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Diagnose your charging woes with Plugable’s tiny power meter [Review]

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Plugable USBC-VAmeter3 review
The Plugable USBC-VAmeter3 tests the quality of the connections between your computers and chargers and other peripherals.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Your MacBook isn’t charging right and you can’t figure it where the problem is? Plugable’s USBC-VAmeter3 can help. Connect it to the power cable running to your Mac, iPad or iPhone to see the voltage, wattage and amperage.

I’m no electrical engineer, but I tested this miniature power meter. I found it both useful and kind of fun.

Plugable’s expansive new 13-port USB-C desktop dock adds dual 4K displays

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Plugable's expansive new 13-port USB-C desktop dock adds dual 4K displays
With the Plugable UD-6950PDH on your desktop, your Mac can have 13 more ports and two more 4K monitors.
Photo: Plugable

The Plugable UD-6950PDH is a just-launched USB-C dock that lets Mac users add a wide variety of accessories via a whopping 13 ports. And that includes a pair of 4K monitors even on Macs that not designed to handle that many.

On top of that, the dock offers 100W of power for charging high-end MacBooks.

Plugable’s USBC-VAMeter3 gets even better at finding charging woes

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Plugable’s USBC-Vameter3 gets even better at finding charging woes
Plugable's tiny voltage and amperage meter can help you find out why a MacBook or iPad isn't getting power.
Photo: Plugable

Anyone who’s ever said to themselves “Is this $%&@ thing even charging?” might be interested in the new version of Plugable’s voltage and amperage meter.

Plug the USBC-VAMeter3 into your device then plug the charging cable into the meter and you’ll see how much power is flowing and in which direction.

A new version USBC-VAMeter3 launched Tuesday for under $30. It can handle more power, which makes it more useful and less likely to be accidentally damaged.

Add a trio of hi-res monitors to your Mac with Plugable’s new desktop dock

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Add three hi-res monitors to your Mac with Plugable's new desktop dock
You can add three screens to your Mac (even M1 and M2 ones) with the Plugable UD-ULTC4K.
Photo: Plugable

While the Plugable UD-ULTC4K doesn’t have a very exciting name, the USB-C hub does boast a whopping 13 ports. It can add up to three high-res external displays to a Mac, plus USB-A accessories, Ethernet and more.

It’s an improved version of a popular model that first launched back in 2017.

Graphic designer runs racy dual-monitor MacBook Pro rig [Setups]

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Look at that wallpaper! Oh, and there's also a computer setup.
Look at that wallpaper! Oh, and there's also a computer setup.
Photo: [email protected]

Ever show off your painstakingly constructed computer setup only to have everybody race past the gear just to ogle what’s showing on the screen(s)? The desktop wallpaper.

It’s kind of like that with today’s featured setup, the brainchild of a graphic designer.

He put together the dual-monitor setup around a 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro with a lineup of nice touches. And he also made the neato race-car wallpaper that got most of the attention.

Add 3 HDMI or DisplayPort monitors to your Mac with this USB-C docking station [Review]

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Plugable UD-6950PDZ Docking Station review
Plugable’s latest USB-C hub lets you add a trio of monitors, and it sports six USB-A ports.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Plugable UD-6950PDZ Docking Station includes a trio 4K HDMI Ports and the same number of 4K DisplayPort ports. These allow users to mix and match up to three monitors. That includes M1 MacBooks that natively support only one.

The USB-C dock also includes half a dozen USB-A ports, Ethernet and more.

I put this powerful accessory through a battery of hands-on tests to see how it performed. And it lived up to my expectations.

Add 3 super-fast ports to your Mac with Plugable’s Thunderbolt hub [Review]

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Plugable USB4-HUB3A Thunderbolt hub review
The Plugable USB4-HUB3A doesn’t take up much room on your desk, and adds three Thunderbolt 4 ports to your Mac.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

If you want more Thunderbolt ports for your Mac, the Plugable USB4-HUB3A hub offers a trio of them. And they are fully functional, offering up to 40 Gbps transfer speeds and support for 4K monitors. Plus, there’s a USB-A port for good measure.

I put Plugable’s new Thunderbolt hub through a round of testing to be sure it lives up to specs.

Connect your Mac to 3 monitors with Plugable’s new dock

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Connect your Mac to 3 monitors with Plugable’s new dock
The Plugable UD-6950PDZ Docking Station lets you connect a Mac to up to three monitors.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable used CES 2022 to unveil a dock that can handle up to three 4K external monitors using either HDMI or DisplayPort. The UD-6950PDZ also has ports for Ethernet, USB-A, audio and more.

In addition, Plugable also announced the USB4-HUB3A, a small hub with three Thunderbolt ports and more.

Plugable’s new universal dock makes ‘hot-desking’ easy

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The Plugable UD-3900C makes it easy to get right to work.
The Plugable UD-3900C makes it easy to get right to work.
Photo: Plugable

The new Plugable UD-3900C universal docking station is a reasonably priced means of “hot-desking” with Macs and PCs. That allows hybrid workers to easily connect and get right back on the job when they come back to the office, even if they always use a different desk.

