Plugable USBC-11IN1E review

Verdict

This dual-HDMI hub shows why "dual 4K 60Hz" on a box does not mean two desktops on a Mac. Plugable itself says it is not recommended for Apple Mac computers. On macOS you get one extended display, and a monitor on the second HDMI port mirrors the first. We review it so the trap is easy to spot in similar hubs.

Pros

• No drivers, and Plugable documents HDCP support for protected video.
• Gigabit Ethernet, SD, microSD and audio in a small hub.
• Up to 92W pass-through to the laptop.

Cons

• On a Mac, the second HDMI port mirrors the first.
• Plugable says it is not recommended for Apple Mac computers.
• Charging needs your own USB-C charger, and the 0.44m cable is not removable.

Best for

Windows or ChromeOS laptops with DisplayPort 1.4 and MST. On a Mac, one extended monitor plus USB and Ethernet.

Skip if

You want two independent monitors on any MacBook Air.

View on Plugable

Score breakdown

The overall score is the weighted average of six criteria, each scored 0 to 10 from documentation. See the rubric

1. Mac compatibility documentedWeight 30%1/10

   Plugable says it is not recommended for Apple Mac computers (2). Minus 1: its FAQ says it works with most macOS systems. Source 1

2. Two monitors on MacBook AirWeight 25%2/10

   On Mac, one extended 4K 60Hz display or two mirrored displays. Source 1

3. Display modesWeight 15%6/10

   One extended display at 4K 60Hz on Mac. Source 1

4. ChargingWeight 10%8/10

   Up to 100W pass-through input with up to 92W to the laptop, from a charger you supply. Source 1

5. Ports and connectivityWeight 10%8/10

   8 downstream ports: USB-C, three USB-A, SD, microSD, 3.5mm audio and Gigabit Ethernet. Source 1

6. Software and limitsWeight 10%10/10

   No driver installation needed, and HDCP support is documented. Source 1

Works with your MacBook Air

Why the second HDMI port mirrors

Plugable says the host must support DisplayPort 1.4 and Multi-Stream Transport (MST) to drive two extended 4K 60Hz displays from this hub. MST splits one DisplayPort output from the computer into several streams. Plugable's knowledge base documents that macOS does not extend displays over MST, and Anker's support article for its 575 dock says the same: on a Mac only single-stream transport works, so every monitor on that output shows the same picture.

Plugable's statement covers Macs in general, so it applies to an M4 or M5 Air too, even though those Macs support two external displays. A dock that documents two extended displays on your chip, such as the Plugable TBT-UDM for M4 and M5, avoids this.

Specifications

As published by Plugable. Values in this table are the maker's, not measurements.