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A USB hub serves as a hub of connectivity, allowing you to charge multiple devices, sync data, and connect various peripherals seamlessly. It's a digital workhorse that simplifies your tech routine and optimises device management.
These USB hubs come in various forms, tailored to specific needs. Some are compact and portable, perfect for those always on the move, while others are high-speed powerhouses built for demanding tasks. They vary in size, speed, and features, offering a wide range of options to cater to your unique requirements.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll take you on a journey through the world of USB hubs. We've carefully curated a selection of top options available online, each with its own set of unique features and advantages. These hubs are more than mere accessories; they're digital companions, designed to simplify your life and enhance your device management.
We'll look at their features, benefits, and real-world applications, helping you discover the perfect USB hub for laptop to seamlessly integrate with your digital lifestyle.
The Portronics Mport 31 USB Hub is like having four extra USB ports in one. With a super-speedy USB 3.0 for quick data transfers and three USB 2.0 ports, it makes multitasking a breeze. You can connect a variety of devices, from keyboards to mouse, and it even comes with a 1-year warranty for peace of mind. If you need more USB ports for your laptop or PC, this hub has you covered!
Brand: Portronics
Colour: Grey
Hardware Interface: USB
Compatible Devices: Tablets, Laptops, Desktops
Total USB Ports: 4
ProsConsEasy multitasking with four USB portsMore USB ports could be betterSpeedy USB 3.0 for lightning-fast data transfers
The Zebronics ZEB-90HB USB Hub is a handy device for expanding your connectivity options. With four USB 2.0 ports and a 50 cm cable, it's compatible with laptops, PCs, and MacBooks. Its pocket-sized design makes it perfect for on-the-go use. While it offers convenience and plug-and-play functionality, it's worth noting that it operates at USB 2.0 speeds, limiting its data transfer capabilities. Nonetheless, it's a practical accessory for those needing extra USB ports while travelling.
Brand: Zebronics
Colour: Black
Hardware Interface: USB
Special Feature: Plug and Play
Compatible Devices: Laptops, Desktops
ProsConsExpands your device connectivity with four USB portsLimited to USB 2.0 speeds, not suitable for high-speed data transfersPlug-and-play functionality for hassle-free use
The Quantum 4 Port USB Hub (QHM7532) is your productivity companion, offering seamless connectivity for multiple devices. This 4-in-1 USB hub includes one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports, allowing you to connect up to four USB devices simultaneously. The USB 3.0 slot offers lightning-fast data transfers at 5Gbps, ideal for quick file sharing. It's compatible with a range of devices like keyboards, mouse, pen drives, and more. Plus, it comes with a 1-year manufacturer's warranty for added peace of mind.
Specifications:
Brand: Quantum
Colour: Black
Hardware Interface: USB, USB 3.0, USB 2.0
Special Feature: Plug and Play
Compatible Devices: Mouse, Gaming Consoles, Keyboards, Laptops, Desktops
ProsConsUSB 3.0 slot for high-speed data transfersLimited to one USB 3.0 portWide compatibility with various USB devices
The Lemorele USB-C Docking Station is a versatile 10-in-1 hub designed to elevate your connectivity experience. With features like Gigabit Ethernet, 4K HDMI output, 100W PD fast charging, and multiple USB ports, it's a powerhouse for productivity. This plug-and-play hub is compact and offers strong heat dissipation, making it portable and safe for file transfer and storage. Its wide compatibility extends to various devices and systems, making it a valuable accessory for MacBook users and more.
