As device fleets grow more diverse, standardizing on the right docking solutions can simplify deployment across mixed-device environments.
The right dock reduces helpdesk tickets, improves end-user experience, and ensures your IT team can focus on strategy—not troubleshooting.
The Core Elements of Docking
Every docking station revolves around a few fundamentals. Get these right, and deployment is straightforward across the board.
“Standardizing on enterprise-ready docks helps IT teams deploy faster and support less.”
Host Connection
The upstream connection, USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 5, defines performance and compatibility.
- USB-C is universal, but capabilities vary widely depending on the laptop.
- Thunderbolt 4 guarantees 40Gbps bandwidth, excellent multi-display support, and cross-platform reliability.
- Thunderbolt 5 doubles that bandwidth to 80Gbps, supporting heavier data use and advanced display setups.
Plugable's first Thunderbolt 5 dock, the TBT-UDT3, delivers performance and supports both Windows laptops and Apple's latest Macs.
Display Support
The number and type of displays a dock can drive are often the deciding factor for IT.
- MST (Multi-Stream Transport): Native to Windows, enabling multiple monitors from a single cable. The UD-MSTH2 makes dual-display deployments simple.
- DisplayLink: Driver-based, cross-platform, and flexible. The UD-ULTC4K and UD-ULTCDL allow up to three displays, even on base Apple Silicon Macs and Chromebooks.
- Thunderbolt: For maximum throughput, Thunderbolt docks like the TBT-UDT3 and TBT4-UDZ provide multi-display performance without compromise.
“According to Jon Peddie Research, users see up to a 42% boost in productivity when working with multiple displays.”
Power Delivery
A modern dock should charge the laptop as it connects everything else. With many systems demanding more power, 100W PD is the new baseline. Plugable solutions, such as the UD-6950PDH, UD-ULTC4K, and TBT-6950PD, ensure laptops stay powered while driving multiple monitors and peripherals.
While 100W PD is the baseline, some newer high-powered laptops support 140W PD. Docking stations like Plugable's UD-7400PD and TBT-UDT3 support 140W PD charging.
Peripheral Expansion
USB-A, USB-C, Ethernet, SD cards, and audio connections remain essential. Enterprise-ready docks, such as the UD-7400PD, and compact hubs, like the USBC-9IN1E, keep teams connected without clutter from dongles.
Ethernet
All Plugable docking stations (and selected USB-C hubs) are equipped with Ethernet connectivity to ensure a secure point-to-point wired connection for added security and reliability.
Consistent wired connectivity across fleets ensures uptime and maintains compliance with enterprise security protocols.
Best Options for Mac Users
macOS handles displays differently from Windows, which makes dock selection critical. These Plugable docks are tested and proven for Mac environments:
- TBT-UDM – A newly released Thunderbolt dual 4K dock explicitly designed for MacBooks.
- UD-7400PD – A five-display dock designed for mission-critical workspaces (supports all Apple silicon Macs)
- UD-6950PDH → Dual-display DisplayLink-based dock
- TBT-6950PD – A quad-display Thunderbolt 4 dock with 100W PD.
- TBT-UDT3 – Plugable's first Thunderbolt 5 dock, built for modern Macs with bandwidth and display flexibility to spare.
Best Options for Windows Users
Windows laptops offer more flexibility through MST and DisplayLink, making multi-monitor deployments easier. For IT pros managing Windows fleets, these are the standouts:
- UD-MSTH2 – Dual-display MST dock for straightforward setups.
- UD-ULTC4K – DisplayLink-powered dock supporting up to four 4K monitors.
- UD-7400PD – A five-display dock designed for mission-critical workspaces.
- TBT-6950PD – Quad-display Thunderbolt 4/DisplayLink hybrid dock with robust charging.
- TBT-UDT3 – A Thunderbolt 5 dock that future-proofs Windows environments with expanded bandwidth and display support.
