Browse Close Search Wirecutter For: Search. Search Wirecutter For: Search Reviews for the real world. Docks are larger and usually equipped with more ports than hubs, and they can provide power on their own, making them a better fit if you’re looking for something to set on your desk permanently. Among the five USB-C docks we tested, is the best, with four USB-A ports, a USB-C port, HDMI and two DisplayPort video ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm audio connector. It worked equally well with a PC and a Mac in our testing. It also delivers 65 watts—the most charging power of any dock we measured—and it’s the least expensive dock option (though it’s still more than twice as expensive as the Vava hub). Our picks’ ports compared Name USB ports Video ports Card reader Ethernet Audio Charging USB-A (three), USB-C (one, charge only) HDMI (one) SD, microSD Gigabit - Yes (requires laptop’s charger) USB-A (three) HDMI (one) SD Gigabit - Yes (requires laptop’s charger) USB-A (four) -USB-A (four), USB-C (one) HDMI (one), DisplayPort (two) - Gigabit 3.5 mm in/out (one), 3.5 mm out (one) Yes (charger included) -Gigabit.
USB-C hubs and docks let you hook your old stuff up to your new stuff. If you have a new, USB-C–based computer—whether it includes a USB-C port among its other ports or, like Apple’s MacBook models or the newest Dell XPS 13, it has nothing but USB-C ports—and you still need to connect flash drives, printers, Ethernet, a display, or any other accessories you already own, a USB-C hub or dock will let you hook up multiple peripherals to a single USB-C port at once. Some models are ideal for tossing in your bag, while others are better for leaving plugged into everything at your desk.
Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub. The SMK-Link USB-C Multi Port Hub is the ultimate dongle for your Mac notebooks. These USB-C adapters make your MacBook Pro better. The Best USB Hub for Mac: All MacBook Pro/ Air, Mac mini, iMac Anker 10-port USB 3.0 hub for Mac OS X/ Windows This hub is USA’s most popular brand Anker’s 10-port USB 3.0 hub.
A USB-C hub or dock will let you hook up multiple peripherals to a single USB-C port at once. If you’re looking for a more-powerful desktop docking option and your computer’s USB-C ports also support Thunderbolt 3, you might consider a, which can connect to more monitors and transfer data faster. If you’re just looking for a way to get more USB-C ports, well, unfortunately you’re out of luck; we have yet to find any USB-C hubs that add extra USB-C ports. How we picked and tested.
The terms hub and dock are often used interchangeably and don’t have exact definitions. For this guide, we treated anything designed to be portable as a hub; some hubs can pass power to a laptop when connected to a charger, but they don’t come with one.
Docks are designed to sit on a desk, equipped with their own power bricks, and capable of charging your laptop without your needing to provide a separate charger. We researched and tested hubs with a number of different port layouts, ranging from models with just USB-A ports to those including USB-A plus power passthrough, video output, Ethernet connectors, and SD card slots. For docks, we limited our search to units that were compatible with both PCs and Macs, cost less than $200, had at least four USB-A ports and a USB-C output port, and could power a computer and peripherals. We tested each hub and dock with both a MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) and the early-2018 USB-C–only version of the Dell XPS 13. We also tested our picks on a 2018 iPad Pro, though many of our tests don’t actually work with iOS. Our tests included the following:. USB-A: We ran speed tests using.
To measure how fast each hub could charge other devices, we connected a 10.5-inch iPad Pro and read the power draw with. HDMI: We connected each of the docks via HDMI to a with the resolution set to 4K. Mac computers support only a 30 Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution, but the Dell XPS 13 pushes out a full 60 Hz. Ethernet: We verified the connection speed in Network Utility on a Mac, which displays the link speed. Heat: Because hubs and adapters can get quite hot during use—especially, in our experience, when using Ethernet—we also measured the temperatures of our picks with after 15 minutes of continuous data and Ethernet use to make sure they weren’t dangerously hot. As a Satechi representative explained to us, “All the bandwidth that goes to Ethernet, HDMI, USB and SD card ports requires energy consumption and that’s transferred to heat. Operating temperatures between 86-122 degrees Fahrenheit are normal.”.
SD card: We ran AJA System Test on a. microSD card: We ran the same test as above using the.
Power passthrough: macOS reports the incoming power in its System Report. We used the MacBook Pro’s 61 W charger and the included USB-C cable, and we recorded what the computer was reporting. The best USB-C hub: Vava VA-UC006 USB-C Hub. Is the best way to add the widest array and greatest number of ports to your USB-C–based computer in a highly portable and durable package. It has all the right connections—three USB-A ports, USB-C power passthrough, Gigabit Ethernet, HDMI, and microSD and SD card slots—to be handy on the go, or even to act as a semipermanent desk accessory. Nothing else comes close to offering the same combination of performance, design, and price.
