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Dell 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport Adapter - DA310

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• The data transfer adapter gives error-free transmission with high-speed
• USB-C adapter is fast & durable adding convenience in life

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Dell USB C Mobile Adapter Review and Unboxing

The Guys from SRB & Co.

Is it worth it? Dell 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport Adapter

✅ Tony's Reviews

Dell USB-C mobile adapter DA310

eDealerTech

Dell 7 in 1 Multiport Adapter | 2 Year review!

Product Description

Comprehensive 7-in-1 adapter with power pass-through The Dell 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport Adapter is a compact and portable multiport 7-in-1 adapter that can connect to just about any device you have. Its downstream USB-C port supports power pass through and is ideal when your laptop does not have any more USB-C charging ports.

Widest variety of ports: Featuring the widest range of ports available that includes 2 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 VGA and 1 RJ-45 port. The mobile adapter offers seamless connectivity to various devices like monitors, projectors, headsets, keyboard, mouse, flash drives and other accessories.

Multi-functional USB-C port: With a USB-C downstream port that supports power pass through, video and data, you can connect to a monitor at up to 4K resolution at 30Hz, get up to SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps data transfer and 90W power pass through to your laptop.

Crisp 4K resolution at 60Hz: Connect to high-resolution displays without compromising on performance, as the adapter supports 4K resolution at 60Hz. Simply connect your monitor or projector to your PC via DisplayPort or HDMI 2.0 port on your adapter.

SuperSpeed data transfers: Two USB-A and one USB-C downstream ports let you connect to other supported peripherals and enjoy fast file transfers up to 10 Gbps SuperSpeed .

Innovative patented design The smallest and most compact 7-in-1 adapter, this portable multiport adapter has the most complete variety of ports offered in a USB-C adapter. Its patented design offers unique cable management, allowing you to extend and retract the cable when needed.

Lightweight and portable:

The smallest and most compact 7-in-1 adapter that is just about the size of your palm, does not take up much space and easily fits in your pocket or bag.

Flexible cable management: Experience unique cable management with its patented design that keeps the cable concealed and protected when not in use. Easily extend or retract the USB-C cable by rotating the top and bottom cover of the adapter.

Stable connection:

Connect to various form factors from clamshells to 2-in-1s to detachables. The round coaxial cable offers enhanced signal quality for stable connectivity wherever your busy day takes you.

Highly reliable Have uninterrupted video and internet even while plugging/unplugging your USB-C power source from the adapter. The adapter is widely compatible as it works with major operating systems and supports business class features when used with Dell PCs. Added peace of mind as it comes with 3-year warranty.

What's in the box

• 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport Adapter - DA310
• 1 x USB-C Cable - Integrated - 12 cm (4.7 Inch)

Customer reviews

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the connectivity of the docking station, mentioning it provides all the connectors they need. They like that it is convenient and easy to carry. Customers are also happy with size, versatility, and quality. However, some customers have reported issues with the monitor capacity and ports. They say that the dock only supports one monitor at a time and that the USB-C port stopped working. Customers also have mixed opinions on value.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the quality of the docking station. They mention that it works great, has no issues, and is an adequate and useful device. Some say that it's perfect and has no functionality that they are missing.

"...This one was smaller less expensive and had no issues getting all the extended devices working ." Read more

"...This Dell 7-in1 USB multiport adaptor is by far the most portable, reliable , mini docking station I have ever used...." Read more

"...While it works great with my Dell precision notebook , I haven’t got it to work with my M1 Macbook yet...." Read more

"...This little guy works great !" Read more

Customers like the size of the docking station. They mention that it's a compact unit that provides all the connectors they need, it'll save them space, and it'd be hard to lose. Some say that it’s smaller than expected and less expensive.

"...This one was smaller less expensive and had no issues getting all the extended devices working." Read more

"...This Dell 7-in1 USB multiport adaptor is by far the most portable , reliable, mini docking station I have ever used...." Read more

"...Very useful for when I go into the office or visit a customer. It’s very small , lightweight and functions as described...." Read more

"Nice and compact " Read more

Customers like the versatility of the docking station. They mention it's the best portable docking stations yet, a great little tool for traveling, and makes the laptop way more versatile. Some say it'll make a Dell laptop that requires a Thunderbolt adapter.

"...USB multiport adaptor is by far the most portable, reliable, mini docking station I have ever used...." Read more

"This is a handy device for sure. Very useful for when I go into the office or visit a customer...." Read more

"...though there's a VGA, HDMI, & DIsplay Port connection... extremely portable docking station . I'd recommend an overpowered charger though...." Read more

"... Perfect for traveling and not wanting to have 4 or 5 adapters!" Read more

Customers like the connectivity of the docking station. They say it provides all the connectors they need and also provides the power. Customers also say the multi port adapter wirelessly well and is a space saver. They like that the connecting cable stores within the device.

"...configuration keeps cables from tangling; The connecting cable stores within the device but wish it was a littlebit longer." Read more

"...Large enough to not easily lose or leave behind. All the ports you may require are available ." Read more

"...Then, it became unstable and would only connect to the monitor periodically ... I noted that there were others who complained about it short life..." Read more

"...This device is an absolute necessity to connect additional USB devices , HDMI, printers, and other devices to new computers that are EU compliant..." Read more

Customers find the weight of the electronic device docking station convenient, easy to use, and carry. They say it's small enough to fit in a pocket and well-designed. Some customers also mention that it functions as described and is easy to pop into a bag for working remotely.

"...It's well-designed and easy to pop into a bag for working remotely. I lke this little "hockey puck" and recommend it." Read more

"...Overall: it’s good. Convenient, light , and good connectivity." Read more

" Easy to use and carry . Small enough to fit in a pocket. Large enough to not easily lose or leave behind. All the ports you may require are available." Read more

"...The free online technology support was easy-to-use . It's sturdy enough to use for every day working." Read more

Customers are mixed about the value of the electronic device docking station. Some mention it's excellent value and worth the purchase, while others say it'll be super expensive for extremely limited functionality.

" Great value for money , just make sure that you have the right voltage for your computer, in my case it always says that my computer is in slow..." Read more

"...This is not clear in the description. Super expensive for extremely limited functionality." Read more

"Overall this was worth the purchase. Shipping was quick, and it’s a cheaper option than any other Dell brand options for docking...." Read more

"...This is not clear in the description. Super expensive for extremely limited functionality. Had to upgrade to a better docking station." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the ports on the docking station. They mention that the display port doesn't work, the USB-C port is not working, and all video ports stopped working. The VGA port malfunctions after 4 months. The LAN port RJ45 does not work on Mac OS.

"I recently purchased a new laptop and it does not have any USB-A ports ...." Read more

"The usb c plug evidently has a short. It works sporadically and only after I have to wiggle it around some. It's turned into a paperweight...." Read more

"...in to it cuts out and has static, so there is something flaky with the USB ports ...." Read more

"...Everything else was fine, but not the DisplayPort , so I wanted to leave this as a warning to any other Mac user with an M1." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the monitor capacity of the docking station. They mention that it only supports one monitor at a time, despite having three connections. Some say that it won't give dual monitor functionality.

"Only knock is that you can only use one monitor plugged in at a time even though there's a VGA, HDMI, & DIsplay Port connection... extremely..." Read more

"...It’s not a huge deal, but for some reason it won’t give dual monitor functionality if both are connected to this adapter...." Read more

"...that despite having multiple display ports, it appears to only support 1 monitor at a time ...." Read more

"...Regardless that it has multiple monitor ports, it only supports one external monitor ...." Read more

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Article updated on March 8, 2024 at 1:30 PM PST

Best USB-C Hub 2024

Check out the best hubs and docks, approved and tested by our CNET experts.

Our Experts

• More than two decades experience writing about PCs and accessories, and 15 years writing about cameras of all kinds.

