Professional’s Score
Professionals
- Helps as much as 4 1920×1080 shows
- Moveable
Cons
- Brief USB-C cable
- Related shows can’t play HDCP movies
- Arranging shows within the Shows macOS setting could be daunting
Our Verdict
You probably have an M1 or M2 Mac and need to get across the built-in help for the variety of exterior shows you may join, the Plugable adapter does the job. However you may’t use 4K shows and the setup could be irritating.
Worth When Reviewed
$119
Finest Costs As we speak: Plugable USB-C to Quad HDMI Adapter
$119
$119.00
As nice because the M1 and M2 processors are for Mac efficiency, they’ve a limitation that’s an issue for lots of customers: They solely help two shows on the similar time. For the iMac, MacBook Air, and 13-inch MacBook Professional, meaning just one further show could be related. Whereas there are workarounds—and two shows might be greater than sufficient for lots of customers—there are many individuals who want three or extra screens to be productive.
To get round this limitation, you must flip to an exterior answer, whether or not it’s software program or {hardware}. In case you don’t thoughts an adapter, Plugable affords a comparatively inexpensive one with its USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter. This $119 field has 4 HDMI 1.4 ports, and when it’s related to the Mac by way of USB-C you may plug in as much as 4 shows.
The Plugable adapter does have limitations, nevertheless. The utmost decision and refresh charge supported for every related show is 1920×1080 at 60Hz, a far cry from the 4K or 6K decision that many professionals favor. So in case you’re searching for a solution to join three 4K shows to an M1 Mac mini, the UBC-C Quad HDMI Adapter shouldn’t be the answer. However in case you don’t want the excessive decision, this adapter may work. In case you’re searching for one other sort of adapter, try our information to the perfect USB-C hubs and adapters for the Mac.
With the Plugable USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter, an M1 MacBook Professional can be utilized with 4 1920×1080 shows.
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Plugable USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter: Mac connection
The Plugable adapter is designed to be moveable, measuring 4.75×3.13×0.56 inches and weighing 5.5 ounces. It’s about the identical measurement as many moveable laborious drives and might simply be stashed in a laptop computer bag. Inside, the adapter has a Silicon Movement chipset to deal with the video processing to the shows.
The adapter has a built-in USB-C cable to hook up with the Mac which is a bit too brief. I’d like an extended cable so I can place it farther away from the Mac. Plugable additionally features a USB-C to USB-A adapter that, together with the built-in cable, could be tucked into slots beneath the case. The USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter doesn’t want an exterior energy supply and attracts energy from the USB connection.
The USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter requires Plugable’s Silicon Movement InstaView app to be put in on the Mac. It’s out there on the Plugable web site and through set up, you can be requested to permit the macOS InstantView app to document the pc display screen. Which will appear to be fishy habits, however in accordance with Plugable’s web site, nothing is being recorded or saved. This entry is required for the shows related to the adapter to work.
The built-in cable could be tucked beneath the adapter.
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Testing the Plugable USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter
I examined the adapter with a 13-inch M1 MacBook Professional that’s outfitted with two Thunderbolt ports. Whereas technically a Professional mannequin, its M1 chip limits it to only one exterior show with a most decision of 6K at 60Hz, like the opposite M1 and M2 Macs in Apple’s lineup. (Macs with the Professional and Max variations of the M1 and M2 have help for extra shows at increased resolutions.)
After putting in the InstantView software program, shutting down the MacBook Professional, and plugging within the adapter to the MacBook Professional, I plugged in 4 older Dell shows sitting across the workplace. These shows have a most decision of 1920×1200 and could be adjusted to the 1920×1080 decision supported by the adapter.
After I restarted the MacBook Professional, three of the Dell shows labored, however one didn’t. That’s as a result of one of many shows was set to 1920×1200, which prevented that different show from working. I used to be in a position to repair this after I adjusted the decision in macOS Ventura’s Shows system setting (I additionally examined with macOS Monterey).
Primarily, the adapter simply labored, and it labored advantageous. The image high quality on the shows was good, and the adapter didn’t introduce something to have an effect on the standard. I didn’t discover any display screen lag or sync points. Nonetheless, it doesn’t enable for the playback of movies with Excessive-bandwidth Digital Content material Safety (HDCP), which suggests shows related to the adapter received’t play video from streaming providers comparable to Apple TV+, Netflix, Hulu, and others. However YouTube movies will play.
Customers can prepare the order of the hooked up shows within the Shows system setting, however you might have to do some sleuthing to determine which show icon represents the show in your desktop.
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I did have one main hurdle to beat that concerned arranging the shows within the Shows system setting. Determining the order of the shows within the setting was a nightmare. The adapter has labels for every port (HDMI 1, HDMI 2, HDMI 3, HDMI 4) for identification, however they didn’t correspond to the label numbers within the Shows settings. I needed to resort to altering the wallpaper for every show to establish which was which and prepare them in my desired order. Luckily, you’ll most likely want to do that solely as soon as, except you’re consistently rearranging your setup.
Backside line
The Plugable USB-C Quad HDMI Adapter is a nifty little adapter that brings the show expandability that many M1 and M2 Mac customers need. It has its limitations: 1920×1080 at 60Hz solely, can’t play HDCP movies, and it wants an extended USB-C cable. However if you would like a setup the place high-resolution and streaming playback on these exterior shows aren’t wanted, the Plugable adapter does the job. For extra details about including extra connectivity to your Mac, check with our information on the perfect USB-C hubs and adapters for Mac.