Brand: Lemorele
Hardware Interface: USB Type C, USB 3.0, USB 2.0
Compatible Devices: MacBook, USB Flash Drives, Projectors, Mouse, Keyboards, Monitors, Laptops, Televisions, Desktops
Total USB Ports: 4
Number of Ports: 10
Wattage: 100 Watts
ProsConsVersatile 10-in-1 hub with multiple connectivity optionsSome users may need to install drivers for Windows compatibility4K HDMI output for immersive display experiences
The Amazon Basics USB-C Hub Dock is a versatile 7-in-1 adapter designed to expand your connectivity options. With features like a 4K HDMI output, SD and TF card readers, USB ports, and power delivery, it's a valuable addition to your tech setup. The HDMI port supports stunning 4K UHD, offering both extend and mirror modes for enhanced productivity. Plus, it's plug-and-play, making installation a breeze. This hub is a convenient solution for connecting multiple USB peripheral devices and charging your Mac using the USB-C port.
Brand: Amazon Basics
Hardware Interface: USB, USB Type C
Special Feature: Plug and Play
Compatible Devices: MP3 Players, Projectors, Mouse, Keyboards, Monitors, Card Readers, Printers
Total USB Ports: 7
ProsConsVersatile 7-in-1 hub with various connectivity optionsNone4K HDMI output for high-quality visuals
The Quantum QHM6633 4-Port Hi-Speed USB Hub is a handy accessory for expanding your device connectivity. With ultra-high-speed USB 2.0 capabilities and ACPI compliance, it's perfect for laptops and desktops. The ergonomic design makes it easily portable, and it comes in three attractive colours: Red, Black, or White. This hub is truly plug-and-play, compatible with various operating systems, and offers a network speed of 480 Mbps. It's a reliable choice for users seeking extra USB ports.
Brand: Quantum
Colour: Multicolour
Hardware Interface: USB
Special Feature: 4-Port ultra high-speed USB Hub
Compatible Devices: Laptops, Desktops
ProsConsUltra-high-speed USB 2.0 hub with ACPI complianceNonePlug-and-play compatibility with various operating systems
A multifunctional device, the TP-Link UH400 USB 3.0 4-Port Portable Data Hub speeds up data transfer with its lightning-fast USB 3.0 technology. Its portable design makes it perfect for use while travelling. It allows multiple connections at once thanks to its four USB 3.0 ports. Its convenience is increased by the built-in USB cable, and there are no drivers needed for setup. It excels in portability and speed but lacks cutting-edge features and is incompatible with earlier USB versions.
Data Transfer Speed: USB 3.0
Ports: 4 USB 3.0, 1 USB 3.0 Type-A Input
Chipset: VIA VL812 with Latest Firmware
ProsConsRapid data transferLimited compatibility with older USB versionsBuilt-in cable
The Wavlink Powered USB Hub 3.0 with 7 ports offers lightning-fast data transfers at up to 5Gbps, making it a must-have for quick file sharing. It's not just about data; this hub also delivers BC 1.2 charging with 2.4 Amps for your devices. With wide compatibility and a sturdy build, it's ideal for expanding your connectivity options. Each port has an individual on/off switch, a great feature for convenience. While it excels in speed and convenience, some might find the design a bit bulky.
Data Transfer Speed: USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
Ports: 7 USB 3.0
Charging: BC 1.2 up to 2.4 Amps
ProsConsHigh-speed data transferBulky designBC 1.2 charging support
Your tech arsenal will benefit greatly from the Belkin USB-C 6-in-1 Hub Adapter. It provides seamless connectivity and supports both Windows and macOS USB-C devices. USB-C, HDMI (4K 30Hz), USB-A 3.0 and 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and an SD card slot are all included in the hub. The device boasts a 5Gbps data transfer rate and supports pass-through charging up to 60W. Hard drives, monitors, and other devices can all be connected.
Ports: 1 x USB-A 3.0, 1 x USB-A 2.0, 1 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI (4K 30Hz), 1 Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x SD card
Power Delivery: Up to 60W
Data Transfer Rate: 5Gbps
ProsConsWide range of portsLimited total USB portsHigh speed data transfer
Tukzer's 12-in-1 USB C Hub Dock MST is a powerhouse of connectivity. With HDMI, VGA, USB-A 3.0, USB-C 3.0, Ethernet, SD/TF card slots, and more, it's an ideal companion for work and travel. The hub supports 100W PD fast charging and lightning-fast data transfer at 5 Gbps. It even enables dual displays with impressive resolutions and boasts a 3.5mm audio jack for quality sound.
