Plugable USB4-HUB3A Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons

Name: Plugable 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Hub
Brand: Plugable
SKU: USB4-HUB3A

The Plugable USB4-HUB3A is the slightly more practical sibling of Plugable's tiny Thunderbolt 4 hub line. It turns one Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 laptop port into three downstream Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports, then adds one 10Gbps USB-A port for a mouse dongle, older drive, or keyboard. That single USB-A port is the main reason to pick this model over the TBT4-HUB3C. The rest is familiar Plugable hub hardware: Intel Goshen Ridge, up to 40Gbps on each downstream USB-C port, up to 15W device charging, a front host port, an included 0.8m Thunderbolt 4 cable, and a USB-C to HDMI adapter in the box. It can run two 4K displays at 60Hz or one 8K display at 30Hz when the host supports that configuration. It also passes up to 60W to the laptop from a 100W external power brick. That is enough for a MacBook Air, many 13-inch business laptops, and light 14-inch machines, but it is not a substitute for a workstation charger. If your desk mostly uses USB-C displays, Thunderbolt storage, and adapters, the USB4-HUB3A is a clean way to expand a modern laptop without buying a full desktop dock.

Thunderbolt 4 Hub USB-A Included

Pros & Cons

What We Like

Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 ports provide fast expansion for displays, SSDs, adapters, and USB-C peripherals
Adds a 10Gbps USB-A port that the similar TBT4-HUB3C does not include
Dual 4K@60Hz and single 8K@30Hz support fit most compact USB-C monitor setups on compatible hosts
Included USB-C to HDMI adapter reduces the adapter tax for a first HDMI display
Small 166g chassis is easy to place on a crowded desk
Two-year warranty and Plugable lifetime support are better than many generic hub brands

What Could Be Better

60W host charging is light for larger creator and workstation laptops
Workaround: Use the laptop's own charger for high-power systems, or choose a dock with 96W, 100W, or 140W host charging.
No built-in Ethernet, audio jack, SD card reader, DisplayPort, or fixed HDMI output
Workaround: Use USB-C adapters or choose a full-size dock such as the Plugable TBT4-UD5 or TBT4-UDX1.
External 100W power adapter is required and takes more space than the hub suggests
Workaround: Plan to route or mount the power brick behind the desk. The hub is not bus powered.
Most HDMI and DisplayPort monitors still need adapters after the included HDMI adapter is used
Workaround: Buy a second USB-C video adapter or use USB-C monitors when running two external displays.
Thunderbolt 3 Windows compatibility is less predictable than Thunderbolt 4 or USB4
Workaround: Use a Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 host when possible. If you have a Thunderbolt 3 Windows laptop, check Plugable's controller and driver notes before buying.

Display Support

Max Displays: 2

2 displays (Dual 4K@60Hz on compatible Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 hosts using downstream USB-C video, Thunderbolt displays, or USB-C video adapters. Plugable includes one USB-C to HDMI adapter.)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

1 display (Single 8K@30Hz is listed by Plugable. Actual support depends on host graphics, display, cable, and adapter support.)

7680x4320 @ 30Hz

1 display (Plugable lists single 6K support on Apple Silicon Macs. The site schema has no 6K enum, so this entry uses the nearest lower 5K enum and records the official 6K claim here.)

5120x2880 @ 60Hz

1 display (USB-C only hosts and base M1 or M2 Macs are generally limited to one external display. Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems are not recommended by Plugable for this hub.)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

3x USB-C 4.0 15W

1x USB-A 3.2

Video Outputs

3x Thunderbolt 4

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer	Plugable
Model	USB4-HUB3A
Release Date	2021-09
MSRP	$169.99
Connectivity
Host Connection	Thunderbolt 4
Max Data Rate	40 Gbps
Driver Required	No (native)
Display Output
Max Displays	2
2x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Dual 4K@60Hz on compatible Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 hosts using downstream USB-C video, Thunderbolt displays, or USB-C video adapters. Plugable includes one USB-C to HDMI adapter.)
1x Display	7680x4320 @ 30Hz (Single 8K@30Hz is listed by Plugable. Actual support depends on host graphics, display, cable, and adapter support.)
1x Display	5120x2880 @ 60Hz (Plugable lists single 6K support on Apple Silicon Macs. The site schema has no 6K enum, so this entry uses the nearest lower 5K enum and records the official 6K claim here.)
1x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (USB-C only hosts and base M1 or M2 Macs are generally limited to one external display. Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems are not recommended by Plugable for this hub.)
Ports (7+ total)
USB-C 4.0	3x (15W)
USB-A 3.2	1x
Thunderbolt 4	3x
Power
Power Input	DC-barrel
Laptop Charging	Up to 60W

