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Kensington SD4790P Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons

7.4 Very Good
Adrian Cel By Adrian Cel

The Kensington SD4790P is a mixed-fleet DisplayLink dock for offices that still have a blend of USB-C laptops, Thunderbolt laptops, USB4 systems, Chromebooks, MacBooks, and older USB-A machines. Kensington sells it as the SD4790P EQ USB-C and USB-A 10Gbps Quad 4K Hybrid Dock, model K33610NA. The headline is broad compatibility rather than raw Thunderbolt bandwidth. The dock connects over USB-C or USB-A, runs at up to 10Gbps, and uses a hybrid display setup: two displays can work through USB-C Alt Mode, while the extra display outputs rely on DisplayLink. That hybrid design is what makes the SD4790P more ambitious than Kensington's smaller dual-display universal docks. It has six video ports in total: three HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort++ 1.4 output, and two DisplayPort 1.2++ outputs. Kensington lists support for up to four external 4K@60Hz monitors on Windows or Chrome laptops, and up to three external 4K@60Hz monitors on M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks after installing DisplayLink. The port selection is rounded out by two front USB-C ports, four rear USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a screw-lock host cable. Charging is split by host type. Compatible USB-C laptops can get up to 100W USB-C Power Delivery from the dock. USB-A laptops cannot receive USB-C Power Delivery over the host cable, so Kensington points buyers to the optional K38310 power splitter for legacy charging setups. The SD4790P is not a driverless dock, and that is the main thing to understand before buying. If you want a plug-and-forget Thunderbolt dock for one modern laptop, this is probably more complicated than you need. If you manage desks where people bring different laptops and still expect several 4K monitors, the SD4790P is built for exactly that mess.

Pros & Cons

What We Like

  • Works with USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS hosts
  • Supports up to four 4K@60Hz external monitors on compatible Windows or Chrome laptops
  • DisplayLink support can give base Apple Silicon MacBooks up to three external 4K displays
  • Six video ports let offices use HDMI or DisplayPort monitors without extra adapters
  • 100W USB-C Power Delivery covers most business laptops that support USB-C charging
  • Screw-lock host cable, Kensington lock slots, optional mounting, and three-year warranty fit permanent office desks

What Could Be Better

  • Full multi-monitor support depends on DisplayLink driver installation

    Workaround: Install the current DisplayLink driver from Synaptics before deploying the dock, and document macOS permission steps for users.

  • USB-A hosts need an optional power splitter for laptop charging

    Workaround: Budget for Kensington's K38310 power splitter when using the dock with legacy USB-A laptops that still need desk charging.

  • Only Gigabit Ethernet, not 2.5GbE

    Workaround: For 2.5GbE networks, choose a newer high-end dock such as the Kensington SD4880P or use a separate USB network adapter.

  • DisplayLink is a poor fit for gaming, HDCP streaming across all screens, and color-sensitive media work

    Workaround: Use a native Thunderbolt dock for latency-sensitive or color-critical display work. For protected streaming, use Kensington's single-monitor MST workaround.

  • Public long-term feedback is still limited

    Workaround: Test the exact laptop, monitor count, driver version, and sleep-wake behavior during the return window before standardizing on it.

Display Support

Max Displays: 4
2 displays (Plug-and-play dual display support through USB-C Alt Mode, using the dock's MST video outputs where the host supports it.)
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
3 displays (Kensington lists up to three external 4K@60Hz monitors for M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks after installing DisplayLink. Amazon also names M4 MacBook support.)
3840x2160 @ 60Hz
4 displays (Kensington lists up to quad 4K@60Hz on Windows or Chrome laptops through the hybrid USB-C Alt Mode plus DisplayLink display path. Product specifications note DSC enabled for the maximum mode.)
3840x2160 @ 60Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

1x USB-C 3.2 7.5W
1x USB-C 3.2 4.5W
4x USB-A 3.2 4.5W

Video Outputs

3x HDMI 2.0
3x DisplayPort 1.4 / 1.2++

Network

1x Ethernet (1 Gbps)

Audio

1x 3.5mm combo

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer Kensington
Model K33610NA
Release Date 2023-12
MSRP $249.99
Connectivity
Host Connection USB-C
Max Data Rate 10 Gbps
Driver Required DisplayLink
Display Output
Max Displays 4
2x Display 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Plug-and-play dual display support through USB-C Alt Mode, using the dock's MST video outputs where the host supports it.)
3x Display 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Kensington lists up to three external 4K@60Hz monitors for M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks after installing DisplayLink. Amazon also names M4 MacBook support.)
4x Display 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Kensington lists up to quad 4K@60Hz on Windows or Chrome laptops through the hybrid USB-C Alt Mode plus DisplayLink display path. Product specifications note DSC enabled for the maximum mode.)
Ports (12+ total)
USB-C 3.2 1x (7.5W)
USB-C 3.2 1x (4.5W)
USB-A 3.2 4x (4.5W)
HDMI 2.0 3x
DisplayPort 1.4 / 1.2++ 3x
Ethernet (RJ45) 1x 1 Gbps
Audio (3.5mm-combo) 1x
Power
Power Input DC-barrel
Laptop Charging Up to 100W