Ports: HDMI, VGA, USB-A 3.0 (x3), USB-C 3.0 (x2), RJ45 Ethernet, SD/TF card slots, 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C PD-IN
Data Transfer Speed: Up to 5Gbps
Ethernet: 1000 Mbps
ProsConsExtensive range of portsMay require driver installation for some featuresDual display support
The Portronics Mport 31 USB Hub offers the best value for money with its combination of a high-speed USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports. Its compact and portable design makes it ideal for on-the-go use, and the plug-and-play functionality ensures convenience without the need for drivers. It's an affordable solution for expanding your device's connectivity options.
The Lemorele USB-C Docking Station stands out as the best overall product due to its versatility and comprehensive features. With support for dual displays at 4K resolution, 100W Power Delivery, Gigabit Ethernet, and multiple USB ports, it caters to a wide range of needs. Its compact design adds to its appeal, making it suitable for both work and travel.
To find the right USB hub, consider your specific needs. Determine the number and type of ports you require, such as USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, or Ethernet. Assess the hub's compatibility with your devices and operating systems. Check for features like high-speed data transfer, Power Delivery, and plug-and-play functionality. Portability may also be a factor if you're frequently on the move. Read user reviews and compare prices to ensure you get the best value. Ultimately, the right USB hub should align with your connectivity demands and offer reliable performance.
FAQs
Question : What is a USB hub, and how does it work?
Ans : A USB hub is a device that expands the number of USB ports on a computer or laptop. It works by connecting to a single USB port on your computer and providing multiple additional ports for connecting various USB devices simultaneously.
Question : Can I use a USB hub with different types of USB devices?
Ans : Yes, most USB hubs support a variety of USB devices, including USB-A and USB-C. However, it's essential to ensure that the hub you choose is compatible with the devices you plan to connect.
Question : Do USB hubs require external power sources?
Ans : USB hubs often come in both powered and unpowered (bus-powered) versions. Powered hubs have their power source, making them suitable for high-power devices like external hard drives. Unpowered hubs draw power from the host device and are best for low-power peripherals like keyboards and mice.
Question : What are the advantages of using a USB hub?
Ans : USB hubs provide several advantages, including expanding the number of available USB ports, simplifying cable management, and enabling you to connect multiple devices, such as external hard drives, keyboards, mice, and more, to your computer simultaneously.
Question : Are USB hubs compatible with Mac and Windows devices?
Ans : USB hubs are generally compatible with both Mac and Windows devices. However, it's advisable to check the hub's specifications and compatibility information to ensure it works seamlessly with your operating system.
Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
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The best USB-C hubs and dongles answer the question: How do I connect printers, mice, and keyboards to my laptop if it doesn’t have a rectangular USB-A port?
A good USB-C hub or dongle is relatively cheap, but adds a smorgasbord of additional ports for memory sticks, cards, display connections, and more. Our recommendations dive into the benefits of each dongle, which we’ve tested and reviewed in all cases.
We’ve organized our USB-C recommendations this way: traditional USB-C hubs on top, followed by our picks for the best USB-C docking stations. USB-C ports can conceal even more capabilities, and one of the more recent innovations has been the emergence of DisplayLink docks, which use a special compression chip to push more data over the connection. More advanced features lie within the best Thunderbolt docks, which we’ve listed separately.
It can all be a little confusing, so we’ve included an expanded FAQ and a buying guide at the bottom. Here’s the short answer: If you want to connect your laptop to a printer, an SD card or microSD card, mouse, keyboard, or legacy 1080p monitor, stick with a 10Gbps USB-C hub. If you want to add a pair of additional displays (especially 4K), or high-speed SSD drives, we’d recommend you look at our list of 10Gbps DisplayLink docks at the bottom of this page or 40Gbps Thunderbolt docking stations. Generally, the larger, powered docks offer more features, but that may change.
