Plugable Launches TBT3-UDZ: A Comprehensive Thunderbolt 3 / USB-C Docking Station

@ 2020/01/08
Plugable is introducing three new products at CES 2020, and the most interesting of the three happens to be the Titan Ridge-based TBT3-UDZ Docking Station with a 100W power delivery budget. Even though the TBT3-UDZ is not the first Titan Ridge-equipped docking station in the market (the StarTech.com TB3CK2DP and the Seagate FireCuda Gaming Dock are already available in retail), the unit brings in some unique features differentiating it from the other docking stations in the market. The use of Titan Ridge allows the docking station to work with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C host ports.

The TBT3-UDZ includes DisplayLink chips to provide provides two 4Kp30 display outputs when used with USB-C hosts (the USB-C port needs to have DisplayPort-Alt-Mode support). In the case of a Thunderbolt 3 uplink, subject to display routing over the host port, two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs (up to 4Kp60) can be activated. [Update: Note that no displays can be driven if the dock is uplinked to a data-only USB-C port.]

It also features 100W power delivery (the highest we have seen in any Thunderbolt 3 dock from Plugable as yet). Plugable suggests that this would fit well with the 96W charging power requirement for the new Apple MacBook Pro units. The dock comes with a 170W adapter, and includes a wide variety of ports:

Two display outputs (HDMI1 or DisplayPort1) and (HDMI2 or DisplayPort2)
1x Thunderbolt 3 uplink port with 100W power delivery
1x RJ-45 1Gbps port
5x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports (5 Gbps)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (10 Gbps)
1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port (10 Gbps) with BC 1.2 (7.5W) charging capability
microSDXC slot
SDXC slot
TRRS audio input/output port for headphones and microphones

The TBT3-UDZ will be available for purchase in Q2 2020 for $299.

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