Why the Next Generation of DisplayLink Matters: Introducing the DisplayLink DL-7xxx Portfolio
As hybrid work, AI-enabled collaboration, and intelligent edge systems continue to evolve, the demands placed on connectivity and display technologies are changing rapidly. Customers are no longer looking for “just another dock controller.” They need scalable platforms that support high-resolution displays, advanced connectivity, embedded intelligence, and differentiated user experiences across both enterprise and embedded environments.
That is exactly why Synaptics created the new DisplayLink DL-7xxx family.
Built as the next evolution of DisplayLink technology, DL-7xxx reflects how DisplayLink is expanding beyond traditional docking into a broader connectivity platform. It is designed to help both established docking customers and emerging embedded solution providers deliver future-ready products with greater flexibility, performance, and differentiation.
Beyond Docking: A Platform Designed for the Future
For years, DisplayLink solutions have powered millions of enterprise docking stations and adapters worldwide. While the DL-6xxx series successfully addressed mainstream enterprise needs, the market is evolving quickly:
- Enterprises are deploying higher-resolution and higher-refresh-rate displays
- AI PCs and cloud workloads demand faster networking
- Embedded and edge systems increasingly require USB graphics and Ethernet convergence
- OEMs want customizable experiences and smarter device management
- The range of applications beyond traditional docking continues to grow
The DL-7xxx family was designed to address these evolving requirements while extending DisplayLink beyond traditional docking into a broader connectivity platform.
Key Innovations in the DL-7xxx Platform
The new DL-7xxx platform introduces major advancements across display capability, networking, customization, and embedded support.
Future-Ready Display Support
DL-7xxx supports:
- 8K60 displays
- 4K144 high-refresh displays
This enables customers to design products ready for premium productivity, creative workflows, digital signage, immersive collaboration, and next-generation visual computing.
In comparison, legacy solutions were primarily optimized for earlier-generation 4K deployments.
Faster Ethernet for Modern Workloads
Today’s enterprise and AI-enabled environments increasingly rely on higher-bandwidth connectivity. The DL-7xxx integrates 2.5Gbps Ethernet support, providing a significant upgrade over traditional 1Gbps solutions and helping customers better support:
- Enhanced connectivity for AI workloads
- Large file transfers
- Cloud collaboration
- Video conferencing
- Multi-user enterprise environments
Expanded Ingress Flexibility
One of the most important innovations in DL-7xxx is its ability to extend DisplayLink beyond traditional USB docking architectures.
The platform supports:
- USB SS+ connectivity
- Ethernet ingress
- Multi-source display architectures
This opens entirely new embedded and edge deployment models where display data can originate from:
- An SoC
- Ethernet-connected systems
- Edge compute platforms
- Embedded controllers
- Architectures without GPUs
Enhanced Customization and Device Management
DL-7xxx introduces new customization and device management capabilities that help OEMs create more differentiated, manageable, and user-friendly products.
Customizable Splash Screens
Unlike previous generations, DL-7xxx supports:
- Custom boot and informational splash screens
- Brand personalization
- Device status communication
- Driverless informational displays
This capability allows OEMs to create premium out-of-box experiences while also improving usability in managed enterprise and embedded deployments.
Dock Status API for Smarter Device Management
DL-7xxx includes a new Dock Status API that enables:
- Peripheral status monitoring
- External MCU communication
- Real-time dock information updates
- Integration into third-party management software
This creates opportunities for:
- Smart enterprise fleet management
- Meeting room monitoring
- Embedded device supervision
- Predictive maintenance systems
DL-6xxx vs DL-7xxx: What’s New?