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

USB-C has simplified the way we connect devices and computers. You can use the USB-C port to connect a  monitor ,  keyboard ,  mouse , Ethernet, microSD and SD cards, external storage and more. Most computers don't have enough ports for all your devices so if you want to connect all of those things at once, you'll run out of USB-C ports. Not to worry, though, as a USB-C hub or dock with multiple ports will take care of that problem. There are a lot of options, and this is a list of the best USB-C hubs that we've tested.

What's the best USB-C hub overall?

The best USB-C hub overall is the EZQuest USB-C Multimedia eight-port Hub . There are less expensive options, but the EZQuest combines an excellent assortment of ports, durability for travel and reliability over several months of testing. It even has labels on the top to get your devices connected faster with less fumbling. EZQuest makes several other USB-C hubs including a 13-in-one model also on this list. However, if a more robust dock with Thunderbolt support is necessary, the best we've tested right now is the Accell Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station  thanks to an attractive low-profile design and well-rounded port assortment, and it doesn't get hot when put to full use. 

Narrowing down your options and finding the best USB-C hub comes down to knowing how portable you need it to be, exactly which connections you need and your desired data transfer speed. Here are some of our favorite USB-C docking stations that we've tested. We'll continue to update this list as we find new USB hubs and docks to recommend. And if you're looking  to charge your USB-C devices, here are the best options per our testing. 

Read more:   Best USB-C PD Chargers of 2023

Best USB-C hubs of 2024

A little of everything, ezquest usb-c multimedia 8-port hub.

This USB-C hub has all the essentials most would need for office or home use at a reasonable price, especially if your laptop is limited to only USB-C ports. There are three USB-A ports, including one with power delivery, microSD and SD card slots, and an HDMI out that supports resolutions up to 4K at 30Hz. At the end is a Gigabit Ethernet connection with an activity LED (something other hubs this size typically leave off). But what sets it apart from others at this size are the handy labels printed on top of the anodized aluminum case. 

There is a 100-watt USB-C pass-through for power delivery, with 15 watts used to power the hub. The hub is lightweight, which makes it great for travel but also means any cords you plug into it could cause it to slide around your desk -- a common issue with hubs this size. But if you're looking for a single hub to cover everything from an external display and wired web access to charging your phone, this has you covered. 

Best budget USB-C dock

Monoprice 6-in-1 usb-c multiport 4k hdmi adapter.

We've used many Monoprice devices over the years, and they've regularly delivered more for the money. This slim six-in-one travel dock is no different, giving you just enough to hook up your laptop to peripherals and a monitor up to 4K at 60Hz. Also, should you need an Ethernet port, there is a seven-in-one model for $13 more . 

Best for Thunderbolt 4

Accell thunderbolt 4 docking station.

Accell's slim, low-profile Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station is one of the most compact we've tested without sacrificing performance or ports. There are two Intel-certified Thunderbolt 4 ports on the rear as well as a DisplayPort 1.4 connector that, combined, can drive dual UHD 4K monitors at 60Hz or a single 8K display at 30Hz. Another Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port on the front connects to your PC or Mac. The port is shifted all the way to the right so that the cable doesn't block other ports and makes it easier to keep the cable out of the way. 

Three USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a USB 2.0 Type-A port, an SD 4.0 UHS-II card reader, a 3.5mm audio combo jack and Gigabit Ethernet port round out the connection options. And even with the dock fully loaded, it remained relatively cool compared with others we've tested.

Best USB-C Hub for MacBooks

Plugable 5-in-1 usb-c magsafe hub.

Although there are hubs with more connections that plug directly into a MacBook's USB-C ports, this Plugable hub stands alone with its notch for Apple's MagSafe power connector. Ports include two USB-A 3.0 ports, a combo headphone/mic jack, Ethernet (in the back so it's out of the way) and a USB-C port. And unlike other small hubs like this, the USB-C port can do what the MacBook's can: data transfer up to 40Gbps, display output up to a 6K resolution at 60Hz and power throughput up to 100 watts. 

For more Thunderbolt 4

Caldigit thunderbolt 4 element hub.

Most people, including me, use hub and dock interchangeably but they are different devices. A hub adds more ports to a computer to attach more devices. The Element Hub, for instance, turns one Thunderbolt 4 port on your laptop into three Thunderbolt 4 ports so you can attach extra displays, high-speed storage and peripherals. It also gives you four USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports with data speeds up to 10Gbps to add USB-A devices. And the hub can be daisy-chained to another Thunderbolt 4 dock or hub for even more connections. 

The included power adapter (it's actually larger than the hub itself) can deliver up to 60 watts of charging power to attached devices. That's not enough for more power-hungry laptops but fine for a Chromebook and smaller laptops like a Dell XPS 13 or Apple MacBook Air. You can also disconnect it from your computer and just use it to power up your phone, tablet and other devices. 

One other nice touch: CalDigit made the design reversible so you can flip it on your desk to have whichever ports you'd like facing forward. 

Best for three displays at 4K

Ugreen usb-c triple display docking station.

Ugreen's tiny tower of ports uses a DisplayLink chipset to drive three displays at up to 4K at 60Hz via its DisplayPort and dual HDMI outputs with Windows or MacOS systems. Windows users can opt to run one display at up to 8K at 30Hz plus two at 4K at 60Hz. 

DisplayLink software is required to drive the displays properly. There's also no power supply included, just a USB-C cable. If you're using it with a laptop with a USB-C power adapter, you can use it to power the dock. It supports up to 100-watt power delivery letting you charge your laptop as well as power the dock. 

It handles more than displays, too, with one 10Gbps and two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 10Gbps USB-C port, a combo headset jack, Gigabit Ethernet and SD and microSD card slots. The minimal footprint helps keep your desk tidy, and it's light enough to travel with if you needed to (but there are better options for that on this list). 

Thunderbolt 3 with power for charging

Anker powerexpand elite docking station.

The PowerExpand Elite is part USB-C dock and part charging station. In back are 85- and 15-watt Thunderbolt 3 ports, and in front is an 18-watt USB-C power delivery port. A Thunderbolt 3 port supports up to a 5K-resolution display at 60Hz while its HDMI 2.0 port can support a display up to 4K resolution at 60Hz. Or you can run a USB-C-to-HDMI dual splitter and connect two 4K displays at 30Hz so you can run up to three monitors between the HDMI port and Thunderbolt 3 ports. 

You'll also have four USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and MicroSD and SD card reader. A 3.5mm combo jack handles audio output and input.

To provide enough juice to run everything, though, the PowerExpand Elite has a large 180-watt power adapter. Also, the fanless design means the body is one big heat sink so it can get hot when it's fully loaded. You can stand it vertically to help keep it cooler. 

Best for a laptop on a stand

Lention cb-c37 usb-c hub.

Most small USB-C hubs have short attached cables. That's fine if your laptop is on a desk and not on a laptop stand  and that desk has plenty of space directly next to your laptop's USB-C port. For those who could use some extra cable reach, though, the Lention C37 is ideal.

The USB device is still compact and lightweight but has a 1-meter cable (3.3 feet). It has dual USB-C ports with 60-watt power delivery, two USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots and a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the end is an HDMI output that supports 4K at 30Hz or lower resolutions at 60Hz. This is also a great option for desktops that are kept on the floor. 

For those who still need a VGA output

Ezquest ultimate plus 12-port usb type-c multimedia hub.

The Ultimate Plus shows off just what's possible with a single USB-C port. Along with four USB 3.0 type-A ports, there are microSD and SD card slots, a 3.5mm combo headset jack and a Gigabit Ethernet jack. But the biggest reason to choose this model is its support for three displays. 

There are two full-size HDMI outputs joined by an old-school VGA output. The VGA can only handle outputting at 1080p, but one HDMI can output at resolutions up to 4K at 60Hz while the other can output up to 4K at 30Hz. That's a lot for one compact desktop dock and a single connection to your laptop or desktop. 

In our tests, it lived up to its promise of handling all of its connections at once. The ports might not offer the fastest speeds of other docks (the USB-A ports top out at 5Gbps for example), but if three monitors and a lot of extra connections on your desk are what matters, this is the dock for you.

Discreet iMac port addition

Satechi usb-c slim dock for 24-inch imac.

