USB-C drastically simplified how we join all the things to a pc. A monitor, keyboard, mouse, Ethernet, exterior storage, microSD and SD playing cards, and extra can all be linked by way of a USB-C port. Of course, connecting all of these issues on the similar time by way of one USB-C port requires a bit assist from a USB-C hub or dock with a number of ports. There are quite a bit to select from, and this listing has one of the best USB-C hubs that we have examined.
For those that need a full-featured journey dock, one of the best USB-C hub is the EZQuest USB-C Multimedia 8-port Hub. There are cheaper choices, however the EZQuest combines a wonderful assortment of ports, sturdiness for journey and reliability over a number of months of testing. It even has labels on the highest to get your units linked even sooner. EZQuest makes a number of different USB-C hubs together with a 13-in-one mannequin additionally on this listing. However, if a extra strong dock with Thunderbolt help is important, one of the best we have examined proper now’s the Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station due to a lovely low-profile design and well-rounded port assortment, and it doesn’t get sizzling when put to full use.
Narrowing down your choices and discovering one of the best USB-C hub comes all the way down to understanding how transportable you want it to be, your required knowledge switch velocity and precisely which connections you want. Here are a few of our favourite USB-C docking stations that we have examined. We’ll proceed to replace this listing as we discover new USB hubs and docks to advocate. And should you’re wanting to cost your USB-C units, listed here are one of the best choices per our testing.
Read extra: Best USB-C PD Chargers of 2023
Best USB-C hubs
This USB-C hub has all of the necessities most would want for workplace or dwelling use at an inexpensive worth, particularly in case your laptop computer is proscribed to solely USB-C ports. There are three USB-A ports, together with one with energy supply, microSD and SD card slots and an HDMI out that helps resolutions as much as 4K at 30Hz. At the tip is a Gigabit Ethernet reference to an exercise LED (one thing different hubs this measurement sometimes depart off). But what units it aside from others at this measurement are the helpful labels printed on high of the anodized aluminum case.
There is a 100-watt USB-C pass-through for energy supply, with 15 watts used to energy the hub. The hub is light-weight, which makes it nice for journey, but additionally means any cords you plug into it may trigger it to slip round your desk — a standard subject with hubs this measurement. But should you’re on the lookout for a single hub to cowl all the things from an exterior show and wired net entry to charging your cellphone, this has you lined.
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We’ve used many Monoprice units through the years and so they’ve repeatedly delivered extra for the cash. This slim six-in-one journey dock is not any completely different, providing you with simply sufficient to hook up your laptop computer to peripherals and a monitor as much as 4K at 60Hz. Also, do you have to want an Ethernet port, there may be a seven-in-one mannequin for $10 extra.
Accell’s slim, low-profile Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is without doubt one of the most compact we have examined with out sacrificing efficiency or ports. There are two Intel-certified Thunderbolt 4 ports on the rear in addition to a DisplayPort 1.4 connector that, mixed, can drive twin UHD 4K screens at 60Hz or a single 8K show at 30Hz. Another Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port on the entrance connects to your PC or Mac. The port is shifted all the way in which to the proper in order that the cable does not block different ports and makes it simpler to maintain the cable out of the way in which.
Three USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, an SD 4.0 UHS-II card reader, a 3.5mm audio combo jack and Gigabit Ethernet port spherical out the connection choices. And even with the dock totally loaded, it remained comparatively cool in comparison with others we have examined.
Most individuals, together with me, use hub and dock interchangeably however they’re completely different units. A hub provides extra ports to a pc to connect extra units. The Element Hub, as an illustration, turns one Thunderbolt 4 port in your laptop computer into three Thunderbolt 4 ports so you possibly can connect additional shows, high-speed storage and peripherals. It additionally provides you 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports with knowledge speeds as much as 10Gbps so as to add USB-A units. And the hub could be daisy-chained to a different Thunderbolt 4 dock or hub for much more connections.
The included energy adapter (it is really bigger than the hub itself) can ship as much as 60 watts of charging energy to connected units. That’s not sufficient for extra power-hungry laptops however high quality for a Chromebook and smaller laptops like a Dell XPS 13 or Apple MacGuide Air. You can even disconnect it out of your pc and simply use it to energy up your cellphone, pill and different units.
One different good contact: CalDigit made the design reversible so you possibly can flip it in your desk to have whichever ports you want going through ahead.
