Head-to-Head: Plugable TBT4-UDZ vs. Anker 778

Choosing the right docking station can have a major impact on how smoothly your workstation, hotdesk, or managed laptop fleet performs. Today, we're comparing the Plugable TBT4-UDZ and the Anker 778 Thunderbolt Docking Station.

At first glance, these are both 100W Thunderbolt 4 docks, and both can connect up to four external displays on a compatible Windows system. Their quad-display capabilities differ, however: the Plugable TBT4-UDZ can support up to four 4K 60Hz displays on a compatible Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 host, while the Anker 778 specifies one 4K 60Hz display plus three 4K 30Hz displays in a four-monitor configuration.

The core question is: which dock is better suited for your specific daily workflow? Let's compare the specifications, then look at what those differences mean in day-to-day use.

Feature Comparison: Plugable TBT4-UDZ vs. Anker 778

Where the Anker 778 May Be a Better Fit

Before looking at where the Plugable TBT4-UDZ stands out, it's worth noting where the Anker 778 may be a better fit. If your setup depends on downstream Thunderbolt expansion, or if you frequently charge power-hungry tablets directly from your dock, the Anker 778 offers benefits worth considering.

It features one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, which is excellent for users who need to daisy-chain a high-speed Thunderbolt storage array or connect a professional USB-C display directly. It also has two front-facing 10Gbps USB-C ports, each capable of providing up to 30W of USB Power Delivery. Anker states that the host laptop's maximum charging output is reduced to 65W when both of these charging ports are used. Additionally, the Anker 778 supports a single display at up to 8K 30Hz on a compatible Windows system, subject to the host, cable, and display capabilities.

That said, those advantages come with trade-offs. The Anker 778 omits built-in audio and card-reader connections, instead offering a downstream Thunderbolt 4 port and two higher-power USB-C charging ports. For users who need a broadly compatible workstation dock with smoother quad-display refresh rates, the Plugable TBT4-UDZ offers a more flexible path.

The Plugable TBT4-UDZ Advantage

Display Support: More Room to Work

When pushing multi-monitor setups to their limits, the TBT4-UDZ holds a clear performance advantage. On a compatible Windows Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 system that provides DisplayPort 1.4 HBR3 with Display Stream Compression (DSC), the TBT4-UDZ can drive up to four extended 4K displays at 60Hz. By comparison, connecting four 4K displays to the Anker 778 reduces the refresh rate of three of those monitors to 30Hz, which can cause noticeable cursor lag and window stuttering during standard office tasks.

With a compatible Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 Windows host, the TBT4-UDZ's four native video outputs can support up to four external displays without video adapters. Display capabilities remain host-dependent, however, and some configurations require using one output from each labeled display group or disabling the laptop's internal screen.

Built for Mixed Fleets

Compatibility is especially important when a dock may be used across multiple laptop brands or host connection types. Plugable documents the TBT4-UDZ for use with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode hosts (capabilities vary by connection). Anker's documentation states that the computer needs a Thunderbolt 4 port, explicitly listing base M1/M2 MacBooks and Asus laptops with AMD processors as incompatible. This makes the Plugable TBT4-UDZ a much more practical choice for hotdesking and mixed-device environments.

Simpler Desk Setup

Beyond displays, the TBT4-UDZ provides a comprehensive port array designed to keep your desk tidy. It includes a front 3.5mm combination headset jack, as well as fast UHS-II SD and microSD card readers. Users who need dedicated analog audio or direct access to SD and microSD media may need an external audio interface or card reader for the Anker 778 unless those functions are already provided by another device in the setup.

Additionally, the TBT4-UDZ features a slightly longer 1.0m (3.3ft) included Thunderbolt 4 cable, offering just a bit more flexibility in how you route your desk setup compared to the Anker's 0.7m cable.

Better Expansion for Daily Work

For workplaces that still rely heavily on legacy peripherals and flash drives, the TBT4-UDZ is a highly capable hub. It offers a total of six USB-A ports, three of which operate at fast 10Gbps speeds. By comparison, the Anker 778 only offers four USB-A ports, none of which exceed 5Gbps.

The TBT4-UDZ also features 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, offering significantly faster wired networking capabilities for users connected to compatible high-speed infrastructure than the standard Gigabit Ethernet found on the Anker 778.

Support and Peace of Mind

A docking station is a daily-use part of the workspace, so support matters after the purchase. The Plugable TBT4-UDZ includes a two-year limited warranty, adding peace of mind for users who depend on their dock every day. Plugable also backs its products with accessible support resources, including product documentation, knowledge base articles, FAQs, community resources, and direct support options to help users troubleshoot setup questions after purchase. Watts AI is available as a self-serve support option for quick troubleshooting guidance and product questions.

Final Decision

Both the Plugable TBT4-UDZ and Anker 778 are capable 100W-class Thunderbolt 4 docking stations, but they are built around different priorities. The Anker 778 may be the better fit if your workstation requires a downstream Thunderbolt port, single-display support up to 8K 30Hz, or 30W front-facing device charging.

For users who need up to four 4K 60Hz monitors on a compatible Windows system, broader host compatibility for mixed-device desks, built-in audio and card readers, and faster 2.5GbE networking, the Plugable TBT4-UDZ is the stronger choice. It is especially well suited for productivity professionals and mixed-device environments where flexibility, comprehensive connectivity, and dependable long-term support matter as much as the spec sheet.

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