The aluminum hub measures 4 inches long, 2 inches wide—similar in size to —and less than half an inch at its thickest point. Its 6-inch USB-C cable is long enough that you should be able to position it as needed, and the cable itself feels sturdy but not so stiff that it’ll be hard to keep it where you want it. At less than 2.5 ounces, the hub is easy to pack and doesn’t weigh you down. Nothing else comes close to offering the Vava hub’s combination of performance, design, and price. There are some ports all hubs need to have, and some that are nice but not necessary; the Vava hub has all of the above.
You get three USB 3.0 Type-A ports, and in our testing each of them passed data to a portable SSD at average read speeds of 414 MB/s and write speeds of 366 MB/s (these figures were consistent across almost all of the hubs and docks we tested). Next to that line of ports is an HDMI port that in our testing pushed out 4K video at 60 Hz from the XPS 13 as expected. The Mac was limited to 30 Hz because getting 60 Hz, 4K video out of a Mac requires a precise setup; the iPad Pro was also limited to a 30 Hz refresh rate. The Vava hub’s microSD and SD card slots. Photo: Michael Hession The Vava also has SD and microSD card slots on the opposite edge for photo transfers. The full-size SD card slot averaged 87 MB/s read and 76 MB/s write in our tests.
Those speeds are a little slower than what produced, but not by much, and they’re as fast as the results from the slot on any other hub we tested. The microSD card speeds were slower at 86 MB/s read and 58 MB/s write, but again, with those speeds the Vava matched or beat the competition. Finally, the Vava has a USB-C port for power passthrough and a Gigabit Ethernet port.
Our 13-inch MacBook Pro reported receiving 49 watts when we connected Apple’s 61 W charger to the hub. That figure is lower than with some of the competition, but still fast enough to charge your 13-inch computer at a reasonable speed (15-inch machines will still charge but at a slower rate). The Ethernet port is the most clever element of the whole hub: Rather than increasing the thickness of the entire device to accommodate an Ethernet plug, the Vava design uses a flip-open door to expand the full port as needed. Flaws but not dealbreakers. The Ethernet port expands easily, but there’s a little more friction when you close it. Video: Michael Hession That clever Ethernet port is one of the Vava hub's few potential flaws. Because it’s a moving part, there’s a chance it could break.
We didn’t see anything in our short-term tests to suggest it would, but no other hub or dock we tested had a comparable potential point of failure. The Vava’s three USB-A ports are tightly arranged side by side, so you likely won’t be able to connect three flash drives or thicker plugs at a time. Vava promises up to a 100-watt passthrough charge rate, but in our tests the hub limited the power coming from our 61 W power adapter to 49 watts.
Like many USB-C hubs we’ve tested, the Vava gets hot during use. We measured it at 110 °F after 15 minutes with the USB-C power cable and an Ethernet cord plugged in. That’s hot enough to be noticeable when you touch it, but not so much that it’s dangerous—as we noted above, that’s within the normal operating temperature for this kind of accessory. Cheaper but fewer ports: HooToo USB C Hub HT-UC001. Isn’t quite as full-featured or compact as Vava’s hub, but it offers many of the same ports for about two-thirds of the price. Providing three USB-A ports, HDMI output, USB-C power passthrough, and a full-size SD card slot, it’s a good option if you want to be able to use wired accessories and hook up to an external display but aren’t concerned about using a wired network connection. The HooToo hub’s USB-C power passthrough port is on one side, the three USB Type-A ports and SD card reader are on the other, and the HDMI port is on the end.
Photo: Nick Guy In our tests, all the ports worked as expected. USB read and write speeds were comparable to those of every other hub we tested. We also recorded a 60 Hz refresh rate at 4K resolution from the Dell XPS 13, and the MacBook Pro reported a power draw of 55 W (a little higher than, but similar to, the Vava’s result). A of the hub is also available—it’s still cheaper than the Vava, but you need that much power only if you have a larger laptop like the 15-inch MacBook Pro. The HooToo hub works well, has all the ports most people will need, and feels almost as nice as the Vava hub. The aluminum and plastic rectangle is about 0.3 inch longer than the Vava hub, but about the same width and thickness. The HooToo’s cable is also a bit thicker than the Vava’s, so this hub is less likely to stay where you want it to.
If you’re willing to accept these compromises and don’t need the Vava hub’s extra features, the HooToo hub is a good choice, but we think the Vava hub’s versatility and size make it worth the extra money. A cheap way to add more USB-A ports: Aukey CB-C64. Is the best choice for adding a handful of USB 3.0 ports to your USB-C computer, and it’s cheap. Equipped with four USB-A ports, the hub will let you connect any combination of a keyboard, mouse, printer, flash drive, or another low-power-draw device such as a,.
