For a laptop with USB-A but no USB-C video output, a compatible dual-display USB adapter suits a screens-only setup; a universal dock is worth considering when you also want to connect desk peripherals through one host cable. Whichever route you take, confirm support for two extended displays, your operating system and any required driver. If you choose a USB-C video hub instead, check that the laptop’s exact port supports video output.
If your laptop has no usable USB-C video connection, look for a USB-A-capable dock that explicitly supports two extended displays on your operating system. A dock with the peripheral connections you need can also bring your keyboard, mouse and wired network into the desk setup.
If your keyboard and other connections are already sorted, a dual-display USB adapter may be enough. Check its two-screen resolution and refresh-rate combination against both monitors rather than relying on its largest advertised resolution.
Check the external-display limit for your exact Mac model before choosing a native video hub. Apple lists one external display for the MacBook Air (M1, 2020). A compatible DisplayLink device is a different, software-dependent route; DisplayLink warns that some protected video may not play on macOS while its screens are connected.
Start with the laptop’s ports and display support, then check the dock or adapter’s two-screen mode and the connections your desk actually needs.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Two extended screens | Check the exact laptop model’s external-display support and whether the dock specifies two extended, rather than merely mirrored, displays. Microsoft notes that a computer’s display adapter may not support more than one external monitor. | I want separate windows on both monitors, not the same picture repeated. |
| Connection method | For native USB-C video, confirm DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt or USB4 support on the laptop’s port. For a USB-A display device, check its stated display technology and software requirements; a USB-C connector alone does not establish video support. | My laptop’s available ports must work with the route I choose, especially if it has USB-A but no USB-C video output. |
| System compatibility | Match the adapter’s supported operating systems and versions to your laptop, and check whether you can install its driver. StarTech.com specifies its USB32HD2 dual-HDMI adapter for Windows only. | On a managed work or study laptop, I need to know whether required display software can be installed. |
| Display settings | Read the simultaneous two-output resolution and refresh-rate specification, then compare it with both monitors. StarTech.com lists one 4K 30 Hz output plus one 1080p output for its 107B-USB-HDMI adapter. | I want both screens to run at settings that suit the work I do, not just a resolution advertised for one output. |
| Desk connections and power | Count the USB, network and audio connections you will use. Check host charging separately: StarTech.com states that its DK30A2DH dock provides peripheral connections but does not charge the laptop through USB-C Power Delivery. | Fewer peripheral cables would help at my desk, but I may still need to connect the laptop charger. |
A hub’s sockets do not by themselves establish what the laptop can drive. Microsoft advises checking the graphics hardware’s supported monitor count when an additional external monitor does not work.
Find the exact laptop’s display specifications and the dock’s extended-display modes, including the settings available when both outputs are in use.
Operating-system support still matters. StarTech.com identifies the USB32HD2 as Windows-only; it does not support macOS, ChromeOS or Linux.
Check the model’s compatibility list and driver requirements against your laptop and any work or school installation restrictions.
StarTech.com specifies one 4K 30 Hz output and one 1080p output for its 107B-USB-HDMI adapter. That combination is different from two 4K 60 Hz outputs.
Compare the stated simultaneous output combination with the resolution and refresh rate you want on each monitor.
StarTech.com says its DK30A2DH does not provide USB-C Power Delivery to the laptop. Separately, DisplayLink documents that some protected video may show a black picture on macOS while DisplayLink screens are connected.
Check host charging for the exact dock, and consider DisplayLink’s protected-video limitation if streaming on a Mac matters to you.
A separate laptop charger remains part of the desk setup when the dock does not charge the host.
Its specified USB display adapters and universal docks provide examples of both screens-only and peripheral-rich connections.
Plugable’s USB 3.0 dock range is relevant when considering a USB-A host connection with DisplayLink-based multi-monitor output.
DisplayLink is a display-over-USB technology to look for in a compatible dock or adapter, not a feature established by the presence of HDMI sockets.
This USB-C dock is an option to assess if your laptop has a compatible video-capable USB-C port and you want monitor and desk connections together. It is not a USB-A display route.
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For a desk where you want dual HDMI connections through a USB-C dock. Confirm that your laptop’s USB-C port supports video, that the dock provides two independent extended displays at your intended settings, and whether the required external 100W+ power adapter is included.
It can if you choose a compatible USB-A dock or display adapter that explicitly supports two extended screens on your operating system. StarTech.com lists USB-A host support for its USB32HD2 adapter and DK30A2DH dock; check the exact laptop, display settings and any driver requirements before choosing one.
No. Check both the product’s extended-display specification and the laptop’s display capabilities. Microsoft notes that a computer’s display adapter may not support more than one external monitor.
Confirm that the laptop’s exact USB-C port supports video through DisplayPort Alt Mode, Thunderbolt or USB4. Then check the hub’s simultaneous two-screen settings, extended-display support on your operating system and host-charging requirements.
Do not assume it will. StarTech.com states that its USB-A/USB-C DK30A2DH dock adds displays and peripheral connections but does not provide USB-C Power Delivery to charge the laptop. Check host charging for the exact dock and keep a suitable laptop charger in the setup when needed.
Check the native external-display limit of your exact Mac model and the DisplayLink device’s macOS software requirements. Apple says a supported hub does not increase a Mac’s maximum display count; a compatible DisplayLink device uses a different, software-based route. DisplayLink also warns that some protected video may not play on macOS while its screens are connected.