In the old days, laptops used to have lots of connectors and ports dotted along their sides. But recently , makers have slimmed down their devices even more and left no room for such things as an HDMI output or Ethernet socket.Indeed, more and more laptops (including Apple MacBooks and Dell’s XPS line) and tablets (such as Apple’s iPad Pro) use the latest USB-C connection standard—or its faster Thunderbolt 3 or 4 and USB4 siblings—because it’s small and versatile: the port can be used for a variety of things including connecting peripherals, displays and charging.But if you still need to connect non-USB-C devices or connections to your USB-C laptop or tablet you’ll need a USB-C hub or adapter. This will let you attach external hard drives, memory sticks, DVD drives, phone chargers, wired Gigabit Ethernet connections,
and external displays or a projector for meetings.An adapter usually just replaces one port, while a hub offers multiple ports. For more serious, but less portable, multiport solutions, look for a fully fledged USB-C docking station.Below the list of our favorites, we explain all the different ports you might require on the hub or adapter;
such as USB-A, USB-C, Gigabit Ethernet, SD and microSD card readers, HDMI, DisplayPort, power and audio.The great news is there is a wide choice of quality USB-C adapters and hubs now available at reasonable prices. Keep reading for all our recommendations as there should be the perfect USB-C hub or adapter here for you—from a simple USB- C to USB-A adapter, to hubs with up to 11 ports and adapter with multiple video connections.Ugreen Revodok Pro 11-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best USB-C hub for 8K display (Windows)This hub from Ugreen is similar to the Plugable USB-=C 11-in-1 Hub, with 11 ports and dual 4K display support at 60Hz.It beats the Plugable hub on data-transfer speed (10Gbps compared to 5Gbps) and is more compact.It only loses the battle on price—$109 vs $79.
If the speedier data rates appeal, then it’s worth spending the extra, and look out for deals in our price comparison above links.It features two HDMI ports that can support dual 4K external monitors at 60Hz for Windows laptops, but, like the Plugable and Ugreen 13-in-1 Hub, only one or two Mac displays that are Mirrored rather than Extended.
The USB ports (1x USB-C and 3x USB-A) are rated at 10Gbps, which is a definite plus point over Plugable. There’s Gigabit Ethernet and SD and MicroSD card readers (only UHS-I rather than faster UHS-II).
Hyperdrive Dual 4K HDMI 10-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best USB-C hub for dual HDMI (Mac
)If you don’t want to pay for a full docking station but require more than one external display, this 10-port hub is as close as you’ll get to a portable dock that supports two monitors. Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is another but will require adapters to connect the displays to its Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Owners of Apple’s plain M1 or M2 MacBooks will be delighted that this hub gets past the MacBook’s one-display limitation via some smart InstantView software.Windows users, however, might find better value with Plugable’s Apple’s plain M1 or M2 MacBooks cheaper USB-C 11-in-1 Hub, which is not as great for Mac users owing to it not offering two Extended displays with a Mac.
There are one USB-C and two USB-A ports, all at a decent if not super-fast 5Gbps, and a further USB-C port that can passthrough power to the connected devices at 100W (85W to the laptop).Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-I SD and MicroSD card readers and a combo audio port complete the impressive 10 ports on offer.Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter – Best USB-C adapter with SSD enclosureThe Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter isn’t just a 4-port USB-C hub. Its hidden secret is its enclosure that allows you to add SSD storage to boost memory space, backup data, and transfer files at 5Gbps, without taking up an additional USB-C port.
Of course, you can add an SSD drive to most USB-C hubs but this one allows you to carry just one gadget around with you, as the SSD fits inside the adapter. It supports SATA M.2 SSD only (no SSD is included in the price).There is a 100W USB-C PD charging port (15W is required to run the hub itself), and an impressive 4K 60Hz HDMI display output to connect a single external monitor. The two USB-A 3.1 ports support fast data transfer at up to 10Gbps.
Hyperdrive 7-in-1 USB-C Hub Stand – Best combo USB-C hub and laptop standThis clever hybrid device is both a laptop stand and a 7-port USB-C hub.
It may be all you need to carry around with you when traveling and works just as well sat in the home or office.The portable stand is lightweight and collapsible, raising a laptop (up to 17in) to a healthier viewing angle, with five ergonomic settings.Along one side are the six built-in ports, and a USB-C PD (100W) to keep your laptop charged via the integrated cable.There are one 5Gbps USB-C port, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 4K 30Hz HDMI video port, and SD and microSD card readers (104MBps UHS-I).Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – Best Thunderbolt 4 hubBackwards compatible and foreseeable-future-proof, Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is great for modern laptops that can feel the benefits of the latest connectivity standard. As such, it’s the ultimate USB-C hub.It boasts four 40GBps Thunderbolt 4 ports (compatible with USB-C,
Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4) plus four 10Gbps USB-A ports. One of the TB4 ports is upstream, so connects to the computer; the other three are downstream for connecting other devices.Power delivery to external devices is more impressive than other hubs reviewed here, up to 15W on the Thunderbolt ports.You can use the TB4 ports to add external USB-C displays or, with a USB-C display adapter, to multiple HDMI or DisplayPort monitors—as well as other devices, all at top speeds. When connected to a Thunderbolt computer the Element Hub can add a monitor up to 8K resolution, or dual 4K 60Hz monitors.If you need wired Internet access, you can add a USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet adapter.Read our full Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub review
Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub – Best USB-C hub for multiple USB-CLaptops often have just two USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, so some users will yearn for more of the modern connectors.Satechi’s well-named 4-Port USB-C Hub boasts four USB-C,
which will at least double most laptops’ port count and help add Type-C SSD drives, flash drives, and other peripherals.The USB-C is rated at 5Gbps.The 7-port EZQuest USB-C Gen 2 Hub reviewed later is more expensive but includes 4x USB-C ports and 3x USB-A ports, plus 100W passthrough charging.Ugreen USB-C to 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub – Best USB-C hub for old-school USB portsIf all you need is a bunch of older,
standard USB-A ports to add a phone charging cable, memory stick or external hard drive, then you won’t need a more versatile hub—just an Laptop Adapter with a row of USB 3.0 ports .There are plenty of these about, but for a quality brand take a look at the Ugreen USB-C to 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub, which is inexpensive and ultra-portable.It has four USB 3.0 ports, and even a 12W micro-USB power port for extra power supply for devices that require it—although this is weak and nowhere near enough to charge a laptop!Even with this handy extra, you should really just consider most of the four ports for data transfer rather than powered devices.
There’s no HDMI, no extra USB-C port for passthrough charging, no memory card slots or Gigabit Ethernet. But who cares: you just want a few old-style USB ports, and this has enough to satisfy the most ardent accessory fan.
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