- Introduction
- USB-C -> DisplayPort + power delivery adapters
- USB-C -> HDMI + power delivery adapters
- USB-C -> VGA + power delivery adapters
- USB-C -> DP alt mode + power delivery “splitter” (or merger depending on your perspective)
- USB-C hubs with downstream USB-C DP alt mode
- Related discussions
[Updated 2023/11/20]
Introduction
Suppose you have a compact laptop like a Macbook Air that only has USB-C ports. You’d like to charge the battery but also output to a 4K display. Must you use an ugly dock, hub, or have two cables cluttering your desk?
Not any more…
With the ever-increasing popularity of USB-C, a new adapter device class emerged in the last year or so. These adapters accept power from any USB-C PD compliant power supply to charge your laptop but also send a video signal via HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA, or even USB-C to a monitor. These devices do not use DisplayLink – they use the DP alt mode signal output by most USB-C equipped laptops and tablets and convert to the necessary video output but without the bulk and expense of a hub.
Some adapters plug directly into the monitor with the USB-C power delivery plugging in at the same location. Other adapters plug into the laptop side with the USB-C power delivery located there. Depending on your workspace, one option may work better than the other. Note that the models claiming 100W probably may deliver slightly less than that since the chips inside consume a little power.
USB-C -> DisplayPort + power delivery adapters
| Device Brand/Model Price ($USD) | Power Delivery | Video output | Included cable | Separate cable required? | Power plug in | Notes |
| CableDeconn D0301 (~$35) | ~100W | 8K60 | 2m integrated | at monitor | ||
| Cable Matters 201066 (~$20) | 60W | 4K60 | 2m integrated | – | 20cm from PC | |
| CableCC CY-UC-054-DPF (~$23) | ~100W | 4K60 | 2m USB-C | – | at monitor | |
| CableCC CY-UC-054-MDP (~$22) | ~100W | 4K60 | 2m USB-C | – | at monitor | miniDP |
| Dell DBQAUANBC070 ($~45) | 90W | 4K60 | DP or HDMI | 20cm from PC | bulky | |
| NFHK NF-UC-054-DPF (~$20) | ~100W | 4K60 | 2m USB-C | – | at monitor | |
| Startech CDP2DPUCP (~$45) | 60W | 4K60 | – | DP | 10cm from PC | bulky |
| Startech CDPDP14UCP (~$45) | 60W | 8K60 | – | DP | 10cm from PC | bulky |
| Xiwai (~$15) | 60W | 4K60 | – | DP | 10cm from PC | bulky |
USB-C -> HDMI + power delivery adapters
| Device Brand/Model Price ($USD) | Power Delivery | Video output | Included cable | Separate cable required? | Power plug in | Notes |
| Afterplug TH-CD8 (~$20) | 87W | 4K60 | 2m integrated | – | 1m from monitor | |
| Belkin AVC002btBK (~$22) | 60W | 4K60 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | bulky |
| CableCC CY-UC-054-HDF ($15) | 60W | 4K60 | – | USB-C | at monitor | |
| Cable Matters 201328 (~$35) | ~100W | 8K60 | HDMI | 10cm from PC | bulky | |
| Cables2Go 29531 (~$30) | 60W | 4K30 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | |
| Club3D CAC-1588 (~$60) | ~100W | 8K60 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | |
| Dell DBQAUANBC070 ($~45) | 90W | 4K60 | – | DP or HDMI | 20cm from PC | bulky |
| JSAux HB0201 (~$17) | ~100W | 4K60 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | |
| Startech CDP2HDUCP (~$40) | 60W | 4K60 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | |
| TrippLite U444-06N-H4K6WC (~$33) | ~100W | 4K60 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | bulky |
| Xiwai ($~15) | 60W | 4K60 | – | HDMI | 10cm from PC | bulky |
USB-C -> VGA + power delivery adapters
| Device Brand/Model Price ($USD) | Power Delivery | Video output | Included cable | Separate cable required? | Power plug in | Notes |
| Belkin AVC001btBK (~$30) | 60W | 1080p | – | VGA | 10cm from PC | bulky |
| CableCC CY-UC-162-VGA (~$13) | 60W | 1080p | – | VGA | 10cm from PC | |
| Xiwai (~$15) | 60W | 1080p | – | VGA | 10cm from PC | bulky |
USB-C -> DP alt mode + power delivery “splitter” (or merger depending on your perspective)
There isn’t a broad variety of these (yet) but here are a handful of USB-C “splitters” that allow video output on one USB-C port and power delivery input on the other. These are intended to be used with VR glasses and lower power mobile phones & gaming tablets. Folks have had varying degrees of success using some of these with laptops and monitors.
