At a lookSkilled’s Score
Execs
- As much as 5 4K at 60Hz shows
- 3x 8K at 60Hz shows
- USB charging choices
- 2.5Gb Ethernet
- 140W PD laptop computer charging
- DockTag IT help
Cons
- USB-C not Thunderbolt
- No card readers
Our Verdict
The Plugable UD-7400PD presents one thing no different dock can match: help for as much as 5 exterior shows, regardless of which M-series processor powers your Mac.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Greatest Pricing At present
Greatest Costs At present: Plugable 5 Show USB-C Dock (UD-7400PD)
The Plugable 5 Show USB-C Dock (US-7400PD) is a DisplayLink docking station that has essentially the most spectacular show choices on any dock we’ve examined. It’s the primary dock to help 5 simultaneous show outputs, together with 4 4K and one 8K, whereas delivering as much as 140W to the related laptop computer.
This feat is achieved by way of putting in DisplayLink software program on the Mac, which is a fairly painless course of. Beforehand DisplayLink docks supported as much as 4 exterior screens, however that is the primary we’ve examined that may deal with 5.
There are docks with extra ports however the 11 right here supply spectacular charging choices in addition to future-proof 2.5Gb Ethernet for sooner wired community entry.
Plugable
Specs and options
- One upstream USB-C port (10Gbps, 140W)
- One USB-C port (10Gbps, 30W)
- Three USB-C ports (10Gbps, 15W)
- One USB-A port (10Gbps, 7.5W)
- One USB-A port (10Gbps, 4.5W)
- One HDMI 2.1 video port
- One HDMI 2.0a video port
- Ethernet (2.5Gb)
- 3.5mm combo Audio jack (entrance)
- 180W energy provide
Simon Jary
Whereas this dock connects to the pc by way of USB-C, Macs include sooner Thunderbolt ports that boast increased bandwidth—40GBps for Thunderbolt 4 or 80Gbps with Thunderbolt 5—plus different professional advantages.
The Plugable dock’s 10Gbps USB-C connection works seamlessly with the Mac’s Thunderbolt ports however just isn’t as quick at transferring knowledge. For most individuals, a 10Gbps connection is okay, however when you want super-fast data-transfer speeds you must as an alternative take into account a Thunderbolt docking station somewhat than one which makes use of USB-C. See our suggestions for the greatest Thunderbolt docks for Mac.
Compared, the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink helps 4 shows for the M3 MacBook Air (whereas shut in Clamshell Mode), however the M1 and M2 MacBooks are restricted to 3 (one at 6K and two at 4K). On the time of writing no DisplayLink dock makes use of the newest Thunderbolt 5 customary.
Because the UD-7400PD’s super-power is the 5 shows and no different dock can match it, you’ll possible not thoughts the dearth of Thunderbolt when you want that many screens. The downstream USB-C ports on the again match Thunderbolt’s 15W energy output so it’s solely bandwidth bandits who will care.
The Plugable dock presents a wholesome seven USB ports, all on the speedy (for USB-C) 10Gbps—not as quick at Thunderbolt however quick sufficient at transferring knowledge for many customers. A type of is the “upstream” USB-C port that you simply connect with your Mac. It’s situated on the again—somewhat than the entrance as was modern for a while—and we a lot choose it hidden there somewhat than messing up the entrance with a completely dangling cable.
This host connection can passthrough energy to your laptop computer at an enormous 140W (PD 3.1), which is the quickest you’ll discover and even want because it’s sufficient to fast-charge the top-end 16-inch MacBook Professional.
Foundry
On the entrance of the dock, one of many USB-C ports can output energy to a related gadget at 30W, which is ideal if you wish to fast-charge an iPhone and even an iPad. This protects you discovering one other energy outlet in your telephone when working at your desk.
The three “downstream” USB-C ports on the again help DisplayLink video and are there to attach a few of the exterior shows however as an alternative could possibly be used to attach different units when you don’t want all 5 doable screens. Every can output at a Thunderbolt-like 15W.
If you wish to connect with a wired community for a extra steady and sooner connection than that provided by Wi-Fi this dock is provided with a 2.5Gb Ethernet (2.5GbE) port. Such sooner community connections are quick changing into the norm for contemporary docks even when take-up in the true world just isn’t but widespread. It’s considered one of few DisplayLink docks that boast 2.5Gb Ethernet at the moment.
To get the total good thing about the two.5x velocity increase your community must be at the very least 2.5GbE—however even when your community remains to be rated at Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) the sooner variants are backwards suitable. This implies the dock is prepared for you when your private home or workplace community does catch up.
Additionally on the entrance, there’s a TRRS audio jack port for headphones, speaker or mic. TRRS (Tip-Ring-Ring-Sleeve) connectors can deal with each audio and microphone indicators concurrently.
What this dock lacks that the majority different docks supply is any card reader for low-cost transportable storage. Many docks have both an SD card reader, microSD card reader or each.
