Tested: this innovative dock lets you link up more monitors than Apple thinks you need

The Plugable UD-7400PD USB dock can host so many monitors that I could call it a harbour (sorry).

Plugable UD-7400PD dock
(Image: © Future / Ian Evenden)

Our Verdict

The Plugable UD-7400PD dock is a clever little thing that allows you to use up to five external screens on a Mac (or, potentially, Windows PC) that doesn't natively support that many. It's slim and easy to hide, and will make an excellent addition to a MacBook setup.

For

  • Lots of screens
  • 10Gbps data
  • Ethernet too

Against

  • Not Thunderbolt speed

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Two monitors good, four monitors better. But if you’re the owner of an M-series MacBook without a Max or Pro processor, you might be limited in the number you can connect. The M3 can manage two external screens but needs to have its lid closed, for example, while the M1 and M2 can only support one external display. DisplayLink is a way of getting around this limitation, and by connecting a dock such as the Plugable UD-7400PD to your MacBook’s Thunderbolt port, you can boost up to as many as five screens. Do you have a desk large enough for five external monitors? Is it the best dock for a MacBook Pro? Step this way...

Key specifications

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Input:

USB-C 10Gbps

Output:

1x HDMI 2.1, 1x HDMI 2.0, 4x USB-C, 2x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio, 1x 2.5Gb Ethernet

Charging:

140W upstream, 30w from front port

Dimensions:

1.7 x 21 x 9.5cm

Weight:

492g

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Plugable UD-7400PD score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design:

Sleek and silvery, perfect for tucking around the back of a desk.

4/5

Features:

Lots of video outputs, and some data ports too.

3/5

Value:

There are cheaper docks, but few that can do what this one can.

3/5

Caldigit  TS5 Plus
Caldigit TS5 Plus: at creativebloq.com

20 ports on a Thunderbolt dock, including SD card readers, might make this the only dock you need.

Anker Prime TB5
Anker Prime TB5: at creativebloq.com

Offering HDMI and DisplayPort, this Thunderbolt 5 dock makes a great MacBook companion.

HP USB-C Dock G5
HP USB-C Dock G5: at creativebloq.com

Convenient, sleek, compact and well-equipped with ports, the HP USB-C Dock G5 is a great dock for port-poor laptops .

The Verdict
8.5

out of 10

Plugable UD-7400PD

The Plugable UD-7400PD dock is a clever little thing that allows you to use up to five external screens on a Mac (or, potentially, Windows PC) that doesn't natively support that many. It's slim and easy to hide, and will make an excellent addition to a MacBook setup.

Ian Evenden
Freelance writer

Ian Evenden has been a journalist for over 20 years, starting in the days of QuarkXpress 4 and Photoshop 5. He now mainly works in Creative Cloud and Google Docs, but can always find a use for a powerful laptop or two. When not sweating over page layout or photo editing, you can find him peering at the stars or growing vegetables.

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