Even with 14 - inch and 16 - inch screens , many MacBook users have already upgraded to two bigger desktop CRT screen at family or in the function — often using a laptop docking station to benefit from the extra television ports required for such a setup , plus extras such as multiple USB ports and Ethernet . Some hook up three monitors and there are even docks that back up to four external screens .
At CES , accessory Almighty Plugable unveiled the first docking station that can hold five external proctor . Through the use of DisplayLink engineering science this expanse of blind real estate is available even to owners of the plain M1 and M2 MacBooks antecedently limited by Apple to just the solitary one external display .
The UD-7400PD is a intercrossed dockage station that use two technologies to drive the connected displays : USB - C Alt Mode Video and DisplayLink ( third - political party software that the user downloads before set up the loading dock ) . For more details , see our explainer onhow to plug in multiple international display to a Mac using DisplayLink .
Up to five high - resolution show can be bestow : three 6 kibibyte CRT screen , or one 6 K plus four 4 jet displays . For Windows PCs , the 6 K screen can be kick upstairs to a full 8 K one . This mega multi - screen support is made possible by the bobtail ’s habit of the DisplayLink DL-7400 chipset .
Plugable
Do you need five screens?
Probably not . Very few people actually necessitate or desire five monitors , but the UD-7400PD dock offers flexibleness . Users can choose from the five video options — one HDMI 2.1 for the gamy 6 G resolution , one HDMI 2.0 for 4 KiB at 60Hz , and three 10Gbps USB - degree centigrade port with DisplayLink enable for 4 honey oil at 60Hz — with any fresh USB - degree centigrade ports free for other devices with full data point , video recording and power potential ( up to 15W ) .
Having the same and full USB - ampere-second choice available for each port makes usage simple-minded for the user , rather than have to choose a particular one for video and others for superpower or information . The UD-7400PD dock offers PD 3.1 140W Power Delivery , meaning it can be used to fast - charge even the top - end 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
The top - end specification go on with a 2.5Gb Ethernet port , which will dramatically speed up a internet support at the same speed . At the front is another USB - C porthole capable of outputting 30W of power , enough to fast - burden any iPhone . Two legacy but speedy 10Gbps USB - A ports ( 7.5W ) and a combo 3.5 mm audio socket round out the front ports .
TheUD-7400PD dockis expected to be useable in March for roughly $ 265 . For more options , check out our roundups of thebest moorage stations for Macandbest DisplayLink docks .
Plugable USB-C Quad HDMI Graphics Adapter
Plugable also announced a smaller picture - only solution using the same DisplayLink DL-7400 chipset that supports four independent high - resolution displays via one USB - C cable but without the extra ports feature by the fuller five - display docking station .
The stocky USB - degree Celsius Quad HDMI Graphics Adapter ( USBC-7400H4 ) expend the same DisplayLink applied science as the UD-7400PD dockage to drive four 4 kB 60Hz HDMI outputs from a undivided USB - degree Celsius port , and allowing for up to 100W USB - C PD pass - through charging .
TheUSBC-7400H4will cost $ 125 .
Simon Jary attended CES at the request of Plugable , which paid for hotel and travel . The ship’s company did not influence Macworld ’s editorial capacity .
