Reviews of Best Usb C Hubs Android Galaxy Note 10

Mark Hachman / IDG

Laptops with USB-C ports are now almost ubiquitous, every bit the world moves abroad from slower USB-A ports to this faster, more versatile connectedness standard. Some laptops simply have USB-C connections—which means a USB-C hub is essential if y'all want to connect a wired USB-A mouse or keyboard, or an older wired printer. Of class, it'due south also a handy way to add an HDMI connection, an SD card reader, or simply more USB ports for storage.

In that location is no shortage of USB-C hubs with various combinations of legacy I/O, so finding the right drive for you can be like ordering off a card.

As of March 2022, nosotros're no longer dividing our picks into "basic" and "full-featured" groups since the prices for the latter have come up down then far equally to brand such distinctions pointless. You can buy a more total-featured hub for almost the same cost equally what Amazon sells its basic USB-C hub for.

To make our picks nosotros've tested numerous USB-C hubs to feel details y'all don't get from the specs alone, like whether the ports are crowded together or the hub runs a bit hot. Our recommendations for the best Thunderbolt docks—an upgraded version of a USB-C hub, basically—tin exist constitute in a separate story. We also explain those differences equally function of our buying advice.

A USB-C hub connects to the USB-C on the side of your laptop, such every bit on this Lenovo Yoga C740. In this example, the left port is used for charging, so you lot'd demand to buy a USB-C hub with a charging input to utilise with this slot. (Of course, you could also purchase a hubwithout charging capabilities and apply it in the other USB-C port, to the right of the charging port.)

The best USB-C hubs

Yous shouldn't accept to recollect likewise hard about a basic USB-C hub. Expect for a good price, consider whether yous want to pay a piddling extra for something like Ethernet, and try to find products with a good warranty for added peace of mind. Avoid whatever hubs that connect directly to the port rather than using a cord, as they can block other ports. Besides await for longer cords, for easier placement of the hub. Y'all won't need to worry most software drivers, although a warranty is ever a good thought.

Upper-tier USB-C hubs typically feature even more than ports, including Ethernet, HDMI, and power inputs. This is essentially the dongle equivalent of a docking station. Many of these fancier hubs feature the same basic 6-inch cable equally their more basic cousins, meaning they may dangle from tablets and some laptops. We've besides included a few, pricier USB docks with even more features.

Anker (Upgraded) USB-C Hub Adapter (seven in 1, A83460A2) – Best overall USB-C hub

Pros

• Skillful value for the money
• Excellent build quality
• Supplies 85W of power
• Good mix of legacy and newer ports

Cons

• 4K output is merely 30Hz

Can a USB-C hub experience elegant? This one does. Anker'due south vii-in-1 USB-C hub feels surprisingly weighty (3.5 ounces), with a premium metallic (aluminum and polycarbonate) sheen. It's also a scrap more expensive than its rivals. Anker'southward hub was among the coolest we've tested under load, at about 87 degrees.

Overall, Anker's hub is well designed, with acceptable spacing between the ii 5Gbps USB-A ports. There's also a 5Gbps USB-C connexion for data, plus a 2nd USB-C port for ability input at up to 85W rated. (The charger allows up to 100W in, only supplies 85W.) An HDMI port allows for 4K/30Hz video or 1080p/60Hz video to a single external display, standard for the category. Ethernet is excluded, however, and then y'all'll demand to utilize Wi-Fi instead. Cord length is most 8.5 inches, to a higher place the standard 6-inch length.

Anker's hub was among the fastest we tested to deliver data under load, including simultaneous data transfer betwixt USB-A ports while the SD ports were agile. The hub offers an xviii-month warranty, and information technology even ships with a conveying pouch.

Nosotros recommend not buying the more expensive $79.99 Anker viii-in-i Hub on Amazon unless you're happy connecting to two 1080p (and non 4K) displays…which is perfectly fine. Otherwise, the two HDMI ports volition but support two 4K displays at an eye-wearying 30Hz, not 60Hz.

