Head-to-head · Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

Plugable TBT4-UD5 vs Plugable TBT4-UDZ

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Plugable TBT4-UD5 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.5 vs 4.0). The gap is mostly about Mainstream users who want a reliable, HDMI-equipped Thunderbolt 4 dock that covers most needs at the best price in the category. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

Plugable TBT4-UD5

4.5

3 sources2 derived$200as of Aug 1

The TBT4-UD5 is the value pick in Thunderbolt 4 docking: 13 ports including dual HDMI, 100W host charging and certified 40Gb/s throughput for around $200. XDA scored it 9 out of 10 and called the price kind of amazing, and Tom's Guide called it the best bang for your buck. It has fewer ports than the flagship docks and no downstream Thunderbolt for daisy-chaining, but it covers a normal desk for roughly half their money.

Strengths

— Outstanding value, delivering most of a flagship dock's function for around $200
— Dual HDMI ports built in for single 8K or dual 4K displays
— Thunderbolt certified with reliable 40Gb/s transfer and instant wake

Watch-outs

— Fewer total ports than the CalDigit TS4 or Plugable TBT4-UDZ
— No extra downstream Thunderbolt ports for daisy-chaining drives
— Plastic-heavy build feels less premium than metal rivals

$200 · Buy at plugable.com Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

Plugable TBT4-UDZ

4.0

2 sources$290as of Aug 1

The TBT4-UDZ is the do-everything alternative: a 16-in-1 dock with HDMI, DisplayPort, multiple Thunderbolt ports and a generous USB charging spread that earned Laptop Mag's 2025 Dock of the Year. Laptop Mag said it lands just shy of a 5-star score and is one of the best docks it has tested. It is pricier and bulkier than the UD5 sibling, but for a decked-out workstation it rivals the flagships.

Strengths

— Huge 16-in-1 port selection rivaling the most loaded docks
— Both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs plus multiple Thunderbolt ports
— Many powered USB ports for charging accessories at the dock

Watch-outs

— Falls just short of a 5-star score in expert testing
— Larger footprint than slim docks like the Plugable TBT4-UD5
— Pricier than the value TBT4-UD5 sibling

$290 · Buy at plugable.com Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Plugable TBT4-UD5

The value alternative to the CalDigit TS4: it gives up some of the TS4's 18-port count and downstream Thunderbolt ports but adds dual HDMI the TS4 lacks, for roughly half the price. It is simpler than the Plugable TBT4-UDZ and Kensington SD5780T but covers the essentials most users need, undercutting the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock on price too.

Plugable TBT4-UDZ

The maximalist value play: it nearly matches the CalDigit TS4 on port count while adding both HDMI and DisplayPort the TS4 lacks, for less money. It is more loaded than its Plugable TBT4-UD5 sibling and the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock, and offers more total ports than the Kensington SD5780T, though it is bulkier and pricier than the UD5.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Plugable TBT4-UD5	Plugable TBT4-UDZ
Ports	13 total	16 total
Thunderbolt	Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) host	Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) host + downstream
Displays	Dual 4K@60Hz HDMI or single 8K	Dual 4K@60Hz (2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort)
Host Charging	100W (96W certified)	100W Power Delivery
USB	4x USB ports	7x USB ports
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet	2.5GbE Ethernet
Certification	Thunderbolt 4 / Intel Evo certified	—
Compatibility	Windows and Mac	Mac, Windows, USB4
Dimensions	8.9"L x 3.3"W x 0.9"H	4.1"L x 1.4"W x 7.7"H
Wattage	96	100
Card Reader	—	SD + microSD

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