The best USB-C Hub for 2025

The tablets and laptops become only powerful, but there are rarely enough ports to use all this potential. While Bluetooth accessories certainly have their place, you may prefer the speed and accuracy of cable peripherals – not to mention elements that have no wireless colleagues.

5 You have two main options for adding more connectivity to your tablet or laptop: docking station or hub. Both provide some combination of additional USB, HDMI, SD card slot, Ethernet and/or 3.5 mm ports, so you can connect peripherals such as monitors or cable mice and keyboards. Docking stations tend to be larger, require alternating current and are usually intended to be stationary. On the other hand, USB-C Hub, on the other hand, is more portable and does not need its own energy source. We tested more than a dozen options to come up with the best USB-C Hub to maximize your ports and we included tips on what to look for before you buy.

Content

• The best USB-C hubs for 2025

• What to look for in USB-C hub

• How do we test USB-C hubs

• Other hubs we tested

The best USB-C hubs for 2025

What to look for in USB-C hub

HUB vs the docking station

The first thing you need to decide is whether you need a USB-C Hub or USB-C Docking Station. There is no standard for what the two sets, but docking stations tend to have more ports, offer a separate DC power adapter and cost more, with some reaching over $ 400. We have a separate guide to the best docking stations to check if you are looking for something more than what we are discussing here. In contrast, USB-C Hubs have between four and 10 ports, can maintain a passage to cross and usually cost between $ 30 and $ 150.

Hubs, sometimes also called Dongls or even multi -side adapters, have a greater sense for smaller settings with just a few peripherals, such as a monitor, a cable keyboard and a mouse and an accidental external device. They are also more portable as they are small and do not require special power. This could be useful if you change jobs, but you want to bring your accessories with you or if you want to replace your laptop with a more powerful tablet. The docking station has a greater sense for someone who needs a stable tuning for their laptop, including multiple external monitors, webcams, stream decks, microphones, etc.

Both docks and hubs make it easier to attract your laptop from your desk for a meeting or other short move, and when you return, you need to turn on only one cable to restore all your accessories.

Ports

The first port to be taken is that of your laptop or tablet. In order for USB-C Hub to work, it must connect to a port that supports video, data and power-everything is covered by everything listed as USB 3.0 or better, including USB4 and Thunderbolt 3 and 4. The port, of course, must also be Type-C. The sea of ​​laptops there is huge, so it is difficult to make summaries, but modern laptops should have at least one USB-C port that is sufficient and really each of our best choices for the best laptops.

Then it’s a matter of finding a good USB-C Hub that has the right connections for your needs. Most hubs offer some HDMI combo, USB, SD card reader, Ethernet and 3.5 mm ports. If you have a 4K monitor and would like at least 60Hz refresh speed, you will need a hub with HDMI 2.0 port – HDMI 1.4 goes to 30Hz. HDMI 2.1 will handle 4K to 120Hz, but the heads that have accepted this standard are not yet as common. Keep in mind that low refresh speed can make your screen feel lag, with the mouse looking shiny and the movements of your webcam look slow.

The additional USB ports of these accessories are usually type A or Type-C. They can support data with different transfer speeds, usually 5Gbps or 10Gbps. Some ports process only passable power and no data, and some can make data, power and video, so it is best to check the list of specifications to make sure you receive the necessary maintenance. Keep in mind that the hub may be required as 7 in 1, but one of these ports may not be usable for anything but charging.

Standard SDs and microSD slots are useful for transferring data from cameras and the like. Ethernet ports can deliver faster Internet speeds than your Wi-Fi and Hub with a 3.5mm jack can return the cable headphone connection that some laptops have been thrown away.

Energy supply

Almost all USB-C Hubs, I tested maintenance of passable charging. This means that if your laptop or tablet loads only through USB, you do not need to deal with another port on your laptop to keep everything outweighs. Unlike the docking station, hub power is optional. The only exception is if you want to close the lid of your laptop while working on an external monitor. Most computers will go into sleep mode if the lid is closed without power, so either the laptop or hub will need to be included in the wall to prevent this.