Compatibility

Windows (10+)

Best with Windows 10 or later on Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 hosts. Windows 11 has native USB4 and Thunderbolt management, but firmware and graphics updates still matter for display reliability.

macOS (11+)

Compatible with Thunderbolt and USB4 Macs. Base M1 and M2 Macs support one external display, base M3 supports dual displays only in clamshell mode, and Pro, Max, base M4, base M5, and newer supported chips can support dual displays.

Known Issues

Base M1 and M2 MacBook Air/Pro

Limited to one external display

Base M3 MacBooks with lid open

Dual display requires clamshell mode

Thunderbolt 3 Windows systems

Not recommended by Plugable

Users who need built-in Ethernet, audio, card readers, HDMI, or DisplayPort

Hub relies on USB-C and Thunderbolt ports

MacBook Neo

Not recommended by Plugable

8.1 /10

Our Verdict

Excellent

The Plugable USB4-HUB3A is best understood as a Thunderbolt port multiplier with one useful legacy port, not as a full docking station. The three rear USB-C ports are fast and flexible, and the included HDMI adapter makes a first monitor easy to connect. The USB-A port matters more than it looks on paper, because many compact Thunderbolt hubs force you to burn a USB-C adapter for the simplest accessories. PCWorld rated the hub 4 out of 5 and liked its tiny USB4 connectivity, while noting that it leans more toward Mac and USB-C-heavy setups than traditional PC desks. Sonny Dickson's review reached a similar place: small, slick, and powerful, but niche if you need a wider mix of ports. That is fair. There is no Ethernet jack, audio jack, SD card reader, DisplayPort, or built-in HDMI port. The external power brick is also bigger than the hub itself. Still, the core job is solid. Plugable gives you Thunderbolt 4 certification, Engineered for Intel Evo branding, a two-year warranty, and lifetime support. Buy it if you want three high-speed downstream USB-C ports and can live with adapters. Skip it if you want one cable to replace every port on a desktop dock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Plugable USB4-HUB3A support dual monitors?

Yes, the Plugable USB4-HUB3A can support two displays up to 4K@60Hz on compatible Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 hosts. Mac support depends on the chip. Base M1 and M2 Macs are limited to one external display, while supported Pro, Max, base M4, base M5, and some base M3 clamshell setups can support two.

How much power does the Plugable USB4-HUB3A deliver to a laptop?

The hub delivers up to 60W of USB-C Power Delivery to the host laptop. That is enough for many ultrabooks and smaller MacBooks, but larger workstation laptops may still need their original charger under heavy CPU or GPU load.

What is the difference between the USB4-HUB3A and TBT4-HUB3C?

The USB4-HUB3A adds one 10Gbps USB-A port and uses a 100W power adapter. The TBT4-HUB3C is the purer USB-C version with the same basic three downstream Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 ports, 60W host charging, and included HDMI adapter, but no USB-A port.

Does the Plugable USB4-HUB3A require drivers?

No display driver is required because this is a native Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hub, not a DisplayLink dock. Windows users may still need current Thunderbolt, USB4, graphics, and firmware updates for best compatibility.

What comes in the Plugable USB4-HUB3A box?

Plugable lists the hub, a 0.8m Thunderbolt 4 certified USB-C cable, a 100W power adapter, a region-specific power cable, a USB-C to HDMI video adapter, and a quick start guide.

Head-to-Head Comparisons

Plugable TBT4-HUB3C vs USB4-HUB3A: Which compact Thunderbolt hub should you buy?
A practical comparison of the Plugable TBT4-HUB3C and Plugable USB4-HUB3A compact Thunderbolt 4 hubs, covering ports, display support, charging, compatibility, price, and value.