When Apple put its new M4 chip within the iPad Professional before adding it to a MacBook, that was a reasonably clear signal that tablets are extra than simply idle sofa companions. However with only one or two ports, you’ll want a hub if you wish to maximize that potential. The identical goes for laptops: they are often extra highly effective than desktops, however they nearly all the time have fewer ports. USB-C hubs offer you some combo of additional USB, HDMI, reminiscence card, Ethernet and/or 3.5 mm ports so you may join peripherals like displays or wired mice and keyboards. You may hook up exterior drives for extra storage — some hubs even have reminiscence card slots. We examined 15 completely different USB-C hubs to see how they carry out and put the most effective of what we examined beneath.
What to search for in a USB-C hub
Hub vs docking station
The very first thing to determine is whether or not you want a USB-C hub or a docking station. There’s no set commonplace for what differentiates the 2, however docking stations are likely to have extra ports, supply a separate DC energy provide and price extra, with some reaching upwards of $400. We’ve a separate information to the best docking stations to take a look at in case you’re on the lookout for one thing greater than what we’re discussing right here. USB-C hubs, in distinction, have between 4 and 10 ports, can help pass-through charging and sometimes price between $30 and $150.
Hubs make extra sense for smaller setups with only a few peripherals, equivalent to a monitor, a wired keyboard and mouse, and the occasional exterior drive. They’re additionally extra moveable, since they’re small and require no devoted energy. That could possibly be helpful in case you change work places however need to deliver your equipment with you, or if you wish to exchange your laptop computer with a more powerful tablet. A docking station makes extra sense for somebody who wants a strong setup for his or her laptop computer, together with a number of exterior displays, webcams, stream decks, microphones and so forth.
Each docks and hubs make it simple to seize your laptop computer off your desk for a gathering or different transient relocation and whenever you get again, plugging in a single cable will get all of your equipment reconnected.
Ports
The primary port to contemplate is the one in your laptop computer or pill. For a USB-C hub to work, it wants to connect with a port that helps video, information and energy — all of which is roofed by something listed as USB 3.0 or higher. The port, after all, must be Kind-C as nicely. The ocean of laptops out there may be huge, so it’s exhausting to make generalizations, however fashionable laptops ought to have not less than one USB-C port that may suffice, and certainly, each considered one of our high picks for the best laptops do.
Subsequent, it’s a matter of discovering a hub that has the best connections in your wants. Most hubs supply some combo of HDMI, USB, reminiscence card, Ethernet and three.5 mm ports. You probably have a 4K monitor and would really like not less than a 60Hz refresh charge, you’ll want a hub with an HDMI 2.0 port — HDMI 1.4 solely goes as much as 30Hz. HDMI 2.1 will deal with 4K at as much as 120Hz, however hubs which have adopted that commonplace aren’t as widespread simply but. Remember the fact that a low refresh charge could cause your display screen to really feel laggy, making your mouse seem glitchy and your webcam actions to look delayed.
Further USB ports on these equipment are often Kind-A or Kind-C. They’ll help information with completely different switch charges, sometimes 5Gbps or 10Gbps. Some ports solely deal with passthrough energy and no information, and a few can do information, energy and video, so it’s greatest to verify the spec checklist to be sure you’re getting the help you want. Remember the fact that a hub might invoice itself as a 7-in-1, however a kind of ports will not be usable for something apart from charging.
Commonplace SD and microSD slots are helpful for transferring information from cameras and the like. Ethernet ports might ship sooner web speeds than your Wi-Fi and a hub with a 3.5mm jack can deliver again the wired headphone connection that some laptops have ditched.
Energy supply
Practically the entire USB-C hubs I examined help passthrough charging. Which means in case your laptop computer or pill solely prices by way of USB, you don’t should take up one other port in your laptop computer to maintain every thing topped up. Not like a docking station, powering a hub is non-compulsory. The one exception is if you wish to shut the lid in your laptop computer whilst you work on an exterior monitor. Most computer systems will go into sleep mode if the lid is closed with out energy, so both the laptop computer or the hub will should be plugged into the wall to forestall that from occurring.
