REVIEW – With USB-C fast becoming the standard on both mobile and desktop/laptop systems, and HDMI’s ability to carry both sound and video, these two interfaces are what need to be connected to present your data/video on a larger screen. Today, I’m reviewing the Plugable HDMI 2.1 USB-C to HDMI adapter supports 4K 144Hz or 8K 60 Hz, a simple but high-resolution solution for this. Let’s take a closer look.
What is it?
The Plugable HDMI 2.1 USB-C to HDMI adapter is a heavy-duty cable that converts USB-C video and sound to HDMI for display on any monitor.
Hardware specs
Click to expand
- Plug and Play 8K USBC to HDMI adapter (USBC-HDMI8K) supports HDMI 4K 144Hz and 8K HDMI 60Hz (DSC), HDR, HDCP. Compatible with USB-C DP 1.4 for high-res gaming, home theater & professional use
- Future Proof—Connect this HDMI to USB C adapter to a USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt 4 / 3 port for crisp, fluid motion at 4K 120Hz. And if you ever upgrade your monitor, get resolutions up to 8K 60Hz (DSC). Max resolution on Mac is 4K 60Hz
- High Performance—From pixelated pirates to picas and pantones, this Type C to HDMI adapter with an aluminum casing for travel and heat dissipation is designed for gamers, artists, and professionals. If you haven’t seen 4K at 144Hz, you haven’t seen UHD performance
- Works With—This USB C HDMI adapter is Plug and play compatible with Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS systems with USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt that support DP 1.4. On Mac, max resolution is 4K 60Hz. No driver download required
- 2-Year Warranty and Support—Every Plugable product, from dongle to docking station, is covered by a 2-year limited parts and labor warranty. And, should you need it, every product gets lifetime support from our US-based team
- Laptops and Desktops Supports full-featured USB-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt 3 / Thunderbolt 4 systems running Windows 10 / 11 & ChromeOS 100 or newer & macOS 11 and later including, M1/M2/M3-based Macs, Intel-based Thunderbolt 3 MacBooks (late 2016+), HP ProBook / EliteBook / Spectre x360 series, Dell XPS / Latitude / Inspiron series, Lenovo ThinkPad / IdeaPad / Yoga , Microsoft Surface Pro / Go / Book / Laptop models, LG Gram, Thousands of other laptops which are compliant with full-featured, standards-compliant USB-C ports
- Mobile Devices IPad Pro 12.9″ 3rd Gen/4th Gen/5th Gen/6th Gen, iPad Pro 11″ 1st Gen/2nd Gen/3rd Gen/4th Gen, iPad Air (2022) 5th Gen, iPhone 15
Design and features
The design is simple: a single cable with a USB-C plug on one end and an HDMI port on the other. When inserted into a compatible machine, you can unplug any HDMI source and plug that cable into this, and you’ll see the image on the new screen.
Setup
None. No drivers are needed for most systems.
Performance
I found the breadth of performance to be wide. I use iPads mostly when away from my desk. (My Mac mini M2 Pro has an HDMI port built-in, so I don’t need it there. But I connected both iPads easily to the monitor I’m using over HDMI and they just connected without any muss or fuss!) I took them to my TV, where I replaced the Apple TV with the iPad connected through the Plugable adapter and was able to project whatever content I needed over this versatile adapter immediately.
What I like about the Plugable HDMI 2.1 USB-C to HDMI adapter
- Aluminum casing, high-quality cable
- Braided cable – and just long enough to use
- No drivers for most modern OSs
What I’d change
- Can’t see any downsides!
Final thoughts
Most adults in today’s world (where there is infrastructure to support them) carry smartphones. The US DoJ and the EU are both making that assumption in current litigation/legislation. A smartphone has a camera, and usually a way to get the photos off the device, either wirelessly or through a port. Also, many presentation venues, from your local brewpub to your living room to an office conference room, have HDMI input. If you ever want to show your pictures or video on a display, host a trivia night, or show pictures of a neighborhood gardening project at a meeting, you’ll need an adapter to get data from your device to the HDMI port. Plugable’s easy connection allows you to bring full 8K videos over easily. It’s small and light but has a high-density cable to bring over your data quickly. It’s a permanent resident in my travel bag now!
Price: $17.95
Where to buy: Amazon, Walmart
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Plugable. Plugable did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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Will this work with something like the Max 11 Kindle Fire?
I’m not sure. My Kindle has a microUSB connector (the worst USB of them all!). But the iPad mini wasn’t listed as being compatible, yet worked without a hitch. If you can project video over that port, it should work.
Now that I see this posted I want to let y’all know that the photo with the iPad presenting to the TV (the large photo under “Setup”) is color-accurate. That’s the _Telifónica Edifícia_ on Gran Vía in Madrid. After dark, they project this purple lighting on it. It’s amazing! This is the building where Ernest Hemingway posted his reports on the Spanish Civil War. Also the first skyscraper in Europe. The lobby is an Art Deco fever dream!
You might want to remove this line 🙂
“Specs – you can remove this heading and section if it doesn’t apply to your review.”
Oops, I get an F as an editor 😉 fixed.