USB-C significantly simplified how we join all the pieces 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. After all, connecting all of these issues on the identical 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 checklist has the perfect USB-C hubs that we have examined.
For many who desire a full-featured journey dock, the perfect USB-C hub is the EZQuest USB-C Multimedia 8-port Hub. There are inexpensive 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 gadgets linked even sooner. EZQuest makes a number of different USB-C hubs together with a 13-in-one mannequin additionally on this checklist. Nonetheless, if a extra sturdy dock with Thunderbolt assist is critical, the perfect we have examined proper now’s the Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station because of a horny low-profile design and well-rounded port assortment, and it doesn’t get scorching when put to full use.
Narrowing down your choices and discovering the perfect USB-C hub comes all the way down to realizing how moveable you want it to be, your required knowledge switch velocity and precisely which connections you want. Listed below are a few of our favourite USB-C docking stations that we have examined. We’ll proceed to replace this checklist as we discover new USB hubs and docks to advocate. And should you’re trying to cost your USB-C gadgets, listed here are the perfect choices per our testing.
Learn extra: Finest USB-C PD Chargers of 2022
Finest USB-C hubs
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
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 restricted 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. On the finish is a Gigabit Ethernet reference to an exercise LED (one thing different hubs this dimension sometimes depart off). However what units it aside from others at this dimension are the helpful labels printed on high of the anodized aluminum case.
There’s 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 might trigger it to slip round your desk — a typical concern with hubs this dimension. However should you’re in search of a single hub to cowl all the pieces from an exterior show and robotechcompany.com internet entry to charging your telephone, this has you lined.
You are receiving worth alerts for EZQuest USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
We have used many Monoprice gadgets over time and so they’ve usually delivered extra for the cash. This slim six-in-one journey dock isn’t any totally different, providing you with simply sufficient to hook up your laptop computer to peripherals and a monitor as much as 4K at 60Hz. Additionally, do you have to want an Ethernet port, there’s a seven-in-one mannequin for $10 extra.
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
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 displays at 60Hz or a single 8K show at 30Hz. One other Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port on the entrance connects to your PC or Mac. The port is shifted all the best way to the precise in order that the cable would not block different ports and makes it simpler to maintain the cable out of the best way.
Three USB 3.1 Gen 2 Kind-A ports, a USB 2.0 Kind-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 absolutely loaded, it remained comparatively cool in comparison with others we have examined.
You are receiving worth alerts for Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
Most individuals, together with me, use hub and dock interchangeably however they’re totally different gadgets. A hub provides extra ports to a pc to connect extra gadgets. The Factor Hub, for example, turns one Thunderbolt 4 port in your laptop computer into three Thunderbolt 4 ports so you’ll be able to connect further shows, high-speed storage and peripherals. It additionally provides you 4 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Kind-A ports with knowledge speeds as much as 10Gbps so as to add USB-A gadgets. And the hub may be daisy-chained to a different Thunderbolt 4 dock or hub for much more connections.
The included energy adapter (it is truly bigger than the hub itself) can ship as much as 60 watts of charging energy to connected gadgets. That is not sufficient for extra power-hungry laptops however fantastic for a Chromebook and smaller laptops like a Dell XPS 13 or Apple MacBook Air. You too can disconnect it out of your laptop and simply use it to energy up your telephone, pill and different gadgets.
One different good contact: CalDigit made the design reversible so you’ll be able to flip it in your desk to have whichever ports you would like dealing with ahead.
You are receiving worth alerts for CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Factor Hub
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
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 Home windows or MacOS programs. Home windows customers can choose 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. Should you’re utilizing it with a laptop computer with a USB-C energy adapter, you should use 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 hold your desk tidy, and it is mild sufficient to journey with should you wanted to (however there are higher choices for that on this checklist).
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
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 assist a show as much as 4K decision at 60Hz. Or you’ll be able to run a USB-C-to-HDMI twin splitter and join two 4K shows at 30Hz so you’ll be able to run as much as three displays between the HDMI port and Thunderbolt 3 ports.
You may 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 offer sufficient juice to run all the pieces, although, the PowerExpand Elite has a big 180-watt energy adapter. Additionally, the fanless design means the physique is one massive warmth sink so it could possibly get scorching when it is absolutely loaded. You may stand it vertically to assist hold it cooler.
You are receiving worth alerts for Anker PowerExpand Elite Docking Station
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
Most small USB-C hubs have brief connected cables. That is fantastic in case your laptop computer is on a desk and never on a laptop computer stand and that desk has loads of area instantly subsequent to your laptop computer’s USB-C port. For many who might use some further cable attain, although, the Lention C37 is good.
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. That is additionally an awesome choice for desktops which can be saved on the ground.
You are receiving worth alerts for Lention CB-C37 USB-C Hub
Josh Goldman/robotechcompany.com
The Final Plus reveals off simply what’s doable with a single USB-C port. Together 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. However the greatest motive to decide on this mannequin is its assist 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 is quite a bit for one compact desktop dock and a single connection to your laptop computer or desktop.
In our assessments, it lived as much as its promise of dealing with all of its connections directly. The ports won’t supply the quickest speeds of different docks (the USB-A ports high out at 5Gbps for instance), but when three displays and loads of further connections in your desk are what issues, that is the dock for you.
Dan Ackerman/robotechcompany.com
This add-on dock slides proper over the foot of a 24-inch iMac. It consists of USB-A and USB-C ports, plus slots for each microSD and SD playing cards and even an inner slot for an M.2 storage drive. The 11-inch large 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. However should you’re in search of a tidy answer so as to add some further ports to an iMac, it is a candy answer.
You are receiving worth alerts for Satechi USB-C Slim Dock for 24-inch iMac
Is a USB-C port the identical as a USB port?
The USB port most are aware of is USB Kind-A. Typically known as a regular 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?
Whereas USB-C ports might seem the identical from system to system, they aren’t. Even USB-C ports on the identical laptop computer may need totally different capabilities. As an example, Thunderbolt 3 or 4 gadgets will solely be absolutely supported by a pc with the corresponding Thunderbolt USB-C port. Sadly, you’ll be able to’t simply have a look at the port and know precisely what you might have. Test along with your laptop producer for what your laptop computer (or desktop) mannequin helps before you purchase a USB-C dock or adapter.
