Plugable has introduced two USB-C hubs starting at $39.99 that bring 4K 144Hz HDMI output to compatible Macs, offering high-refresh-rate monitor support without a larger docking station.
The new Plugable USBC-6IN1 costs $39.99, while the USBC-8IN1E costs $59.99. Both hubs support a single external display at up to 4K 144Hz or 8K 30Hz through HDMI 2.1. They also offer USB-C pass-through charging and don't require drivers on macOS, Windows, or ChromeOS. Previously, Plugable offered 4K 144Hz output only in its more expensive USBC-10IN1E hub.
The $39.99 USBC-6IN1 offers HDMI 2.1, three USB-A ports, and one USB-C data port. All four USB data ports support speeds up to 5Gbps, while the USB-C port and one USB-A port can deliver up to 7.5W of power. The aluminum hub measures 4.79 inches long and includes a built-in 6.7-inch USB-C cable. The $59.99 USBC-8IN1E adds Gigabit Ethernet and separate SD and micro SD card readers, which support UHS-I speeds up to 104MB/s and can operate simultaneously.
Achieving 4K 144Hz or 8K 30Hz requires a Mac running macOS 26 or later with an M1 or M2 Pro or Max chip, or an M3 chip or newer, plus a compatible monitor and HDMI 2.1 cable. Base M1 and M2 MacBooks, along with the MacBook Neo, are limited to 4K 60Hz through these hubs. Windows laptops need DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression to reach the higher resolutions and refresh rates.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing