Kensington SD4780P vs SD4790P

Kensington SD4780P vs SD4790P: the short answer

The Kensington SD4780P and Kensington SD4790P solve the same workplace problem. A shared desk may see a modern USB-C laptop in the morning, an older USB-A machine after lunch, and a MacBook or Chromebook the next day. A native Thunderbolt dock is a cleaner option when every laptop is modern and compatible. It is a poor answer when the fleet is mixed.

Both Kensington docks use a 10Gbps USB connection and DisplayLink software to make multi-monitor setups available across USB-C and USB-A hosts. Both can supply up to 100W to a compatible USB-C laptop, include six USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a three-year limited warranty. They also share the important caveat: USB-A can carry data and video, but it cannot carry USB-C Power Delivery. A USB-A laptop therefore needs its own charger or Kensington’s optional power splitter if charging at the desk matters.

The difference is monitor capacity. The SD4780P is a dual-4K office dock. It has two HDMI 2.0 ports and two DisplayPort++ 1.2 ports, but only two external monitors can be active at once. The extra outputs are cable choices, not additional display engines. The SD4790P moves into larger desk territory. Kensington lists up to four external 4K@60Hz monitors on compatible Windows or Chrome laptops and up to three external 4K@60Hz monitors on supported Apple Silicon MacBooks after DisplayLink is installed.

The short verdict: the Kensington SD4790P wins because it has the broader display ceiling, a newer hybrid display design, six physical video outputs, and a slightly higher review score of 7.4 versus 7.0. Choose the SD4780P if two 4K monitors are enough and you prefer its straightforward two-display brief. It has the same 100W USB-C charging ceiling, the same mixed USB-C and USB-A compatibility, and a useful HDMI plus DisplayPort selection without paying for a quad-display platform you will not use.

If you are not sure whether a DisplayLink dock suits your workflow, start with our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking stations guide. It explains why a universal dock can be the practical choice for a shared office, even though a native Thunderbolt display path is better for some workloads.

Quick specs comparison

Display support: dual 4K versus an expandable desk

The display section makes the decision for most buyers. Both docks are built around DisplayLink, which means their broad compatibility comes with software setup and performance tradeoffs. They are good at office apps, browser tabs, calls, dashboards, and ordinary two- or multi-monitor work. Neither is the right tool for latency-sensitive gaming, color-critical media work, or HDCP-protected streaming across DisplayLink screens.

SD4780P: a clear two-monitor limit

The SD4780P has four physical display connectors: two HDMI 2.0 ports and two DisplayPort++ 1.2 ports. That layout is helpful in an office where monitors arrive with different cable types. You can choose the two connectors that suit the screens on the desk, without filling the area with adapters.

It does not mean the dock can run four monitors. Kensington lists up to two 4K@60Hz external displays through DisplayLink. The SD4780P’s own product data makes this point explicitly because it is easy to mistake four connectors for a four-display dock. Buyers who only need two screens should see this as a feature, not a shortcoming. The product is less complicated to specify, and it covers a normal dual-monitor desk with both HDMI and DisplayPort available.

The SD4780P supports Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. Windows and macOS users should install the current DisplayLink driver before they expect normal display output. ChromeOS R51 or later has DisplayLink support without a separate driver package, according to the product data. On a Mac, DisplayLink Manager also needs its screen recording permission before the monitors appear reliably.

SD4790P: more monitors, but more conditions

The SD4790P has three HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort++ 1.4 output, and two DisplayPort 1.2++ outputs. Kensington lists two displays as plug-and-play through USB-C Alt Mode where the host supports that path. The higher monitor counts rely on DisplayLink.

On compatible Windows or Chrome laptops, Kensington lists up to four 4K@60Hz external displays, with DSC enabled for the maximum mode. On listed M1, M2, and M3 MacBooks, it lists up to three external 4K@60Hz displays after the DisplayLink software is installed. The product data also notes that the Amazon listing names M4 MacBook support. Those are useful capabilities for a finance desk, operations room, support team, or a user who genuinely works across three or four static information screens.

There is still no shortcut around the setup. The dock is not driverless. Before standardizing on it, test the exact laptop, monitors, driver version, and sleep-wake behavior during the return window. Kensington also documents a workaround for protected streaming: temporarily disable DisplayLink and use one monitor connected through the MST path. That is a real limitation, not a minor footnote.

Display winner: SD4790P. The SD4780P remains capable for two 4K screens, but the SD4790P adds a meaningful step up for compatible Windows, ChromeOS, and Apple Silicon Mac setups.

For more options built around multi-monitor work, see our best docking stations for dual monitors. If two screens are all you need, that category is often a better place to start than a quad-display dock.

Ports and desk setup

Both models give you six USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a combo audio jack. Their port strategies differ a little.

The SD4780P has one USB-C port with up to 15W accessory charging, one USB-A port with up to 12W, and four USB-A ports. It also includes VESA mounting support, an on-off switch, Kensington lock support, and optional DockWorks software. That is a practical collection for a permanent shared desk where keyboard, mouse, webcam, headset, storage, and Ethernet need a place to live.