(Aukey says that “for best performance, the power demand of connected devices shouldn’t exceed the total USB output of 5V 0.9A.' ) In our tests, all of the ports transferred data as quickly as anything else we tried. The 3.9-by-1.3-inch black plastic rectangle is less than half an inch thick and weighs a little over an ounce. You can throw it in a bag without even noticing it’s there. The best USB-C–to–Ethernet adapter: Cable Matters USB Type-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.At the time of publishing, the price was $15.
We think most people will be better off with a hub that provides an array of ports, but if you need only an Ethernet connection, we recommend the. This simple plastic adapter works as expected, delivering full Gigabit speed, and it comes from a company we know and trust. As a bonus, it’s inexpensive.; this one reached only about 100 °F after 15 minutes of use, the same as a more expensive. That does feel warm to the touch, but not uncomfortably hot, and it's expected behavior. The best USB-C dock: Dell D6000 Universal Dock.At the time of publishing, the price was $140. Most people are best served by a portable hub because hubs are more affordable and do many of the same tasks as docks. But if you’re looking for a stationary option (for example, if you like to hook your laptop up to a display and accessories at your desk) that doesn’t require an additional laptop charger, we suggest.
(If your PC or Mac supports Thunderbolt 3 and you plan to connect your computer to high-speed external hard drives or multiple high-resolution displays, a is a better choice than a USB-C dock.) Compared with a portable hub, the D6000 offers more video-output options (one HDMI port and two DisplayPorts), more USB ports (four USB-A, one USB-C), 3.5 mm audio-in and -out jacks, and charging, all over a single USB-C cable. (It comes with its own power adapter, so you can keep the charger that came with your laptop in your travel bag.) It’s less expensive than other docks we tested and works reliably with both Macs and PCs—although the DisplayPort ports won’t work with Macs because of a recent software limitation—and it provides more power to a laptop than similarly priced options (65 watts, versus 39 watts from other models). The rear of the D6000, including its video, Ethernet, USB-A, and 3.5 mm audio ports. Photo: Michael Hession The D6000 is a utilitarian 6.5-by-3-inch black plastic rectangle with a rubber antislip base. Its permanently connected, 3-foot USB-C cable comes out the left side, and a USB-A 3.0 adapter on the cord lets you connect to an older computer.
From left to right along the front, you’ll find a combined audio-in and -out jack, two USB 3.0 ports, and a USB-C port that you can use for data or to provide up to 12 W of power to a device. Flip the dock around to the back, and you see an HDMI port, two DisplayPort outputs, Gigabit Ethernet, another pair of USB-A ports, and a 3.5 mm audio-out jack. All of the Dell dock’s data ports transferred data at rates comparable to what we saw from every other dock and hub we tested. We measured full 4K, 60 Hz videos from the DisplayPort connectors using the Dell dock, although that dropped to a 1080p resolution over HDMI. DisplayPort doesn’t work at all with Macs running up-to-date software because the dock uses DisplayLink, by the macOS 10.13.4 update and remains broken in the current version of macOS; the ports didn’t work with our iPad Pro, either.
The HDMI port put out 4K video at 30 Hz when connected to a Mac and an iPad Pro, as expected. Look at the size of that power brick!
Photo: Michael Hession One thing to keep in mind with this dock is the huge power brick: It’s almost exactly the same size as the dock itself. But because the dock is meant to stay on a desk rather than tossed in a bag, this isn’t a dealbreaker. The cable running from the charger to the dock is about 6 feet long, so you should be able to position the power brick in a convenient place without it getting in the way. The competition.
USB-C hubs is much larger than our main pick, and one of its USB-A ports supports only 2.0 speeds. Is one of the few USB-C hubs to feature a USB-C data port in addition to one for power. But it lacks an Ethernet connection, and it's more expensive than our main pick right now. This hub is also about an inch longer. If you value that extra USB-C port and don’t need Ethernet, consider it. Has identical ports and performance to our Vava pick, but is larger and more expensive. However, it has a regular Ethernet port that is less fragile than the Vava’s fold-up port.
In our tests it stayed cooler than the Vava hub at 96 °F. We don’t think that’s worth paying more for, but the Satechi dock is a decent backup option if it goes on sale or if our top pick is unavailable.
Worked just as well as our pick, with the exact same selection of ports. But it’s bigger and feels cheaper, and we didn’t like the port layout as much. We think spending a few dollars more on our pick is worth it for a more compact metal design and a better layout. And each have one fewer USB-A port than our pick, at a similar or higher price. Additionally, the Aukey hub had the slowest SD and microSD read and write speeds we tested by a wide margin, and the Anker lacks a microSD slot. And are identical units with identical performance.
