Plugable USBC-E2500 USB-A/USB-C to 2.5GbE Gigabit Ethernet Adapter

Faster Than Gigabit

Double the performance of a traditional Gigabit Ethernet adapter when used with switches or routers capable of 2.5Gbps. Actual speed may be affected by internet service provider, network, Ethernet cable speed, and host system

Keep USB Universal

Hybrid 2-in-1 cable converts from USB-C to USB-A so you always have the right connection (USB 3.0 required for full performance)

Use Existing Cabling

Upgrade your network without updating your cables. 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet signals are designed to work on Cat 5e cabling, just pair your USB Ethernet Adapter with 2.5Gbps-capable switches/routers

OS Compatibility

Works with Windows, macOS, and Linux Kernel 3.2 and above. Driver download required on legacy macOS 10.15 and older. Device performance may be limited by internet service provider, network and Ethernet cable speed, and host system

The Plugable 2.5Gbps USB to Ethernet Adapter (USBC-E2500) is for users looking to move beyond Gigabit Ethernet speeds. With USBC-E2500, you can leverage existing Cat 5e Ethernet cables and use less-costly switches to more than double the performance of your local network, compared to traditional Gigabit Ethernet. The adapter comes with a Hybrid 2-in1 connection that converts from USB-C to USB-A, so you always have the right connection.

Some common uses include

Adding wired 2.5 Gigabit network support to Windows desktops, iPhone 15 / Pro / Pro Max, Ultrabooks, 2-in-1s, tablets, or notebooks – as well as Mac and Linux systems

• Replacing or upgrading network adapters for your computer
• USB network adapters can improve transfer speeds compared to 10/100/1000 adapters, and most wireless networks
• Adding additional network interfaces, and transferring files peer-to-peer over Ethernet

Please note, this adapter is not a solution for connecting USB devices like printers, hard drives, etc to a network. This adapter cannot be used to share Ethernet, WiFi, or mobile data between multiple devices.

More Than Double Performance

Plug into any laptop or desktop currently limited to 10/100/1000 Ethernet – or no Ethernet at all – and benefit from faster transfers on your 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet network. (Also works on 10/100/1000 Ethernet networks at their native speeds.) USB 3.0 systems support theoretical maximum transfer speeds up to 5Gbps and USB 2.0 supports up to 480Mbps.

Note: When accessing sites on the internet, the bandwidth provided by your internet service provider will likely determine your ultimate speeds. Testing in the Plugable lab using the iPerf application on a local server has yielded speeds up to 2.37Gbps. However, speeds will depend on the capabilities of your host system and other network devices.

Multi-Platform Convenience

Quickly and easily add Ethernet connectivity, with performance up to 2.5Gbps to virtually any Mac, Windows, iPhone 15, or Linux PC. Use either USB-C or USB 3.0 to connect, and connect instantly with built-in drivers on current versions of major operating systems.

• Compatible with:

USB 3.0

Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4

Note: Older versions of Windows, Linux, and macOS may require a driver download for the adapter to function. Older macOS versions will have limited functionality (1Gbps link rate, no jumbo frame support) until the driver is updated through separate install.

Universal Compatibility

Compatible with Windows, macOS, iPhone 15, Linux, and Chrome OS, USB-C (5Gbps), USB 3.0, and Thunderbolt 3 Systems.

• Microsoft Windows 11, 10, 8.x, and 7
• macOS 10.7 and above
• iPhone iOS 17+ with USB-C (iPhone 15 / Pro / Pro Max)
• Linux kernel 3.2 and above (basic support, install driver or update to 5.x kernel for full support)
• Supported on up-to-date Chrome OS systems
• Not compatible with:
• ARM-based Windows RT and Windows Mobile
• Most Android devices, TiVo Series 2, Wii, or other non-PC/Mac platforms
• Nintendo Switch
• Not recommended for use with FreeBSD or pfSense

Technical Specifications

Inside the adapter is a Realtek RTL8156B chipset for fast 10/100/1000/2500Mbit network speeds and with all Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, and 2.0 hosts. (USB 2.0 will limit the performance of the adapter.)

Drivers built into Windows 11, 10, 8.x, 7, macOS 10.7 and above, iPhone 15 / Pro / Pro Max, and Linux kernel 3.2 and above.

In the Box

• USB 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter with attached USB-C to USB-A adapter
• Quick Install Guide