Daisy-Chain Requirements.
| Display Resolution | Maximum Number of Monitors |
|---|---|
| 1200 x 1600 (2MP) | 3 |
| 1536 x 2048 (3MP) | 2 |
| 2048 x 2560 (5MP) | 2 |
| 3280 x 2048 (6MP) | 1 |
And Thunderbolt 4 supports USB4, meaning you can connect a USB device to your laptop's Thunderbolt port. Thunderbolt 4 is also backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3. In both instances, however, the connection will default to the slower speeds of USB4 or Thunderbolt 3.