They also tend to be more portable because they're lighter and smaller (and don't usually need a wall plug).
Hubs make your MacBook Pro more versatile, providing several different ports. My recommendation is always to have a USB-A-to-USB-C adapter like the one Apple sells on hand because that's the most commonly-used cable for connecting peripherals to your computer. They are almost always a single-port changeover, like USB-C-to-USB-A or USB-to-Lightning, though sometimes they may have one or two additional ports, like HDMI. Adapter, hub, or docking station: Which one is right for you?Īdapters are the simplest peripherals for port versatility. It's 1.5 meters long and made out of kevlar so that you could throw it off the side of a cliff, and it'll still work like new to connect your devices to your MacBook Pro. It also supports USB-C PD (power delivery) at up to 100 watts. It's made of kevlar and has three connector options: USB-A, USB-C, and micro-USB. To help you decide, we've listed the exact ports that each model features above.This universal cable is my personal favorite I take it everywhere with me. However, if you really only need a small selection of ports and you have at least two USB-C ports, then you might want to consider saving your cash and investing in a more affordable model instead. This is particularly useful if your laptop only has one USB-C slot, as otherwise you'd need to choose between charging your battery or using your USB hub (and if you're ever on a deadline, this will be a particularly frustrating choice to have to make!). This means that you can use the USB-C hub to charge your laptop at the same time as connecting your other devices. You'll also find that high end USB-C hubs will also feature passthrough charging. If you have a lot of different devices that you regularly use, then it'll likely be worth investing in a more expensive model. The best USB-C hubs can actually vary wildly in price – but what's the reason for this? Well, aside from a superior build quality, more expensive hubs will typically feature a wider variety of ports and more ports in total. What is a USB-C hub?Ī USB-C hub is essentially a small adapter that you can plug into your laptop's USB-C port, enabling you to connect a range of different devices to your computer through it. You'll find the best USB-C hub listed above. It's worth noting that the fastest USB-C connectors support the Thunderbolt protocol, so look for this if you're in need of a particularly zippy USB-C hub. USB-C is now the industry standard, enabling users to transfer data in a speedy fashion and output video at higher resolutions and faster refresh rates. So if 4K output and portability aren’t your main priorities, you’ll probably wish to head elsewhere. it supports only four ports: one USB 3.1 port, an HDMI port, a DisplayPort and an RJ45 Ethernet port. Which makes it very impressive that it can drive dual 4K displays at 60Hz simultaneously.īeyond that, though, there’s not much to shout about. At just over 100g, and with a handy tuck-away wire, it’s small enough to fit in your pocket. If you want to output to two 4K displays, but don’t want something big and bulky, then the Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock could be the choice for you.
However, a new type of connector emerged called USB-C that delivers faster transfer speeds than its older brother, USB-A.
USB connectors all used to look the same a few years ago. Also it has a very bright LED light that you can't turn off and can be a little annoying. Its only real downsides are the lack of Ethernet connectivity and the fact that you can only stream 4K at 30Hz. It’s also wonderfully small and light, includes SD and microSD card slot and an impressive three USB-A ports, and is surprisingly cheap.
And you need this feature but don't want to spend much money, we’d suggest you check out the HooToo USB C Hub, which offers an impressive 100W of passthrough charging. It’s handy when you can use your USB-C hub to charge your laptop, especially if it’s one with only one USB-C slot in total.