Whereas these supply the consumer easy accessibility to reasonably priced transportable storage, the Professional MacBooks include their very own, even whether it is throttled again in velocity to 250MBps—so solely MacBook Air customers may miss it. They may purchase a card reader adapter and fix it to one of many USB-C ports; if any are spare, in fact.
Plugable
Unmatched show choices
The Plugable UD-7400PD will get its numerical title from the Synaptics DisplayLink DL-7400 chipset, which is what allows so many shows as soon as the DisplayLink software program is put in on the Mac. We’ve examined one different USB-C dock with the DL-7400 chipset, the Wavlink USB-C DisplayLink dock, however this maxed out at 4 shows regardless of having extra devoted video ports than the Plugable.
On the Plugable dock there are two devoted HDMI video ports, one model 2.1 (for 8K) and one 2.0.
To help three 8K shows there’s a particular configuration that should be adopted. The HDMI 2.1 port helps as much as 8K 30Hz. Not less than one of many shows should be related to this port. Then use the three USB-C DisplayLink enabled ports to attach the opposite shows. Every of those helps at the very least 4K at 60Hz, so alter the settings appropriately in your Mac to attain the 8K throughout the shows.
Simon Jary
DisplayLink permits even the essential M1 MacBook entry to this many shows, though we suspect that anybody needing or truly needing so many screens most likely has a extra highly effective laptop computer than that mannequin.
DisplayLink makes use of intelligent compression expertise to get round Apple’s built-in show limitations that don’t permit the MST (Multi-Stream Transport) expertise that lets Home windows PCs run as much as 4 shows with ease with out the necessity for further software program.
Putting in DisplayLink in your Mac is essentially painless. There’s a URL printed within the Fast Begin Information that may take you to the obtain hyperlink, and Plugable has directions on its web site that may stroll you thru the method.
MacBooks with an M-series Max processor don’t want DisplayLink to attach as much as 4 screens, so you possibly can have a look at a dock with extra ports—for instance, the 20-port CalDigit TS5 Plus or Sonnet Echo 13—when you don’t want all 5 provided by the UD-7400PD.
MacBook Execs with Professional variants of the M1, M2 or M3 processors are restricted to 2 exterior shows. DisplayLink opens the chance so as to add three to 5 exterior shows.
One draw back to DisplayLink value noting is that it doesn’t help HDCP (copy-protected) content material playback from streaming providers resembling Netflix, Prime Video, iTunes and Hulu, together with on the pc’s personal built-in display. That is true of all DisplayLink docks and never simply this one.
In case you are eager on a DisplayPort connection somewhat than HDMI, the Wavlink USB-C DisplayLink dock (additionally based mostly on the 7400 chipset) is a greater match—though it will possibly handle simply (!) 4 shows somewhat than 5.
In case you want 5, the Plugable UD-7400PD actually is the one dock that’s going to make this doable.
Simon Jary
Design and construct
The Plugable UD-7400PD is an extended, slim horizontal aluminum case that measures 8.3 x 3.7 x 0.7 inches (21 x 9.5 x 1.7cm).
The front-mounted energy button means you’ll be able to simply flip off the facility provide to the MacBook with out the necessity to pull out the cable each night time to protect your laptop computer’s battery well being.
On the facet there’s a lock slot for bodily safety.
IT administration, hotdesking by way of DockTag
The UD-7400PD introduces Plugable’s new DockTag expertise—a web-based resolution designed for hotdesking and real-time IT asset administration in mixed-platform places of work.
Key DockTag options embody:
- IT Info Show: Exhibits serial quantity, MAC handle, mannequin quantity, and on-screen directions with out requiring native software program.
- Distant Help & Self-Prognosis: A built-in QR code provides customers instantaneous entry to setup guides, driver downloads, and help sources. Context-aware messages (e.g., “Please join host pc” or “Please set up DisplayLink software program”) seem based mostly on connection standing.
- Distant Administration: By means of the DockTag net portal, IT admins can register docks, monitor {hardware} over time, and schedule upkeep remotely.
- Hotdesking: Customers can reserve a workstation by scanning the dock’s QR code upon arrival. IT and services groups acquire real-time perception into workspace occupancy, enabling higher structure optimization and decreased wasted area.
Value
The Plugable UD-7400PD Docking Station prices $279.99, which is identical because the four-screen Wavlink DL7400 DisplayLink dock. (It’s not but accessible within the U.Okay.)
It’s costly for a non-Thunderbolt dock however when you can deal with USB-C at 10Gbps, it’s the one recreation on the town that helps 5 shows on a Mac.
In case you choose Thunderbolt connections and might dwell with 4 exterior shows, take into account the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with DisplayLink.
In case you want solely two and even three exterior shows, have a look at our different advisable DisplayLink docks for cheaper choices.
Must you purchase the Plugable UD-7400PD Docking Station?
For a non-Thunderbolt dock the Plugable UD-7400PD presents one thing no different dock can match: help for as much as 5 exterior shows, regardless of which M-series processor powers your Mac. Its set of seven 10Gbps USB ports supply energy and the two.5Gb Ethernet connection is spectacular for a DisplayLink dock, too.
