Stay Connected With Your Older Devices With These Best USB-C Hubs

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Today’s laptops are trim, slim, and ultra-thin, but they come with a tradeoff: the absence of ports. Gone are the generous range of USB-A slots, Ethernet ports, and SD card readers—manufacturers have opted to streamline their machines, limiting which devices users can connect without the help of a USB-C hub.

USB-C hubs can enhance your PC’s connectivity and device compatibility, using a single USB-C port to add several more inputs. The best USB-C hubs connect all, if not most, of your peripherals in a single device, including your monitors, printers, MIDI instruments, hard drives, SD cards, modems, and more.

Not all USB-C hubs are alike. Between a varying range of ports and configurations, advanced features like charging, and a slew of price points, here’s what to consider with the best USB-C hubs.

Looking for useful tech gadgets? Check out our picks for the best laptop docking stations, power strips and surge protectors, and smart home hubs.

The Best USB-C Hubs and Adapters

• Best Overall: Anker 555 USB-C Hub

• Best Budget: Acer USB C Hub, 7 in 1

• Best for Macbooks: Satechi USB C Hub Multiport Adapter Pro Hub Max

• Best for Video Editing: Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Dock

• Best Premium: Anker USB C Hub, 565 11-in-1

What to Consider

Transfer Speed

Speed might be a factor that flies under the radar regarding USB-C hubs, but it’s an essential consideration. Grab a hub or adapter with a high transfer speed if you’re transferring large files between devices (like pulling photos off an SD card) or if you need to connect a high-resolution monitor. Transfer speed is measured in gigabits per second (Gbps)—the higher the number, the faster the data can transfer. Most USB-C hubs feature speeds of 10Gbps, which is relatively standard, while cheaper and older hubs offer 5Gbps.

Pass-through Charging

When connected to an external wall outlet, USB-C hubs with pass-through charging can juice up connected devices. This can mean charging your laptop through your hub or charging other devices, like a smartphone, using your laptop battery. The external charger lets power “pass through” your USB-C hub and into other devices.

Many cheap, basic hubs lack this functionality, but it’s handy if you have limited power sockets and need to charge your smartwatch, phone, and earbuds simultaneously. Some pass-through charging hubs can also help guard against unexpected power jolts, protecting your prized laptop or phone with the same functionality as a surge protector. The ability to charge compatible laptops means fewer charging cables to lug around.

Power Delivery

Some hubs offer USB-C Power Delivery (PD), a fast-charging technology that powers up compatible smartphones and devices much faster than standard USB-C chargers. PD charging is offered in 10, 18, 36, 60 and 100 watts—higher wattage indicates a faster charge. Generally speaking, 60 watts and above is enough power to charge up most small laptops and big batteries, too.

Apple Users

If you’re a Mac user, you can opt for a dock compatible with Thunderbolt version 3, 4, or the upcoming 5, but be prepared to spend more. If you’re looking to connect a bunch of USB devices—and don’t need Ethernet, SD, VGA, or HDMI connections—look for an adapter with USB 3.0 ports (the current standard for USB-A).

How We Selected

With many USB-C docks offering different features and sizes, we carefully curated our picks according to each product’s strengths, like value, port variety, and components. For example, our budget pick from Acer offers industry-standard features: 4K display compatibility, Power Delivery, and memory card slots, all at an excellent value. Our pick for the best premium hub, from Anker, has a robust quality that offers a class-leading range of ports: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB 3.2, and USB-C PD.

We combed through hundreds of user reviews and analyzed a wealth of specifications to identify those most likely to deliver on their promises and last for years. While price isn’t always a guarantee of performance or longevity, cheaply built hubs tend to have cheap parts that easily disconnect, so we skewed toward brands we trust, like Satechi, Elgato, Anker, and Acer. We found a balance of affordable and high-end USB-C hubs for a wider product variety that’ll suit Mac users and PC users alike.

555 USB-C Hub

This durable and solid effort from accessory specialists Anker covers a lot of bases. With a good selection of ports, up to 10Gbps data transfer speed, pass-through charging, 100-watt PD, and an HDMI compatible with 4K resolution at 60 Hertz, it’s worth your attention.

It’s also reasonably svelte for an 8-in-1 hub, weighing about 4.5 ounces—compact enough for travel. It’s one of the few hubs with an 18-month warranty and a protective travel pouch for added peace of mind.