A USB-C hub connects to the USB-C port on the side of your laptop. In this example, the left port is used for charging, so you’d need to buy a USB-C hub with a charging input to use with this slot. (Of course, you could also buy a hub without charging capabilities and use it in the other USB-C port, to the right of the charging port.)
We frequently review new products, but they don’t always deliver enough to make it to this list of recommended USB-C hubs. StarTech’s USB-C Triple Monitor Hub, which we reviewed in late October, didn’t quite make the cut, largely because of the strength of the competition.
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
$39.99
Best Prices Today:
Can a USB-C hub feel elegant? This one does. Anker’s 7-in-1 USB-C hub feels surprisingly weighty (3.5 ounces), with a premium metallic (aluminum and polycarbonate) sheen. It’s also a bit more expensive than its rivals. Anker’s hub was among the coolest we’ve tested under load, at about 87 degrees.
Overall, Anker’s hub is well designed, with adequate spacing between the two 5Gbps USB-A ports. There’s also a 5Gbps USB-C connection for data, plus a second USB-C port for power input at up to 85W rated. (The charger allows up to 100W in, but supplies 85W.) An HDMI port allows for 4K/30Hz video or 1080p/60Hz video to a single external display, standard for the category. Ethernet is excluded, however, so you’ll need to use Wi-Fi instead. Cord length is about 8.5 inches, above the standard 6-inch length.
Anker’s hub was among the fastest we tested to deliver data under load, including simultaneous data transfer between USB-A ports while the SD ports were active. The hub offers an 18-month warranty, and it even ships with a carrying pouch.
We recommend not buying the more expensive $79.99 Anker 8-in-1 Hub on Amazon unless you’re happy connecting to two 1080p (and not 4K) displays…which is perfectly fine. Otherwise, the two HDMI ports will only support two 4K displays at an eye-wearying 30Hz, not 60Hz.
Pros
Cons
Yeolibo may not be a name you recognize, but this USB-C hub is impressively detailed, with a small but extremely informative manual, clearly labeled ports, and well-rounded functionality.
This hub offers three USB 3.0 (5Gb/s) Type A ports, one USB 2.0 Type A port, a USB-C (5Gb/s) port, a USB-C PD charging port rated at 100W of input power, and an HDMI port. There are also microSD and SD slots capable of SDXC cards up to 2TB and SDR25 (25MB/s) data rates. There’s no ethernet connection. The USB-C cable measures a comfortable six inches, though the connector at the end was a little stiff and took some fiddling to insert.
We didn’t have a 100W USB-C charger on hand to test, but the hub accepted 62.5W from our 65W USB-C charger. It stayed cool throughout. The hub played back protected content via its HDMI port, as expected, but dropped more frames than we hoped for when playing back 4K content over YouTube. (Only 4K30 resolutions are supported, but that’s not unusual.)
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
$59.99
Best Prices Today:
Lasuney’s 10-in-1 hub (two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, two HDMI 1.2 ports (4K@30Hz), DisplayPort gigabit ethernet, microSD/SD, USB-C power input) offers a lot for your money, including an unusual mix of not one, but two HDMI ports, and even a DisplayPort. Thanks to ethernet support, the hub can replace many of your wired connections. Power input is rated at 100W in, with about 87W available to the laptop.
But the USB-C bus the hub runs on top of simply won’t support all of the ports being used at once, which is a bit of a gotcha. While we really like the pair of HDMI ports for dual-display configurations, the fact is, you’ll probably need to limit yourself to a pair of 1080p displays to avoid saturating the bus and slowing down the connection. Customers on Amazon have reported that they only got one to work, probably because the bus itself was saturated. The other problem we found is that the SD card slot is way too slow. It took twice as long to transfer data compared to other hubs we tested. In all fairness, our other disk-to-disk tests took about the same amount of time.