Hiearcool USB-C Hub (UCN 3286) – All-time value USB-C hub

Pros

• Fantabulous price
• Performance met expectations

Cons

• HDMI was a little tiresome to connect

From the box, to the design, to the production number, Hiearcool's UCN 3286 appears to be a cousin to the FlePow UCN 3281. The deviation is that Hiearcool's UCN 3286 drops i of the three 5Gbps USB 3.0 ports and replaces it with a USB-C charging port capable of accepting upwards to 100W of input power.

The 4.5-inch UCN 3286 is made of aluminum, and connects to your laptop via a USB-C string that'southward a bit less than half dozen inches. During utilise, the CN 3286 warmed, though never uncomfortably. The hub supplied enough power for our bus-powered 10Gbps external SSD, even with other devices connected, and the read/write performance of all devices that we connected met expectations. That included the SD cards, also, which are rated at 104MB/due south and can support up to 2TB.

Though the HDMI connection required a few seconds to connect, information technology worked flawlessly, supplying 4K30 output. We were able to ability our examination notebook via the USB-C input into the hub, and accuse a connected telephone at normal (non "fast" or "ultra-fast") charging speeds at a measured four.86W.

QGeeM 7 in ane Type C Hub – Best value hub runner-up

Cons

• No apparent warranty
• Customers take complained of overheating

The QGeeM 7-in-one Hub I received tried to buy me off with an in-box promotion that promised a $10 Amazon carte du jour if I left a positive review. But I didn't need to be bought off to appreciate this compact, lightweight footling hub that covers all the basics, relieve ethernet.

The iii USB 3.0 ports are adequately spaced. An HDMI port at the end of the dock supports a single 4K display at 30Hz (or 1080p at 60Hz)—par for the form with a typical USB-C hub. QGeeM's hub includes support for both SD and microSD slots, using the older, prevalent UHS-I SD menu standard. Both cards share the aforementioned controller, allowing them to exist used one card at a time. It does leave out ethernet, though. QGeeM'due south documentation varies on how much power it can provide; Amazon's page says it can accept 100W (3A) and supply 85W, though the in-box documentation says 60W. The latter is correct. All the same, a USB-C charger connected to the port reported that it was charging adequately.

Under load the hub warmed to about 94 degrees, a comfortable temperature. (Some customers take complained that the hub gets likewise hot and will shut down, but we didn't see this.)

QGeeM doesn't seem to offer warranty back up, and the packaging skimps on niceties like a carrying bag. But this lightweight hub offers everything else a typical user will demand, and for a not bad price.

Lasuney Triple Display USB Type C HUB – All-time full-featured compact hub

Pros

• Incredible port flexibility

Cons

• USB-C bus throughput won't permit all ports to be used simultaneously

Lasuney'south 10-in-one hub (2 USB 3.0 ports, two USB ii.0 ports, 2 HDMI i.2 ports (4K@30Hz), DisplayPort Gigabit Ethernet, microSD/SD, USB-C power input) offers a lot for your money, including an unusual mix of non one, but two HDMI ports, and fifty-fifty a DisplayPort. Ethernet's included, besides, letting the hub supervene upon many of your wired connections. Power input is rated at 100W in, with virtually 87W bachelor to the laptop.

Merely the USB-C coach the hub runs on meridian of simply won't support all of the ports beingness used at once, which is a scrap of a gotcha. While we really similar the pair of HDMI ports for dual-display configurations, the fact is that y'all'll probably need to limit yourself to a pair of 1080p displays to avoid saturating the bus and slowing down the connection. Customers on Amazon have reported that they but got 1 to work, probably because the omnibus itself was saturated. The other trouble we establish, though, is that the SD card slot is way likewise slow. It took twice as long to transfer data compared to other hubs we tested. In all fairness, our other deejay-to-disk tests took about the same amount of time.

Lasuney'due south hub is well made, with skillful port spacing. It doesn't get uncomfortably warm, either. Just be realistic: we really similar the flexibility that the Lasuney hub offers, just don't purchase it thinking that you'll exist able to use everything at once.

