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

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter is available on Amazon for $90.
• 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. 

View at Amazon

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.

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 Plugable USB-C Dual HDMI adapter 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.