Anker 575 vs Plugable TBT4-UDZ — Dock Comparison 2026

Anker 575 vs Plugable TBT4-UDZ: Two Different Approaches to Desktop Docking

The Anker 575 and Plugable TBT4-UDZ represent two fundamentally different tiers of the docking station market. The Anker 575 is a USB-C dock built for value — 13 ports at $249.99 using standard USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode. The Plugable TBT4-UDZ is a Thunderbolt 4 powerhouse — 16 ports at $419.00 with quad 4K display support and 40 Gbps bandwidth. They are not direct competitors in the traditional sense, but many buyers end up choosing between them when deciding whether to spend more for Thunderbolt 4 or save with USB-C.

The short verdict: There is no single winner here. The Plugable TBT4-UDZ is the better dock by every technical measure — more ports, faster bandwidth, higher-resolution multi-display support, and faster Ethernet. But the Anker 575 costs $170 less and delivers everything a Windows-based home office worker needs. Your decision should be driven by your laptop’s capabilities, your display requirements, and your budget.

For a broader look at how these connectivity standards differ, our guide on USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking stations explains the technical distinctions in detail.

Quick Specs Comparison

Design and Build Quality

Anker 575

The Anker 575 has a clean, understated desktop design with a dark aluminum-and-plastic enclosure. It sits horizontally on the desk and has a compact footprint that does not dominate workspace. Ports are split between front and rear panels. Anker includes a 1.0m USB-C cable and a 135W power adapter. The build quality is solid for its price tier — it does not feel cheap, but it also does not have the premium heft of a Thunderbolt dock. Anker’s brand reputation for reliable accessories adds confidence.

Plugable TBT4-UDZ

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ features an anodized aluminum chassis that measures 7.7 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches, and ships with a vertical stand for space-saving desk setups. The stand is a thoughtful addition that reduces the dock’s desk footprint significantly. One design decision that has drawn criticism is the front-mounted Thunderbolt host port, which can make cable routing awkward depending on where you place the dock. Plugable includes a 1.0m Thunderbolt 4 cable and a 135W power adapter. The overall build quality is very good, with the aluminum body providing both durability and passive heat dissipation.

Design winner: Plugable TBT4-UDZ, slightly. The aluminum build, vertical stand option, and overall fit and finish give it an edge, though the front-mounted host port is a drawback.

Port Comparison: Quantity Meets Quality

The port comparison between these two docks is less about sheer numbers and more about the quality of those ports.

USB Connectivity

The Anker 575 provides two USB-C 3.2 ports (one with 18W PD for device charging) and three USB-A 3.1 ports (one with 7.5W PD). That is 5 downstream USB ports. All share the host connection’s 10 Gbps USB-C bandwidth, so running multiple high-speed storage devices simultaneously will bottleneck.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ offers one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port and six USB-A ports (three USB-A 3.2, two USB-A 3.0, and one USB-A 2.0). That is 7 downstream USB ports. More importantly, the Thunderbolt 4 host connection provides 40 Gbps of bandwidth — four times what the Anker’s USB-C connection delivers. This means high-speed peripherals like external SSDs, capture cards, and audio interfaces get significantly more headroom.

Video Outputs

Both docks include built-in HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, but the display capabilities differ dramatically due to the underlying host connection technology.

The Anker 575 has two HDMI 2.0 outputs and one DisplayPort 1.4 output. On Windows, it can drive up to three displays simultaneously at 1080p@60Hz using MST, or dual 1440p@60Hz, or a single 4K@60Hz. On macOS, however, it is limited to a single extended display because Apple does not support MST.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ has two HDMI 2.0 outputs and two DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. On compatible Thunderbolt 4 Windows laptops with DP 1.4 HBR3 DSC support, it can drive up to four 4K@60Hz displays simultaneously — a standout feature in the Thunderbolt 4 dock market. On Mac, it supports dual 4K@60Hz with M1 Pro/Max and later.

Networking

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ features 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, which is 2.5 times faster than the Anker 575’s 1 Gigabit Ethernet. For users who transfer large files over a local network, work with network-attached storage, or have a 2.5GbE router, this is a meaningful advantage. For general web browsing and cloud applications, 1 Gbps is perfectly fine.

Card Readers

Both docks include SD and microSD card readers, but the speeds differ significantly. The Plugable TBT4-UDZ offers UHS-II readers at 312 MB/s, which is critical for photographers and videographers who need to quickly offload large RAW files or 4K video footage. The Anker 575’s UHS-I readers top out at roughly 104 MB/s — about one-third the speed. If you work with media cards regularly, this alone could justify the Plugable’s premium.

Port winner: Plugable TBT4-UDZ. More USB-A ports, vastly more bandwidth, 2.5GbE networking, and UHS-II card readers. The Anker 575 holds its own on USB-C port count and built-in video outputs.

Display Support: The Biggest Differentiator

Display support is where the fundamental difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 becomes most apparent, and where your buying decision will likely be made.

Windows Users

The Anker 575 supports triple displays on Windows via MST — three 1080p@60Hz screens or two 1440p@60Hz screens from a single USB-C cable. This is impressive for a USB-C dock and sufficient for most office workflows involving spreadsheets, email, and web applications.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ takes it to another level with quad 4K@60Hz display support on Thunderbolt 4 Windows systems with DP 1.4 HBR3 DSC. That is four separate 4K monitors from a single cable. For traders, developers running multiple IDE windows, or designers who need maximum screen real estate at high resolution, this is a major advantage.