The SD4790P has two front USB-C ports and four rear USB-A ports. The product data notes that only the two front USB-C ports run at 10Gbps, while the rear USB-A ports run at 5Gbps. Its screw-lock host cable is a small but useful detail when the dock is mounted or hidden behind a display. Like the SD4780P, it has Gigabit Ethernet rather than 2.5GbE. If fast local file transfers are a priority, neither has the network headroom of a newer high-end dock with 2.5GbE.

The SD4790P has more video connectors, while the SD4780P provides the same HDMI and DisplayPort flexibility for a two-monitor desk. That makes this category less decisive than the display support section. Choose based on the monitor count first, then check that the connector mix matches the screens you already own.

Port winner: SD4790P, narrowly. It adds a second USB-C port, six video outputs, and the screw-lock cable. The SD4780P still has six USB ports and enough video choice for its intended two-monitor setup.

Charging and old-laptop compatibility

There is no winner on USB-C charging. Each dock provides up to 100W USB-C Power Delivery to a compatible laptop, which is enough for many business laptops. Neither product promises that power through a USB-A host connection.

That detail matters in a mixed office. Both models can connect to USB-A laptops for data and DisplayLink video, but USB-A cannot deliver USB-C Power Delivery. Kensington points buyers to an optional power splitter for legacy charging setups. If a laptop arrives with USB-A only, plan on the machine’s own charger or that additional accessory instead of assuming one cable will handle everything.

Both products also work with more than just USB-C machines. Their product data lists USB-C, USB-A, Thunderbolt, Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS compatibility. The SD4790P’s compatibility notes specifically call out USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 hosts. That broader wording is useful, but it does not change the core buying advice: these are universal, software-assisted docks, not replacements for native Thunderbolt bandwidth.

Charging and compatibility winner: tie. Both reach 100W over USB-C, both help mixed USB-C and USB-A fleets, and both require a separate plan for USB-A charging.

Drivers, streaming, and workload fit

DisplayLink is the main reason these docks can serve more laptops than a simple USB-C Alt Mode model. It is also the reason you should be honest about the workload.

For office work, the approach is sensible. The SD4780P can give a user two 4K screens across Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS. The SD4790P can scale that desk to three or four screens under the listed host conditions. In either case, DisplayLink can be particularly helpful for base Apple Silicon MacBooks where native external display support is limited.

For a gaming setup, high-refresh display work, color-sensitive editing, or protected streaming, use a native Thunderbolt or USB-C display path instead. Both product records flag this limitation. The SD4790P also has a specific HDCP workaround rather than full protected-video support across all DisplayLink screens. A buyer who wants a plug-and-forget dock for one Thunderbolt laptop should look at a native model before choosing either of these universal docks.

The SD4780P has more public feedback in its product record, but the tone is mixed. The SD4790P has thinner long-term feedback, which is why its product record advises testing the actual laptop, monitor count, and driver version before deploying it widely. The SD4790P’s higher 7.4 score reflects its broader capability, not proof that it will be trouble-free in every office.

Value and verdict

The SD4790P is the better dock on capability. It supports up to four 4K displays on compatible Windows or Chrome hosts, up to three 4K displays on listed Apple Silicon MacBooks with DisplayLink, offers six video ports, and earns the higher 7.4 score. Its USB-C Alt Mode plus DisplayLink design means the first two displays can be plug-and-play in the right setup, while the additional capacity is there when it is needed.

The SD4780P remains a sensible purchase for the more common dual-monitor shared desk. It reaches dual 4K@60Hz, provides both HDMI and DisplayPort options, supports the same broad operating system group, includes six USB ports and 100W USB-C charging, and carries the same three-year warranty. Its four connectors are choices for two screens, which is exactly what many offices need.

Choose the Kensington SD4790P if:

• You need three or four external 4K monitors under the supported host conditions.
• You use a compatible Apple Silicon MacBook and need up to three external displays through DisplayLink.
• You want three HDMI ports, three DisplayPort outputs, two USB-C ports, and a screw-lock host cable.
• You are deploying a flexible desk for Windows, ChromeOS, macOS, USB-C, USB-A, USB4, or Thunderbolt hosts.
• You can test the DisplayLink driver setup before standardizing on the dock.

Choose the Kensington SD4780P if:

• Two external 4K@60Hz monitors are enough for the desk.
• You want both HDMI and DisplayPort choices without paying for a larger multi-monitor platform.
• You need a universal USB-C and USB-A dock with six USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, audio, and up to 100W USB-C charging.
• You are comfortable installing DisplayLink on Windows or macOS and using it for productivity work.
• You want a simpler dual-display brief with the same three-year warranty.

Read the full Kensington SD4780P review and Kensington SD4790P review for the product-specific caveats. You can also return to the docking stations homepage to compare more options by host connection, display needs, and budget.