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Ugreen’s tiny tower of ports makes use of a DisplayLink chipset to drive three shows at as much as 4K at 60Hz through its DisplayPort and twin HDMI outputs with Windows or MacOS methods. Windows customers can decide to run one show at as much as 8K at 30Hz plus two at 4K at 60Hz.
DisplayLink software program is required to drive the shows correctly. There’s additionally no energy provide included, only a USB-C cable. If you are utilizing it with a laptop computer with a USB-C energy adapter, you should utilize it to energy the dock. It helps as much as 100-watt energy supply letting you cost your laptop computer in addition to energy the dock.
It handles greater than shows, too, with one 10Gbps and two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a combo headset jack, Gigabit Ethernet and SD and microSD card slots. The minimal footprint helps maintain your desk tidy, and it is mild sufficient to journey with should you wanted to (however there are higher choices for that on this listing).
The PowerExpand Elite is a component USB-C dock and half charging station. In again are 85- and 15-watt Thunderbolt 3 ports and in entrance is an 18-watt USB-C energy supply port. A Thunderbolt 3 port helps as much as a 5K-resolution show at 60Hz whereas its HDMI 2.0 port can help a show as much as 4K decision at 60Hz. Or you possibly can run a USB-C-to-HDMI twin splitter and join two 4K shows at 30Hz so you possibly can run as much as three screens between the HDMI port and Thunderbolt 3 ports.
You’ll even have 4 USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and MicroSD and SD card reader. A 3.5mm combo jack handles audio output and enter.
To present sufficient juice to run all the things, although, the PowerExpand Elite has a big 180-watt energy adapter. Also, the fanless design means the physique is one large warmth sink so it might get sizzling when it is totally loaded. You can stand it vertically to assist maintain it cooler.
Most small USB-C hubs have brief connected cables. That’s high quality in case your laptop computer is on a desk and never on a laptop computer stand and that desk has loads of house straight subsequent to your laptop computer’s USB-C port. For those that may use some additional cable attain, although, the Lention C37 is right.
The USB system remains to be compact and light-weight however has a 1-meter cable (3.3 toes). It has twin USB-C ports with 60-watt energy supply, two USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the tip is an HDMI output that helps 4K at 30Hz or decrease resolutions at 60Hz. This can be an excellent possibility for desktops which are stored on the ground.
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The Ultimate Plus exhibits off simply what’s attainable with a single USB-C port. Along with 4 USB 3.0 type-A ports, there are microSD and SD card slots, a 3.5mm combo headset jack and a Gigabit Ethernet jack. But the largest motive to decide on this mannequin is its help for 3 shows.
There are two full-size HDMI outputs joined by an old-school VGA output. The VGA can solely deal with outputting at 1080p, however one HDMI can output at resolutions as much as 4K at 60Hz whereas the opposite can output as much as 4K at 30Hz. That’s quite a bit for one compact desktop dock and a single connection to your laptop computer or desktop.
In our exams, it lived as much as its promise of dealing with all of its connections directly. The ports won’t provide the quickest speeds of different docks (the USB-A ports high out at 5Gbps for instance), but when three screens and quite a lot of additional connections in your desk are what issues, that is the dock for you.
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This add-on dock slides proper over the foot of a 24-inch iMac. It contains USB-A and USB-C ports, plus slots for each microSD and SD playing cards and even an inside slot for an M.2 storage drive. The 11-inch extensive dock additionally has the precise footprint because the iMac’s color-matched keyboard, so that may sit on high of the dock/foot combo when not getting used. At $150, it is a bit on the dear aspect, and there aren’t any HDMI or DisplayPort outputs. But should you’re on the lookout for a tidy answer so as to add some additional ports to an iMac, this can be a candy answer.
Is a USB-C port the identical as a USB port?
The USB port most are acquainted with is USB Type-A. Sometimes known as an ordinary or common USB port, it’s rectangular and directional which requires you to correctly align tabs contained in the connectors. The newer USB-C port is a small oval that makes use of a reversible connector so that you simply need not flip it round to get the right place.
Are all USB-C ports the identical?
While USB-C ports could seem the identical from system to system, they don’t seem to be. Even USB-C ports on the identical laptop computer may need completely different capabilities. For occasion, Thunderbolt 3 or 4 units will solely be totally supported by a pc with the corresponding Thunderbolt USB-C port. Unfortunately, you possibly can’t simply take a look at the port and know precisely what you may have. Check together with your pc producer for what your laptop computer (or desktop) mannequin helps before you purchase a USB-C dock or adapter.