Lasuney’s hub is well made, with good port spacing. It doesn’t get uncomfortably warm, either. Just be realistic: We really like the flexibility that the Lasuney hub offers, but don’t buy it thinking you’ll be able to use everything at once. If you need that capability, look at one of the more expensive USB-C docking stations, below.
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
$189.99
Best Prices Today:
Recent laptops have begun offering a USB-C technology called HBR3 with DSC, which we’ll explain more fully in the sections following our recommendations. The bottom line is that the technology offers something similar to the DisplayLink technology below, but as an industry standard. In our experience, although the technology is somewhat supported in laptops with 11th-gen Core processors, it works best in 12th- or 13th-gen laptops.
This slim plastic dock measures a hair over 6 inches wide and about 3 inches deep. It lacks a stand, and warms rather sharply under load. But it packs a pair of HDMI ports on the rear, four 5Gbps USB-A ports on the back, as well as gigabit ethernet. The USB-C cable, measuring about 2.5 feet, snakes out from the side of the dock. (CA’s manual and documentation is lousy, by the way, so we’re not quite clear what HDMI port technology it uses.) On the front is another USB Type A port and a USB-C port, too.
The latter USB-C port can be used to charge your smartphone, as it puts out 6.7W of charging power, or enough to fast-charge a smartphone. Otherwise, this is a powered dock, and it will supply 90W of charging power to your laptop, too.
Read our full Cyber Acoustics DS-1000 Essential Laptop Docking Station review
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
$159.99
Best Prices Today:
Part of me loves the sheer nerdiness of the Dockcase 10-in-1 Dock, if only because I’ve never seen anything like it in terms of the information it offers.
Not only is the hub larger than most, with multiple external connectors that designate a premium hub, but there’s an actual display: a small LCD screen that provides a detailed look at what devices are connected to each port and what their capabilities are. Put another way, the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 feels more like an OBD2 diagnostic device for your car, or a USB multimeter.
As a dock, it’s excellent. As a tool, it can use some improvement: The interface is extremely clunky, and Dockcase really doesn’t even have a manual that explains it all.
Read our full Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition review
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
$41.99
Best Prices Today:
At 2.8 x 0.31 x 1.22 inches, IOgear’s Travel Pro Mini Dock is an odd duck: an inexpensive, relatively tiny USB-C dock that plugs directly into your laptop, without a connecting cord.
“There’s no way this will work,” you might think—but it does, with just enough room for your laptop’s USB-C charger to sneak in one side of the dock, next to an HDMI cord, then a USB key or cord, and a 3.5mm jack. (The Mini Dock supports up to 60W of power in from an external charger.)
That’s fine, of course, if your laptop’s USB-C port is all by its lonesome. Otherwise, the Travel Pro Mini Dock will block ports as it tries to offer expansion capabilities—and that’s a problem for laptops like the Asus ZenBook, which forego a 3.5mm headphone jack but cram their USB-C ports too close together to make IOgear’s dock feasible.
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
$199.99
Best Prices Today:
This is our top pick for an upgraded DisplayLink dock, which has its own pros and cons—slightly more expensive than a USB-C docking station, but more features, too.
Ugreen’s 9-in-1 USB-C docking station is typical of the brand: quality design and manufacture, obtuse naming, and pricing that seems to vary from one vendor to the next. But this DisplayLink dock offers an excellent mix of port flexibility at a solid price. There is one catch: It lacks any power input at all, and you’ll need to use your laptop’s USB-C power supply (or buy one) to charge both this dock and the laptop itself.
At about $139 MSRP, however, the price is absolutely right for a DisplayLink docking station. Just don’t forget your smartphone charger.
Read our full Ugreen 9-in-1 USB-C (Revodok) Docking Station CM615 review
Pros
Cons
Price When Reviewed:
239.99
Best Prices Today:
Sonnet’s Echo 13 Triple 4K Display Dock’s built-in compression means you can connect to three 4K displays, without penalty. And yes, it works as advertised, though with one issue that holds it back: spotty audio that really needs to be fixed. (If you use your laptop’s headphone jack, there’s no issue.) But this DisplayLink dock gets it done.