AmazonBasics USB iii.1 Type C to 3 Port USB Hub with Ethernet (L6LUD001-CS-R) – Best basic USB-C hub

Pros

• Elementary, cheap, to the point

Cons

• For a few dollars more you lot tin add tons of additional functionality

The AmazonBasics L6LUD001-CS-R provides three USB iii.ane Type A ports plus gigabit ethernet to your laptop'due south existing USB-C port. There are no HDMI or charging inputs; this is simply an incremental pace upwardly from the AmazonBasics L6LUD012-CS-R, which forgoes the ethernet capabilities.

This hub is handy for those who don't have or don't trust Wi-Fi on the go. The lengthy 14-inch string adds some flexibility to your desktop layout. The hub performed comparably to the others nosotros've tested, and there weren't any issues with temperature or power.

At press fourth dimension, the toll was only $3 or and then above the price of the aforementioned AmazonBasics L6LUD012-CS-R, which makes this a no-brainer if you just want a bones hub. Though the hub ships in both black and white, nosotros noticed Amazon will occasionally discount i or the other by a few dollars. Honestly, though, the heated competition in the USB-C market means that the value this hub offered isn't as strong as it one time was.

IOgear Dock Pro (GUD3C02B) – All-time full-size USB-C dock

Pros

• All-time USB-C dock (not hub)
• Supplies power to your laptop
• Good brandish options

Cons

• Takes up an enormous amount of desk space
• Won't quick-charge phones

The IOgear Dock Pro (GUD3C02B) is the Big Kahuna of USB-C docks—and, given what it does, you lot most wonder why it wasn't made a Thunderbolt dock instead. At 2.9 x 11.02 x 0.5 inches, it's a thin, long, slanted wedge that props upward your laptop with a grippy rubber strip. It's a true dock, with a number of rear-facing ports optimized for dual displays, with a pes-long USB-C cable to kick.

Specifically, at that place's three USB 3.0 (Blazon A ports), one HDMI ane.4 por for 4K30 video, one DisplayPort 1.two port, Gigabit Ethernet, 1 SD/SDHC port and a microSD slot (both USH-I), VGA, a 3.5mm jack, and a USB-C port for up to 100W of external charging. Some of the additional ports come with some caveats: The VGA connection must be used solo, for example, and not in conjunction with either DisplayPort or VGA. Remember, all that data passed forth the USB-C cablevision tin interfere with one another, but IOgear plays it a scrap bourgeois; the manual says that two difficult drives tin't be connected simultaneously, but that's not true.

Be advised that the BC ane.two port provides up to 1.5A of power for quick-charging phones, though the port isn't compatible with the specialized quick-charging schemes of OnePlus or Samsung. (Phones from both manufacturers reported "charging" when connected, rather than "Fast charging".) Thermal issues weren't a problem, and performance was surprisingly good, even with HDMI and ethernet continued. The md supports Power Delivery 3.0 up to 85W, and consumes 15W by itself; in other words, if you accept a 100W laptop charger feeding power to the hub, 85W will exist left over for your laptop to employ.

A toll of about $125 or so is way more y'all'd wait to pay for a USB-C hub, but it's however less than a higher-speed Thunderbolt dock. Nevertheless, this USB-C hub is more of a USB-C dock; information technology'southward not really portable, and the class factor lends itself to a permanent spot on your desk-bound.

Plugable UD-6950H USB 3.0 Dual 4K Docking Station – Best full-size USB-C dock runner-up

Pros

• An alternative full-sized USB-C dock
• 4K/60 video is supported

Cons

• Bulky
• DisplayLink connection requires a driver
• Enormously expensive
• No power delivery

Plugable's big brother to the UD-3900H is $l more, only it might be worth it. This powered USB-C dock—not a dongle, but a full-sized dock—has some of the same issues as the UD-3900H. Information technology measures 3.25 x nine.five x one.25 inches, with a 3-pes USB-C to USB-C cablevision (or USB-C to USB-A), with four USB iii.0 (five.0Gbps) ports on the front and 2 more on the rear. Display ports are plentiful: two HDMI 2.0 ports and ii DisplayPort 1.2 ports, assuasive either a single 4K display at 60Hz or two at 30Hz. There'due south Gigabit Ethernet and a headphone jack, as well.

