This Mac dock gives me lag-free dual displays with no sketchy drivers

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Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. You rock up to a job with your MacBook to get some serious dual-display work done. You plug your computer into the dock on the desk, only to be given an option that's faced many Mac owners in recent years -- download and install a random driver, or live with a mirrored version of your MacBook on another display. Also: How I survive summer without AC: My top hot weather coping tips, tricks, and gadgets Now, StarTech's "first-to-market" dual-display driverless USB4 dock is here to solve this problem … well, kinda. Dual-display docks The first thing to note is that the issue we're talking about is a MacOS problem (Windows users can gloat). The Mac platform lacks support for a DisplayPort protocol that Windows has had for over a decade. Called Multi-Stream Transport (MST), this protocol allows one video stream to be split and sent to multiple displays. Without MST, docks can only mirror the same image across every connected display. This is useful if you want a bigger screen, but not if you're looking for the productivity boost of a dual-display setup. Also: The best electric screwdrivers of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed Companies released docks that circumnavigated this limitation by using software (drivers that people had to download) to create a second "fake" display by compressing the video and pushing it over USB rather than using the GPU's native video output. This approach sounds like a great idea on the face of it, but it has several limitations. The most immediately noticeable issue is lag, caused by the time the software requires to process the video stream. On top of that, because the software has to work overtime to create the video stream, it can sometimes take shortcuts that can introduce glitches, washed-out colors, and compression artifacts into the image. Another limitation is that any DRM-protected streamed content from services such as Netflix, Disney+, or Apple TV+ will go black for most users. A workaround to this black screen is to view the content through Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge with hardware acceleration disabled. The only way out of this hellstew was to buy a Thunderbolt dock and suck up the extra cost of that hardware (which could be upwards of $150), or use Windows or Linux, as those platforms have supported MST for over a decade. The Driverless Dual 4K Yes, that's the name of the dock, and it's quite a mouthful. It's also called the Driverless Dual 4K USB4 Universal Docking Station, which is more of a mouthful. I wish companies would get their naming under control. Also: I tested the best laptop docking stations - here's what I recommend for your office setup For now, I'll call this dock the Driverless Dual 4K. The Driverless Dual 4K -- this name has a ring to it -- has an Intel Hoover Ridge USB4 controller inside, a chip that supports native DisplayPort tunneling, so it doesn't have to rely on software bodges. The spec sheet says each port supports up to 8K, but for dual-display setups there's support for 4K up to 144Hz on M3, M4, and M5 MacBooks. However, this point is also where things get complicated, and the phrase "up to" does some heavy lifting. Video needs a lot of bandwidth -- a 4K stream at 144Hz with 10-bit color requires 40 Gbps. But DisplayPort 1.4 on this dock can only handle 25Gbps. To get around this issue, DisplayPort uses a codec called DSC (Display Stream Compression) that offers 3:1 visually lossless compression and lag that's down in the microsecond range. Also: I found a dual-display USB-C dock with 8 ports - and no bulky AC brick This approach offers performance close to Thunderbolt, without the Thunderbolt markup or the DisplayLink compromises. However, 144Hz is only available in newer MacBooks that run M4 Pro/Max and M5 chips. Those with systems running the M4 or M3 chips will be limited to 60Hz (hence that "up to" qualifier). And if you have an earlier Mac running the M1 or M2 chip (and let's not even think about the older Intel-based hardware), you'll only get a mirrored output. I've tested the above combinations, and this is exactly what you will get from the dock. And the good news is that the device delivers a high-quality dual-display experience with no lag and no DRM limitations. Everything else Along with the twin DisplayPort ports on the back of the dock, there's a USB-C port that can be used for display purposes, a USB-A 2.0 to ease those worried about legacy support, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port that supports Wake-on-LAN (WoL) and Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE), a USB-C port for connecting to the host system (this port has screw threads to keep the cable connected, at least on the dock end), and a power input port that's rated for 21V/6.4A. That 21V input might seem like an odd choice, but this is the maximum voltage that USB Power Delivery's PPS protocol can handle. StarTech will have chosen this level so the dock could push a clean, regulated 100W (20V/5A) to the host system via USB-C, while allowing for a 1V buffer. You don't see this level of attention on a lot of hardware On the front of the unit are an on/off switch, a 10Gbps USB-C port, and two 10Gbps USB-A ports (again, for the legacy crowd). On the side, there are slots for optional K-Slot, Noble Wedge, and Nano Slot cable locks to help stop the dock from "accidentally" going home with someone else. Finally, there are screw holes on the back of the device for an optional VESA mounting bracket, meaning the dock can be attached to a monitor. Also: I tested this fan-equipped MagSafe charger in a heat wave -- and it actually kept my iPhone cool Another thing I like about the Driverless Dual 4K is that it's very low-key. The drab, gray plastic doesn't scream expensive dock like a lot of units from companies such as Plugable, Apricorn, or OWC. Two thumbs up You have to spend a fair bit of time with a dock before giving it a single thumbs up. Once you've confirmed that it can deliver on what the spec sheet says it will do (and you'd be surprised how many units stumble at this basic hurdle), you need to spend more time with it to make sure it's any good before it gets a second thumbs up. I don't want to recommend a dock that can't handle sustained usage, gets crazy hot, or dies prematurely. The StarTech Driverless Dual 4K gets both thumbs up from me. The device ticks all the boxes, does what it says it will without any surprises, and it's intelligently put together -- the slots for cable locks and the optional VESA mounting place are great touches for enterprise users. ZDNET's buying advice There's a lot of competition in the dock space -- as ports have dwindled on laptops, the demand for a tool to add them back has skyrocketed -- and while StarTech may have been the first to market with a driverless dock, there are quite a few around now. All of these docks are based on Intel's Hoover Ridge, or the more expensive Goshen Ridge Thunderbolt 4 and Barlow Ridge Thunderbolt 5 chipsets (along with a load of non-Intel chipsets from companies such as Via Labs or Realtek). Hoover Ridge docks like the StarTech Driverless Dual 4K dock are a good budget option for those who want a better dock for under $50 and don't need the power or performance (or price tag) of a Thunderbolt 4/5 dock. At $135, the StarTech Driverless Dual 4K USB4 Universal Docking Station is great for those who want a cutting-edge dock, but don't need a pro-grade Thunderbolt dock. I could see companies buying a boxful of these for use across a corporation. I could also see a freelancer buying one to carry between client sites. High-end pro users are probably best biting the bullet and going for a Thunderbolt 5 dock (StarTech has one for under $300). Those not wanting dual-display support, or who only want a dock for occasional use, can go for a much cheaper dock. StarTech is also a great brand, especially if you're looking for something built for an enterprise or industrial setting. I have one of the company's 240W industrial USB-C chargers in use, and it's a fantastic bit of kit with very little competition.