There was a tiny bit of instability, but performance was excellent. If this dock doesn’t suit you, Plugable’s UD-650PDZ offes triple-display alternative. The advantage Sonnet provides is a front-mounted USB-C charging/data port (Plugable’s dock does not) and a SD card slot.
Read our full Sonnet Echo 13 Triple 4K Display Dock review
Here’s where to start: Take a look at the peripherals you own, or plan to buy. Do you have an old external hard drive that uses a traditional USB-A cable? Do you manually back up photos from an SLR via its SD card? Or is your Wi-Fi connection unreliable enough that you’d prefer ethernet? Figure out what ports you’ll need. This advice is also for Windows users; Macs have their own limitations on USB-C connections.
This laptop has several USB-C ports, but if yours has just one, you’ll want to daisy-chain the laptop’s power cord by plugging it directly into the hub, like so.
It’s also important to take stock of your laptop or tablet’s ports: Does it have one USB-C port or two? If your device only has one port, is there a separate charging connection? If your laptop or tablet has a USB-C port and uses it exclusively for charging, you’ll want to buy a USB-C hub with a dedicated charging input port. (In this case, it’s also possible that only the charging port on the hub will work, though this isn’t typical.) Note how much input power it allows, and confirm that will be sufficient for your laptop. Otherwise, you’ll be forced to choose between charging your laptop and accessing other devices, which makes little sense.
Recently, we’ve begun to see more displays include a USB-C port as well as HDMI and DisplayPort inputs. This is a positive sign (kind of) in that your monitor may be able to eliminate the need for a USB-C hub.
This has a couple of wrinkles. First, monitor ports have never been the most accessible, and trying to find the right port on the back of a big, clunky display isn’t fun. You may find want to invest in a cheap USB-C hub just to avoid the hassle.
Second, that monitor’s USB-C port may actually be a video input — so instead of connecting an HDMI cable between your PC and the display, you can simply run a USB-C to USB-C cable and accomplish the same thing. How do you know to do that? First, check out our roundup of the best USB-C displays, then read it carefully. We distinguish between the two to help you out.
Keep in mind that the hub’s power port is for taking power in to your laptop, and not out to a phone. But your hub may still be able to charge your phone, with some caveats. A “bus-powered” USB hub connects to your laptop and pulls power from it, which it has share with several devices—and it won’t do it that well.
Some docks will include a USB-C port whose only purpose is to accept your laptop’s USB-C charger. That port will power your laptop as well as any ports connected to it. These devices will make more power available for fast charging your phone. (Your hub probably won’t enable specialized charging like the Samsung Galaxy S20’s Super Fast Charging, however, even if you use the supplied Samsung cable. You’ll still need to connect your phone to its charger for that.)
A USB-C port on your laptop can either run at 5Gbps or 10Gbps, with the latter being almost ubiquitous these days. That’s plenty of bandwidth for a printer, a mouse, a keyboard, or a hard drive, even all at once. Products like displays, ethernet, and high-speed SSDs gobble up that bandwidth, however.
We find that the display technologies tend to have the most influence over what you should buy. If you simply want to connect to an external 1080p display—or two—a USB-C dongle should work fine, provided that the dongle has the available ports. It’s certainly the cheapest option. Once you start trying to connect to one or two 1440p or 4K displays, however, you may find that you’ll want to consider options like the USB-C docking stations. You can get around this, in part. Instead of plugging your ethernet cable into the USB-C dongle, you can use a separate Wi-Fi connection, for example.
Traditionally, the only other alternative was a Thunderbolt dock. Provided your laptop had a Thunderbolt port, Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps bandwidth allows for two 4K displays, running at 60Hz, plus various peripherals. (You can use a USB-C dock even if you have a Thunderbolt port, by the way.) USB4, a similar technology, is basically the same as Thunderbolt for your purposes.
Now, there are also two intermediary technologies to choose from: a DisplayLink USB-C dock, and a USB-C dock that takes advantage of something called HBR3 and DSC.