Like the other Plugable UD-3900H dock, y'all'll need to install a DisplayLink commuter, which is a slightly different interface that runs over USB-C. The dock doesn't supply any power to the laptop itself, another blackness mark. Just the inclusion of DisplayPort and its HDCP capabilities ways yous can watch Netflix, and in 4K if you'd like. Just all that data streaming over a USB-C connection also means that video playback is going to be stuttery. Nearly $180 is a ton of money to spend on a dock, too, though it comes with a 2-year warranty.

We'd recommend the UD-6950H equally the best USB-C dock that nosotros've seen. As we bespeak out below in our buying advice, still, the USB-C connection will be what limits this dock, not the dock itself. For a smoother connection, invest in a Thunderbolt dock if your PC supports information technology.

ICZI IZEC-TH01 – Best hub for bulky devices

Pros

• Unique radial design provides good port spacing

Cons

• Await this hub to require a ton of desk space
• A bit pricy

ICZI's IZEC-TH01 breaks from the typical USB-C hub design, forgoing the "candy bar" grade factor in favor of a radial hub. Two USB 3.0 Type-A ports are seated next to SD and microSD card slots, HDMI (4K at 30Hz)and VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, and a USB-C input connectedness for charging your laptop.

The extra-long 11-inch cable wraps around the exterior of the hub for storage. Sadly, the radial pattern waysother cables (VGA, HDMI, etc.) volition end up going in all directions. The center of the hub is taken upwards by a tray with a magnetic faceplate, large enough to store a dongle. Otherwise, our hub came with no documentation whatever, but a 24-calendar month warranty card that's double the elapsing of most of its contest.

The IZEC-TH01 does get a flake warm under load (copying files from an SD carte du jour to a PC while too copying files from an external difficult drive to an SSD, while streaming YouTube) merely simply to virtually 88 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a tad faster than other hubs, too. VGA and HDMI can be used simultaneously, and the hub supplies upwards to 900mA via USB-A for charging.

At iii.75 inches in bore, IZEC-TH01 is a bit big and bulky for our tastes, specially with cables going every which way. Otherwise it's a good value, though ICZI charges a bit more than other hubs.

Lenovo USB-C Travel Hub (GX90M61235) – Best hub for VGA displays

Pros

• Just the basics, including VGA

Lenovo'sGX90M61235 USB-C travel hub retains the same black, boxy aesthetic as generations of ThinkPad laptops. The odd pairing of connectors—VGA, HDMI (4K at 30Hz), a single USB 3.0 port, and Gigabit Ethernet—ways y'all'll be using your laptop's keyboard, possibly a mouse, and either brandish connector. Nosotros'd rather see Lenovo pick either VGAor HDMI and add some other USB port.

To be fair though, all of the ports performed equally expected and at that place was no perceptible heat increase when we tried to saturate the ethernet link and USB-C port simultaneously.

There are better deals elsewhere, in terms of price and ports. Only if you demand a VGA connector, this is one of the few options available.

RSHTECH USB C Hub Powered 4 Port USB Splitter (RSH-516) – Best hub for external hard drives

Pros

• Push-button on/off switches are a rarity
• For external hard drives that spin up and down, push button command is great

Cons

• A strange need for ability

This Rshtech RS-516 USB-C port splitter uses an unusually long two-foot cable to split a 5Gbps USB three.0 input (over USB-C) and separate information technology among four USB three.0 Type A ports. It'south too uncommon to see those ports controlled past LED-lit push button switches, and an optional 5V/2A adapter powering the whole affair.

The port splitter takes the 5Gbps input and splits information technology among the ports, which are only active if the corresponding LED-lit push is depressed. This applies to both power (the hub will accuse, though not fast-charge phones) and data. Port spacing isn't an consequence, and the ABS/aluminum construct handles oestrus well.

