Most one-monitor KVMs charge the laptop you are looking at and leave the other one to die quietly in the bag. The Cable Matters 201478 is built for the opposite habit: two USB-C laptops, one HDMI monitor, shared USB gear, and enough power budget to keep both hosts fed.
If you need two monitors, 4K above 60Hz, or a desktop that only speaks HDMI video, this is the wrong box. Start with the wide fork in /guides/best-usbc-kvm-switch-mac-windows.
Short version:
- Two USB-C / Thunderbolt laptops that must stay charged while sharing one 4K@60Hz HDMI monitor and faster USB peripherals: 201478 at $119.99.
- One monitor, high refresh, smaller bill: MINIX K1 at $35.90−10%.
- Two USB-C laptops and two monitors: AV Access iDock C20 path at $240-$280.
What it is
| Spec | Cable Matters 201478 |
|---|---|
| Price (this pass) | $119.99 |
| Hosts | 2 USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt video) |
| Display | 1 HDMI, up to 4K@60Hz |
| Charging | Up to 100W with one host; up to 85W to each of two |
| Fast shared USB | 2× USB-C 10Gbps + 2× USB-A 10Gbps |
| Keyboard / mouse ports | 2× USB-A 2.0 |
| Switching | Front button, RF remote, optional hotkey / mouse gesture |
| Power brick | 180W (20V / 9A) |
| Included host cables | 2× USB4 20Gbps USB-C, 3.3 ft each |
What it gets right
The headline is the 180W budget. With both laptops plugged in, Cable Matters rates up to 85W per host. One host alone climbs to a published 100W ceiling. That is how a work laptop and a personal laptop both stay alive without a second brick glued to the idle machine.
The shared USB layout is also aimed at faster gear than the usual USB 2.0 KVM leftovers: two USB-C and two USB-A ports at 10Gbps for an SSD, higher-bandwidth webcam, or capture box, plus two slower USB-A ports for keyboard and mouse.
In the box: 180W adapter, RF remote, and two 3.3-foot USB4 host cables. Those cables matter. A charge-only replacement will not carry video, data, and Power Delivery together.
Switching without the drama
Front button and RF remote work as hardware. No driver required. Keyboard hotkeys and a mouse gesture are optional and need Cable Matters’ utility; on macOS 11+, that means Input Monitoring permission. Prefer a hardware-only desk? Skip the utility.
More ways to switch is not a promise of instant HDMI renegotiation. Monitors still take a beat when the active host changes. Plan for that blink, not a teleport.
Where it stops
- One monitor only. Ceiling is 4K@60Hz. High-refresh 4K → MINIX K1. Two monitors → a dual-display KVM dock, not this switch.
- Both hosts must send video over USB-C or Thunderbolt. A desktop with HDMI out and a data-only USB-C port is the wrong shape.
- Output is HDMI. USB-C-only portable monitors and Apple Studio Display are not a clean match.
- Host cable length: Cable Matters pushes the included 3.3-foot cables and is not eager about longer replacements. Measure the route under the desk before you buy.
vs MINIX K1
| Cable Matters 201478 | MINIX K1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $119.99 | $35.90−10% |
| Monitor | 1 HDMI, up to 4K@60Hz | 1 HDMI, up to 4K@120Hz |
| Charging | Up to 85W each of two hosts | Follows the active host |
| Fast shared USB | Four ports at 10Gbps | Shared ports are USB 2.0 |
| Switching | Button, RF remote, optional software | Front button |
| Fit | Both laptops stay charged; faster USB matters | High-refresh video; smaller/simpler |
Take Cable Matters when simultaneous charging and 10Gbps shared ports are the job. Take MINIX when 4K@120Hz and a smaller box win. Full MINIX write-up: /reviews/minix-k1-usb-c-kvm-switch-review.
vs AV Access iDock C20
Different monitor count. 201478 = one HDMI, up to 85W each. C20 = two HDMI displays between two USB-C laptops, up to 60W each. C20’s dual path uses MST (Windows/Linux extended; macOS mirrors). Cable Matters sidesteps that dual-display argument by only doing one screen. Pick display count first, then charging and ports.
Buy it when
- Two USB-C or Thunderbolt laptops share one HDMI monitor.
- Both need to stay charged while one is idle.
- You want an SSD / webcam / capture device on a 10Gbps port.
- Front button or RF remote is enough (software optional).
- Both machines sit within the included 3.3-foot host cables.
Skip it when
- You need two monitors or 4K above 60Hz.
- One computer only has HDMI video and no USB-C video output.
- The monitor is USB-C video only, no HDMI in.
- The laptops live farther apart than the included cables reach.
Before you click
- Confirm each laptop’s USB-C port does DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt video.
- Confirm the monitor has HDMI and the resolution/refresh you want (≤4K@60Hz here).
- Plan for one monitor. This switch does not invent a second output.
- Keep the included USB4 host cables if you can.
- Put fast gear on the 10Gbps ports; leave USB 2.0 for keyboard and mouse.
Setup order help: /guides/kvm-switch-setup-two-computers-one-desk. Cheaper one-monitor paths: /guides/best-budget-usb-c-kvm-switches.
Frequently asked questions
Charge both laptops at once?
Yes per Cable Matters: up to 85W each with two hosts connected; up to 100W with one. The laptop’s own limit and workload still rule.
Two monitors?
No. One HDMI output. Use a dual-monitor KVM dock for two screens.
4K at 120Hz?
No. Published max is 4K@60Hz. MINIX K1 is the closer one-monitor alternative for 120Hz.
MacBook + Windows laptop?
Yes when both send video through the USB-C host ports. Charge-only or data-only USB-C is not enough. Button and RF remote need no display driver.
Must I install the software?
No. Optional for hotkeys and mouse gesture. Hardware controls work without it. macOS utility needs Input Monitoring if you install it.
External SSD?
The four 10Gbps ports are aimed at faster peripherals. Real-world throughput still depends on the drive and host.
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