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. 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. If we talk numbers, it can passthrough 87W of power to charge the connected laptop, thereby removing the hassle of connecting an additional wire to charge your MacBook. But do note that you will also need to use a compatible power adapter. Note that you can’t charge devices connected to the USB ports, as they are there for syncing and data transfer only.)

The UHS-I (104MBps) SD and microSD card readers aren’t the fastest but should suffice. Such memory cards are an affordable way of adding portable storage, and will also delight camera users. That’s why you must pay attention to a monitor’s specifications. Asus’ ProArt PA278CV, for example, is advertised as having a USB-C hub, but only includes two additional USB-A ports. The benefits of using it as a USB-C hub are limited. (The Asus ProArt PA279CV, on the other hand, is a much more compelling USB-C hub monitor option.) A USB-C port on your laptop can either run at 5Gbps or 10Gbps, with the latter being almost ubiquitous these days. That’s plenty of bandwidth for a printer, a mouse, a keyboard, or a hard drive, even all at once. Products like displays, ethernet, and high-speed SSDs gobble up that bandwidth, however. We looked at how SD cards were inserted—you’d be surprised how many don’t work unless they’re inserted upside down! Keep in mind that the hub’s power port is for taking power into your laptop, and not outto a phone. But your hub may still be able to charge your phone, with some caveats. A “bus-powered” USB hub connects to your laptop and pulls power from it, which it has share with several devices—and it won’t do it that well.The USB-C hub’s aluminum surface dissipates heat, and the braided nylon cable is designed to withstand up to 2000 bends. However, if you have a 4K display connected to your laptop, this might not be the best USB-C hub since it supports 4K only at 30Hz. Nevertheless, if you have a WQHD display or an FHD monitor, this will work just fine. 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. With this USB-C hub, you can connect to the internet instantly and enjoy stable connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps.

In this article, we will focus on USB-C hubs with both Ethernet and HDMI ports. Not only you will be able to experience interference-free Internet connectivity, but you will also have the advantage of connecting your laptop to an external display. Apple has a range of adapters, too, but at a (high) price. We have tested them here, but other gadget makers offer more budget-friendly alternatives, along with a range of other USB-C cables, chargers and accessories–and we present the best ones below.

Why Belkin?

You get 8 ports to add to your laptop with Baseus’s good-looking 8-in-1 USB-C Hub. It features excellent PD USB-C pass-through charging (up to 100W) so you don’t lose a valuable USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 port on the laptop if you need to charge or sync. There are three USB-A ports pushing data at 5Gbps but a little underwhelming on device charging at 7.5W each. You can use the TB4 ports to add external USB-C displays or, with a USB-C display adapter, to multiple HDMI or DisplayPort monitors—as well as other devices, all at top speeds. When connected to a Thunderbolt computer the Element Hub can add a monitor up to 8K resolution, or dual 4K 60Hz monitors. 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 – just works.