Lots of the newer hubs embrace a 100W energy supply (PD) port, with a wholesome 80 to 85 watts going to your laptop (the hubs take a little bit of the juice for themselves, therefore the 15-watt or so distinction). In my assessments, sending energy by way of the hub made them run even hotter than they do already, so I choose to cost the pc immediately. However for tablets or different gadgets with no further ports, that PD possibility is essential.
Some PD ports are additionally information ports — which is each good and unhealthy. On one hand, it feels wasteful to make use of a wonderfully good information port only for boring previous electrical energy. However alternatively, USB-C connections that solely carry a cost are much less versatile, and it makes it seem to be it has extra accent hookups than it really does.
Design
There’s surprisingly little design variation amongst hubs. Most appear like a flat slab, a little bit smaller than a smartphone, and have an hooked up Kind-C host cable. The hues vary from a silvery black to a silvery grey. Some are thinner than others, some have all ports on one edge and a few have ports on each side. All of that is simply to say that aesthetics most likely received’t make or break your shopping for determination.
One variation that might tip the scales is the size of the cable. An extended one offers you extra freedom as you organize the hub in your desk, doubtlessly even letting you disguise it behind your laptop computer. Or you could choose a shorter one to maintain the hub neatly set beside your laptop computer.
How we check USB-C hubs
Earlier than we check something, we check out what’s obtainable and the way they’ve been acquired by consumers, forum-goers and different publications. I grew to become accustomed to just a few respected manufacturers once I was testing docking stations, so I regarded into hubs from these firms as nicely. I centered on gadgets that might assist with a median day of productiveness — not high-end setups or demanding gaming conditions. As soon as I settled on a dozen or so that might make good candidates, I had them shipped to my humble workplace within the desert and began testing them out over the course of some weeks.
I used an M1 MacBook Professional because the host laptop and plugged in equipment that embrace a 4K Dell monitor, a ZSA USB-C ergo keyboard, a Logitech USB-A gaming mouse, an Elgato USB-C 4K webcam, a Logitech streaming mild, a USB-A 3.0 Sandisk thumb drive, a USB-C Samsung T7 Protect exterior drive and a pair of wired headphones I acquired without cost on an airplane (I ought to most likely spend money on some wired headphones, however the wire dangling on my chest drives me nutty so all my earbuds are wi-fi). I used high-end HDMI and USB-C cables to make sure that any information or connectivity points weren’t associated to my tools.
Then I put every USB-C hub by way of a gamut of fundamental assessments. I checked out what could possibly be plugged in without delay, the decision on the monitor, information switch speeds, the general construct high quality of the hub and common usability elements, like the location of the ports and the size of the cords. And, lastly, the worth to worth ratio helped decide the most effective ones for just a few completely different use instances.
Greatest USB-C hubs for 2025
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Whole downstream ports: 8 | Cable size: 10” | Energy supply: 100W in, 90W to host | USB-C: 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x 3.1 | USB-A: 2 x 5Gbps, 1 x 10Gbps| Monitor: HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: microSD and commonplace SD | Different ports: Ethernet
The “109” in UGreen’s Revodok Pro 109 USB-C hub seemingly stands for the nine-in-one declare in its advertising supplies, however since a kind of ports is energy solely, the variety of downstream connectors makes it extra of an eight-in-one. But it surely’s a great-performing hub nonetheless. It has all of the hookups that may be lacking from a contemporary laptop computer, together with SD slots, USB-A ports, an Ethernet connection and an HDMI hookup.
The 4K decision and 60Hz refresh charge regarded nice on my check monitor and the information switch charges had been forward of different hubs in its value vary. The pace check on an Ethernet cable was on par with that of a costlier docking station, and I appreciated the design of the microSD slot. Most readers have you ever insert the cardboard all the way in which in, counting on a spring mechanism to push it again out whenever you’re executed. Right here, the tip stands out simply sufficient that you could merely pull the cardboard out. These spring-loaded ejectors by no means work on the primary strive for me, so it is a extra elegant resolution.
There’s only one usable downstream USB-C port; the opposite is barely able to delivering energy to your gadget. I want there was simply one extra USB-C so it may deal with each, say, a USB-C keyboard and webcam. However the three USB-A ports, with one supporting as much as 10Gbps charges, principally make up for that oversight. Total, the hub performs nicely and affords a well-rounded choice of connectors.
