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If you've set out to improve your home/office workstation with a modern laptop, you've probably discovered the need to look for one of the best USB-C hubs or docks to make up for any missing ports and expand your display setup.We're here to help you do just that. Better yet, we'll also tell you where you can buy them for the best price by comparing deals at multiple reputable retailers. USB-C hubs are geared towards the creative professional rather than your casual user and they can be vital today given many modern laptops are forgoing traditional ports in favour of USB-C or Thunderbolt connections. Apple MacBooks especially.If you're simply after a few missing ports though to restore old school USB, HMDI out or memory card slots, you might be better suited checking out our selection of the as they're generally much cheaper than USB-C hubs.USB-C hubs (also known as USB-C docks in some parts) are generally geared towards increased performance, faster data transfer speeds and multiple external displays - along with higher Hz support or frames-per-second than USB-C adapters can provide.
Ports on ports on ports — Guidemaster: Picking the right Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C dock for your desk Ars tests a bunch of docks and hubs to see which are worthy of a spot on your desk. Although this hub from Lention looks like one of the better peripherals for new MacBook owners on tight budgets, (it adds two USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port), its promise falls apart quickly.
You'll find various manufacturers throwing words like 'adapter', 'hub' and 'dock' around with reckless abandon, often making it difficult to search for something for your exact needs. So on the models below we've included a list of all the ports included along with technical specifications on read speeds and displays supported so you can be sure you're getting what you want. Be sure to check the item itself on the retailer page to make sure the spec hasn't changed. The best USB-C hubs and docksElgato Thunderbolt 3 Dock. No HDMI portThe lack of SD Card readers on USB-C hubs is the bane of many a photographer. Thankfully the OWC 13 Port Thunderbolt 3 Dock is here to satisfy those needs with a reader on the front of the USB-C hub.
The S/PDIF (optical out) port is something of a rarity that some audio enthusiasts will appreciate too. This USB-C hub is packed with most of the other favourites and an abundance of regular USB 3.1 slots.
Two displays can be supported with the favoured 60fps on two 4K screens or one 5K display ticking the boxes for photo and video editing. The lack of a HDMI slot is a shame so you'll be using the Thunderbolt 3 or Mini Display ports for the external monitors here.Note: some versions of this USB-C hub include a Legacy FireWire 800 slot, but is seems to be getting phased out nowadays - be sure to double check the spec on the retailer's site if you're planning on using this function. More expensive than previous modelIt might be one of the smallest USB-C hubs around, but the Beklin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD is packed with ports and supports full-strength passthrough charging. The smaller form-factor is certainly worth considering if you're going to need it away from the desk too.
Belkin have been one of the most reliable manufacturers of third-party Apple products for years if you're looking for a little extra assurance. The main improvement over the older (and admittedly cheaper) Thunderbolt 2 / is the doubling of the file transfer speed to 40Gbps. No VGA support (not a problem for modern displays really)The Dell D6000 dock is one of the best USB-C hubs around for the modern professional Dell user. It can be used on old and new laptops thanks to an adapter on the connection cable allowing it to connect via the newer USB-C port, or a legacy USB-A slot.
The D6000 looks firmly towards the future for display options by ditching the VGA port and instead focusing on support for up to three HD/4K monitors, or one 5K monitor - all running at a smooth 60fps. If running multiple high resolution monitors at once is a key requirement on your Dell laptop, the D6000 USB-C hub is the one to go for.
2:54If there's one thing about that seems to drive people crazy, it's that the slim, 2-pound laptop has only a single shared port to handle data, power, video output and accessories.Forget Apple's current scheme of packing in USB, Thunderbolt/mini-DisplayPort, HDMI and even an SD card slot on laptops such as the. Now you've got a single port - and what's more, it's a new USB-C port, which means absolutely nothing you own will work with it without an adaptor or dongle.Formally known as, this new port combines faster data transfer speeds (up to 10Gbps) with a new shape.
The smaller plug and socket is miles better than the previous Type A and Type B ones, and their much-hated micro and mini variations, because it's fully reversible. The plug slides in either side up, which is a big deal if you've ever tried jamming a USB key or cable in upside down.
And as both the top and bottom of a USB plug look the same unless you're examining it very closely, that happens fairly often.Sarah Tew/CNETWhy only one port? And a new one at that? The official pitch is that MacBook users will use wireless connections for just about everything.
Bluetooth for a mouse, Wi-Fi for internet access, AirDrop for file transfer, and so on. Most of these assumptions are correct, but there's something to be said for being able to use a full-size USB or HDMI port to connect to any USB key or HDTV with minimal hassle.Staying connected on the new MacBook realistically requires plugging and unplugging accessories fairly frequently. If you start with the power cable connected to the single USB-C port, in order to connect the USB dongle for a wireless mouse, you need to disconnect the power cable and plug in a short USB-C to USB-A cable (sold by Apple for $19, £15 or AU$29). To use a USB data key, keep the adaptor cable connected, but pull the mouse receiver and connect your key instead.Sarah Tew/CNETShortly, you will be able to connect video the same way, using a USB-C to HDMI, DisplayPort or VGA adaptor. Apple has two connection blocks that include either HDMI or VGA for $79, £65 or AU$119 each coming soon, and third-party accessory companies such as Belkin, Monoprice and Kanex have their own versions that will also be available soon, including a USB-C to Ethernet adaptor.One clever trick you can do with the USB-C port on the new MacBook is to charge it on the go.
The system (and theoretically any laptop with USB-C) can draw power from the portable backup battery packs that so many people have lying around in drawers and laptop bags. An external battery pack connected via a Monoprice USB-to-USB-C cable.Dan Ackerman/CNETTo do this, use a USB-C to male USB cable (we tried a $10 one sent by Monoprice), and you can get some extra battery power on the go without having to bring the whole power brick, or have access to a power outlet. It won't fully charge the laptop, but it could offer enough power to help you out in a pinch.Despite all the cool aspects of USB-C and its great potential for the future, the limitations of having a single USB-C port for all your connection needs (with the exception of a standard audio jack that also made the cut in the new MacBook) is going to be a challenge in the short term, unless you're prepared to arm yourself with a pocketful of dongles and adaptors.