More and more laptops are giving up connectivity for portability. That’s becoming more evident as students look to buy new laptops for class only to find out all their ports have gone missing and all that’s left is a couple of USB-C ports. But don’t worry, you don’t have to throw away all of your external hard drives and SD card readers just because you’ve updated your laptop.
USB-C hubs provide a portable way to bring all of that useful connectivity back from the dead. The best USB-C hubs should have at least one HDMI port and at least two USB ports, as well as an SD card reader. Many have much more than that, including Ethernet connectivity and display ports for multiple monitor setups.
You shouldn’t be punished for wanting nice things. With a USB-C hub, you can get the most performance from your new laptop as well as connectivity for all of your devices. Below we’ve curated a list of the 10 best USB-C hubs available, so you can have your cake and eat it, too.
1. Anker USB-C Hub For MacBook Direct 7-2 USB Adapter
When you get a new MacBook Pro, you quickly realize all of your old hard drives, SD cards and monitors are all rendered obsolete thanks to those USB-C ports. Not so fast! The Anker 7-2 USB-C hub turns those USB-C ports into two USB 3.0 ports, a Thunderbolt 3 port, microSD, SD card reader, HDMI and one USB-C. The HDMI port can handle 4K resolution while the USB-C port provides transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps. This is a must-have for new MacBook Pro owners.
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2. Vava USB C Hub 9-1 USB C Adapter
When you want to connect a handful of thumb drives, but don’t have the room on your laptop, the Vava USB C Hub comes in handy. It provides two USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0 port right in front for quick access to thumb drives and hard drives. It also sports an Ethernet cable port, audio port (which is a little redundant since your laptop should have one) SD card reader and HDMI port to connect an additional display. It’s a good choice for MacBook and Air.
3. Dell USB-C Mobile Adapter
When you travel for work and you need to make any desk you can find your office space, the Dell USB-C Mobile Adapter can be your mobile office savior. The cable that connects to your USB-C port tucks away into the adapter making the form factor small and compact. It offers up a 4K HDMI port, display port, VGA (which we could do without), Ethernet as well as USB-C and USB-A ports. This USB-C hub is there when you need it and stows away nicely when you don’t.
4. Totu USB-C Hub
This 9-in-1 hub provides users with newer laptops like the Dell XPS 13 (2020) and MacBook Pro a way to keep all their devices connected with limited ports. This USB-C hub turns a single USB-C into a multitude of USB 2.0, USB 3.0, MicroSD and SD card readers. There’s also an Ethernet port, as well as a display port, for wired internet connection and multiple monitors.
5. Belkin USB-C Hub with Tethered Cable
The USB-C dock might not have as many ports as you’ll find on others. In fact, the six-in-one hub provides two additional USB ports, HDMI, SD Card reader, display port, as well as a wired Ethernet port. But if your connector cable cracks or breaks, its rendered useless, that’s why Belkin tethered the cable to provide additional protection for your USB-C dock, and to give it the longevity to last as long as your laptop.
6. Dell WD 15 Monitor Dock
In an office or home office setting, the Dell WD15 Monitor Dock provides a central hub that not only connects all of your devices but also provides monitor support. It’s big enough where all the ports, which include three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, display ports, HDMI, VGA and a headphone jack, aren’t too closely bunched up together and easily accessible. It’s not as portable as others, but if you need a USB-C hub for your office or desk, it’s a great option.
7. HooToo USB C Hub 6-1 Adapter
With almost 5,000 user reviews and an overwhelming approval rating of 4.7 stars, the HooToo USB-C Hub certainly does the trick for many. This six-in-one USB-C dock provides an HDMI port, 100W charging port, three USB ports, and an SD card reader for those laptops or devices that have removed all their connectivity for a more slim form factor. And the best part, this dock only costs just over a 20 spot, making it one of the most affordable USB-C docks we’ve found.
8. Satechi Multi-Port Adapter
The Satechi Multi-Port adapter was designed with Macs in mind. It blends seamlessly with new MacBook Pros and Airs, and even comes in space grey, rose gold and silver. Taking up just one USB-C port, it provides a 4K HDMI port, Ethernet port, USB-C pass through, an SD and MicroSD reader, as well as a USB 3.0 port. This is a solid choice when you are looking for a USB-C hub to be an extension of your Mac products.
9. Aukey USB 12-1 Hub
When you need a USB-C dock that can harbor a ton of devices, storage cards and displays, you’ll want to go with the Aukey USB 12-in-1 hub. That’s right, you get twelve additional ports including four USB, two HDMI, two SD card readers, as well as Ethernet, VGA, USB-C data and a USB-C power port. It’s a total powerhouse of a dock that can keep all of your devices connected to your new laptop.
10. Anker USB C Hub 5-1 Adapter with 4K
This USB-C hub is about as portable as they come. It’s about the size of a dry erase marker, but carries with it five-in-one connectivity. With three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and ethernet, it provides the basics you need to get your devices connected to your new laptop. Keep in mind, this device doesn’t support charging. But for the price and portability, it’s still a great option for connectivity.
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