Fashionable computer systems are thinner and lighter than ever earlier than, however modern design comes at a price: The quantity and sorts of ports on all the pieces from MacBooks to all-in-one desktops have ended up on the chopping block. If you wish to plug in something with a connection aside from a USB-C cable, essentially the most environment friendly and economical possibility is to make use of a USB-C hub, which offers a number of sorts of ports in a comparatively compact package deal.
Our favourite hub is Anker’s 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1). Along with having all the appropriate ports, it’s one of many only a few hubs with an HDMI port that helps a correct 60 Hz refresh charge on 4K screens in order that animations and actions on display screen are good and clean.
Our decide
Ports and options
| two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 | SD card slot |
| one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 | microSD card slot |
| one USB-C PD port | Gigabit Ethernet |
| one HDMI | 85-watt charging pass-through |
Loads of USB-C hubs have a port choice just like that of the Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1), previously often called the PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD 10Gbps Knowledge Hub. However discovering a hub that reliably helps a 4K video sign on the 60 Hz charge that extra trendy screens are able to is uncommon. That refresh charge ensures clean scrolling on supported shows, addressing a significant, longtime disadvantage of this class. Along with its HDMI port, the 555 USB-C Hub provides the connectors that most individuals want more often than not, and in our exams these ports labored simply in addition to anticipated. This hub is highly effective sufficient to go away at your desk full-time as a docking station however sufficiently small to slide right into a laptop computer bag and use on the go.
Price range decide
This hub has a lot of the similar ports as our prime decide, though they’re largely slightly slower. It lacks Ethernet, and it isn’t pretty much as good with a 4K monitor, however its value is far decrease, so it’s a good selection in case you don’t want a wired web connection or clean, high-res video.
Ports and options
| two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | SD card slot |
| one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 | microSD card slot |
| one USB-C PD | 85-watt charging pass-through |
| one HDMI |
For those who don’t have a 4K monitor, get the Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) as an alternative. Previously often called the PowerExpand+ 7-in-1 USB-C PD Media Hub, this mannequin is the little sibling of our prime decide, providing an identical port choice at a a lot lower cost. Its USB data-transfer speeds are slightly slower than these of the 555 USB-C Hub however nonetheless quick sufficient for most individuals. The 341 USB-C Hub lacks an Ethernet port, and in case you do attempt to use it with a 4K monitor, it produces solely a 30 Hz refresh charge, not the superior, smoother actions of the 60 Hz refresh charge of our prime decide.
Runner-up
Ports and options
| two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 | one HDMI |
| one USB-C PD | Gigabit Ethernet |
| SD card slot | one audio port |
| microSD card slot | 100-watt charging pass-through |
Sporting a faux-leather exterior, the uniquely designed Anker 655 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) is one thing you is likely to be happy with displaying in your desk or on the counter at your favourite espresso spot when you work. Not solely is it a looker, however it’s additionally a employee: It has a complete of eight ports, together with an audio port and an Ethernet port, and its information connections produced among the quickest ends in our pace exams. Finally, the 655 USB-C Hub fell wanting being our prime decide because of its price and its lack of a USB-C information port. You get almost the identical expertise with our prime decide for much less.
Our picks’ ports in contrast
| USB ports | Video ports | Card readers | Ethernet | Audio | Charging | |
| Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) | Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, one USB-C energy | HDMI | SD, microSD | Gigabit | No | Sure (requires laptop computer’s charger) |
| Anker 341 USB-C Hub (7-in-1) | Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, one USB-C energy | HDMI | SD, microSD | None | No | Sure (requires laptop computer’s charger) |
| Anker 655 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) | Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, one USB-C energy | HDMI | SD, microSD | Gigabit | Sure | Sure (requires laptop computer’s charger) |