The Rshtech hub wouldn't always identify and connect to a double-decker-powered SSD, but it found every other device we connected to information technology. The performance of a powered external hard bulldoze plunged to near 20 percent when all ports were occupied, merely surged to nigh 67 percentage when the optional ability cable was plugged in—which Rshtech recommends when connected to external storage.

That cable (with a proprietary plug) is a pain, and the issues finding our SSD gave united states of america pause. But we actually liked how the hub allowed u.s.a. admission to and control of external difficult drives, which spin up and down loudly and randomly.

IOGEAR Travel Pro USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460) – Best meaty USB-C dock

Pros

• One of the smallest docks on the market
• Minimizes desk clutter

Cons

• No cablevision
• Can block ports

At ii.eight ten 0.31 x 1.22 inches, IOgear'south Travel Pro Mini Dock is an odd duck: an inexpensive, relatively tiny USB-C dock that plugs directly into your laptop, without a connecting cord.

"At that place's no mode this will work," you might think—merely it does, with just plenty room for your laptop's USB-C charger to sneak in one side of the dock, next to an HDMI cord, then a USB key or cord, and a 3.5mm jack. (The Mini Dock supports upward to 60W of ability in from an external charger.)

That's fine, of form, if your laptop'due south USB-C port is all past its lonesome. Otherwise, the Travel Pro Mini Dock volition cake ports as information technology tries to offer expansion capabilities—and that's a problem for laptops similar the Asus ZenBook, which forego a 3.5mm headphone jack but cram their USB-C ports too close together to make IOgear's dock feasible.

Nosotros like the thought, only there are cheaper, better docks out there with more than flexibility.

How to choose a USB-C hub

Here's where to commencement: Take a look at the peripherals y'all own, or plan to buy. Practise yous take an old external hard drive that uses a traditional USB-A cablevision? Do you manually support photos from an SLR via its SD carte? Or is your Wi-Fi connexion unreliable enough that you'd prefer ethernet? Figure out what ports you'll demand. This advice is also for Windows users; Macs have their own limitations on USB-C connections.

This laptop has several USB-C ports, simply if yours has only 1, you'll want to daisy-chain the laptop'due south power cord by plugging information technology directly into the hub, like so.

It'due south likewise important to take stock of your laptop or tablet'due south ports: Does it have 1 USB-C port or ii? If your device just has one port, is there a dissever charging connection? If your laptop or tablet has a USB-C port anduses it exclusively for charging, you'll desire to buy a USB-C hub with a dedicated charging input port. (In this case, it's besides possible that only the charging port on the hub will work, though this isn't typical.) Note how much input power it allows, and confirm that volition be sufficient for your laptop. Otherwise, you lot'll be forced to choose between charging your laptop and accessing other devices, which makes little sense.

Continue in heed that the hub's power port is for taking powerin to your laptop, and notout to a telephone. Just your hub may notwithstanding be able to charge your phone, with some caveats. A "bus-powered" USB hub connects to your laptopand pulls power from information technology, which it has to share with several devices. A powered USB dock will take power from the wall, route information technology through your hub, and share it with whatever device connected to it. These devices volition make more than power available for fast charging your telephone. (Your hub won't enable specialized charging like the Samsung Galaxy S20'southward Super Fast Charging, however, even if you utilize the supplied Samsung cable. You'll still demand to connect your phone to its charger for that.)

Some newer, pricier laptops now come up with Thunderbolt connections, which offer a greater amount of bandwidth than a traditional USB-C connexion. If this is the example, consider buying a Thunderbolt dock instead. A USB-C port typically provides 5 or 10Gbps, while USB-C with Thunderbolt typically provides 40Gbps. (Consult your owner's manual or the published specifications of your laptop if you aren't sure.)

The bandwidth difference matters more than as more devices are attached to the USB-C hub. For depression-bandwidth devices like a mouse or a keyboard, bandwidth volition never be an issue. External storage shouldn't be, either. But a USB-C hub with a display, and Ethernet, and external storage, and a mouse and keyboard all fastened to it may clog the USB-C port. In the real world, that may mean slower information transfers from an external difficult drive, or stuttering when playing a high-definition YouTube video. Normally, we'd think that is the mistake of the PC. In this case, it'south not — it's all of that data flowing through the USB-C port.

