This gadget adds dual 4K display support to your laptop, even if the hardware doesn't support it

android, windows, microsoft, this gadget adds dual 4k display support to your laptop, even if the hardware doesn't support it

Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • The Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter is available on .
  • It’s small, portable dual-HDMI adapter that supports dual 4K 60Hz displays from a single Thunderbolt, USB4, or USB-C port, compatible with macOS 11+, Windows 10+, and ChromeOS 100+ systems.
  • This adapter requires drivers to be installed to make use of DisplayLink, and it does not support High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) digital rights management.

There’s nothing like attaching a couple of extra displays to a laptop to boost productivity. Sure, it isn’t mobile anymore, but you gain the ability to transform your device into a powerful, versatile desktop setup.

The problem is, that not all laptops natively support dual displays, not even quite powerful, high-end systems such as the base M1, M2, and M3-powered Macs. These MacBooks only support a single external monitor.

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So, what can you do?

A simple solution is to use a USB-C to dual-HDMI dongle, such as the .

Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter tech specs

  • Connection to host: USB-C, Thunderbolt, or USB4 
  • OS compatibility: macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS
  • Number of displays supported: 2
  • Ports: 2 x HDMI
  • Max resolution: 3840×2160 @ 60Hz
  • Driver installation required: Yes
  • HDCP support: No

Laptops were supposed to free us from the shackles of a desk and big displays. But as the power of portable systems has increased exponentially over the years, a laptop can now rival the power of a desktop, so it makes sense to have a single system for the office and for when you’re on the move. The only drawback is the display — there’s nothing like sitting in front of a couple of 4K displays to boost productivity.

android, windows, microsoft, this gadget adds dual 4k display support to your laptop, even if the hardware doesn't support it

Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

This is exactly what the Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter offers, and it works even on systems that don’t natively support dual displays. Plug it into a USB-C, Thunderbolt, or USB4 port, install the relevant DisplayLink drivers (a process that’s automatic on Windows systems, Mac users will have to go find them), and you’re done.

It’s really that simple.

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While the target market for this adapter includes owners of Macs with the base M1, M2, or M3 chips — processors that don’t natively support dual displays — it also works on Windows and ChromeOS systems.

I’ve tested this adapter with dual 4K displays attached, and it works reliably on both macOS and Windows — the sort of reliability that I’d expect from a Plugable device.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Not everyone needs dual 4K displays connected to their laptop, but if you’re among those who do, the is a great buy if you find yourself with a system that doesn’t support two displays. At $90, it’s not cheap, but it is a solid, reliable solution that works well.

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