It was truthfully a tricky name between this and Anker’s 555 8-in-1 for the highest suggestion. They’ve a reasonably comparable port array and Anker’s possibility is $15 cheaper. However the UGreen hub has a extra premium construct and a wire that is about two inches longer, plus there’s one further USB-A port that might actually come in useful.
- Good array of ports
- HDMI 2.0 helps 4K displays at 60Hz
- Beneficiant 10-inch cable
- Three USB-A ports
- Only one downstream USB-C port
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Whole downstream ports: 4 | Cable size: 10” | Energy supply: 100W in, 85W to host | USB-C: 1 x USB 10Gbps, 1 x energy supply solely | USB-A: 1 x 10Gbps, 1 x 480Mbps | Monitor: HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: No | Different ports: No
This was my first expertise with a Wavlink product, as I used to be beforehand solely accustomed to them as a Wi-Fi router and extender model. My preliminary impression of the Wavlink USB-C 4K@60Hz was disappointment at its generic title, however the performance-to-price ratio is so spectacular, it will get a move for the shortage of branding pizazz.
It’s slimmer than most hubs at about an inch-and-a-half large, but the cable itself is a pair inches longer than the norm. The unit and the cables simply tuck behind a laptop computer, notably because the ports run alongside only one edge, with the HDMI connection on the finish.
The cable can also be braided, making it really feel extra premium than its $30 price ticket would counsel — which is the overall theme right here. The HDMI 2.0 port can deal with a 4K exterior monitor at 60Hz, which ought to be loads zippy sufficient for a median workday, and I discovered the decision and lack of lag to be simply as marketed.
One of many two USB-A ports helps speedy 10Gbps transfers and the one USB-C jack is able to the identical charge. The webcam carried out nicely, even with a USB-A streaming mild at full brightness (one thing different hubs had bother with), and I discovered information switch speeds to exterior drives to be on par with and even sooner than costlier hubs.
After all, having only one downstream USB-C connection places a restrict in your setup: You may have, for instance, a USB-C webcam or a USB-C keyboard plugged in, not each. However in case you want one thing with good monitor output, a few high-quality USB ports and a compact design, it is a good decide.
I additionally suggest Plugable’s equally cleverly named USB-C 4-in-1 hub. It’s a greenback cheaper than the Wavlink possibility with an analogous array of ports that each one carried out nicely in my assessments. Finally, its shorter tethered cable and single USB-C port that both delivers energy or runs a peripheral led me to choose Wavlink’s mannequin. However in case you don’t must cost your gadget by way of the port, you get a very good hub for the cash with Plugable’s gadget.
- Slim and compact
- Beneficiant 10-inch cable
- Nice value
- Only one downstream USB-C port
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Whole downstream ports: 5 | Cable size: 20” | Energy supply: 100W in, 80W to host | USB-C: 4 x USB 3.1 Gen 2, 1 x 4K @60Hz video solely | USB-A: 0 | Monitor: USB-C | SD Card: No | Different ports: No
One subject with most USB-C hubs is an ironic lack of obtainable downstream USB-C ports. Many high out at two, and a kind of typically delivers energy solely and might’t run peripherals. Throughout three keyboard guides, our suggestions overwhelmingly require USB-C connectivity, all however considered one of our recommended webcams use USB-C and lots of exterior storage drives depend on that port as nicely. Which means in order for you a hub that connects your keys, digital camera and a drive on the identical time, it’s important to hunt for one thing appropriate.
The EZQuest Slim Gen 2 hub provides you not only one or two usable Kind-C ports, however 5 of them. It’s additionally one of many few hubs that has a removable cable (and the equipped one is a beneficiant 20 inches lengthy). One port is for video output with a claimed 4K output at 60Hz — simply observe that this connector doesn’t help audio or drive different peripherals. The remaining 4 ports adhere to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 commonplace, delivering as much as 10Gbps. As with all hub, the extra gadgets you’ve got plugged in, the decrease the speeds every port will be capable to ship, in order that max 10-gigabit charge is for one port at a time.
The connections had been loads for my setup, dealing with a keyboard, mouse, webcam and streaming mild all on the identical time. (Since I haven’t got a USB-C monitor, I plugged the HDMI cable immediately into my laptop computer). Even totally loaded, the unit stayed comparatively cool. Whereas the included cable is lengthy, the hub itself is tremendous compact and concerning the dimension of a Skor bar. All of the ports come out of 1 facet, so just like the price range decide above, it’s simple to rearrange all of your connections to look neat in your desk.