Many newer hubs include a 100W USB-C port for power supply (PD), with a healthy 80 to 85 watts going to your Mac, PC or tablet (the hubs take a little of the juice for yourself, therefore the 15-watt or so the difference). In my tests, a USB hub powered works as hot than when it does not pass the charge, so I prefer to power the computer directly using my own charger. But for tablets or other devices without additional ports, this PD option is important.

Some PD ports are also data ports – which is both good and bad. On the one hand, it feels lavishly using a perfectly good data port only for boring old electricity. But on the other hand, the USB-C connections that carry only charge are less versatile and seem to have more accessories than it really is.

Design

There is a surprisingly small variation of the design among hubs. Most look like a flat plate slightly smaller than the smartphone and have a Type-C attached cable. The loungers range from silver to silver to silver gray. Some are smaller than others, others have all ports on one edge, while others have ports on both sides. All this is simply to say that aesthetics will probably not make or break your purchase decision.

A variation that could tilt the scales is the length of the cable. Longer will give you more freedom as you arrange the hub on your desk, potentially even allows you to hide it behind your laptop. Or you may prefer short to keep the hub neatly next to your laptop.

How do we test USB-C hubs

Before testing something, we look at what is available and how they were obtained from buyers, forum participants and other publications. I met several reputable brands when I tested docking stations, so I also looked at hubs from these companies. I focused on items that would help in the mid-range performance-not high-end settings or demanding game situations. After settling for a dozen or so that would make good candidates, I sent them to my modest office in the desert and started testing them for several weeks.

I used M1 MacBook Pro as a host computer and included accessories that include 4K Dell Monitor, ZSA USB-C Ergo Keyboard, Logitech USB-A Gaming Mouse, Ilgato USB-C 4K Webcam, Logitech Streaming Light, USB-US The Samsung T7 Liff probably needs to invest in some cable headsets, but the cord hanging on my chest makes me Orekhov so that all my headsets are wireless). I used HDMI and USB-C high-end cables to ensure that any data problems or connectivity are not related to my equipment.

Then I put each USB-C Hub through a range of basic tests. I looked at what could be included at one time, the resolution of the monitor, the speed of data transfer, the overall quality of hub construction and the common usability factors, such as the placement of the ports and the length of the cords. Finally, the price / value ratio has helped determine the best for several different use cases.

Other hubs we tested

HyperDrive next 10 port USB-C Hub

There is something to like in the next 10 HyperDrive USB-C Hub port. The connected cable is lavish 13 inches long, the HDMI 2.0 port chooses clear and crunchy 4K visualizations at 60Hz, and data transfers are screaming quickly. It has a coveted two USB-C data ports plus PD port and even has a headphone jack. The only thing that restrains full approval is the way our unit processes flow light. When I did in full brightness, he made the webcam every time. The problem disappeared with 75 percent brightness, but the same problem did not happen at another center I tested.

Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1)

There is nothing wrong with the Anker 341 USB-C Hub. In fact, this is an up -to -date recommendation in our iPad accessories guide and is available at a great price of $ 35. It gives you two USB ports as well as SD slots. But at this point, a 1.4 HDMI connection, which supports only 4K resolution at 30Hz, feels a little retro. There is also only one USB-C port on the chain and data transfer tests turned out to be a touch of slower than the other hubs. But if you have a lower resolution monitor and you don’t need more than one USB-C, you will not be disappointed with it.

Starting 4-Portial USB-C Hub (Data Only)

I became aware of Startech only when I began to explore this guide. The quality is decent, and the yellow accents are a welcome color in the otherwise very gray world of hubs. The performance is solid, without hiccups I encountered. The 4-port USB-C Hub of the brand has a long cord that wraps around the hub itself, which is unique. This is not worried about supplying power, which is not a problem if you can power your computer directly. But the four USB ports (three type A and one type C) maximum at 5Gbps and there is no HDMI connector. It goes to $ 46 and unfortunately there are more expensive ways to get a few more USB ports for your setup.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/best-usb-c- Hub-120051833.html?src=ssss

Computing,Technology & Electronics,Personal Finance – Lifestyle,site|engadget,provider_name|Engadget,region|US,language|en-US,author_name|Amy Skorheim

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