Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 are easy to confuse, not least because both offer the same USB-C connector and the same maximum data transmission performance (40Gbps). Though USB 4 can only send at this rate over 1 meter, half that of Thunderbolt 4. USB 4 is even based on the Thunderbolt protocol, but the two are not the same. They're just very similar. Handily there’s a USB-C-to-HDMI-2.0 adapter that you can use to attach an external display. Other hubs require you to buy such an adapter. It is priced the same as the Caldigit Element Hub, which is still our favorite Thunderbolt 4 hub, with its four 40Gbps/18W Thunderbolt 4 and four 10Gbps/7.5W USB-A ports. However, if you own a large power-hungry laptop, the Belkin’s 96W USB PD charging will impress. It doesn’t consider swapping a TB4 port for HDMI or DisplayPort, instead allowing you to choose either a direct USB-C display—or one of the other video connections via a third-party adapter.

USB hub 2023: Improve your laptop’s connectivity for less Best USB hub 2023: Improve your laptop’s connectivity for less

Still, for Windows laptops, MacBook, and Chromebook users who only need a couple of reliable ports, this makes it onto our list of best USB-C hubs. Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) can reach 40Gbps, but, unlike Apple, some Windows PC manufacturers didn’t choose to offer all TB3’s benefits.A multi-format adapter adds different kinds of ports, usually in a very portable format that can either draw power from the host computer or channel pass-through power delivery via a USB-C port and your USB-C charger. Unlike cheaper hubs, it supports a full 60Hz refresh rate over HDMI, while there’s a Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 port for when you need a physical network connection. The Type-C and Type-A connections could be faster, with our SSD speeds limited to around 458MB/sec, but this is a great, fully featured hub that’s still affordable and – most importantly – it just works. The Ugreen USB-C 4 port hub is squarely aimed at people who simply need more ports. Get this if you don't care how fast they are or whether there are any extras – you just get four USB 3.0 ports and nothing more. That's fine for connecting various devices (including chargers) but don't count on being able to plug in a monitor or slot in an SD card here. It beats most similar Thunderbolt 4 hubs with its 85W laptop-charging power (compared to 60W elsewhere). That said, its total 100W external power supply feels a little light given the potential 67.5W power drain if all the ports required charging simultaneously. The Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub comes from one of our favorite manufacturers and the build and design are premium. Yes, it’s slim (less deep but a little longer than the Caldigit Element Hub) and its Thunderbolt 4 ports are all present with a speedy USB-A port at the front—offering faster device charging than most (10W compared to 7.5W).

best USB Type-C hubs in 2023 | Laptop Mag The best USB Type-C hubs in 2023 | Laptop Mag

Expands a single USB-C port on your host device to four - perfect for easy data transfer with speeds up to 5 Gbps.Essentially, it's a tiny, super-fast connector that many of the best laptops today have a connector for, with the only downside being that USB A or USB B connectors can't be used with a USB Type-C port (that's where a USB Type-C hub comes in handy). Charge multiple items This is a handy 4 port multi-devices charging unit. However, you can only charge devices with a USB-C port and cord end.

Belkin USB-C 4-Port Mini Hub with Tethered USB-C Cable - USB

Caldigit has sacrificed one of the TB4 ports for a dedicated DisplayPort, which is fine if you need that video port but not as flexible as leaving three downstream TB4 ports with which you can add adapters for external displays. The OWC Thunderbolt Hub delivers with an upstream Thunderbolt 4 port, three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an extra USB-A port thrown in for good measure. We would have preferred to swap one of the USB-A ports for a second USB-C, but appreciate the powerful 20W charging capability of that USB-C—enough to fast-charge a phone or other smaller device.

It sullies its Pro title, however, with a couple of the ports being rather average, and the power supply could do with being higher, but it is otherwise well equipped. You don't have permission to access "http://www.argos.co.uk/browse/technology/computer-accessories/usb-hubs/c:30063/ports:4/" on this server. Ethernet is easier, as it’s hard to find a hub that doesn’t support Gigabit Ethernet speeds. That said, a small number now support the faster 2.5 Gigabit (2.5GbE) standard, which isn’t a priority for most home networks, but a plus for advanced users or just for future proofing. Every morning I have to charge my phone. The closest plug to charge from is in our kitchen. Invariably, I will be working with my laptop in the living room when I will receive a call or here a notification alert. In the pictures, I am using it to charge my phone via my laptop. Note the phone is not shown as I used it to take the pictures.

USB hubs - Cheap External USB hubs Deals | Currys External USB hubs - Cheap External USB hubs Deals | Currys

Take some of the claims made by some manufacturers with a pinch of salt. We tested a couple of hubs that promised high-end features but failed to deliver during testing. For example, they might promise 4K at 60Hz, but you might find that this only works on specific laptops and displays. These are very adaptable ports that can connect to a USB-C display or a display adapter—for example, USB-C-to-HDMI or DisplayPort.

It boasts four Thunderbolt 4 (all at 40Gbps bandwidth and 15W charging) and four USB-A 3.2 Gen.2 (10Gbps and 7.5W) ports. That’s more than any other Thunderbolt 4 hub we have seen or tested. Not that three downstream 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 10Gbps USB-A port (with 7.5W charging power) are all that humble. Gigabit Ethernet frees you from dodgy Wi-Fi and the fast SD card reader is a great way to add inexpensive portable storage. One of the TB4 ports is Upstream, for connection to your computer. The other three are Downstream, for connecting other devices.