Plugable’s new compact USBC-6IN1 and USBC-8IN1E hubs offer high-refresh-rate 4K display output, pass-through charging and travel-friendly connectivity from $39.99.
Plugable has widened its range of compact USB-C hubs with two new models that bring 4K at 144Hz HDMI output to a lower price point, while still keeping the form factor aimed at travellers and desk setups that do not need a full docking station. According to the company, the new USBC-6IN1 and USBC-8IN1E are designed to deliver high-refresh-rate monitor support through HDMI 2.1 without requiring drivers on macOS, Windows or ChromeOS.
The smaller model, priced at $39.99, includes HDMI 2.1, three USB-A ports and one USB-C data port. The more fully featured $59.99 version adds Gigabit Ethernet plus separate SD and microSD card readers, making it more suitable for users who regularly move files from cameras or need wired networking. Both hubs provide USB-C pass-through charging and accept up to 100W of USB-C Power Delivery input, with as much as 85W forwarded to the connected laptop.
Plugable says each hub can drive one external display at up to 4K 144Hz or 8K 30Hz over HDMI 2.1, although the result depends on the host machine. The company’s own compatibility guidance says Macs need macOS 26 or later and the right Apple Silicon chip to reach those modes, while base M1 and M2 machines remain limited to 4K 60Hz. Plugable also notes that Windows systems need DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression to achieve the higher refresh rates, and that DisplayPort 1.2 systems top out at 4K 60Hz.
The new hubs sit below Plugable’s earlier USBC-10IN1E, which already supported 4K 144Hz output but came in a larger, more expensive package. By moving that capability into smaller accessories, the company is targeting users who want a single monitor and a modest set of ports rather than the broader expansion offered by a dock. Plugable says availability begins on 20 October through Amazon and its own website, with a launch discount also being offered.
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