- Loads of USB-C ports
- Removable and lengthy 20-inch cable
- No USB-A ports
- No HDMI port (helps USB-C video)
Photograph by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Whole downstream ports: 8 | Cable size: 9” | Energy supply: 100W in, 85W to host | USB-C: 2 x USB 10Gbps, 1 x energy ship and 10 Gbps | USB-A: 2 x 5Gbps | Monitor: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0 | SD Card: No | Different ports: Ethernet
At $140, the worth of Belkin’s Connect Universal hub is edging into docking-station territory. But it surely doesn’t require a devoted energy provide and it has a compact construct, so it’s nonetheless decidedly a hub. That value bump does get you just a few options that the majority hubs don’t have, specifically the choice of three USB-C ports (one port can be utilized for both energy supply or accent help) and twin prolonged shows with a MacBook (after you obtain the SiliconMotion driver).
Various the hubs I examined had twin HDMI ports, however the second exterior show was solely able to mirroring the primary monitor and invariably dropped the decision of each supplemental screens. SiliconMotion’s InstantView software program will get round that by basically “sharing” a view of a tertiary display screen with the second monitor. That second monitor has a most refresh charge of 30Hz for 4K resolutions, however the first exterior show retains its 4K@60Hz visuals. I haven’t examined each possibility on the market, however from what I’ve seen, that’s fairly good for a USB-C hub — something extra and also you’re seemingly a docking station.
The Join Common 8-in-1 is on the bigger finish of the spectrum for this class, measuring about the identical as an iPhone however about twice as thick. The multitude of plugs meant I may run a webcam, keyboard, mouse, Litra mild, two displays and join an Ethernet cable. There was nonetheless one USB-C port left over for an exterior drive or energy (although I simply used my MacBook’s MagSafe port). And since they’re all on one facet, the association on a desk seems tidy, avoiding the spidery look of a hub with ports on all sides.
Shunting all of this connectivity does make the unit get fairly scorching: it appeared to get hotter than the entire different models I attempted. Whereas I by no means observed any in poor health results in consequence, I solely used it over the course of a pair days and wonder if there’d be any heat-related points with prolonged use.
- Plenty of ports
- Good number of ports
- Driver permits for 2 prolonged exterior shows
- Costly
- Will get extremely popular throughout use
Different hubs we examined
HyperDrive Subsequent 10 Port USB-C Hub
There’s so much to love about HyperDrive’s Next 10 Port USB-C Hub. The tethered cable is a lavish 13 inches lengthy, the HDMI 2.0 port outputs clear and crisp 4K visuals at 60Hz and the information transfers are screaming quick. It has the coveted two USB-C information ports plus a PD port, and there’s even a headphone jack. The one factor that holds again a full-throated endorsement is the way in which our unit dealt with a streaming mild. Having it on at full brightness made the webcam flicker each time. The problem went away at 75 % brightness, however the identical downside didn’t occur on another hub I examined.
Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1)
There’s nothing flawed with the Anker 341 USB-C hub. The truth is it’s a present suggestion in our iPad accessories guide and it comes at an excellent $35 value. It provides you two USB-A ports in addition to SD slots. However at this level, a 1.4 HDMI connection, which solely helps 4K decision at 30Hz feels a little bit retro. There’s additionally only a single USB-C downstream port and the information switch assessments proved to be a contact slower than the opposite hubs. However in case you’ve acquired a decrease decision monitor and don’t want multiple USB-C, you received’t be disillusioned with it.
Startech 4-Port USB-C Hub (information solely)
I solely grew to become conscious of Startech once I began researching for this information. The standard is first rate and the yellow accents are a welcome little bit of colour within the in any other case very grey world of hubs. The efficiency is strong, with no hiccups that I encountered. The model’s 4-Port USB-C Hub has a protracted wire that wraps across the hub itself, which is exclusive. It doesn’t trouble with energy supply, which isn’t a difficulty in case you can energy your laptop immediately. However the 4 USB ports (three Kind-A and one Kind-C) max out at 5Gbps and there’s no HDMI connector. It goes for $46, and sadly for it, there are cheaper methods to get just a few extra USB ports in your setup.
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