Plugable Thunderbolt 4 (TBT4-UDZ) dock review: A bit off the pace
At a glance
Expert's Rating
Pros
Can connect to four displays
Tons of ports — no need to buy an adapter!
You’ll love the vertical stand
Cons
Expensive
Some stability concerns
Front USB-A port doesn’t deliver the rated power
Our Verdict
The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Docking Station glitched a bit, knocking this ultrapremium docking station down. Its predecessor is a better value.
Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ) offers the vast port selection and multiple display-port options I’d expect in a premium dock. But it doesn’t quite deliver where it counts, with stability proving to be an issue.
Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ is the Thunderbolt 4 version of the Plugable TBT3-UDZ, what I called the “Cadillac of Thunderbolt docks” at the time because of the plentiful port arrangement. It still tops our list of the best Thunderbolt docks. But there are very similar competitors now, as well.
On paper, Plugable’s Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Quad Display Docking Station (TBT4-UDZ) is very similar to the Kensington Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Quad Video Docking Station (SD5800T): similar names, similar features — but not similar in price. (Our sister site, TechAdvisor, has its own review of the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Docking Station, too.) Kensington’s dock is priced at about $20 more on Amazon, but other retailers price Kensington’s dock significantly higher. Plugable’s dock is also remarkably similar to the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Multimedia Pro Dock, a dock we loved which also commands a $299 price tag.
Plugable’s TBT4-UDZ has one strike against it: Because of the similarities between Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, you might want to consider the older iteration, instead. At about $200, Plugable’s TBT3-UDZ is about $100 cheaper than the newer TBT4-UDZ.