Plugable has officially launched the TBT-UDH2, which is apparently the first Thunderbolt 5 dock to offer dual native HDMI 2.1 outputs with no adapters or DisplayPort conversion required. Apple World Today received an advance copy, and I’ve had the chance to play around with it for five days.
Do you need a Thunderbolt dock? You do if you needconnect multiple monitors, storage drives, and other accessories to your Mac, all through a single cable. Although they’re more expensive than USB hubs, they provide better performance and broader multi-monitor support.
But first, let’s consider the advantage of Thunderbolt 5, which is the latest connectivity standard, delivering double the bidirectional bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4. It’s designed for power users, offering 80 Gbps of data throughput, up to 120 Gbps for high-resolution displays, charging up to 240W, and support for PCI Express Gen 4. In other words, it’s powerful and cool.
While most Thunderbolt 5 docks still prioritize DisplayPort, the TBT-UDH2 is built specifically for the huge number of users running HDMI-based monitor setups. And I suspect most Mac users — well, at least “power users” (a term I don’t really like — prefer HDMI.
DisplayPort is fine for PC gaming and multi-monitor setups, but HDMI is better for general consumer use thanks to its superior universal compatibility, built-in home theater audio return (eARC), and licensing royalties that ensure standardized features across TVs and consumer electronics.
The TBT-UDH2 supports up to two 8K 60Hz displays over native HDMI 2.1, all through a single cable connection.
Beyond display support, it’s a full 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 docking station featuring:
- Up to 140W laptop charging; a 140W laptop charger utilizes the USB Power Delivery (USB PD 3.1) standard to rapidly power high-performance laptops, such as my 16-inch MacBook Pro. It can charge many devices to 50% in about 30 minutes;
- One downstream Thunderbolt 5 port for high-speed storage or eGPU support;
- 2.5Gbps Ethernet;
- SD and microSD 4.0 card readers;
- Nine downstream USB ports
- Compatibility with Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4 Mac and Windows
The TBT-UDH2 carries a manufacturers suggested retail price of US$349, but will launch at an introductory price of $279. That’s an excellent price for an excellent Mac accessory. The TBT-UDH2 is one of the most affordable Thunderbolt 5 docks available.
Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★★★
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