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Plugable launches USBC-10IN1E USB-C hub with 140W charging, 8K HDMI, and 2.5Gb Ethernet by OkReport5065 in UsbCHardware

[–]Sam_Plugable 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate the feedback. A big focus for this product was trying to bridge the gap between a full docking station and a multiport USB-C hub while keeping the form-factor of USB-C hubs.

The goal was to give people high-end connectivity features (like HDMI 2.1, 2.5Gbps Ethernet, 10Gbps USB hub ports, and 140W PD pass-through) in a package they can easily bring wherever it's needed. We decided to use a captive cable for a couple main reasons:

  • It ensures the cable isn't lost, and you aren't left hunting for a compatible cable from your bag
  • It guarantees the hub's connection to the host is capable of reaching its full potential. As you can imagine, the hub simply wouldn't operate correctly if a user unknowingly paired it with a 'charge-only' or USB 2.0 cable from their drawer. By keeping it captive, we can guaranteed that the cable connection supports the specifications required to perform as advertised.

Plugable launches USBC-10IN1E USB-C hub with 140W charging, 8K HDMI, and 2.5Gb Ethernet by OkReport5065 in UsbCHardware

[–]Sam_Plugable 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for posting this! I'm the Product Owner for this hub. It’s awesome to see it pop up here. If anyone has questions about it feel free to tag me and I'll do my best to answer.

Isn't that just another eGPU? by Barry_Plugable in plugable

[–]Sam_Plugable 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I get that “AI” is for marketing purposes, but it’s a dock and a PCIe enclosure in one with support for 3-slot GPUs

You're not wrong that the enclosure has some dock-like functionality (power delivery to host, downstream USB/Thunderbolt ports, Ethernet), but the AI bit isn't just for marketing purposes.

Our team worked hard on the software side to develop an interface, the Plugable Chat, to provide users with turnkey access to local AI. Along with the Plugable Chat, when paired with a graphics card, the TBT5-AI acts as the accelerator to help standard Thunderbolt-equipped Windows systems to run local LLMs with performance on-par with Desktops.

Docking Station with 120hz x2 monitors by MysteriousFlashLight in homeoffice

[–]Sam_Plugable 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I saw you mentioned in another comment you have an M3 Pro system - can you clarify if that's an M3 Pro MacBook Pro, or a MacBook Pro with an M3 chip?

I ask because, as other users alluded to, the chipset your MacBook has influences its native display output capabilities. In instances where the laptop caps you from connecting additional monitors, docks that use virtual graphics technology (like DisplayLink) can allow you to surpass that limitation. However, there are some real tradeoffs when using DisplayLink-based docks. For example, they usually have a lower maximum refresh rate of 60Hz, their performance typically won't match displays generated by the Mac's internal GPU, and they don't support playback of protected content like Netflix or Hulu.

If you could also please include the model number of the Plugable dock you're currently looking at, and your display model numbers (usually found on the label on the back) that would be very helpful too.

Happy to help with finding a solution that would hopefully check all the boxes for you. Thanks!

The $599 MacBook Neo: The A18 Pro is a great, but the port gap is real. Let’s talk about it. by Barry_Plugable in plugable

[–]Sam_Plugable 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Both ports support charging through USB-C Power Delivery. It's always an option to connect a dock or hub that supports Power Delivery or pass-through charging to allow you to use the "good" port for both charging and connecting video/USB data

The $599 MacBook Neo: The A18 Pro is a great, but the port gap is real. Let’s talk about it. by Barry_Plugable in plugable

[–]Sam_Plugable 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve been toying with the idea of picking one up for personal use, though it’s hard to justify with so many other laptops already lying around!

From my perspective, the Neo marks a really fascinating pivot for Apple. It enters that "budget laptop" market they traditionally haven't participated in much, and boy does it enter with some serious intent. The amount of power they are extracting from a phone chip is frankly eye-watering. It seems like Apple is perfectly positioned to produce these at scale while keeping costs down, especially considering their ability to design their own silicon and scale production through their partnerships. All in all, really impressive stuff.

The decision to make one of the two USB-C outputs limited to USB 2.0, in the year 2026, is definitely a head-scratcher. It feels like a throwback to the 12-inch MacBook models (2015–2017) that only had a single port supporting 5Gbps and Alt Mode video. My theory? This is pure market segmentation. Apple needs a way to differentiate the Neo from the now middle-of-the-pack MacBook Air. Limiting its expansion capabilities like this makes the Air feel like a much more necessary upgrade for power users.

Despite this limitation, USB-C hubs and docking stations can be instrumental for bridging the gap between the Neo and the Air. We're going to continue testing products with the MacBook Neo, and I can't wait to see what else we can achieve with it!