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Elgato Thunderbolt Dock vs Plugable UD-6950Z: Comparison

Elgato Thunderbolt Dock and Plugable UD-6950Z separate most on total ports: Elgato Thunderbolt Dock at 8, Plugable UD-6950Z at 12, 33% in favour of Plugable UD-6950Z.

Elgato Thunderbolt Dock (Thunderbolt 4 / 8 Ports / 96W Host Charging / Dual 4K@60Hz / Mac/Windows / ~$300)
ElgatoElgato Thunderbolt Dock
Plugable UD-6950Z (USB-C/USB-A / 11 Ports / 60W Host Charging / Triple 4K@30Hz DisplayLink / Windows/Mac / ~$200)
PlugablePlugable UD-6950Z

Specs

Specification
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock (Thunderbolt 4 / 8 Ports / 96W Host Charging / Dual 4K@60Hz / Mac/Windows / ~$300)
Elgato Thunderbolt Dock
Plugable UD-6950Z (USB-C/USB-A / 11 Ports / 60W Host Charging / Triple 4K@30Hz DisplayLink / Windows/Mac / ~$200)
Plugable UD-6950Z
Connection TypeThunderbolt 4USB-C or USB-A (DisplayLink software driver)
Port Configuration2x TB4 40Gbps, 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-C 10Gbps, 3.5mm audio1x USB upstream (USB-C and USB-A cables included), 2x HDMI 2.0, 2x DisplayPort 1.2 (DisplayLink), 6x USB-A 5Gbps, 1x GbE, 3.5mm headset jack
Max Display SupportDual 4KDual display
Max Display ResolutionDual 4K@60HzDual 4K@60Hz (DisplayLink)
Total Ports8-33%12
Power Delivery96W host charging0 W
EthernetNoYes
BrandElgatoPlugable
ModelThunderbolt DockUD-6950Z
OS CompatibilityMac, WindowsWindows 7-11, macOS 10.14+, ChromeOS 100+
Price~$300~$200

Verdict

Elgato Thunderbolt Dock

8 / 10 Expert Rating

A streaming-oriented Thunderbolt 4 dock that trades some port count for a layout built around creator workflows.

Plugable UD-6950Z

7 / 10 Expert Rating

The most display-flexible DisplayLink dock here, ideal for triple-monitor setups on older hardware.

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