This add-on dock slides right over the foot of a 24-inch iMac. It includes USB-A and USB-C ports, plus slots for both microSD and SD cards and even an internal slot for an M.2 storage drive. The 11-inch wide dock also has the exact footprint as the iMac's color-matched keyboard, so it can sit on top of the dock/foot combo when not being used. At $150, it's a little on the pricey side, and there are no HDMI or DisplayPort outputs. But if you're looking for a tidy solution to add some extra ports to an iMac, this is a sweet solution. 

USB-C hub FAQs

What's the difference between a usb-c hub and a docking station.

A USB-C hub essentially acts like a splitter from a USB-C port on a laptop or desktop. They are typically small and lightweight and don't require a separate power supply; they draw power directly from the computer. Because of this, the ports might be less capable of data and power output compared with a powered dock. 

However, many USB-C hubs feature a USB-C port with power delivery, or PD. This lets you use a USB-C power adapter, such as the one that may have come with your laptop, to pass power to your laptop and other ports. This can increase display support as well as speed up charging for connected devices like a phone or a tablet. 

A USB-C docking station basically turns a laptop into a desktop. It is a larger, powered device that dramatically increases the number of external displays and peripherals that can be connected to a laptop. Because they typically use a large power adapter, they are not as portable as a hub but can power and recharge the connected laptop. Since many are made to be left connected to a monitor(s), some are designed to be mounted on the rear of a display to help clean up cables on your desk. 

Is a USB-C port the same as a USB port?

The USB port most are familiar with is USB Type-A. Sometimes called a standard or regular USB port, it is rectangular and directional, which requires you to properly align tabs inside the connectors. The newer USB-C port is a small oval that uses a reversible connector so that you don't need to flip it around to get the correct position.

Are all USB-C ports the same?

While USB-C ports may appear the same from device to device, they are not. Even USB-C ports on the same laptop might have different capabilities. For instance, Thunderbolt 3 or 4 devices will only be fully supported by a computer with the corresponding Thunderbolt USB-C port. However, you can't just look at the port and know exactly what you have. Check with your computer manufacturer for what your laptop (or desktop) model supports before you buy a USB-C dock or adapter.

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The Best USB Hubs

By Jason Cipriani and Nick Guy

Modern computers are thinner and lighter than ever before, but sleek design comes at a cost: The number and types of ports on everything from MacBooks to all-in-one desktops have ended up on the chopping block. If you want to plug in anything with a connection other than a USB-C cable, the most efficient and economical option is to use a USB-C hub, which provides multiple types of ports in a relatively compact package.

Our favorite hub is Anker’s 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) . In addition to having all the right ports, it’s one of the very few hubs with an HDMI port that supports a proper 60 Hz refresh rate on 4K monitors so that animations and movements on screen are nice and smooth.

Everything we recommend

Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)

The best usb-c hub.

This portable hub supports 4K monitors at 60 Hz over HDMI and has every other port you’re likely to need, all of which performed at expected rates in our tests.

Buying Options

Budget pick.

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

A great array of data ports at a lower price.

This hub has most of the same ports as our top pick, although they’re mostly a little slower. It lacks Ethernet, and it isn’t as good with a 4K monitor, but its price is much lower, so it’s a good choice if you don’t need a wired internet connection or smooth, high-res video.

Anker 655 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)

A well-designed hub with strong performance.

This hub looks unlike any other hub we tested, and that’s a good thing. It has all of the ports you might want or need, including Ethernet, and it bested our top pick in data-transfer speeds.

How we tested

We ran tests to measure transfer speeds, and we eliminated anything too slow.

We connected each of the docks via HDMI to the latest monitors and cut any that couldn’t keep up in 4K.

We tested power pass-through speed to measure each hub’s ability to quickly juice up even the hungriest electronics.

We measured each hub’s temperature with an infrared thermometer after 15 minutes of continuous data and Ethernet use.

Ports and features

Plenty of USB-C hubs have a port selection similar to that of the Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) , formerly known as the PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD 10Gbps Data Hub. But finding a hub that reliably supports a 4K video signal at the 60 Hz rate that more modern monitors are capable of is rare. That refresh rate guarantees smooth scrolling on supported displays, addressing a major, longtime drawback of this category. In addition to its HDMI port, the 555 USB-C Hub offers the connectors that most people need most of the time, and in our tests those ports worked just as well as expected. This hub is powerful enough to leave at your desk full-time as a docking station but small enough to slip into a laptop bag and use on the go.

If you don’t have a 4K monitor, get the Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) instead. Formerly known as the PowerExpand+ 7-in-1 USB-C PD Media Hub, this model is the little sibling of our top pick, offering a similar port selection at a much lower price. Its USB data-transfer speeds are a bit slower than those of the 555 USB-C Hub but still fast enough for most people. The 341 USB-C Hub lacks an Ethernet port, and if you do try to use it with a 4K monitor, it produces only a 30 Hz refresh rate, not the superior, smoother movements of the 60 Hz refresh rate of our top pick.

Sporting a faux-leather exterior, the uniquely designed Anker 655 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) is something you might be proud of displaying on your desk or on the counter at your favorite coffee spot while you work. Not only is it a looker, but it’s also a worker: It has a total of eight ports, including an Ethernet port and an audio port, and its data connections produced some of the fastest results in our speed tests. Ultimately, the 655 USB-C Hub fell short of being our top pick due to its cost and its lack of a USB-C data port. You get nearly the same experience with our top pick for less.

Our picks’ ports compared

The research, why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked and tested, the best usb-c hub: anker 555 usb-c hub (8-in-1), budget pick: anker 341 usb-c hub (7-in-1), runner-up: anker 655 usb-c hub (8-in-1), other good usb-c hubs, the competition.

Jason Cipriani has covered consumer technology for the past 15 years for a wide range of publications, reviewing and testing countless devices and gadgets during that time. He specializes in mobile, computing, and smart-home topics.

Nick Guy, the previous author of this guide, has covered mobile and computer accessories for more than a decade. During his tenure at Wirecutter, he reviewed more than 1,000 iOS and Mac products, including dozens of hubs and docks.

USB-C hubs and docks let you hook your old stuff up to your new stuff. Many new computers, including Apple’s MacBook Air models, Microsoft’s Surface Pro lineup, and Dell’s XPS 15 , either have only USB-C ports or simply lack enough ports for connecting multiple accessories at once. If you need to connect flash drives, printers, an Ethernet cable, a display, or any other peripherals you already own, a USB-C hub or dock allows you to connect them all to a single USB-C port at once. If you just need more USB-A ports, a hub or dock that accepts that cable standard is still a great choice.

If you’re looking for a more powerful desktop docking option and your computer’s USB-C ports also support Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4, you might consider a Thunderbolt dock , which can connect to more monitors and transfer data faster, though you have to pay quite a bit more for the privilege.

We researched and tested hubs with a number of different port layouts, ranging from models with just USB-A ports to those with USB-A plus power pass-through, video output, Ethernet connectors, 3.5 mm audio ports, and SD card slots.

For our most recent round of testing, we tested each hub with a 15-inch M2 MacBook Air and a Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio. Our tests evaluated the following:

• USB-A speed: Although USB-A ports generally don't transfer data as fast as USB-C or Thunderbolt connectors, their performance is still important. We ran AJA System Test speed tests using a 1 TB OWC Envoy Pro and looked for speeds in the 400 MB/s to 800 MB/s range, which is fast enough for everyday tasks.
• HDMI: Hubs with an HDMI port let you connect an external monitor to your laptop. We tested hubs with an HDMI port by connecting them to a 4K Philips 272P7VUBNB/27 monitor. We used the Blur Busters UFO Motion Test to confirm the refresh rate and verified that the expected refresh rate was available in the laptop’s system setting. We prefer hubs that support 4K at a 60 Hz refresh rate.
• Ethernet: A wired Ethernet connection is almost always faster than Wi-Fi and is more reliable too. Most hubs with Ethernet ports support gigabit speeds. We verified each hub’s connection speed in Network Settings on our Mac and in System Settings on our Surface Laptop Studio.
• Power pass-through: All the hubs we considered also have a USB-C port to power the hub and the connected laptop. We used the Power tab in macOS’s System Report to view the wattage of a power source and compared the figures stated there against what each company advertised.
• SD card: To test the hubs’ SD card performance, we ran AJA System Test on a 128 GB OWC Atlas Pro SD card. We considered only those hubs with a read speed above 80 MB/s, which is fast enough to quickly transfer everyday photos and videos from the memory card to your laptop.
• microSD card: We ran the same test as above using the SanDisk MicroSDXC card for Nintendo Switch , again considering only those hubs with a read speed above 80 MB/s.