DisplayLink, owned by Synaptics, uses software compression between your laptop and the dock to approximate a Thunderbolt experience over a generic USB-C connection. It requires a software driver, but our experience is that it’s an excellent choice for office work, but not gaming. However, until recently, prices of DisplayLink docks haven’t been where we think that they should be: in the $150 range.
HBR3 with Display Compression (HBR3 with DSC) is essentially an industry standard version of DisplayLink. The problem? The technology hasn’t been widely publicized, let alone supported. Our experience has been that docks that support HBR3 work well with laptops using 12th-gen Core processors on up. Laptops with a 10th-gen Core chip inside them aren’t supported, and 11th-gen Core laptops are iffy. If you own a 12th-gen Core laptop, especially a member of Intel’s premium Evo brand, you stand a good chance of success. Otherwise, don’t bother. (We haven’t tested with laptops that use an AMD Ryzen chip.)
Thunderbolt cables and ports include the little lightning-bolt icon, which differentiates them from the otherwise unmarked USB-C cables.
Because USB-C is common among Macs, Windows PCs, and phones, some hubs align their branding with a particular platform. Go ahead and use that USB-C that’s billed as being “for MacBook Pro, Chromebook, and XPS” with any Windows PC—we did, and it works just fine. You won’t need any special software or drivers.
We used bus-powered peripherals to test each hub: an SSD, a hard drive, and a rewriteable DVD drive, all to make sure enough power was being delivered. We also ran speed tests on those hubs with ethernet connections, just to detect any anomalous results. We performed spot checks with other peripherals.
Even though two USB-C hubs may have wildly different brand names, you may sometimes find that they’re otherwise identical or just very similar.
We conducted standardized tests to transfer a file from the SSD to the laptop; from the hard drive to the SSD; and then from an SD card to the PC, while simultaneously transferring files from the hard drive to the SSD. In some cases we used AJA’s System Tool app to run read and write tests on connected drives. In almost all cases, the performance was identical, with a spread of about 3 percent—good news for you, as that’s one less thing to worry about.
We measured the surface temperature while these tests were run. You’ll see some buyers on Amazon pages complaining about how hot a hub gets; some do get on the warmer side. Also, where we could, we measured the power input for each hub.
We looked at how SD cards were inserted—you’d be surprised how many don’t work unless they’re inserted upside down!
We also noted the cord length, as shorter cables limit your options when positioning the hub around your laptop or tablet. Worst case, a short cable causes a hub to dangle from a tablet whose USB-C port is mounted toward the top.
Why bother testing something as ridiculous as the spacing between the USB Type A ports? Because if you don’t, you can run into this situation: Because the ports are spaced too closely together, only one of these USB keys can be inserted at a time.
After testing our USB-C hubs, we can confirm that some no-names perform just as well as their more well-known counterparts, and for less money, too. One thing to keep in mind: Because price is so critical to our recommendations, know that some of the prices may change as manufacturers offer sales. Therefore some hubs we didn’t recommend primarily based on price could become more purchase-worthy.
1.
Remember when laptops used to contain all sorts of ports: USB-A, HDMI, SD card slots, and more? And do you remember how svelte the early Macintosh laptops looked, especially when Apple began removing all of the ports in favor of USB-C and Thunderbolt? PC makers did, and decided that was the approach that they would take, too.
Unfortunately, that left laptop owners like you with the problem of legacy hardware: printers, keyboards, SD card, micro SD cards, and so on — and with no ports to plug them into. Enter the USB-C hub, an inexpensive product that helps solve that problem. Just pay attention to what ports the USB-C hub offers, to make sure it meets your needs.
2.
A USB-C hub or dongle (we use the terms interchangeably) is a small, portable device that you can slide into a bag or backpack. A USB-C docking station tends to be heavy and bulky enough that you’ll want to keep it on your desk. It’s not true that a USB-C docking station will have more features than a USB-C hub, as some compact USB-C hubs pack in a surprising number of ports.