Mac Users

This is where the Anker 575 falls flat. macOS does not support MST, so the Anker 575 can only drive one extended display on Mac. Additional monitors will mirror the first display, not extend it. This is a dealbreaker for Mac users who need multi-monitor setups.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ supports dual 4K@60Hz on Mac with M1 Pro, M1 Max, and later chips. Base M1/M2/M3 Macs are still limited to one external display — that is an Apple Silicon limitation, not a dock limitation.

For a detailed breakdown of Mac multi-display capabilities, see our guide on the best docking stations for dual monitors.

Display winner: Plugable TBT4-UDZ, overwhelmingly. Quad 4K on Windows and dual 4K on Mac vs triple 1080p on Windows and single display on Mac. If multi-monitor support matters to you, this alone justifies the price difference.

Power Delivery

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ delivers up to 98W of USB-C Power Delivery, which is enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro or a large Windows workstation laptop during use. However, the dock’s 135W power supply means that when many high-power USB devices are connected simultaneously, laptop charging can drop to approximately 60W.

The Anker 575 provides up to 85W of USB-C Power Delivery. This comfortably charges most 13-15 inch laptops at full speed but may not keep a larger 16-17 inch laptop fully charged during demanding workloads.

Power delivery winner: Plugable TBT4-UDZ. 98W vs 85W, with the caveat that high peripheral loads can reduce both docks’ effective charging output.

Bandwidth and Performance

This is where the underlying technology difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt 4 matters most for performance-sensitive users.

The Anker 575 operates over USB-C at 10 Gbps. This bandwidth is shared across all connected devices — displays, USB peripherals, Ethernet, and card readers. Running multiple displays alongside high-speed USB devices creates contention, and you may notice slowdowns when transferring large files while multiple monitors are active.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ operates over Thunderbolt 4 at 40 Gbps — four times the bandwidth. This allows the dock to run four 4K displays, high-speed USB devices, 2.5GbE networking, and card readers simultaneously with minimal contention. For users who routinely push the limits of their dock’s bandwidth — external SSD transfers, high-resolution multi-monitor work, network file copies — the difference is substantial.

Bandwidth winner: Plugable TBT4-UDZ. 40 Gbps vs 10 Gbps is not a subtle difference. It directly impacts how many high-bandwidth peripherals you can use simultaneously.

Pricing and Value

The Anker 575 at $249.99 and the Plugable TBT4-UDZ at $419.00 sit in different pricing tiers, and the value calculation depends entirely on what you need.

The Anker 575 Is Great Value If…

• You use Windows and need 1-3 displays at 1080p or 1440p
• Your laptop has USB-C but not Thunderbolt 4
• You do not need high-speed card readers or 2.5GbE
• Budget is a primary consideration
• You work in a standard home office environment

At $249.99, the Anker 575 delivers 13 ports, triple display on Windows, 85W charging, and reliable performance. For a Windows-centric home office, it is hard to beat.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ Is Great Value If…

• You have a Thunderbolt 4 laptop and want to maximize its capabilities
• You need multi-4K display support (especially quad 4K on Windows or dual 4K on Mac)
• You work with large files and need 2.5GbE networking and UHS-II card readers
• You want 40 Gbps bandwidth headroom for demanding peripherals
• You plan to keep the dock for several years and want future-proof connectivity

At $419.00, the TBT4-UDZ is not cheap, but it delivers capabilities that no USB-C dock can match. The quad 4K display feature alone is unmatched in the Thunderbolt 4 dock category.

For comparison, the CalDigit TS4 at $379.99 is another strong Thunderbolt 4 contender with 18 ports. See our CalDigit TS4 vs Dell WD22TB4 and CalDigit TS4 vs OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock comparisons for more context.

Value winner: It depends. The Anker 575 is the better value for budget-conscious Windows users. The Plugable TBT4-UDZ is the better value for Thunderbolt 4 laptop owners who will actually use the extra bandwidth and display capabilities.

Verdict: Different Docks for Different Needs

This comparison does not have a clear-cut single winner because these docks serve fundamentally different use cases.

Choose the Anker 575 ($249.99) if:

• You are on a budget and want a feature-rich USB-C dock
• Your laptop does not have Thunderbolt 4 (only USB-C)
• You use Windows and are fine with 1080p or 1440p multi-display setups
• You need a solid everyday office dock without premium pricing
• You do not rely heavily on high-speed card readers or fast LAN transfers

Choose the Plugable TBT4-UDZ ($419.00) if:

• You have a Thunderbolt 4 laptop and want to unlock its full potential
• You need quad 4K displays on Windows or dual 4K on Mac
• You work with large media files and need UHS-II card readers and 2.5GbE
• You want 40 Gbps bandwidth for demanding peripheral setups
• You are a Mac user who needs more than one external display

The bottom line: If you can afford the Plugable TBT4-UDZ and your laptop supports Thunderbolt 4, it is the superior dock in every technical category. But the Anker 575 proves that you do not need to spend $400+ to get a capable, reliable docking station for everyday work. Choose the dock that matches your hardware, your monitor setup, and your budget.

For individual deep dives, read our full Anker 575 review and Plugable TBT4-UDZ review. For help deciding what dock type is right for you, start with our docking station buying guide or explore all our picks on the homepage.