Because hubs and adapters can get hot during use, we also measured the temperatures of our picks with an infrared thermometer after 15 minutes of continuous data and Ethernet use to confirm that they weren’t dangerously hot. We also took size into consideration; people often use their hubs with a portable setup, so the smaller and lighter a hub is, the better.

Unlike most other hubs we tested, the Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) can send a clear, crisp image to a high-resolution 4K monitor without sacrificing the smooth movement and animation of a high screen-refresh rate. This model (formerly known as the PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD 10Gbps Data Hub) offers the best way to add the widest array and greatest number of the fastest ports to your USB-C–based computer. Plus, its sturdy and highly portable design makes it handy on the go or even as a semipermanent desk accessory.

It supports 4K video at a 60 Hz refresh rate. The most noteworthy feature of the Anker 555 USB-C Hub is the video output from its HDMI port. Since this product category launched, we’ve been disappointed to see a large number of hubs support a limited, 30 Hz video refresh rate when connected to a 4K monitor. But this Anker hub is one of a handful of models that—finally—allow for 60 Hz. The result is an experience as smooth as what you get on the screens of most laptops.

It has all of the ports you need and nothing you don’t. There are some kinds of ports that all hubs must have, and some that are nice but not necessary. The 555 USB-C Hub has the essentials and omits anything superfluous. In our tests, this Anker model’s ports worked as expected. Its USB read and write speeds were faster than those of USB 3.1 Gen 1 models by about 22% for reading data and 12% for writing. The Ethernet port, which is useful if you need a hardwired internet connection, measured at 1 gigabit per second, as advertised.

You can transfer to and from memory cards at top speeds. One edge of the 555 USB-C Hub has SD and microSD card slots for photo and video transfers. Their speeds matched the fastest we’ve seen in our tests over the past several years.

It has enough power for nearly all laptops. When we connected Nekteck’s 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger to this hub, our 15-inch MacBook Air reported receiving 85 watts—enough for it to stay powered and to charge at just a little slower than full speed. The 555 USB-C Hub can pass enough power for most laptops to charge at full speed, whether the laptop is a Chromebook, an ultrabook, or just about any smaller MacBook.

It’s portable yet spacious. At 4.8 by 2.2 by 0.6 inches, this aluminum hub is a bit larger than comparable devices. Its 7-inch USB-C cable is long enough that you should be able to position the hub as needed, and the cable feels sturdy but not so stiff that it’s hard to keep the cord where you want it.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The side-by-side USB-A ports could be an issue. The 555 USB-C Hub’s two USB-A ports are somewhat tightly arranged side by side, so you may not be able to connect multiple flash drives or thicker plugs simultaneously.

It gets hot, but not too hot. Like many USB-C hubs we’ve tested, the 555 USB-C Hub heats up during use. We measured it at 108.7 degrees Fahrenheit after 15 minutes with the USB-C power cable and a USB drive plugged in. That’s warm enough to be noticeable when you touch the hub, but not so much that it’s dangerous; it’s within the normal operating temperature for this kind of accessory. Your laptop’s charger probably gets hotter than that.

Anker’s 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) provides nearly the same number and variety of ports as the company’s more expensive 555 USB-C Hub, but this model (formerly known as the PowerExpand+ 7-in-1 USB-C PD Media Hub) has a few key differences. All of its USB ports are slower, supporting USB 3.2 Gen 1 speeds rather than Gen 2. It lacks an Ethernet connection, and its HDMI port supports only a 30 Hz refresh rate for 4K monitors. For many people, though, these trade-offs are well worth the significantly lower price. If you don’t own or plan to get a 4K monitor, and if you use only Wi-Fi, this Anker hub offers as much as you’re likely to need.

It offers acceptable transfer speeds. In our tests, the 341 USB-C Hub’s USB data-transfer speeds were slower than the 555 USB-C Hub’s but in line with those of every other USB 3.2 Gen 1 hub—that is, pretty much every other hub. In comparison with the results we got from our top pick, this model’s USB-A and USB-C speeds were about 20% slower in read and 12% slower in write. But those figures are absolutely fine for daily tasks; unless you’re constantly transferring a lot of data, you’d likely never notice a difference. Its tested SD and microSD speeds were similar to what we saw from our top pick.

Don’t have a 4K monitor? This hub will do just fine. We found the biggest bummer to be this hub’s video performance, but again that’s mostly in comparison with our top pick. The HDMI port doesn’t support 60 Hz in 4K, instead maxing out at 30 Hz. If you plan on connecting your hub to an external 4K monitor, and you expect smooth performance, this hub simply can’t do it. For lower-resolution displays, including some of our top picks , the refresh rate will be fine, at up to 60 Hz.

It has a tried-and-true design. Physically, this hub is about the same size as Anker’s 555 USB-C Hub. It’s a little shorter and a few grams heavier, but it’s still totally portable.

The Anker 655 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) has the same number of ports as the company’s 555 USB-C Hub. However, on this model, Anker removed the lone USB-C data port found in our top pick and replaced it with a 3.5 mm audio jack, which is an acceptable trade-off for someone who wants to connect headphones or external speakers to their laptop. The 655 USB-C Hub has an unusual design for a USB hub: It’s covered in faux leather, it has a braided USB-C cable to connect to your laptop, and it looks like something you would probably have no issues displaying on your desk. Its slightly higher price kept it from being our top pick; if you see it on sale, it might be a good buy.

It offers fast data transfer through its USB-A connections. The 655 USB-C Hub’s two USB-A ports outpaced those of nearly every other USB hub in our tests; it even bested our top pick by an increase of 47% when reading data and 69% when writing data. The 655 USB-C Hub also boasts a Gigabit Ethernet port, which measured at the expected 1 gigabit per second on a MacBook Air and a Surface Laptop Studio.

Memory card transfers are speedy. The 655 USB-C Hub has an SD card reader and a microSD card reader stacked on top of each other, making it easy for you to insert and access one of each card at the same time. In our tests, both readers outperformed those of the competition, reading information from either memory card at an average of 91 MB/s and writing to the same cards at an average of 68.5 MB/s. That represents a minor boost in transfer speeds compared with our top pick, an increase you’d be unlikely to notice unless you’re often transferring large files between memory cards and your laptop.

It offers a smooth 4K signal and 85 W of power. On the same side as the Ethernet port is an HDMI connection that supports fast and smooth 4K at a 60 Hz refresh rate, identical in performance to the port on our top pick, the 555 USB-C Hub. Next to the HDMI port is the USB-C PD port, which accepts up to 100 W of power, 15 W of which is reserved for powering the hub; we confirmed that the remaining 85 W is then supplied to your connected laptop. This model also has an audio port—somewhat of a rarity on USB hubs—which allows you to connect headphones, speakers, or even a microphone to your laptop.

The faux-leather cover just looks nice. The 655 USB-C Hub is slightly longer and wider than the 555 USB-C Hub, measuring 4.91 by 2.17 by 0.61 inches. Its 7-inch USB-C cable is braided and equipped with a 90-degree connector, both of which give it a premium feel while providing confidence that it won’t easily disconnect from your laptop. When you aren’t using the cable, you can fold it toward the hub and plug the USB-C connector into the USB-C PD port, turning it into a handle for easy carrying, instead of having a cable that just flops around.