| Device Brand/Model Price ($USD) | Power to host PC or phone | Power to screen or VR glasses | Video out | Included cable | Separate cable required? | Power plug in | Notes | |
| Hiblocks VR adapter (~$40) | 45W? | 10-15W? | 1080p? | – | USB-C | 10cm from PC | – SteamDeck OK | |
| NexiGo USB-C adapter ($20) | n/a | 10W | ? | – | USB-C | at PC | – For Occulus Quest 2 | |
| Nubia RedMagic (~$50) | 45W? | 10W? | 4K30? | 1m USB-C integrated | USB-C | 10cm from PC | – teardown & short cable mod – Steamdeck OK | |
| Rokid Mini Hub (~$99) | 45W? | 5-10W? | 4K60? | – | USB-C | 10cm from PC | – cheaper at Aliexpress – Steamdeck and Switch OK – slow charging when video is in use | |
| Ult-Unite S4081-0109 (~$15) | 4W | 14W | 1080p | – | USB-C | 10cm from PC | – May stop charging host when video is in use | |
USB-C hubs with downstream USB-C DP alt mode
Portable hubs with downstream USB-C DP alt mode (5)
Unless otherwise indicated, all models include:
- integrated ~25-30cm USB4 cable
- dedicated USB-C port for PD 100W input
- can operate as bus-powered without PSU but full functionally best with USB-C PD PSU
- dual-monitor capable (2x 4K60)
- at least 1 downstream USB-C port supporting DP alt mode video + 10Gb/s data + >4.5W power
| Vendor, Model & Price ($USD) | Host Power & Location | Monitor Outputs | Downstream Data Ports | Additional Features & Notes |
| Goodway VS47010 (ODM) | 60W, side | 1x USB4 1x HDMI 2.1 supporting: 2x 4K60 or 1x 8K30 or 1x 4K144 | – 1x USB-C DP alt mode (15W) – 1x USB-C (10Gb/s / 4.5W) – 2x USB 3.x (10Gb/s / 4.5W) | – 2.5GbE – Based on JHL8140 |
| j5create JCD401 (~$100) | 85W, rear | 1x DP 1.4 1x HDMI 2.1 1x USB-C supporting: 2x 4K60 or 1x 8K30 | – 1x USB-C (10Gb/s / 4.5W) – 1x USB 3.x (10Gb/s / 4.5W) | – Intel JHL8140 |
| MSLForce USB4 5-in-1 hub | 60W, side | 3x USB4 supporting 1x 1x 8K60 or 2x 4K60 | – 3x USB-C (10Gb/s / 15W) – 1x USB 3.x (10Gb/s / 4.5W) | – Based on Intel JHL8140 – All 3 downstream USB-C ports have DP-altmode and MFD functionality – spec sheet states 20Gb/s on downstream ports which is probably not correct |
| Sparkle TD-8140 (~$120-140) | 85W, side | 1x DP 1.4 1x HDMI 2.0 1x USB-C supporting: 1x 8K30 or 2x 4K60 | 1x USB-C (15W) 2x USB 3.x (10Gb/s / 4.5W) | – teardown – 80cm detachable USB4 cable – 1Gb/s Ethernet – TRRS audio |
| Startech DKM31C3HVCPD (~$140) | 80W, side | 1x USB-C 1x HDMI 2.0b 1x VGA supporting: 2x 4K30 or 1x 4K60 | 1x USB-C (10Gb/s / 7.5W) 2x USB 3.x (10Gb/s / 4.5W) | – not USB4 but included here for reference – 1Gb/s Ethernet |
Related discussions
https://superuser.com/questions/1689068/usb-c-splitter-for-power-in-a-v-out-does-this-exist
Dan S. Charlton 
Useful product class. Will this also work with later generation MS Surfaces since they still have a proprietary power port?
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Yes – any of the USB-C equipped Surface devices ought to work with these.
More on the USB-C capabilities of Surface devices here: https://dancharblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/23/microsoft-surface-usb-c-port-capabilities/
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Hey 🙂
Can you foresee a device in the “USB-C -> DP ALT MODE + POWER DELIVERY “SPLITTER”” category which allows a full 100w PD passthrough to the host device (laptop in my instance)? My Laptop doesn’t seem to charge with less than 100w, and my monitor (built in usb dock) can’t supply enough juice.
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Unfortunately, no. The best solution for you is a full-sized desktop-class USB-C or Thunderbolt dock. Check ebay.
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Hi Dan, was wondering if you had any thoughts or info on a USB4 Power Injector with a retimer. I have a USB4 connected eGPU, but the PCB doesn’t support power delivery. I thought maybe a way to overcome this would be to attach it to a smaller PCB that has PD and retimer IC’s. There doesn’t seem to be anything on the market for this, but I was wondering how difficult it would be to design something like this using off the shelf IC’s.
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