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edwinprakash

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#324189 11-Mar-2026 10:14
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Work has just given me a M4 MacBook Prod and the old Kensington UBC-C dock that I have doesn't work with it (i.e. it recognizes only one monitor) :(
Had a look at PBTech but can't make out which docks would work with the mac.
Any advice from the learned folks on this forum appreciated.

I'm after a dock that will support at least two monitors and an ethernet port.

Cheerio





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Ed


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shim99
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  #3468695 11-Mar-2026 10:58
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We ended up with a ugreen doc (CM615) that worked for a macbook air. You can pick these up locally or via aliexpress. Works well. 

 

https://eu.ugreen.com/products/copy-of-weekly-sale-product-9-in-1-usb-c-docking-station




nztim
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  #3468712 11-Mar-2026 11:25
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shim99:

 

We ended up with a ugreen doc (CM615) that worked for a macbook air. You can pick these up locally or via aliexpress. Works well. 

 

https://eu.ugreen.com/products/copy-of-weekly-sale-product-9-in-1-usb-c-docking-station

 

 

With two monitors? Unless the Macbook is a Pro Max chipset (not a pro) then the same output will be on both external monitors

 

In short 

 

  • M4/5 Pro chipset has a single display header 
  • M4/5 Pro Max Chipset has a double display header

 





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shim99
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  #3468720 11-Mar-2026 11:46
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nztim:

 

shim99:

 

We ended up with a ugreen doc (CM615) that worked for a macbook air. You can pick these up locally or via aliexpress. Works well. 

 

https://eu.ugreen.com/products/copy-of-weekly-sale-product-9-in-1-usb-c-docking-station

 

 

With two monitors? Unless the Macbook is a Pro Max chipset (not a pro) then the same output will be on both external monitors

 

In short 

 

  • M4/5 Pro chipset has a single display header 
  • M4/5 Pro Max Chipset has a double display header

 

 

 

 

 

Definitely two monitor with different outputs. Its uses some trickery via displaylink which needs to be installed on the mac. 




Dynamic
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  #3468738 11-Mar-2026 12:21
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shim99:

 

Definitely two monitor with different outputs. Its uses some trickery via displaylink which needs to be installed on the mac. 

 

 

Ahhhhh DisplayLink.  This is a largely software-based solution to get an additional screen running.  It used to be buggy and troublesome and caused us a lot grief for clients using it.  Hopefully it has matured.





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nztim
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  #3468924 11-Mar-2026 14:36
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Dynamic:

 

Ahhhhh DisplayLink.  This is a largely software-based solution to get an additional screen running.  It used to be buggy and troublesome and caused us a lot grief for clients using it.  Hopefully it has matured.

 

 

This brings back shudders, a shared office a client was in had these docks, took 20 minutes of windows updates before the dock came alive





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caffynz
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  #3468927 11-Mar-2026 14:43
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I use Displaylink with a Macbook Pro (M4), no issues to date that I've noticed. 
Running my laptop with an ultrawide 34" screen.


 
 
 
 

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nztim
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  #3468973 11-Mar-2026 15:35
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caffynz:

 

I use Displaylink with a Macbook Pro (M4), no issues to date that I've noticed. 
Running my laptop with an ultrawide 34" screen.

 

 

With a single monitor you don't need Displaylink





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shim99
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  #3469028 11-Mar-2026 17:01
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nztim:

 

Dynamic:

 

Ahhhhh DisplayLink.  This is a largely software-based solution to get an additional screen running.  It used to be buggy and troublesome and caused us a lot grief for clients using it.  Hopefully it has matured.

 

 

This brings back shudders, a shared office a client was in had these docks, took 20 minutes of windows updates before the dock came alive

 

 

 

 

All I can say is that it works perfectly well for us and meets the criteria of the OP with their current hardware. 


lxsw20
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  #3469034 11-Mar-2026 17:12
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nztim:

 

shim99:

 

We ended up with a ugreen doc (CM615) that worked for a macbook air. You can pick these up locally or via aliexpress. Works well. 

 

https://eu.ugreen.com/products/copy-of-weekly-sale-product-9-in-1-usb-c-docking-station

 

 

With two monitors? Unless the Macbook is a Pro Max chipset (not a pro) then the same output will be on both external monitors

 

In short 

 

  • M4/5 Pro chipset has a single display header 
  • M4/5 Pro Max Chipset has a double display header

 

 



That depends on the res of the display.

https://support.apple.com/en-nz/101571



caffynz
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  #3469061 11-Mar-2026 18:47
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nztim:

 

caffynz:

 

I use Displaylink with a Macbook Pro (M4), no issues to date that I've noticed. 
Running my laptop with an ultrawide 34" screen.

 

 

With a single monitor you don't need Displaylink

 



True, missed this point earlier regarding OP request about dual monitors.
FWIW, prior to upgrading to the 34" monitor, I had 2 separate monitors, again with no issues. 


antoniosk
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  #3469126 11-Mar-2026 20:36
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edwinprakash:

 

Work has just given me a M4 MacBook Prod and the old Kensington UBC-C dock that I have doesn't work with it (i.e. it recognizes only one monitor) :(
Had a look at PBTech but can't make out which docks would work with the mac.
Any advice from the learned folks on this forum appreciated.

I'm after a dock that will support at least two monitors and an ethernet port.

Cheerio

 

 

Have you looked at this article: https://support.apple.com/en-nz/101571

 

About halfway down it reads:
"MacBook Pro models with the M4 chip or M4 Pro chip support up to two external displays simultaneously with the built-in display, based on the resolution and refresh rate of each external display. Closing the lid of your MacBook Pro with M4 chip or M4 Pro chip will not increase the number of external displays that can be supported."

 

While Apple can normally be quite obtuse with their documentation, I have an MBPro M4, and while typing this note have connected one monitor with HDMI, one monitor with USB-C (4k) and have the laptops internal display running concurrently to give me 3 screens.  

We also have an HP G5 dock that we use, but I don't have a 2nd monitor connected to it so can't confirm whether it works - but in the past I ran 2 monitors flawlessly with an Lenovo and Elitebook over usb-c. I suspect it will work for your macbook but can't confirm. Appreciate you wanting to have a tidy desk though!





________

 

Antoniosk


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