If you just want more USB-C ports: The Satechi 4-Port USB-C Hub turns a single USB-C port into four USB-C 3.0 Gen 1 ports. Because it is limited to transferring data, you can’t use it to charge your laptop or connect a monitor. It transfers data at the same speed as our top pick, the Anker 555 USB-C Hub, so it’s more than enough for performing occasional backups and transferring large files. It’s also perfect for connecting modern keyboards, mice, and thumb drives while you’re on the go.

If you need a lot of USB-A ports: The Anker 10-Port 60W USB 3.0 Data Hub has seven standard USB-A ports dedicated to transferring data. Each port has its own LED light so you know when it’s in use. Three additional USB-A ports are built into this hub specifically for charging devices at up to 12 watts.

The Dockcase Smart 6-in-1 USB-C Hub is an impressive hub that does a lot of what our top pick does, but with two fewer ports and for nearly double the price.

Plugable’s USB-C 7-in-1 Hub with Ethernet checks a lot of the boxes for what we want in a hub, including Ethernet and decent speed-test results, but its lack of an extra USB-C port for data transfers kept us from naming it as one of our picks. However, if you need a slim USB hub, it’s worth a look.

The Sabrent HB-B7C3 offers a lot of USB-A ports in a compact design but lacks any additional ports dedicated to charging accessories and other devices.

Though the Sabrent Multi-Port USB-C Hub is affordable and fast, it ultimately fell short due to its limited number of ports overall.

Satechi’s Aluminum Multi-Port Adapter V2 is very expensive but has a good array of ports, including Ethernet. It’s worth considering if you see it on sale.

Satechi’s Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter has only two USB-A ports and typically costs more than our pick, but we like its streamlined design.

Yeolibo’s 9-in-1 USB-C has all of the ports you might want or need. But it supports 4K only at a 30 Hz refresh rate, and it produced some of the slowest transfer rates for memory cards we encountered during our testing.

The Hiearcool 7-in-1 USB C Hub had memory card test scores similar to those of the Yeolibo model and is also limited to 4K at 30 Hz.

This article was edited by Signe Brewster and Caitlin McGarry.

Meet your guides

Jason Cipriani

Jason Cipriani has been a freelance technology journalist for nearly 16 years, covering all types of technology for a wide range of publications online and in print. You can find his byline on sites such as CNET, Fortune, Time, Wired, CNN Underscored, Pocket-lint, ZDNET, and Tom’s Guide. His primary focus has been mobile products, but he has also reviewed countless laptops and computers over the years, including stints reviewing personal laptops for Tech Radar and gaming laptops for IGN. He has dabbled in podcasting on his own and at various publications, co-hosting the Jason Squared podcast for a couple of years (and over 100 episodes) while he was at ZDNET. He’ll go viral, eventually.

Nick Guy is a former senior staff writer covering Apple and accessories at Wirecutter. He has been reviewing iPhones, iPads, and related tech since 2011—and stopped counting after he tested his 1,000th case. It’s impossible for him not to mentally catalog any case he sees. He once had the bright idea to build and burn down a room to test fireproof safes.

Further reading

The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for Phones and Tablets

by Sarah Witman

Our power bank picks allow you to pack hours of extra battery life in a pocket or purse to charge a phone, tablet, or other small electronic device.

The Best Things to Get for Your New Laptop

by Haley Perry

From laptop bags to headphones to chargers to dongles galore, here are the essential accessories to help you use your new laptop.

Accessories for Your USB-C Laptop

We've tested the best cables, hubs, and dongles to help you connect your all your peripherals to your new laptop, even if it has only USB-C ports.

The Best Surge Protector

Tripp Lite’s Protect It 12-Outlet Surge Protector TLP1208SAT absorbs thousands of volts so they won’t fry your gear, and it helpfully lets you know when its protection wears out.

Best USB Hubs: Powered, Portable and Type-C

Add more USB ports to your laptop or desktop.

Every PC owner needs at least one USB hub to add ports, put connections within easy reach or supply more power for charging/operation than your computer delivers on its own. One glance at the USB hub listings on Amazon will tell you that the market is full of choices, from tiny portable hubs that you can stash in your bag to large, powered hubs you'll want to keep on your desk. 

Though there are plenty of choices, not all of them are among the best USB hubs, and not all will meet your needs. To help you choose, we've tested more than a dozen models with different capabilities and listed the very best USB hubs on this page. We've also got some tips for picking the right type of USB hub.

What to Look For in a USB Hub

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

To find the best USB hub for your needs, consider the following:

• Upstream connection (Type-A or Type-C?): USB hubs have multiple downstream ports to connect to your devices but only one upstream connector, which could be a port but is often a built-in wire that connects to your computer. Many laptops, including a lot of the best Ultrabooks , only have USB-C ports, so your hub's upstream connector would have to be Type-C.
• Output ports: Make sure you get enough ports to attach the number of devices you’re likely to need. Most USB hubs have at least 3, more often 4, output ports, but at your desk, you may need a lot more than that. Also, consider whether you are attaching any USB-C devices (most output ports on hubs are Type-A).
• Speed: Most USB hubs operate at standard USB 3.0 (aka USB 3.2 Gen 1) speeds of 5 Gbps. However, a few can deliver 10 Gbps. There are also some cheapies that are limited to USB 2; avoid those at all costs.
• Powered or not? Some USB hubs come with their own AC adapters so that they can provide more power than your computer delivers from one of its ports. Bus power from your computer can be pretty low, not enough to juice several power-hungry peripherals at once or to charge devices at a reasonable rate. By definition, a USB hub that needs its own plug isn’t very portable.
• Any extra connectivity? Some USB-C hubs will come with HDMI out, allowing you to connect to a monitor, provided that your PC can output video from its Type-C port. Other hubs have microSD or SD card readers built-in.

Best USB Hubs

1. Sabrent HB-B7C3, 10-port USB 3.0 Hub

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Getting a desktop USB hub like the Sabrent HB-B7C3 will change your tech life, both because of the amount of ports it has and because you can turn each one on and off. Sabrent's powered hub has a whopping ten USB Type-A ports, seven of which can do data transfer with the remaining three serving as changing ports only, capable of delivering more wattage to juice your phone, headset or tablet. 

Each USB port has its own dedicated power button and, unlike with some competitors we tested, Sabrent's port buttons depress quickly, and have solid mechanical switches that make a pleasant clicky noise and stay in the up or down position. There's also a cool-looking blue status light to let you know whether a port is on or off.

I have been using the Sabrent HB-BUP7, the nearly-identical 7-port sibling to the HB-B7C3, as my daily driver for more than a year, and having these buttons is a real game changer. Changing default audio devices in Windows is a royal pain, requiring one to go into the control panel to, for example, make sound come out of your headset instead of your speakers. But with the power switches, I just turn off my USB speaker and turn on the wireless headphone dongle, or vice versa. 

Anyone who works with microcontrollers such as the Raspberry Pi Pico or any Arduino board knows that most of these devices don't have on / off switches or even reset buttons. So, if you change code and need to restart them or you just want to power them off, you often need to yank the plug in and out, a huge hassle that could damage your gear. But with the Sabrent HB-B7C3, you can just toggle power on whatever port your microcontroller is plugged into.

The build quality on Sabrent's 10-port USB hub is the best we've seen on any hub we've tested. The clean lines, compact shape and tasteful lights and buttons make this look like a truly premium product. Having seven different data ports means that you can have all of your peripherals plugged in – your mouse, keyboard, webcam, microphone, 2FA key, speakers and headphones – and still have a port or two to spare.

The hub is powered by a massive 60-watt power adapter that looks like a laptop brick (we wish it were smaller). Sabrent boasts that the 3 charging ports deliver 2.4 amps of power while the data ports max out at 0.9 amps. As we found out when we we plugged our power load tester into the ports, both the charging and data ports are capable of delivering as much as 3.8 or 4.9 amps but only if you drop the voltage down to 4.05 volts (on all USB chargers, the volts go down if you request too many amps). 

