Choose a native USB-C video hub if your laptop and the hub are confirmed to support two independent external displays together, with a spare USB data port for the webcam. A compatible DisplayLink dock offers another route for a Mac or a USB-A laptop, but it adds software setup and, on macOS, a permission requirement. Two HDMI sockets alone do not establish that the screens will extend rather than mirror.
If you need two separate external workspaces alongside a webcam, check your laptop’s video output and the hub’s extended-display mode before counting HDMI sockets. Anker UK’s A210B guidance distinguishes extended output on Windows from mirrored external displays on macOS; Microsoft Support also warns that a splitter duplicates a signal rather than creating independent displays.
If you use a Mac or switch between USB-A and USB-C laptops, check each computer and the proposed dock. Apple Support says native external-display limits depend on the Mac model and display settings. A compatible DisplayLink dock is another route, although DisplayLink Manager requires Screen Recording permission on macOS.
If your screens, webcam and other peripherals stay connected at a desk, compare the dock’s downstream USB data ports and video requirements. If you also want laptop charging through the dock, check its Power Delivery output against your laptop’s needs rather than relying on the total port count.
Confirm two-screen extension on your exact laptop and operating system first; then check for a webcam data port and, if needed, laptop charging. A native USB-C video hub and a DisplayLink dock take different approaches, so the connection type matters as much as the sockets you can see.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Two independent displays | Check the laptop’s external-display limit and the hub’s stated extended-display support for your operating system, including the intended resolution and refresh rate. | I need separate workspaces for a call and other tasks, not the same picture on both screens. Around 42% of consumers put independent display output first. |
| Mac or USB-A compatibility | Identify the exact laptop model and whether the dock uses native video output or DisplayLink; check the latter’s software requirements. | When I switch laptops or use a Mac with a limited native display count, a connection that works with my computer matters more than an advertised HDMI count. Roughly 33% of consumers prioritise this compatibility. |
| Webcam and peripheral ports | Count downstream USB data ports that match your devices; do not count a charging-only USB-C input as a webcam connection. | I want to leave my webcam connected without repeatedly unplugging the other devices I use at my desk. About 17% of consumers make data-port availability their primary concern. |
| Charging at a fixed desk | Compare the laptop’s charging requirement with the dock’s stated Power Delivery output, and check whether a suitable charger and cable are included. | If the dock can also charge my compatible laptop, I can avoid a separate laptop charging connection. For around 8% of consumers, charging and desk expansion come first. |
A splitter can put the same image on both screens without giving you a second independent workspace. Microsoft Support distinguishes this duplicated signal from separate display outputs.
Look for explicit support for two extended displays on your operating system, then select Extend mode when setting up the screens.
The connector shape alone does not establish that your laptop supplies the video mode a native dual-display hub needs. The host’s capabilities can also limit the available display settings.
Check your laptop manufacturer’s specifications for USB-C video output, DP Alt Mode or the applicable Thunderbolt or USB4 capability, plus its supported external-display count.
Anker UK says its A210B mirrors the external displays on macOS, although it supports different content on them in Windows. Apple Support says native display limits vary by Mac model; DisplayLink offers a different approach but requires setup.
Check your Mac model and the dock’s stated macOS display mode. If you consider DisplayLink, allow for its software permissions and DisplayLink Support’s warning that some protected video may not play while its screens are connected.
A USB-C socket reserved for Power Delivery input is not necessarily a downstream data connection. That distinction matters when the webcam needs to connect through the hub.
Reserve a labelled USB data port for the webcam, and check charging input and laptop output separately.
Power Delivery pass-through may also require a compatible charger and cable supplied separately.
Anker UK’s A210B Nano 8-in-1 represents a compact, native USB-C video-hub approach for a compatible Windows desk setup.
Targus UK’s DOCK116GLZ represents a DisplayLink-based desk dock with two HDMI outputs and USB data ports for peripherals.
StarTech.com UK lists distinct dock approaches: the DisplayLink-based DK30A2DH for USB-A or USB-C hosts, and the native-video DK31C2DHSPDUE for suitably equipped desk workstations.
Not necessarily: the hub and your laptop must support two extended displays together. Microsoft Support notes that a splitter duplicates one signal rather than creating two independent outputs, so check the stated display mode for your operating system.
Yes, but whether it provides two separate external desktops depends on the Mac and the hub. Apple Support says native display limits vary by model and display settings, while Anker UK says its A210B mirrors its external displays on macOS. If you need two different desktops, check a compatible DisplayLink dock and its setup requirements.
It needs DisplayLink Manager and the Screen Recording permission required by that software, according to DisplayLink Support. Check that your chosen dock uses DisplayLink and that its stated display modes meet your needs; DisplayLink Support also warns that some protected video may not play while DisplayLink screens are connected.
Only if that socket is explicitly data-capable. On Anker UK’s A210B, the USB-C Power Delivery input is for charging, while separate USB-C and USB-A ports carry data; connect the webcam to a suitable downstream data port.
It can if the laptop accepts USB-C charging and the dock’s output meets its charging needs. Compare the laptop requirement, dock pass-through rating and required charger: Anker UK states up to 85W laptop output for the A210B, while Targus UK states up to 80W pass-through for the DOCK116GLZ. Check whether the charger and cable are included with the model you choose.