Add a trio of blazing-fast ports to your Mac with new Plugable Thunderbolt 4 hub

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Add trio of blazing-fast ports to your Mac with new Plugable Thunderbolt 4 hub
Plugable’s just-launched Thunderbolt 4 hub makes your Mac more useful by adding accessories that require very fast connections.
Photo: Plugable

The new Plugable TBT4-HUB3C hub turns a single Thunderbolt 4 port into three of them, expanding the number of high-speed accessories that can be connected to a Mac or iPad Pro. That includes big displays and large-capacity drives.

And Plugable also launched new 1-meter and 2-meter Thunderbolt cables Thursday.

Plugable’s new hub adds 7 USB-A ports to your MacBook

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Plugable's new USB-C charging hub keeps gadgets going and files transferred.
Plugable's new USB-C charging hub keeps gadgets going and files transferred.
Photo: Plugable

Nobody’s too happy when Apple decides to subtract ports from a new MacBook, but that’s what connectivity hubs are for. The newly launched Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C Charging Hub is no exception, adding seven USB-A ports to your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.

Plugable’s USBC-Vameter diagnoses your charging woes

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Plugable USBC-Vameter diagnoses your charging woes
Is your iPhone charger working like it’s supposed to? Find out with the USBC-Vameter.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable’s USBC-Vameter voltage and amperage meter shows how much power is moving through a USB-C connection. It helps users see what’s happening when their devices are charging… or not charging.

On Tuesday, Plugable released a new version of the tiny multi-meter with an easier-to-read OLED screen and other improvements.

Plugable 7-in-1 USB-C hub promises top-tier performance on a budget

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Plugable USBC-7IN1E promises high quality for a low price.
Plugable’s USB-C adapter offers plenty of ports. All of which can be used at the same time.
Photo: Plugable

CES 2021 bugPlugable freely admits its new 7-in-1 USB-C hub for Mac or iPad is entering a crowded market. But the accessory maker promises its new USBC-7IN1E multiport adapter stands out from cheap competitors with better hardware.

Nevertheless, the cost is just $30.

Plugable USB-C multiport hub costs way less than Apple’s [Review]

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Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter review
The Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter adds three frequently used ports to MacBook or iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

There’s no reason to watch a movie on your MacBook or iPad when the world is full of external displays you can connect to. Of course, to make the connection you’ll need something like the Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter. Not only does it have an HDMI port, there’s a USB-A port for connecting an external drive. And a USB-C port for keeping your computer powered.

It was obviously designed to copy Apple’s Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter but at a much lower price. Here’s how it stands up.

Plugable ‌USB-C hub‌‌ ‌connects 7 accessories, won‘t strain your wallet

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Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub works with MacBook or iPad Pro
The Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub easily connects an HDMI monitor to a MacBook, and much more.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable decided to stand out in the crowded market for USB-C multiport adapters with a low-price offering. On Tuesday, it unveiled a 7-in-1 Hub that comes in at a significantly lower cost than many of its rivals.

Even so, it can connect to multiple legacy USB-A accessories, a external monitor and removable memory cards.

Plugable’s very affordable HDMI adapter connects your Mac and TV [Review]

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Plugable USB-C to HDMI Adapter review
Using an external display with a MacBook is a breeze with the Plugable USB-C to HDMI Adapter.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

MacBooks don’t have HDMI ports, but the Plugable USB-C to HDMI Adapter makes it easy to connect your laptop to an external monitor. Even better, this accessory is inexpensive and very portable.

I tested the adapter for work, watching video, and playing games. Here’s how it held up.

Plugable’s USB-C Multiport Adapter rivals Apple’s, but costs way less

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Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter offers HDMI, USB-A and USB-C ports.
The Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter provides access to frequently used laptop and tablet add-ons.
Photo: Plugable

The just-released Plugable USB-C Multiport Adapter offers the same video and USB ports as an Apple adapter, but at a much lower price.

Both products include HDMI, USB-C, and USB-A ports, and can be used with a MacBook or iPad Pro. But the Plugable version is better suited for those on a tight budget.

Easily add speedy Ethernet to your Mac with this inexpensive adapter [Review] ★★★★★

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Plugable USB-C to Ethernet Adapter review★★★★★
Enjoy the reliability of Ethernet with this simple USB-C adapter for your Mac or iPad Pro.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Adding Ethernet to your MacBook or iPad Pro is as simple as attaching the Plugable USB-C to Ethernet Adapter. This cuts your dependence on WiFi, instead bringing the security, reliability and speed of a wired connection.

I tested this very affordable and portable accessory, and bring you the results in this hands-on review.

Plugable 2.5Gbps Ethernet adapter doubles Mac network speeds at a reasonable price [Update]

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Get much faster Mac Ethernet with Plugable’s latest adapter.
The Plugable 2.5Gbps USB Ethernet Adapter promises faster Mac networking.
Photo: Plugable

Plugable Technologies announced Tuesday the availability of its 2.5Gbps USB Ethernet Adapter, bring a significant boost in speed over other ubiquitous devices at 1Gbps.

This affordable plug-in accessory is compatible with Mac and works over Cat 5e and Cat 6 Ethernet cables.