At 4.8 volts, which is around the minimum voltage most USB devices will tolerate, we got 1.25 and 1.32 amps from the charging and data ports, respectively. When I plugged my Android phone in to charge, a real-world situation because a device will negotiate the best combination of volts and amps, the charging ports sent 4.78 volts at 1.35 amps while the data ports gave the same amount of volts, but just 0.35 amps. To make a long story short, you'll get 6.4 watts from the charging ports, which is decent but not the 15-watts that fast phone chargers provide. All three charging ports should be able to deliver this at once.

All of the HB-B7C3's data ports operate at 5 Gbps and, in our tests, there was no drop off in speed from transferring data from our external SSD through the hub (versus directly connected to the PC). The 2-foot detachable upstream cable is helpful but we need an extension cable to reach all the way to the back of our desktop PC. 

At $44 at press time, the Sabrent HB-B7C3 doesn't come cheap, but it's definitely worth the price. If you don't need the charging ports, you can save a little cash and desk space with the 7-port, Sabrent HB-BUP7 ($38 at press time), which also has a smaller power adapter. You can also splurge for the Sabrent HB-BU10 ($60 at press time), which has 10 data ports and no charging ports. 

2. Anker PowerExpand 4-in-1 USB-C Hub (with built-in SSD)

All MacBooks and many of the best Ultrabooks come with only USB-C ports, and just a couple of them. That’s why there are so many portable USB hubs that connect to a computer via a built-in USB-C cable and then provide a few Type-A ports, along with some extra goodies such as an HDMI out or a card reader. Anker’s PowerExpand 4-in-1 USB-C hub has one whiz-bang feature we haven’t seen anywhere else, and that’s a built-in 256GB SSD. 

The built-in SSD makes this hub double as a backup drive, which could be really handy if you need to copy files on the go or if your laptop doesn’t have a ton of internal storage. On our tests, the SSD was really quick, copying a 25GB file at 357.4 MBps read and 261.4 MBps write speeds. Those numbers were nearly identical to the 357 / 277.2 MBps we got from our external SSD (when run through this hub).

In addition to the SSD, the Anker PowerExpand has an HDMI out port and two USB 3.x Type-A ports that operate at 5 Gbps. There’s a USB-C power pass-through you can plug your laptop’s power adapter – up to a 100-watt unit – so that you can charge your computer while using this hub (the USB-C port does not work for data transfer; we tried). 

The Anker’s rounded, gray plastic design looks premium enough and its built-in, upstream USB-C cable tucks into its side for added portability. However, at just 6 inches, this is a very short cord. If you need a longer cord, you require more ports, or you don’t want to pay a high price (currently $99) for your USB hub, look elsewhere. But if you can afford it, the PowerExpand’s built-in SSD is quite a perk.

3. Anker 541 USB-C Hub for iPads

If you have a recent-gen iPad with a USB-C connector, you may find yourself wishing you could connect a USB Type-A device, headphones or even an external display. Anker’s 541 USB-C Hub for iPads has you covered with a unique design that’s meant to snap right into the side of your tablet or even a USB-C laptop. There’s no wire as the USB-C plug and a slight, protruding chin hold the entire metal hub in place.

The Anker 541 has a lot of outputs, but only one of them is a USB 3.x Type-A port that operates at 5 Gbps. So, if you were planning to plug in multiple USB devices, you’re out of luck. However, the hub has HDMI out, a micro SD / SD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack and a USB-C power passthrough for charging your device. That’s a lot of functionality in a compact package.

While the USB-C port on iPads only operates at USB 2.0 speeds (480 Mbps), the Anker 541 can do the full 5 Gbps of USB 3, which makes it a solid choice for MacBooks and lightweight PC laptops that have USB-C. In our tests connecting an external SSD, the USB Type-A port on the hub operated at the same speed as a Type-A port on our test PC.

4. Anker 4-Port Ultra Slim USB 3.0 Hub

Sometimes you just need a few extra USB Type-A ports on your laptop or desktop and you don’t want something that takes up a lot of space in your bag or on your table. At just 0.39 inches thick and 3.68 inches long, Anker’s 4-port Ultra Slim is very discrete. The hub has a built-in, 2-foot cable that’s long enough for any portable use, though you may want to use the attached hook and loop cable tie to keep it from getting tangled.

The Anker 4-Port Ultra Slim, as its name suggests, has four USB 3.x Type-A outputs and a single built-in Type-A upstream cable. As with every other hub on this list, we tested the Ultra Slim and found that it did not have any effect on transfer rates, providing our external SSD the same read and write speeds it got when connected directly to our laptop.

Though it has a very reasonable price ($12.99 at press time), Anker’s hub seems to have very solid build quality compared to some competitors, with a hard matte black plastic shell that shows no obvious seams and an attractive blue power light, though the casing got a little scratched as we carried it around. The Anker hub’s premium design stands in stark contrast to another cheap hub we tested, the Atolla USB 3.0 Hub Splitter, which has a glossy plastic shell with a line down the middle where two pieces of plastic were clearly glued or snapped together (and I fear could come apart some day).

5. Sabrent HB-U3CR

Sabrent's HB-U3CR looks like it was built for MacBooks, thanks to a gunmetal gray aluminum chassis and a stylish, slanted design that will prop it up at an insertion-friendly angle on any table. However, it's an equally strong choice for use with a PC laptop that has USB-C ports and needs a few USB Type-A connections. 

The HB-U3CR's small size and built-in cable make it easy to throw into your laptop bag, but a magnetic sticker that comes with it allows you to set up a permanent spot on your desk where you can attach and detach it, without fear of it falling over when you tug on the wire. It has three USB Type-A 3.x (5 Gbps) ports and a card reader that supports both microSD and SD cards, a boon for folks who are either using a digital camera or working with Raspberry Pis (which use microSD cards as their boot drives). 

On our tests, the Sabrent HUB-U3 did not introduce any lag into file transfers, which means it won't hurt your performance. However, like most USB hubs on the market, it is limited to 5 Gbps, so that’s the top speed even if you connect it to a thunderbolt port and 10 Gbps USB peripheral. The 2-foot, built-in USB cord is about standard for a portable hub, but could be too short if you plan to use it with a desktop PC that you keep on the floor or far from your peripherals.

6. Inatek HB2025AL10 Gbps Hub

If you're using an external storage device – perhaps an NVMe drive you've put in one of the best SSD enclosures – you’d benefit a great deal from using a hub that supports 10 Gbps connections – alternatively known as USB 3.1 Gen 2 or USB 3.2 Gen 2. Unfortunately, very few USB hubs actually support these higher speeds and even fewer still support the 10 Gbps speed when it comes from a Type-A, rather than a Type-C, port. 

The Inatek HB2025AL gives you four USB Type-A 10 Gbps output ports and one upstream Type-A 10 Gbps connector that's on a built-in cable. Considering that few laptops have USB Type-A ports that support 10 Gbps and few desktops have 10 Gbps Type-A ports on the front panel, you're probably going to be plugging this into the back of your motherboard. The model we tested was actually the HB2025A, which has a 1.6-foot cable, but we're recommending you spend an extra dollar or two to get the HB2025AL which has a 3.3-foot cable instead. Even 3.3 feet could be short if you're working with a desktop that’s on the floor.

You can also get other versions of Inatek's USB hub, the HB2025 for example, that connect to your computer via USB-C, which is a more common interface for 10 Gbps connections, particularly on laptops. We really wish one of these hubs had a mix of USB-C and USB Type-A downstream ports, but they are all Type-A downstream. 

No matter what version of Inatek's hub you choose, the 10 Gbps connection is very welcome if you're working with external drives. Our test laptop did not have a USB Type-A 10 Gbps port so we connected the hub to a port on the back of our desktop and got read-and-write transfer rates of 684.7 and 492 MBps on our DiskBench 25GB test. By way of comparison, we got rates of 358.1 and 274.8 MBps when connected to a standard 5 Gbps port on our laptop, so the 10 Gbps speed makes quite a bit of difference.

