The sides of older computers were littered with various ports and connectors. More recently, though, manufacturers have shrunk their products, even more, eliminating features like the HDMI port and Ethernet port.
The current USB-C connection standard, or its speedier Thunderbolt 3 or 4 siblings, is being used in an increasing number of laptops (including Apple’s MacBooks and Dell’s XPS line) and tablets (including Apple’s iPad Pro) due to its small size and adaptability.
However, you will need a USB-C hub or adaptor in order to link non-USB-C devices to your USB-C laptop or tablet. You can use this port to connect a variety of peripherals, including a hard drive, memory stick, DVD drive, phone charger, wired Gigabit Ethernet connection, external display, or projector.
Plugable USB-C 7-in-1 Multifuction hub
The small and inexpensive 7-port Plugable USB-C Multifunction Hub has seven ports from one integrated USB-C connection, including a 4K HDMI output for connecting an external display, power pass-through (at a whopping 87W) to charge associated devices, three 5Gbps USB-A ports, and SD and microSD slots.
If you have a 4K (at 30Hz) or Full HD 1080p display or projector, you can connect them via the HDMI 1.4 connector.
If your laptop or other USB-C device has only one USB-C port, pass-through charging will come in very handy. More energy is provided than is typical of hubs, at 87W.
It’s compact, weighs only 88 grams, and can charge your devices on the go thanks to its short integrated cord, making it a convenient travel companion.
Baseus 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
The stylish Baseus 8-in-1 USB-C Hub adds eight more ports to your laptop. It has high-quality PD USB-C pass-through charging (up to 100W), so you won’t have to sacrifice a laptop USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port for charging or syncing. There are three USB-A connections, each capable of transferring data at 5Gbps but providing only 7.5W of power for charging a device.
You can add extra storage space to your laptop with a flash memory card, or use the SD or MicroSD (TF) slot to insert a memory card for your camera.
There’s also gigabit Ethernet and an HDMI port that can drive 4K TVs at 30 frames per second, which isn’t going to blow the minds of gamers but should be more than plenty for the rest of us.
Kingston Nucleum 7-port USB-C adapter
In addition to a 4K HDMI output (30Hz), power pass-through (60W) for charging connected devices, two USB-C (5Gbps) ports, two USB-A (5Gbps), SD and microSD slots, and a single USB-C connection, the high-quality Kingston Nucleum offers a total of seven connections.
A USB-C laptop’s power supply can also be used to read and write to a USB flash drive and charge a mobile device. It’s lightweight, small, and has a built-in cord, making it a convenient travel companion.
Power pass-through is available via the two legacy USB-A ports, so you may charge your phone or wireless headphones simultaneously.
Kingston Nucleum 7-port USB-C adapter – 7-port USB-C hub with two USB-C
The high-quality Kingston Nucleum has 7 connections, all of which can be accessed from a single USB Type-C cable: a 4K HDMI output (30Hz), power pass-through (60W) for charging connected devices, 2 USB-C (5Gbps) ports, 2 USB-A (5Gbps) ports, SD and microSD slots.
In addition to charging your phone, you can connect a USB Flash drive to a USB-C laptop’s power supply. It’s lightweight, small, and has a built-in cord that’s perfect for keeping in your bag as you travel.
You can power pass-through devices like a smartphone or Bluetooth headphones using any of the two legacy USB-A connections.
Hyperdrive 7-in-1 USB-C Hub Stand
A laptop stand and a USB-C hub in one, this ingenious gadget has seven connections. As useful as it is at home or at the workplace, it may be all you need to bring with you on your travels.
There are five ergonomic positions available on the portable stand that raise a laptop (up to 17 inches) for a better viewing angle.
There are six ports on board, including a USB-C PD (100W) to keep your laptop juiced up with the included cable, and it has an integrated cable.
