Modern electronic device manufacturers are gradually shifting to USB-C ports on their products. This new industry-standard is the future of connection, whether you're on a portable device or a desktop PC. Linking older devices to newer ones with USB-C ports became an issue, and this opened a new market for new gadgets to resolve it. Enter USB-C hubs.
How a USB-C hub operates is beyond our understanding, as long as it works as expected. But in this article, we will provide some info on how it functions with buying tips so you can come up with the right choice. Also, read on to find the best products in the marketplace right now.
Future-proofing your devices is a must to catch up with modernization and USB-C is the future of connectivity. A great number of newer laptops, phones, or external hard drives are now equipped with USB-C, so having a USB-C hub is the most convenient way to link your older or current devices to the latest gadgets.
It’s quickly becoming the standard port on most advanced electronics since its development by the USB Implementers Forum. This group is composed of more than 700 leading tech companies all over the world, who came up with a faster and powerful universal-standard cable connector.
This hub allows users to incorporate other non-USB-C devices to a laptop or computer that support USB-C ports. A USB-C hub could also include multiple types of ports or slots to accommodate different kinds of connections. The most common ports found on a hub are USB-A, USB-C, micro-USB, or HDMI.
Some hubs with an independent power supply can also serve as a charging dock for laptops or smart devices. Others have SD card readers to extract data or Ethernet jacks to connect to the internet and local network.
Thinking that you don't need a USB-C hub right now, but there's a huge probability that you will need it in the future. Here are some USB-C hub features and options that you might want to have soon.
List down the devices that you own and identify which connection slots do they have. That way, it's easier to determine the types of ports to look for in a USB-C hub. Most hubs provide a variety of ports for different types of devices. The list may consist of USB-A, Micro-USB, USB-C, HDMI, or an RJ45 Ethernet slot.
If a memory card reader is required, some models may have this slot, but you need to check the specifications first to know the card size it could hold. A standard SD card slot is the safest choice where you will be able to use a MicroSD adaptor.
Another important factor is to allocate the number of ports you might want to use simultaneously. For example, if you plan to use multiple peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, and an external hard drive at the same time, there should be three individual USB-A ports present.
There's no doubt that USB-C hubs are an ideal way to transmit large amounts of data between devices. You must check the specifications to discover the amount of power output that a hub can offer. The minimum data-transfer rate should be at least 480Mbps to get optimal results.
If you're dubious about the actual performance of the product, you can always check some reputable online user reviews. This will provide you a better judgment after knowing the advertised rate versus their real data-transfer speed.
Be informed of your own device's USB-C port specifications before purchasing a USB-C hub. In some instances, that you happen to have a budget laptop with an unknown port capability, get the real score on your device. Sometimes it may likely support data-transfer only with little power pass-through, which will be a big letdown.
Most USB-C hubs derive its power from where its cable is connected to. Any excess on the required power of a hub can also be passed on the plugged devices. You will notice that if you plug a smartphone into a hub it also starts to charge. Also, external hard disks need electricity to run and the hub should be able to supply that.
Be wary in connecting multiple or power-demanding devices since it will affect the hub's performance and ability to pass on the required power. If you require a hub that can also support charging, some models have this feature which comes with a power adapter. This can surely charge a laptop or run a high-capacity external hard disk.
Check the power pass-through rating of USB-C hub on the manufacturer's specification page. The minimum should be at least 15 watts as a decent rate, but if you need to charge a laptop it must be up to 100 watts.
Hub manufacturers always come up with unique product designs to make a mark, and that's good news for us consumers. We can now pick which could better suit our lifestyle and improve our productivity.
A wide variety of appearances and finishes are available - from sleek to cubic, and some are rectangular or round. Different colors are of no exception, and the materials used can range from plastic to aluminum.
The dimension and weight can also vary from hub to hub, but most will look the same. Yet, others are easily portable than those which were designed not to leave your work desk, like the ones that require a power adapter.
Don't overthink when choosing a USB-C hub. We've already said what you need to know and now it's time to find out the best brands today.
