The race to further slim down and reduce the weight of laptops continues and all popular device makers are taking the I/O and connectivity ports to the slaughterhouse. You should expect laptop/ PC makers to only further cut down on the port selection as they are switching to USB Type-C. With this new development, every PC and Mac user now requires a good USB hub if they want to be able to connect accessories and peripherals to their laptop. With regards to it, we’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of the 10 best USB hubs (including USB C hubs) that you can buy in 2020.
1. Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub
If you’re just looking to expand on the number of USB ports on your laptop, then Sabrent has this perfect little 4-port USB hub that should meet your requirements. It is fairly easy to use as it works by simply plugging into a USB-A port, preferably USB 3.0, and is not a pain to carry around because of its compact construction.
- Supports transfer speeds up to 5Gbps
- Reverse compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 devices
- 4-port USB hub
- Comes with durable 2 feet cable
Cons:
If four ports aren’t enough for handling your daily workload, then this 7-port TP-Link USB hub suggested by one of our readers could be what you’re looking for. It can help expand the number of USB ports available on your PC, Play Station, Xbox, and other devices with all 7 offering data transfer functionality.
Pros:
We went from four ports to seven, and now here’s a 10-port USB hub from Anker that is going to be a Godsend if you’re someone who connects a lot of external storage devices and accessories to your laptop. This USB-C hub offers a 60W output and will also be a boon for you if you’re planning to charge a number of devices on the move.
Seven out of the ten ports here are USB 3.0 ports and are dedicated for data transferring with speeds up to 5Gbps. The remaining three are PowerIQ ports, which means they are designed to automatically detect the required power output for the connected device and render the same. The power output can be up to 2.1A per port or 10A overall, where you can connect anything from an Android or iOS phone to tablets, consoles, or cameras.
Are 10 ports too much for you? Are you looking for something tiny and compact? Well, we have yet another recommendation from Sabrent for you and it’s this 3-port mini USB hub. The lightweight and sturdy build of this USB hub that is inspired by Apple’s design, makes it the perfect companion for travelers who like to connect an external HDD or their phones to transfer data at up to 5Gbps. Its use is not restricted to MacBooks.
Cons:
Cons:
- May not allow an external HDD to connect to MacBook
Well, if you’re a power user (or someone in IT) who needs to have a number of external storage devices and accessories connected to their system at all times, then you need a large number of USB ports. SmartDelux is here to save the day with its 13-port USB 3.0 hub, with 10 USB 3.0 data transfer ports and 3 fast-charging ports onboard.
- Can transfer data at speeds up to 5Gbps
- 13-port
- LED indicator for tracking power status
- 3 fast-charging ports
If you own a gaming PC, laptop, or a console system where you require to connect more devices, then Kokovolta’s vertical hub is designed for gamers in mind. It has a standout design (unlike the bland rectangular shape of USB hubs) that’s reminiscent of Alienware CPUs with a blue LED glowing through it.
Pros:
Up until now, we have talked about USB-A hubs but with laptops ditching I/O ports for a slimmer and lighter design, we can’t forget about USB Type-C hubs. Our first suggestion would be a multi-purpose USB hub from Euasoo, that brings all of the necessary ports to your device.
It works simply via the buspower and does not require you to connect a power adapter to get 3 USB 3.0 ports, a single USB C port, 4K HDMI video output (supporting 4K @ 30GHz and 1080p @ 60GHz), RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, a VGA port, Audio/Mic 2-in-1 port, and SD/ Micro SD card reader in a slim build that fall in line with most modern laptops.
9. HyperDrive 8-in-1 USB C Hub Dongle
If you own a latest-gen MacBook Pro or any of your colleagues does, then you might have heard them talk about HyperDrive. It’s one of the most popular USB C hub makers and it offers you all of the ports necessary to help you continue with your regular tasks without any hiccups. It has a sleek and trendy design that’s similar to the current-gen MacBooks.
- Can charge multiple devices at a decent speed
- Supports USB-C pass-through charging
- Built-in USB-C cable
- Impressive portable design
10. Anker 7-in-1 USB C Hub
Finally, if you are not willing to shell out $100 bucks on a USB hub, even though you may be inclined to spending $1000 on a new iPhone (burn!), then Anker makes the perfect compact hub that expands the connectivity options for your MacBook Pros, new iPad Pro, Chromebook or Galaxy smartphone.
- Stream 4K video at 30 Hz
- Delivers 5 Gbps data transfer speeds consistently
- Equipped to read standard SD and microSD cards
- Safe charging
Q. Is a powered USB hub better?
Yes. A powered USB hub is better as it uses mains power, which helps it deliver maximum voltage to every device connected to it.
No. Most USB hubs are fully equipped to charge multiple devices at rapid speed. So, you can bank on them to power up your devices at a good speed.
Though you can daisy-chain hubs, ensure that you don’t exceed the limits.
Q. Can I charge multiple devices through a USB Hub?
Many USB hubs like the ones mentioned in this article come with multiple ports. Thus, you can charge multiple devices through a USB hub.
The real difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 lies in the transfer speed. While the USB 2.0 delivers transfer speed up to 480 Mbps, the USB 3.0 offers transfer speed up to 4.8 Gbps – a whopping 10 timers faster!
There you go! That ends our roundup of the best-selling and functional USB hubs, which you can buy depending on your use case. If you’re someone who simply wants more ports, then we’ve got a good collection with 4 to 13 port USB hubs, But, if you want to get a bit more out of the MacBook you recently bought, then the USB C hubs towards the end of this list are for you.