Our one gripe? The plastic design can’t compete with its metal-cased peers for a premium feel. That said, it still runs fairly cool and offers excellent performance and versatility for the price.

7-in-1 USB-C Hub

This easy-to-use budget hub from Acer might be a steal at under $25, but it’s also no slouch with seven ports, 100-watt PD charging, and an HDMI port with 4K compatibility. There’s also overheat protection to help keep the hub cool while it transfers data and power.

Its affordable price point yields a few omissions—notably an Ethernet port—and slow data transfer speed throttled at 5Gbps. And while there’s 4K support, it’s only at 30 Hertz rather than the 60. However, if you’re only playing with medium file sizes, this might be all you need in a hub.

USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter Pro Hub Max

Macbooks house a handful of USB-C ports, but this pricey yet premium hub from Satechi opens your Apple machine to an even wider range. The adapter snugly slots into your machine’s dual USB-C ports in an almost seamless design. It also comes in silver or space gray to match your Mac’s color.

The hub adds 100-watt pass-through charging, 4K-compatible HDMI, and up to 5K video output with a 60-Hertz refresh rate—provided you have a Thunderbolt cable and a supported monitor.

It’s best for desk use, as the adapter’s added heft affects the Macbook’s natural balance. If you want a clean setup and minimal cables, this is an excellent pick with a robust build quality, though check your Mac’s compatibility before you purchase.

Thunderbolt 3 Dock

The Elgato Thunderbolt caters superbly to those who deal with high-resolution video formats. This dock features dual 4K and single 5K support in the form of two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, a DisplayPort, and even a microphone jack. It can also charge your Macbook or Windows laptop thanks to 85-watt pass-through charging.

However, note that most of its ports are in the rear, so frequently connecting and disconnecting cables can get tiresome. That aside, it looks great in the office or streaming den with its curved, aluminum, minimalist design.

USB-C Hub, 565 11-in-1

With its brushed aluminum casing and robust braided cable, the Anker 565 feels like quality. It can connect almost everything to your computer, save for the kitchen sink. No fewer than 11 ports adorn this USB-C hub’s chassis, including DisplayPort, 100-watt pass-through USB-C, 4K HDMI with 60-Hertz support, USB-A, and USB-C. The latest version offers up to 10Gbps data transfer speed. There’s even dual monitor support for 2K simultaneous streaming.

With so many ports in abundance, we’d wager you wouldn’t need them all, but if you’ve amassed a collection of current and legacy tech, the Anker 565 is an excellent “just in case” hub for all.

7-in-1 USB-C DA310 Multiport Adapter

This hockey puck-shaped hub offers surprising versatility for people with limited desk space or those on the move. It’s also super portable—slip it into any pocket or backpack and you’re ready.

Its rubberized base offers some stability, and its connecting cable, though on the stingy side at a paltry 5 inches, retracts back into the hub with a twist, offering a clean and wire-free presentation when not in use.

Dell has even managed to squeeze in up to 90 watts of pass-through charging. Its only Achilles heel is its lack of an SD card slot, but if you’re on the go constantly and only need a few key ports, the Dell DA310 could be right up your alley.

10-Port 60W USB-C Data Hub

While pricier and lacking display ports, the Anker 10 Port 60W Data Hub offers an impressive 10 USB ports—ideal for musicians, artists, designers, or anyone else with many devices to connect.

Seven of those ports are your standard USB-A ports and three are PowerIQ USB-A ports for simultaneous and optimal fast charging, which is a somewhat unique feature for a hub. If your computer only has USB-C ports, you’ll need a USB-C-to-USB-A converter cord.

While the hub only caters to USB-A connectivity, it’s ideal if you have many legacy USB-A devices and don’t require anything else.

Explorer Edition USB C Hub (10-in-1)

This Dockcase hub features exposed panels so you can spy on its internal circuitry. An LCD display shows its active connections, available power, and even the power usage of its connected devices.

As you might expect from such an unashamedly tech-happy piece of hardware, there are ports for days, including 100-watt PD USB-C, 4K-compatible HDMI at 60 Hertz, DisplayPort with 5K support, and the usual SD card slots.

Its busy design isn’t for everyone—those who prefer a clean, minimalist hub might want to look elsewhere. But it could serve as the perfect gift for the computer tinkerers and tech-savvy in your life.

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