This^ Also, I learned the hard way after my old hub MELTED: 1. OWC Thunderbolt Go Dock Basically, getting an integrated power supply prevents the overheating issues you're seeing!

I've used both and for your situation:
1. Caldigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock - 98W/super stable but pricey.
2. Anker 575 USB-C Docking Station (13-in-1) - solid 85W budget pick.
basically what u need... gl!

Re: "To add to the point above: looking at the actual controller specs..." - thats definitely the move. Honestly, seeing people struggle with cheap hubs dropping signal during calls is rough. You've already got some solid high-end suggestions from the thread, but if you want to avoid the "melted plastic" vibe without necessarily dropping enterprise-level cash, I've had good luck keeping things stable with these:

• Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station
• Built like a tank and keeps thermals way down compared to the small dongles.
• Plugable Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 Hub
• This is a great alternative if you dont need the massive port count but want absolute rock-solid stability for dual monitors. Basically, the ones with external power bricks win every time because the hub isnt trying to pull all that wattage through your laptop port, which is why those cheaper USB-C ones overheat. Using a stand to give the unit some airflow is a pro move too, regardless of what you pick. Hope you get it sorted!

tbh if you're serious about the reliability aspect and dont want your stuff to melt you should really just look at the raw data instead of anecdotes. i saw this massive breakdown on youtube a while back where they actually measured the thermal throttling on these controllers during 85w passthrough... just search like usb c hub stress test 4k60 on there and it should be the top result. or honestly just head over to the r/UsbC subreddit. they have a huge community spreadsheet that lists every controller chipset and power delivery spec for basically every hub on the market. its way more accurate than just asking here since they have actual data on which ones fail after a few months under heavy loads. just look for the pinned posts there.

To add to the point above: looking at the actual controller specs is usually where you find the answer to those disconnect issues. If you want something that wont fail under load, these are two very reliable picks:

• Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Dock
• This one provides 96W power delivery and handles dual 4K60 easily. The aluminum casing is basically a giant heatsink, so it stays much cooler than those plastic dongles.
• Dell WD22TB4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
• This is pretty much the corporate standard. It has a modular design where the cable assembly can be replaced, and it delivers up to 130W for Dell machines or 90W for others. It is way more stable for long video calls. For more data, I highly recommend checking out Dan S. Charltons blog. He does incredibly detailed teardowns and compatibility charts for almost every dock on the market. Usually, opting for a Thunderbolt 4 dock over a basic USB-C hub is the only way to truly guarantee that 4K60 stability without the overheating mess.

Honestly, after losing a laptop port to a cheap hub that shorted out, I stopped messing around with anything that wasnt industrial grade. The thermal management on those budget dongles is basically non-existent. I switched over to the Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Docking Station a while ago and it has been rock solid for my daily 4K workflow. It handles the power delivery without getting that scary hot-to-the-touch feeling because the casing is designed to dissipate heat properly. If you need something that just works every time you plug in, look into the Lenovo ThinkPad Universal Thunderbolt 4 Dock. I use one at my office and the ethernet stability is worlds better than those generic dongles that drop signal during zoom calls. It stays cool under load and hasn't disconnected once, even with dual monitors and a ton of peripherals plugged in. Definitely worth the investment if you value your hardware.

Sooo I'm kinda new to this but I've been looking for budget options that wont melt! For your situation, I'd suggest: 1. Baseus 17-in-1 USB C Docking Station — it’s amazing for the price and realy handles dual 4K setups well!
2. Ugreen Revodok Pro 311 11-in-1 USB C Hub — super stable for Ethernet... Just be careful with the heat and maybe get a small stand for it? Honestly, good luck!!

Same here!