Docking stations tend to be bigger and bulkier, and are designed to live on your desk. If there’s anything that docking stations tend to have that dongles sometimes don’t, it’s a USB-C port designed only to accept power from your laptop’s USB-C charger. That allows you to gain additional ports as well as charging capabilities from the same dock.
3.
Expect to pay between $30 and $40 for a good USB-C hub. USB-C docking stations are bigger and bulkier but add even more capabilities. We’d expect you to pay over $100 for these.
4.
Honestly, not much. Pay attention to our reviews and those from other shoppers, but buy according to what the hub or dongle offers. You can absolutely find solid USB-C hubs and dongles for an inexpensive price.
USB-C docking stations, though, can feel a bit overpriced. In part, that’s because Thunderbolt docks were wildly expensive during the 2020 to 2021 pandemic years. USB-C docking stations are an alternative, but their prices were sucked upward, too. Fortunately, prices are trending downward, as the supply chains regain a semblance of normalcy.
5.
Both USB-C and Thunderbolt use the same USB-C connection. The difference is that a “generic” USB-C connection typically provides 10Gbps of bandwidth, and Thunderbolt provides 40Gbps, with a road to 120Gbps with 2024’s Thunderbolt 5.
Thunderbolt ports are becoming more common, so it’s possible that your laptop won’t have any “USB-C” ports; they’ll be Thunderbolt-enabled instead. (To tell the difference, consult your laptop’s manual or look for a small “lightning bolt” logo over the port itself. That’s usually a sign that it’s a Thunderbolt port.) A USB-C dongle and a Thunderbolt dock are similar, in that they both provide a number of additional ports.
There’s a key difference, though. The rule of thumb is that a USB-C dongle provides enough bandwidth for two 1080p displays at 60Hz, or a single 4K display at 30Hz. (Staring at any 30Hz display for a length of time can tire out your eyes, so I don’t recommend it.) A Thunderbolt dock, however, allows enough bandwidth to connect two 4K displays at 60Hz, plus all the peripherals you wish to attach. If you don’t need big, high-resolution displays, don’t buy a Thunderbolt dock and purchase a USB-C hub instead.
6.
A DisplayLink USB-C dock is what you might call a “tweener” device: something between USB-C and Thunderbolt. DisplayLink docks embed a small chip from Synaptics in the docking station, and require use of a software driver that you’ll need to download. (USB-C and Thunderbolt are essentially plug and play.) The Synaptics chip compresses the data, and gives you the ability to connect (no joke) up to three or sometimes four 4K display all over a 10Gbps USB-C cable. It feels a bit like black magic.
They’re not foolproof; DisplayLink docks are best for office work (email, Word, Excel, and so on that don’t require a whole lot of bandwidth, because the images are largely static) and web browsing. Transfer a lot of data (or play back a lot of high-bitrate video) and you’ll see some stuttering.
We used to break out DisplayLink docks into their own page, but we now include recommendations on this list of the best USB-C hubs, as well as our list of the best Thunderbolt docks. If you shop smart, you can get the capabilities of a Thunderbolt dock, for less.
7.
You can absolutely connect a USB-C hub to a Thunderbolt dock. You probably won’t be able to connect a USB-C dongle to another USB-C dongle/hub, but if your laptop has more than one USB-C port, you can connect a USB-C hub to each.
Thunderbolt offers the ability to “daisy-chain” devices, however, so you can connect one Thunderbolt dock to another. USB-C, however, does not.
8.
USB-C hubs can get warm or even hot while using them to transfer data or charge devices. This is because the electronic components and circuitry within hubs build up heat during use. Depending upon the hub’s material, heat can become trapped inside the hub leading it to become hot to the touch.
If you are concerned about your hub becoming too hot during use, you may consider purchasing a hub made from metallic parts, such as aluminum, so that heat can more easily dissipate as it builds up.
Updated on Oct. 4, 2023 to note a recent review of the CA Essential Docking Station (DS2000).
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