You can use the TB4 ports to add external USB-C displays or, with a USB-C display adapter, to multiple HDMI or DisplayPort monitors-as well as other devices, all at top speeds. Power delivery to external devices is more impressive than other hubs reviewed here, up to 15W on the Thunderbolt ports. One of the TB4 ports is upstream, so connects to the computer the other three are downstream for connecting other devices. It boasts four 40GBps Thunderbolt 4 ports (compatible with USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4) plus four 10Gbps USB-A ports. Wired Internet is also not present, but, fear not, Plugable has a longer 7-in-1 USB-C Hub that drops a USB-A port for Gigabit Ethernet.īackwards compatible and foreseeable-future-proof, Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is great for modern laptops that can feel the benefits of the latest connectivity standard.

There’s just one USB-C port, so look elsewhere if you need more of the newer USB standard. There are a generous three USB-A ports that can also provide 7.5W power pass-through to charge other devices. The 87W power is more than you get from most hubs.Īt 88g, it’s lightweight, and, as with many hubs, features a short integrated cable so works well as a portable travel device. Pass-through charging is especially handy if your laptop or USB-C device has just one USB-C port. You can use the HDMI 1.4 port to output to a 4K (at 30Hz) or Full HD 1080p monitor or projector. It does add a degree of convenience, as everything you need is located in one dock rather than bouncing between ports in your laptop and the station and having cables running everywhere.The compact and very affordable 7-port Plugable USB-C Multifunction Hub has seven ports from one integrated USB-C connection, including a 4K HDMI output for adding an external display, power pass-through (at an impressive 87W) to charge connected devices, three 5Gbps USB-A ports, and SD and microSD slots. Neither are the SD and TF card slots, which are also fairly common in modern laptops.

Of course, it’s nothing that takes away from the Docking Station Pro. The 3.5mm jack, for instance, seems like an odd addition as I’ve yet to come across a laptop, desktop, or mini PC that doesn’t already have the standard headset port. Even with how much I use my mini PC and laptop, there are still quite a few ports I will likely never use. There is no denying that UGREEN’s Mac and Windows-compatible docking station is “multifunction.” In fact, it has so many different functions that I can’t fathom it’s intended for a casual user. Should You Buy the UGREEN USB-C Multifunction Docking Station Pro?Ĭonnectivity: Living up to Its Name Mark LoProto / Review Geek

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