₱389
Slots | USB3.0, USB-C, HDMI |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 60W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor or USB-C slot |
₱2,085.37
Slots | 3 x USB3.0, USB-C for power, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet RJ45, SD, TF/Micro SD |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 100W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor |
DA300
₱4,990
Slots | USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, VGA, DispalyPort 1.3, Ethernet RJ45 |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 15W on Thunderbolt / 7.5W on USB-C |
Data-transfer Rate | 10Gbps on Thunderbolt / 480Mbps on USB-C |
Power input | Thunderbolt or USB-C on laptop |
₱859
Slots | 2 x USB3.0, 2 x USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet RJ45, SD, TF/Micro SD |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 87W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor |
₱1,263
Slots | USB2.0, USB3.0, USB3.1, USB-C for power, HDMI, SD, TF/Micro SD |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | Not Specified |
Data-transfer Rate | 10Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor |
₱1,239
Slots | 4 x USB3.0, USB-C for power |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 60W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor |
₱636.02
Slots | 4 x USB3.0, Micro USB2.0 for power |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 87W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor |
₱9,980
Slots | DisplayPort, HDMI, USB3.1, Ethernet RJ45 |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | Not specified |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Thunderbolt 3 on laptop |
4U090btBLK
₱2,738
Slots | 2 x USB, 2 x USB-C |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | n/a |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | USB-C slot on laptop |
₱7,348
Slots | 3 x USB3.0, USB-C for power, HDMI, Ethernet RJ45, MicroSD |
---|---|
Pass-through Power | 60W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps |
Power input | Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C slot on laptop |
Image | 1 ![]() | 2 ![]() UGREEN | 3 ![]() Dell | 4 ![]() | 5 ![]() dodocool | 6 ![]() Baseus | 7 ![]() Vention | 8 ![]() Elgato | 9 ![]() BELKIN | 10 ![]() Satechi |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter | 9-in-1 USB-C Hub | USB-C Mobile Adapter | 8-in-1 Multiport USB-C | Aluminum Alloy 7-in-1 Multiport Hub | USB Type-C Hub | USB Type-C Hub | Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock | USB-C 4-Port Mini Hub | Aluminum Multi-Port Adapter V2 |
Features | A Minimalist USB-C Hub for Ultrathin Laptops | The All-in-one to Meet All Your Needs | An Excellent Design for Mobile Road Warriors | The Slimmest USB-C Hub with an Ethernet Port | Especially Made for MacBook Owners | Elegantly Devised with a Straighforward Approach | Inexpensive But You Get What You Pay For | First-Class Ports Rolled Into One | A General-use Expansion Hub From a Known Brand | Premium Performance with Premium Feel |
Price | ₱389 | ₱2,085.37 | ₱4,990 | ₱859 | ₱1,263 | ₱1,239 | ₱636.02 | ₱9,980 | ₱2,738 | ₱7,348 |
Slots | USB3.0, USB-C, HDMI | 3 x USB3.0, USB-C for power, HDMI, VGA, Ethernet RJ45, SD, TF/Micro SD | USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, VGA, DispalyPort 1.3, Ethernet RJ45 | 2 x USB3.0, 2 x USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet RJ45, SD, TF/Micro SD | USB2.0, USB3.0, USB3.1, USB-C for power, HDMI, SD, TF/Micro SD | 4 x USB3.0, USB-C for power | 4 x USB3.0, Micro USB2.0 for power | DisplayPort, HDMI, USB3.1, Ethernet RJ45 | 2 x USB, 2 x USB-C | 3 x USB3.0, USB-C for power, HDMI, Ethernet RJ45, MicroSD |
Pass-through Power | 60W | 100W | 15W on Thunderbolt / 7.5W on USB-C | 87W | Not Specified | 60W | 87W | Not specified | n/a | 60W |
Data-transfer Rate | 5Gbps | 5Gbps | 10Gbps on Thunderbolt / 480Mbps on USB-C | 5Gbps | 10Gbps | 5Gbps | 5Gbps | 5Gbps | 5Gbps | 5Gbps |
Power input | Power adaptor or USB-C slot | Power adaptor | Thunderbolt or USB-C on laptop | Power adaptor | Power adaptor | Power adaptor | Power adaptor | Thunderbolt 3 on laptop | USB-C slot on laptop | Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C slot on laptop |
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The emergence of USB-C connections to newer devices shouldn't bring jitters, but instead, allow us to embrace modernity and learn how to cope with it. Being up-to-date on the latest technological trends aren't for the tech-savvy only. Everyone should take note of the changes that innovation brings, even at a smaller scale.
Author: Chafi Lacson
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