Thunderbolt 5: Raising the Bar
With 80Gbps of bandwidth, Thunderbolt 5 expands what's possible with docking. It supports dual 8K displays, external GPUs, and data-heavy workflows, all while remaining backward-compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and USB4.
Plugable's TBT-UDT3 brings this performance into IT deployments today, giving pros confidence that they're setting up teams not just for current needs but also for the next generation of computing.
For more on where Thunderbolt 5 is headed, see Plugable's resources:
“Future-proofing your infrastructure means fewer refresh cycles and lower total cost of ownership.”
Takeaways for IT Pros
- Start with host connection: USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, or Thunderbolt 5 when choosing docks.
- For Macs: rely on TBT-UDM, UD-7400PD, TBT-6950PD, and the Thunderbolt 5 TBT-UDT3.
- For Windows: MST and DisplayLink options (UD-MSTH2, UD-ULTC4K, UD-7400PD) pair well with Thunderbolt solutions, such as TBT-6950PD and TBT-UDT3.
- Quad and five-display solutions (TBT-6950PD, UD-7400PD) meet the needs of advanced users.
- Thunderbolt 5 is available now, and Plugable's TBT-UDT3 makes it practical.
- DockTag – The UD-7400PD comes equipped with DockTag™ On Screen Display (OSD) to quickly display the dock’s status, asset details, and a QR code for fast access to setup instructions and support resources. Learn more about DockTag right HERE.
The IT Pro's Docking Station Playbook for 2026 is a framework for smarter deployment and management. As new docks are launched, the principles remain the same: match the connection type, display needs, and power requirements to the right solution. That's how IT pros keep teams connected, productive, and ready for whatever comes next.
By standardizing docks across departments, IT leaders can streamline procurement, simplify support, and future-proof device compatibility.
Ready to pick a dock? Try our Docking Station Finder Tool.
Still have questions? Connect with our team.
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Docking Station FAQ (2026)
- Q: What’s the difference between Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5?
- A: Thunderbolt 4 provides 40Gbps bandwidth and supports dual 4K displays. Thunderbolt 5 doubles that bandwidth to 80Gbps, enabling dual 8K displays, higher data throughput, and external GPU support. Plugable’s TBT-UDT3 is our first Thunderbolt 5 dock.
- Q: Can Macs support more than one external monitor?
- A: By default, macOS limits most Macs to a single external display. Plugable’s TBT-UDM, TBT4-UDZ, and TBT-6950PD are designed to work within these constraints, while our DisplayLink-based docks (like the UD-ULTC4K) can unlock additional displays.
- Q: Do all docking stations provide laptop charging?
- A: Not all. Look for docks with Power Delivery (PD) support—ideally 100W—for enterprise laptops. Options like the UD-6950PDH, UD-7400PD, and TBT-6950PD combine robust charging with multi-monitor support.
- Q: What’s the difference between MST and DisplayLink?
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- MST (Multi-Stream Transport): Native to Windows, it enables multiple displays from a single connection without drivers.
- DisplayLink: Driver-based technology that supports multiple displays across Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS, making it more flexible for mixed fleets. Plugable docks like the UD-MSTH2 (MST) and UD-ULTC4K (DisplayLink) are built for these scenarios.
- Q: How many displays can a docking station support?
- A: It depends on the technology and laptop. Plugable offers dual-display docks (UD-MSTH2, TBT-UDM), quad-display solutions (TBT4-UDZ, TBT-6950PD), and even five-display options (UD-7400PD). For the cutting edge, the TBT-UDT3 with Thunderbolt 5 unlocks next-gen multi-display support.
- Q: Which Plugable dock is best for enterprise IT rollouts?
- A: For standardized Mac fleets, the TBT-UDM and TBT-UDT3 are strong options. For Windows environments, the UD-MSTH2 and UD-ULTC4K balance performance with deployment flexibility. For power users and control centers, the UD-7400PD and TBT-6950PD support advanced multi-monitor setups.
