Thunderbolt 5 is starting to arrive on some Macs, but most of us are still living in the Thunderbolt 4 era. For those users, Plugable is introducing a new docking station designed specifically for Macs. The TBT-UDM pairs Mac-friendly styling with pro-grade connectivity at a more competitive price than most premium Thunderbolt docks.
The TBT-UDM supports dual 4K HDMI displays at 60Hz, delivers 96W host charging, and packs 13 total ports in a compact aluminum chassis that blends in with modern Mac setups. A downstream Thunderbolt 4 port supports an additional display up to 8K at 30Hz or high-speed accessories like external SSDs, all without drivers or setup steps.
With all M4 models (and Pro/Max chips across M3 and M4) now supporting dual external displays natively over Thunderbolt, docks like the TBT-UDM can take full advantage of the GPU without software workarounds like DisplayLink. Even the M3 base model can run dual monitors in clamshell mode. The dock isn’t intended for base M1 and M2 Macs, which remain limited to one external display without DisplayLink.
The aluminum chassis houses two HDMI 2.0 ports, four USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, UHS-II SD and microSD readers, Gigabit Ethernet, a 3.5mm audio jack, and the downstream Thunderbolt 4 port. The package also includes a 1-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable, power supply, and Plugable’s two-year warranty with U.S.-based support.
At $199.95 and $40 off at launch, the TBT-UDM undercuts many rival Thunderbolt 4 docks, which regularly exceed $300. The dock is available starting today from Plugable.com and Amazon.