| Feature | DL-6xxx | DL-7xxx |
| Video Support | Optimized for legacy 4K display deployments | Future-ready support for 8K60 and 4K144 displays |
| Ethernet | Standard 1Gbps Ethernet | High-speed 2.5Gbps Ethernet ideal for AI PCs and high-bandwidth workloads |
| Ingress Options | USB for docking, adapters, and monitors | USB SS+ for quad-display docking/adapters plus Ethernet ingress for signage, meeting rooms, embedded systems, and robotics |
| Custom Splash Screens | Not supported | Fully customizable splash screens for branding, user guidance, and driverless information display |
| HDR Support | Basic HDR image accuracy | Enhanced image quality with HDR10 support |
| Dock Status API | Not available | Real-time peripheral and dock status reporting with integration into external MCUs and third-party device management platforms |
| SDK Flexibility | Primarily enterprise docking focused | SDK optimized for both docking and embedded use cases, enabling pixel transport from virtually any SoC over USB or Ethernet |
| Embedded / Edge Applications | Limited embedded support | Purpose-built for robotics, meeting room systems, POS, thin clients, digital signage, and smart edge devices |
| Enterprise Differentiation | Standard docking functionality | Advanced customization, manageability, networking, and premium display capabilities |
| Future Readiness | Designed for previous-generation enterprise needs | Optimized for AI PCs, next-generation collaboration, intelligent edge systems, and premium multi-display environments |
Not Just for Docking: Unlocking New Embedded Opportunities
While DL-7xxx is a powerful enterprise docking solution, its true differentiation lies in enabling entirely new categories of embedded and edge products. The platform’s SDK and architecture allow pixels to be transported from virtually any SoC — even systems without dedicated GPUs — over USB or Ethernet to DisplayLink-enabled endpoints.
This flexibility creates opportunities across a range of markets:
Robotics and Industrial Automation
Modern robotics platforms increasingly require:
- Multiple displays
- Flexible HMI deployment
- Remote visualization
- Low-power graphics architectures
DL-7xxx enables robotics OEMs to:
- Drive multiple operator displays
- Extend visualization over Ethernet
- Simplify embedded graphics design
- Reduce GPU dependency
For industrial robotics and automation systems, this flexibility helps lower system complexity while enabling richer visual interfaces.
Meeting Room and Collaboration Solutions
Meeting spaces are becoming smarter and more connected.
DL-7xxx is ideal for:
- Room scheduling panels
- Wireless collaboration systems
- Conferencing hubs
- Multi-display meeting room controllers
- AI collaboration appliances
The customizable splash screens and Dock Status API provide additional differentiation opportunities for room system OEMs that want branded, manageable, enterprise-grade solutions.
Point of Sale (POS) Systems
Retail and hospitality systems increasingly require:
- Multiple customer-facing displays
- Digital signage integration
- Flexible networking
- Compact embedded compute architectures
DL-7xxx enables:
- Multi-display POS terminals
- Ethernet-based display connectivity
- Simplified thin embedded platforms
- Enhanced branding experiences
Retail OEMs can deliver more modern, visually rich systems while reducing hardware complexity.
Thin Clients and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
As VDI and cloud workspaces continue to grow, thin clients need:
- Higher display performance
- Multi-monitor support
- Efficient networking
- Lower power consumption
DL-7xxx helps thin client manufacturers deliver:
- High-resolution multi-monitor experiences
- 2.5Gb Ethernet connectivity
- GPU-efficient display expansion
- Simplified endpoint designs
This is especially important for enterprise deployments moving toward AI-enabled and cloud-first workflows.
Digital Signage and Smart Displays
DL-7xxx is also highly suited for:
- Networked signage players
- Smart kiosks
- Interactive displays
- Transportation displays
- Embedded information systems
The ability to transport pixels over Ethernet or USB creates new architectural flexibility for distributed display systems.
A Strategic Upgrade for Enterprise Docking Customers
For traditional docking OEMs, DL-7xxx provides a straightforward path to premium differentiation, enabling them to deliver:
- Higher display resolutions
- Faster networking
- Smarter device management
- Better branding experiences
- Improved connectivity for AI PCs
As enterprise users adopt higher refresh displays, AI workloads, and richer collaboration environments, DL-7xxx positions OEMs ahead of the next market transition.
The Bottom Line
The DisplayLink DL-7xxx family is not simply an incremental update to docking technology, but a platform designed to bridge enterprise docking with embedded computing, intelligent collaboration, and GPU-efficient display architectures.
The DL-7xxx provides the performance, flexibility, and differentiation needed to compete in the next generation of connected computing, whether you are building:
- Premium enterprise docks
- Robotics platforms
- Meeting room systems
- POS terminals
- Thin clients
- Digital signage appliances
With support for 8K displays, 2.5Gb Ethernet, customizable experiences, and embedded-ready SDK capabilities, DL-7xxx empowers OEMs to move beyond conventional docking and create entirely new classes of intelligent visual solutions.
The future of DisplayLink is no longer just about docking, but about enabling the next wave of connected experiences.