Plugable’s USB4-HUB3A calls itself a USB4 hub but, as the branding on the front suggests, is also a fully certified Thunderbolt 4 hub that is competitively priced and boasts a fast USB-A port as well as the one upstream and three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports. in that respect, it is a better solution than the company’s more expensive TBT4-HUB3C, reviewed later on. All the USB (5x USB-A, 3x USB-C) and Thunderbolt ports (3x TB4) are super fast and offer impressive device charging—at the front, there’s a USB-C port with 20W power. It matches the excellent Caldigit TS4 on port speed with 10Gbps US-A and USB-C, UHS-II SD card reader and 2.5Gb Ethernet alongside the two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports— differing mainly by its choice of the more popular HDMI video port compared to the TS4’s DisplayPort. With three USB 3.0 ports with 5Gbps transfer speeds, HDMI 1.4 connectivity which can support 4K resolution at 30Hz, and two SD card readers, there’s not much else a laptop user who is on the move will need. It’s a shame the USB-C 87W pass-through charging is dodgy, but there are many laptops with a separate power supply for charging, anyway. 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.

USB and USB-C Hubs - PCMag UK The Best USB and USB-C Hubs - PCMag UK

While it's great that devices are now slimmer and lighter for convenience, it means that the number of ports that are available to users has dwindled.That means a USB-C hub is now a vital part of your setup to restore that flexibility. In fact, we at TechRadar rely on them ourselves for our daily work, which means we know which ones are worth the money and which ones are not.

The 4-Port USB-C Hub

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. Expands a single USB-C port on your host device to four - perfect for easy data transfer with speeds up to 5 Gbps. The latest connection standards are Thunderbolt 4 and USB4, which are both based on the neat reversible USB-C connector seen on most new computing devices. The definitions have merged somewhat and are now often more about the size and format rather than the capabilities. Which ports do you need? 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.

USB-C hub deals in October 2023 | TechRadar The best USB-C hub deals in October 2023 | TechRadar

A hub usually combines multiples of the same type of port—for example, old-school USB-A connections—but often collects a few different ports in a compact form, frequently with a power supply. This does make it reasonably hefty but still much easier to travel with, and is perfect for laptop professionals often on the move and working on location. Where once DisplayPort 1.4 was superior to HDMI, HDMI 2.1, as seen here, is as powerful if not more so than the top DisplayPort. 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. They are also the best way to add an external display or two to your more mobile computer, plus Gigabit (or faster) Ethernet for wired Internet access.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. As far as USB-C hubs go, the EZQuest Multimedia Hub is the best out there. With a competitive price, all the right ports to manage extra PC peripherals and storage devices, the added perk of 100W passthrough power delivery, and compatibility with virtually every platform, this sleek and travel-friendly hub will get the job done. Razer looks at power distribution differently from other manufacturers and we still can’t quite understand how each port shares its charging capacity, but it worked well in testing.

USB-C to 4-Port USB-C Hub | Belkin US Connect USB-C to 4-Port USB-C Hub | Belkin US

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. 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. 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. 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. USB Type-C has plenty of perks, and with one of the USB Type-C hubs you might be considering getting, you'll be able to copy files at USB 3.1 speeds, deliver enough power to charge a laptop, or use Alt Mode to send other types of data using DisplayPort or Thunderbolt 3connections.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. 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). The best USB hubs you can buy in 2023 1. Anker 4-Port USB 3.0 Ultra Slim Data Hub: The best basic USB-A hub

USB 3.0 Type-C 4 Port Hub (USB-C to 4 x USB-A), Black Belkin USB 3.0 Type-C 4 Port Hub (USB-C to 4 x USB-A), Black

USB-C port supports pass-through charging up to 100W, minus 15W for the adapter's operation. Performance depends on laptop requirements. 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.That aside, the US-4VPD is a tempting offer, with 2.5Gb Ethernet future-proofing for fast wired network access as it becomes more mainstream. This UGreen unit is another basic USB hub, with four USB 3.0/3.1 Gen 1 ports connecting through a single USB-A connection. Disappointingly, what looks like an aluminium casing turns out to be plastic, which feels a little creaky in comparison to some models, but it’s robust enough for daily desktop or mobile use. The big advantage this one has over similarly priced rivals is a 5V micro-USB input, meaning it can charge devices while in use (without any fast charge support) and run one or more USB SSDs or HDDs – we tried it with one of each without any issues. The only downside? You’ll need to supply your own charger and cable, but it’s hard to grumble at this price.