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Plugable UD-6950Z vs StarTech.com Thunderbolt 4 Dock: Comparison
Plugable UD-6950Z and StarTech.com Thunderbolt 4 Dock separate most on total ports: Plugable UD-6950Z at 12, StarTech.com Thunderbolt 4 Dock at 11, 8% in favour of Plugable UD-6950Z. They match on 11 other specifications, including ethernet, bus powered and max displays windows.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Type | USB-C or USB-A (DisplayLink software driver) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Port Configuration | 1x 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 | 1x TB4 host, 3x TB4 downstream 40Gbps (15W), 3x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-A 2.0 (7.5W), GbE, SD 4.0 UHS-II, 3.5mm TRRS audio |
| Thunderbolt Version | None | 4 |
| Max Display Support | Dual display | Dual 4K |
| Max Display Resolution | Dual 4K@60Hz (DisplayLink) | Dual 4K@60Hz or single 8K@30Hz |
| Host Cable Length | 0.9 m | 0.8 m |
| Total Ports | 12 | 11-8% |
| Power Delivery | 0 W | 96 W |
| Host Power Delivery | 0 W | 96 W |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| External PSU Wattage | 40 W | 135 W |
| Bus Powered | No | No |
| Video Path | DisplayLink | Thunderbolt Native |
| DisplayLink Driver Required | Yes | No |
| Max Displays Windows | 2 | 2 |
| Max Displays Mac Base | 2 | 1 |
| Max Displays Mac Pro Max | 2 | 2 |
| Max Single Display Resolution | 4K | 8K |
| Max Single Display Refresh | 60 Hz | 30 Hz |
| Max Dual Display Resolution | 4K | 4K |
| Max Dual Display Refresh | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| HDMI Port Count | 2 | 0 |
| HDMI Version | 2.0 | None |
| DisplayPort Port Count | 2 | 0 |
| DisplayPort Version | 1.2 | None |
| Downstream Thunderbolt Port Count | 0 | 3 |
| USB-A Port Count | 6 | 4 |
| USB-C Data Port Count | 0 | 0 |
| Max USB Data Rate | 5Gbps | 10Gbps |
| Ethernet Speed | 1GbE | 1GbE |
| Audio Jack Configuration | Single Combo | Single Combo |
| macOS Supported | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Supported | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 350 g | 423 g |
| Brand | Plugable | StarTech.com |
| Model | UD-6950Z | TB4CDOCK |
| OS Compatibility | Windows 7-11, macOS 10.14+, ChromeOS 100+ | Windows, macOS 11+, Ubuntu |
| Price | ~$200 | ~$260 |
| Source URL | https://plugable.com/products/ud-6950z | https://media.startech.com/cms/pdfs/tb4cdock_datasheet.pdf |
Verdict
Plugable UD-6950Z
7 / 10 Expert Rating
The most display-flexible DisplayLink dock here, ideal for triple-monitor setups on older hardware.
StarTech.com Thunderbolt 4 Dock
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A rugged, IT-friendly Thunderbolt 4 dock built for fleet deployment rather than home enthusiasts.