You tin can get around this, in part. Instead of using a dedicated Ethernet connexion, you tin can use a separate Wi-Fi connection instead. The main exception is displays. USB-C delivers plenty bandwidth to drive an external 1080p or 4K brandish, fifty-fifty 2 (provided your hub has a pair of HDMI or DisplayPort connectors). But while USB-C can bulldoze a pair of 1080p displays at a proficient 60Hz, it can simply run 4K displays at 30Hz, which can be fatiguing on the eyes. So simply keep that in mind when considering a USB-C hub or dock.

Remember, you'll need to own or purchase a Thunderbolt-equipped laptop if you want more than bandwidth. Once again, the general reason to prefer Thunderbolt over USB-C are a desire for higher-resolution displays: if yous want to run at 60Hz with your 4K monitor/s, yous'll need a generally more expensive Thunderbolt dock. Our pick for Thunderbolt docks is the IOgear GTD300, simply yous tin find lots of options in our roundup of best Thunderbolt docks. If yous pursue this road, pay attending to details: You'll need to ensure the dock and monitor support Dual-Way DisplayPort i.2 (DP++) ports, and the HDMI ports are rated at HDMI 2.0. (The vast majority already do.) The cables, also, need to be rated at the advisable speeds.

Thunderbolt cables and ports include the little lightning-bolt icon, which differentiates them from the otherwise unmarked USB-C cables.

Because USB-C is common among Macs, Windows PCs, and phones, some hubs align their branding with a particular platform. Go ahead and use that USB-C that's billed as being "for MacBook Pro, Chromebook, and XPS" with any Windows PC—we did, and it works just fine. You won't even need any special software or drivers.

How we test USB-C hubs

Nosotros used motorcoach-powered peripherals to test each hub: an SSD, a hard drive, and a rewriteable DVD drive, all to brand sure enough ability was being delivered. We also ran speed tests on those hubs with ethernet connections, just to detect any anomalous results. We performed spot checks with other peripherals.

Even though two USB-C hubs may have wildly unlike brand names, you may sometimes observe that they're otherwise identical or just very similar.

We conducted standardized tests to transfer a file from the SSD to the laptop; from the difficult drive to the SSD; and so from an SD card to the PC, while simultaneously transferring files from the hard bulldoze to the SSD. In some cases nosotros used AJA's System Tool app to run read and write tests on connected drives. In almost all cases, the performance was identical, with a spread of about 3 percent—good news for you, as that's 1 less matter to worry about.

We measured the surface temperature while these tests were run. You'll run into some buyers on Amazon pages complaining about how hot a hub gets; some exercise get on the warmer side. Also, where we could, we measured the ability input for each hub.

Nosotros looked at how SD cards were inserted—yous'd be surprised how many don't work unless they're inserted upside down!

We too noted the cord length, as shorter cables limit your options when positioning the hub around your laptop or tablet. Worst case, a short cable causes a hub to dangle from a tablet whose USB-C port is mounted toward the acme.

Why carp testing something as ridiculous every bit the spacing between the USB Type A ports? Because if you don't, you can come across this situation: Considering the ports are spaced too closely together, just one of these USB keys can exist inserted at a time.

Afterward testing nearly a dozen USB-C hubs, nosotros can confirm that some no-names perform just as well every bit their more well-known counterparts, and for less money, besides. One thing to continue in mind: Because price is so disquisitional to our recommendations, know that some of the prices may change equally manufacturers offer sales. Therefore some hubs nosotrosdidn't recommend primarily based on price could become more purchase-worthy.

Updated on March 31, 2022 with additional recommendations and buying advice.

Notation: When you purchase something after clicking links in our manufactures, we may earn a small commission. Read our affiliate link policy for more details.

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As PCWorld'southward senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft news and chip engineering, among other beats. He has formerly written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.

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Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/402858/the-best-usb-c-hubs-for-your-laptop-tablet-or-2-in-1.html

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