7. JoyReken 4-Port Mini USB 3.0 Hub

Several portable USB hubs could fit in your pants pocket or your bag, but here’s one that’s so small that it can fit in the your shirt pocket or the front pocket on your Members Only jacket and nobody would even notice it. JoyReken’s 4-Port Mini USB 3.0 hub is a hub-on-a-stick that plugs directly into a Type-A port and provides you with four USB 3.0 Type-A connections, along with a cute RGB light show that cycles through a series of colors (you can’t control the patterns or turn them off).

We can’t decide whether the idea of turning a USB hub into a stick which has a male connector instead of a cable is a great idea in the long term. In the short term, it’s very convenient to have something this small that turns one USB 3.0 port into four, and performance was solid – identical to connecting directly to the laptop’s USB Type-A port in our tests. However we worry about what happens when you accidentally exert too much force when plugging a device into the JoyReken hub when it’s dangling off of the edge of your laptop; could it snap? We didn’t press hard enough on our review unit to find out.

8. Atolla 7-Port USB Data Hub Splitter

This is a budget-friendly alternative to Sabrent’s HB series of USB hubs as it has 7 USB 3.0  data ports you can turn on and off, along with one dedicated charging port, and costs a lot less ($21 at press time). However, Atolla definitely cut some corners to get it to this price.

The chassis looks kind of ugly with a cheap-looking shiny plastic that’s a fingerprint magnet. The power toggle buttons for each port are soft and require you to hold them down for a second or two to change their state, which is a step down from the clicky buttons on Sabrent’s hubs. Also, the USB cable is built-in, so you can’t replace it with a longer one.

Similar to the Sabrent HB-U3CR, the Atolla delivered 1.2 amps at 4.8 volts on our power test and it charged our phone at 4.78 volts and 1.35 watts. The Atolla hub also offered similar performance to other hubs; we detected no slowdowns when copying files with our test SSD.

How We Test USB Hubs

When it comes to USB hubs, most of the time, the specs don’t lie. If you see a hub that has USB 3.x (USB 3.0 or USB 3.2 Gen 1) ports, those ports should operate at the same exact speed as connecting a device directly to a USB 3 port on your computer. To find out if any of  the hubs we tested created a data bottleneck, we hooked up an external SSD – a PCIe 3.0 M.2 drive in a 10 Gbps enclosure – to the hub, which we connected to a laptop. We then used DiskBench to copy a 25GB folder both to and from the disk and compared the numbers to those we got when connecting the disk directly to the laptop. 

In all cases but one, there was no change in performance from using a hub. Using the 5 Gbps interface on most USB hubs and on our laptop, we got read transfer rates of 355 to 360 MBps and write transfer rates of 273 to 285 MBps. The exact numbers could vary from one run to the next so there is no point in listing the results from each hub — they are all within the margin of error of each other. Only one hub, the Sabrent HB-UMP3, showed a slowdown in its write speed, dropping down to 179.5 MBps, about a 35 percent reduction in speed.

We also did power testing on every powered USB hub. To see just how much electricity the ports could deliver, we connected a MakerHawk Electronic Load Tester to the hub and tried to dial up as many amps as we could. As we dial up amps on any device, the voltage drops, so a 5 volt USB port could drop down to 4 volts or less as we increase the load, but USB devices need close to 5 volts – 4.7 or 4.8 volts is usually enough – so we tested how many amps we could get at 4.8 volts and at the, likely unacceptable, rate of 4.05 volts. 

We also connected an Android phone to the ports and recorded how many volts and amps it received. The phone charging test was probably the most realistic as it showed what kind of volts and amps a real device would negotiate with the hub.

Other USB Hubs We Tested

Not every USB Hub is one of the best USB hubs you can buy. We tested a number of other models that are worth considering, but not necessarily at the head of the class. 

• Sabrent HB-BUP7 (7 ports, powered) We love this hub and it’s my personal daily driver. This is the 7-port version of the 10-port Sabrent HB-U3CR we recommend and, for some folks, a better choice because it’s more compact. However, at press time, it was only $6 cheaper than the 10-port model with charging ports, so the HB-U3CR gets the nod for giving you three charging ports for only a little more cash.
• Sabrent HB-U3CR This is the 4-port version of Sabrent’s awesome line of power-switch enabled, powered USB hubs. It’s dirt cheap at just $16, but it’s the only USB hub we tested that actually bottlenecked performance, cutting about 35 percent off the write speed of our external SSD. We also don’t like the layout of the ports on this as well as on its larger siblings. However, if you’re not overly concerned with performance, this is a good buy.
• JoyReken FlyingVHUB This is a standard, bus-powered 4-port USB Type-A 3.0 hub with a built-in USB Type-A upstream cable. The main twist here is that the hub is pyramid shaped and has a little RGB light in the shape of a V in the middle. You can change the color pattern a little by hitting a button, and there's a USB-C port on the back that appears to do nothing (it gave power to a device, but didn't send data).
• Ugreen USB-C 4-port Hub At $14.99 (and on sale at press time), this a solid choice for MacBook owners or anyone who needs a cheap, portable hub that has a USB-C upstream connector and four down-stream Type-A ports. It even has a USB-C power pass-through you can use for charging your laptop.
• Atolla USB 3.0 Hub Splitter Available for less than $10 at press time, this portable USB hub is a good value with an interesting twist. The Atolla has a single, built-in Type-A cable to connect to your laptop, along with four Type-A USB 3.x ports for output. Each of its four downstream ports has an on / off switch, which is something we love on powered, desktop hubs but is less necessary on a portable hub where you're not leaving things plugged in for long periods. The 6-inch, built-in upstream cable is too short for a lot of people.

Discounts on the Best USB Hubs

Whether you're shopping for one of the best gaming laptops or another model that didn't quite make our list, you may find some savings by checking out our lists of Dell coupon codes , HP coupon codes , Lenovo coupon codes , Razer promo codes or Newegg promo codes .

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• calvynlee I am looking for a hub with 1 VGA + 1 HDMI output, and several questions in my mind. 1. Is it possible to connect to both VGA + HDMI monitors using the Hub & both active at the same time? The display set to extend mode (not duplicate mode)? 2. Since now-a-days a lot of hubs is USB type C as input, and usually our desktop doesn't have type-C port. Can I use converter such as type C to type A USB and connect to my desktop? Any one experience before above scenario? Reply
• gobuddy What is the importance of having individual power switches. Does it stop the electricity leaking out? It's very unusual to want to switch devices on and off. Reply

gobuddy said: What is the importance of having individual power switches. Does it stop the electricity leaking out? It's very unusual to want to switch devices on and off.

• Magma Man Did I miss how USB speed tests were performed? I would like to replicate the results. I was hoping to see the data that was used to compare the different hubs. Where I am seeing severe degradation in transfer speeds using USB 3 hubs is from SSD to SSD connected to the same hub. Was any testing performed using this scenario? Seems the more connections used the lower the speeds, how much will peripheral to peripheral transfers slow down peripheral to computer transfers. Example, using a sabrnet USB 3 hub to transfer a 9Gb file SSD to SSD (hub port yo hub port) takes over 9 minutes, while it only takes 15 seconds to transfer to or from the computer. Reasons or hypothesis on why the huge difference? I would like to find a product that would not be so slow port to port, as I consider Can you please explain the best testing environment setup? How to establish a solid baseline? Software used. What to use for data transfer. I would like to use a tool that looks more like an "analyzer" that would display real time data rate transfers. Thank you. Reply

Admin said: Whether it's a tiny portable hub or a desktop unit with extra power, you need a USB hub to make the most of your computer. We've tested over a dozen models to find the best. Best USB Hubs: Powered, Portable and Type-C : Read more

• jfii Shouldn't there be a cause for concern when connecting multiple USB devices through an unpowered USB hub? This practice could potentially strain the power supply of your computer, leading to issues such as diminished voltage regulation, overheating, and / or a shortened service life. Reply
• View All 6 Comments

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Use the Microsoft or Surface USB-C Travel Hub

Expand the capabilities of your PC with the Microsoft or Surface USB-C Travel Hub. It’s designed for professionals who travel, so this adapter can give you the extra ports and connections you need when you work on-the-go. It works with PCs and Surface devices that have a USB-C port.