Compatibility

Windows (10+)

Kensington lists Windows 10 or newer. Quad 4K requires the DisplayLink driver and a host/display path that matches the dock's maximum display requirements.

macOS (11+)

Kensington lists macOS 11 or newer. DisplayLink driver installation is required for triple 4K output, including base Apple Silicon MacBooks that have limited native external display support.

ChromeOS (114+)

Kensington lists ChromeOS 114 or newer. The dock can support up to four external monitors on compatible Chrome laptops.

Known Issues

Linux

Not listed as an official Kensington-supported operating system

USB-A laptops expecting single-cable charging

USB-A cannot carry USB-C Power Delivery

Mac users expecting native triple-display output

Triple display depends on DisplayLink software

HDCP-protected streaming services on DisplayLink screens

Protected video can be blocked

Gaming, high-refresh, and color-critical display work

DisplayLink is not ideal

7.4 /10

Our Verdict

Very Good

The SD4790P is useful because it does not pretend every laptop has the same port. A normal USB-C Alt Mode dock can be cleaner, but it depends heavily on the host's display pipeline. A Thunderbolt dock is faster, but it does not help much when someone arrives with an older USB-A laptop. Kensington's answer is DisplayLink over a 10Gbps USB connection, plus native USB-C Alt Mode support for the first two displays. That gives the dock a wider safety net than a driverless USB-C model. The best case is strong: up to four 4K@60Hz external monitors on Windows or Chrome laptops, and up to three 4K@60Hz external monitors on Apple Silicon MacBooks with DisplayLink installed. The Amazon listing also names M4 MacBook support, while Kensington's own product page specifically calls out M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks. For buyers, the practical point is the same. DisplayLink can get around the native single-display limit on base Apple Silicon MacBooks, but it is still software-assisted display output. It is good for spreadsheets, browser tabs, office apps, dashboards, admin tools, and calls. It is not the dock I would choose for gaming, color-sensitive video editing, or HDCP-protected streaming across DisplayLink screens. The physical layout is businesslike. Six USB ports is enough for a normal desk, though only the two front USB-C ports are 10Gbps. The rear USB-A ports are USB 3.2 Gen 1 at 5Gbps. Gigabit Ethernet is fine for office networks, but it is less impressive than the 2.5GbE ports now appearing on newer high-end docks. The screw-lock host cable is a nice touch for permanent desks, and the three-year limited warranty is better than the one-year coverage common on cheaper DisplayLink alternatives. The score stays conservative because public feedback is still fairly thin and DisplayLink docks always live or die by driver behavior. Amazon showed a 4.4-star rating from 24 reviews during this pass, and Best Buy's listing still had reviews coming soon. That is enough to confirm the product is real and active, but not enough to treat it as a proven long-term office standard. Buy it if you need one dock to handle many laptop generations and several 4K monitors. Skip it if every laptop in your setup already has Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5, where a native Thunderbolt dock will be simpler and faster.

Available at Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Kensington SD4790P support four 4K monitors?
Yes, on compatible Windows or Chrome laptops. Kensington lists up to quad 4K@60Hz through the dock's hybrid USB-C Alt Mode and DisplayLink setup, with the product specifications noting DSC enabled for the maximum mode. MacBooks are listed for up to three external 4K@60Hz monitors with DisplayLink installed.
Does the SD4790P require DisplayLink drivers?
Yes for full multi-display support. Kensington says video 1 and video 2 can be plug-and-play through USB-C Alt Mode, but the dock is not driverless. Install the DisplayLink driver to use the full triple-display Mac or quad-display Windows and Chrome capability.
Will the SD4790P work with USB-A laptops?
Yes for data and video. Kensington says the dock works with devices that have at least one USB-A 3.0 or USB-C port. USB-A cannot provide USB-C Power Delivery, so laptop charging on USB-A setups needs Kensington's optional K38310 power splitter.
Can the Kensington SD4790P charge my laptop?
Yes, up to 100W on USB-C laptops that support Power Delivery. USB-A laptops and USB-C laptops without Power Delivery need a separate charging setup or Kensington's optional power splitter.
Is the SD4790P good for MacBooks?
It can be a good MacBook office dock if you are comfortable using DisplayLink. Kensington lists up to three 4K@60Hz external monitors for M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks with DisplayLink installed, and Amazon also names M4 MacBook support. For native driverless display output, use a Thunderbolt dock instead.

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