What you'll need

The Microsoft or Surface USB-C Travel Hub.

A USB-C port on your computer or other device. The USB-C port must support USB-C Alt Mode.

A computer or other device running one of the following operating systems:

Microsoft Windows 11,10, or 8.1

Mac OS 10.14 or 10.15

Android 9.0 or 8.1

Find your way around

Set up your Microsoft or Surface USB-C Travel Hub

After you unpack your travel hub, put it where you want on your desk and leave out any necessary cords or cables to get to them easily. Now you're ready to set it up.

Set up your workspace and plug in

Plug the USB-C connector into the USB-C port on your PC.

If you want to use a wired network connection, connect an Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port.

To connect an external display, do one of the following, depending on which kind of video connection your external display supports:

HDMI connection . Take an HDMI cable and plug one end into the HDMI port on your external display and plug the other end into the HDMI port on your hub. If your video cable doesn't have an HDMI connector, you'll need to buy another cable or an adapter. For more info on adapters, go to Connect Surface to a TV, monitor, or projector .

VGA connection . Take a VGA cable and plug one end into the VGA port on your display. Plug the other end into the VGA port on your hub.

Plug your USB computer peripherals into the USB or USB-C port on your hub—depending on which kind of USB connection your peripheral uses.

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USB-C Hub vs. Docking Station: What’s the difference?

Find out which adapter is best for your laptop

Even the best laptops need extra port support, and a USB-C hub or docking station can help sort out any missing USB-A ports, SD card readers, or even HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. But what's the difference between these two reliable connectors? Both adapters equip your laptop with a variety of ports to expand its capabilities, bring external monitor support, and offer an easy way to transfer data from one device to another — and that’s not counting hybrid hubs that can power your laptop. However, there are a few key differences that may sway your decision before grabbing a USB-C hub or docking station .

• Best USB-C hubs for MacBook Pro in 2022
• Best docking stations for Dell XPS laptops in 2022
• Best laptop 2022: 20 laptops for every use case and budget 

Whether you’re looking to transform your laptop into a desktop replacement or seek a portable powerhouse, find out which adapter is best suited for your laptop and setup below.

USB-C Hub vs. Docking Station

The difference between these two connectors is, when it comes down to it, minuscule. Both have been designed to extend the range of peripherals your laptop can connect to. While many laptops may already sport multiple ports — from USB-C and HDMI 2.0 to the most recent Thunderbolt 4 connectivity — many of the best laptops sacrifice these for a more stylish, lightweight form factor (we’re looking at you, MacBook Air and Dell XPS 13 ).

A USB-C hub is mainly used to expand the number of ports on your laptop and is generally powered by the laptop itself. A good hub is typically small and lightweight to match the portability of a laptop, and is perfect for professionals who are constantly on the move. While they mainly offer more USB-A 3.0 ports , seeing as most PC peripherals rely on USB-A connectivity, you’ll find plenty of the best hubs with SD card slots, HDMI and DisplayPort inputs, and Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Docking stations are a step up from USB-C hubs in some ways, but are generally less portable and more expensive. These deliver connectivity for everything, offering upwards of ten ports for all kinds of peripherals. They are mainly used to turn your laptop into a desktop replacement, supporting up to 8K resolution or dual 4K at 60Hz, audio connectivity, SD card readers, and a lot of USB-A or USB-C devices. Docking stations can power all these at once, along with your laptop, as they deliver power via a power outlet. If you’re in need of power, the best docking stations will sort you out. However, when it comes to MacBooks , USB-C hubs make for the perfect laptop accessory. Apple’s premium laptops can only connect to a single external display , meaning they don’t require all the ports a docking station boasts. This used to be the case for all MacBook models, but thanks to Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 now have the ability to support up to three Pro Display XDRs and a fourth 4K TV display. MacBook docking stations are looking a lot more reasonable. 

Hybrid hubs 

What if you could take some of the perks of a docking station and fit them into a USB-C hub while keeping the affordable price tag? Let me introduce you to hybrid hubs, which have the ability to power your laptop or work from your laptop’s battery — all while keeping a small form factor. They may not offer as many ports as docking stations or Thunderbolt 4 compatibility (yet), but they can still deliver 4K monitor support at 60Hz, up to 100W power delivery and compatibility with virtually every platform.

Take EZQuest’s USB-C Multimedia Hub as an example. This eight-port USB-C hub offers a multitude of ports and 100W power delivery in a sleek, travel-friendly design. Althoughrelatively pricey, its $69.99 price tag is well under the usual $200 price range of docking stations, and it even works seamlessly with an iPad , Android tablet or smartphone . You’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. What’s more, it’s even competitively priced when compared to the $109 Kensington SD1650P USB-C 4K Portable Docking Station — another brilliant hybrid hub.

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For those who really don’t want to break the bank, Plugable’s USB-C 7-in-1 Hub offers 87W pass-through power and 4K HDMI support in a small and lightweight form factor for as little as $27. There are some limitations, seeing as we found the pass-through power delivery to be dodgy, but for laptop owners seeking a device they can easily slip into a laptop bag that also acts as a port extender, this hybrid hub delivers.

Hybrid hubs are fantastic alternatives if you’re looking for the best of both worlds, but the best USB-C hubs can still be more portable and much easier on the wallet depending on what laptop you use. For instance, the Anker PowerExpand Direct 7-in-2 USB-C Adapter offers a Thunderbolt 3 USB-C port, 100W Power Delivery, 4K HDMI, two USB-A ports, along with an SD and MicroSD card reader. It’s specifically designed for MacBook owners, making it fit on the laptop rather than look like a dongle. 

Which is best? 

This all depends on what you need. Travelling professionals that are constantly changing work environments can save their hard-earned money with a simple USB-C hub or more adaptable hybrid hub, but offices and work-from-home setups will gain a significant advantage in versatility (and a cleaner workspace) with a laptop docking station. 

The good news is there are a vast amount of adapters that can suit your specific needs. Want to make the most of your iPad while charging the rest of your Apple devices? The Kensington StudioDock iPad docking station will do the trick. I personally use this on a daily basis, as it allows me to plug in a mouse and keyboard to use my iPad Air (2020) as a mini desktop. While not technically a docking station, the IOGear 4K USB-C and DisplayPort KVMP Switch is the perfect device for those with multiple laptops and a desktop. It allows users to easily plug in their USB-C-equipped laptops and share accessories, displays, and printers with two other PCs — whether it's another laptop or a desktop. If you have a gaming rig and also use a laptop for work, this device will let you switch between the two on the fly, all while using the same keyboard and mouse. Much like how laptops continue to evolve every year, USB-C hubs and docking stations improve along with them. With Thunderbolt 4 connectivity becoming the norm and hybrid hubs being the ideal option for most, expect to see better adapters down the line. One thing is for sure: with every inevitable MacBook or Windows laptop release, expect there to be a USB-C hub or docking station to match it. 

Darragh Murphy is fascinated by all things bizarre, which usually leads to assorted coverage varying from washing machines designed for AirPods to the mischievous world of cyberattacks. Whether it's connecting Scar from The Lion King to two-factor authentication or turning his love for gadgets into a fabricated rap battle from 8 Mile, he believes there’s always a quirky spin to be made. With a Master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from The University of Sheffield, along with short stints at Kerrang! and Exposed Magazine, Darragh started his career writing about the tech industry at Time Out Dubai and ShortList Dubai, covering everything from the latest iPhone models and Huawei laptops to massive Esports events in the Middle East. Now, he can be found proudly diving into gaming, gadgets, and letting readers know the joys of docking stations for Laptop Mag.  

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Inland 7-in-1 USB-C Travel Dock with HDMI 2.0

Key Features

• USB 3.1 (Gen 1 Type-C) Connection
• Black Aluminum Enclosure
• USB Bus Powered
• USB-C System (DP Alt Mode; PD 2.0; 3.0)

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HP USB-C Travel Hub G2 gives Display connection might be limited and no HDMI output

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