Both have only two USB-A ports and cost more than our pick, but we like the streamlined design. Plugs directly into a computer’s USB-C port rather than using a cable; this means it can block surrounding ports. And it has only two USB-A ports itself.
The (a licensed product not actually made or supported by Lenovo itself) worked fine in our tests, with speed and power results in line with those of the rest of the hubs we tested. But many customers have complained about performance, and no clear path to customer support is available if you have an issue. USB-A hubs The and the work just as well as our pick but are larger. Was also just as fast in our tests, but its layout prevents two flash drives from being connected in adjacent ports. In owner reviews of, we saw too many complaints about Wi-Fi interference for us to recommend it, although we didn’t see this problem in our testing. Other hubs After testing USB-A/Ethernet hubs, including and, we decided that their value and usefulness weren’t good enough for us to recommend any of them over similarly priced hubs with more types of ports.
Was the least expensive model in this category, but it offered the lowest power draw from its ports, and the Ethernet connector simply didn’t work on our Mac, although it did on our Dell. We applied the same reasoning to hubs that had only USB-A ports and power passthrough, such as. USB-C docks worked well in our tests.
Compared with our picks, however, it’s more expensive, with identical data performance and a lower power output of 39 watts. The inputs and outputs on the simply didn’t work with our MacBook Pro.
No video, no data, nothing. It did work with our Dell XPS 13, but even so only one of the four USB-A ports is 3.0 speed; the rest are all 2.0. OWC says not to use its or with 2017 or later Macs. That restriction, combined with the fact that neither version was able to deliver video from our Dell XPS 13 to our monitor, means you really shouldn’t pick either one.
We decided not to test, and, and due to their high prices at the time we were researching this guide. We also declined to test, and based on factors including their port selection and power output.
By Nick Guy and Sarah Witman This post was done in partnership with. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full. When Apple introduced the 12-inch MacBook, USB-C was merely a curiosity for most people, but now that many new laptops have dropped legacy ports, USB-C has gone from interesting to important., as well as Windows laptops from HP, Asus, Acer, and more, offer only USB-C ports, and use USB-C as their only physical connection. This all means that a critical mass of people need cables, adapters, and other ways to get older gear working with newer devices. After 18 hours of preliminary research, we tested more than 58 USB-C accessories to put together this guide to the best ways to connect peripherals and devices to a USB-C–equipped computer. It's by no means exhaustive.
USB-C can, in theory, replace every other port, and there are a seemingly infinite number of port combinations you might encounter. We focused on the most important tasks you'll likely face, such as connecting older peripherals like hard drives and hooking up an external display. We'll expand our coverage of USB-C as the field matures; we've published reviews of, and, and we have more in the works. If you think we've missed something specific, please let us know. Why you should trust us As Wirecutter's accessory writer, Nick tested hundreds of accessories across a wide swath of categories over the past two years.
Before that, he was the accessories editor at for a little more than three years, where he reviewed more than 1,000 products, including dozens of adapters. We also consulted with, a volunteer with the at Google. He's an independent tester who has worked with, a famed (in these circles) Google engineer who first brought to light potential issues with USB-C accessories.
Nathan tests with professional hardware and software, reporting his findings for free. He didn't have final say on any of our picks but rather provided general guidance on the topic. We also used his as a starting point in choosing some of the accessories we tested. How we picked and tested Each different type of adapter or connector we evaluated required different kinds of testing, but we were able to use some common tests across the board. Our main testing machines were a and a, with ancillary testing done using a 2016 Dell XPS 13, our pick for the.
We tested the data-transfer speed of the USB ports on hubs and adapters using; specifically, we used the to measure the read and write speeds of the USB 3.0 drive. We repeated this process three times per device, averaging the results; if an adapter or hub had multiple USB ports, we repeated the test for each port. To test USB-C–to–USB-A cables, we connected a (a, as it's one of the fastest drives with a USB-C connection) to the Dell XPS 13 and ran. Though a small number of, laptops, and more are now compatible with USB 3.1 Gen 2 (and is just around the corner), we'll wait to test these faster standards when they become more common. Although the MacBook Pro's ports can allegedly to USB-C devices, they maxed out at 2.1 A when we tried to charge an iPad Air with a USB-C–to–USB-A adapter. Accessories that require more power than an iPad Air will likely need a USB-C connection on both ends, but we didn't have anything on hand, so we couldn't get a full read on higher-power-draw devices. We plan to do more power testing for future updates as more USB-C gear becomes available.
We tested video adapters using a, a, Intel's Skull Canyon NUC computer, an older VGA monitor, and a 1080p TV. We measured the refresh rate using the. For connecting older USB gear: USB-C–to–USB-A adapter If there's a single accessory most people with a USB-C–only computer will need, it's a USB-C–to–USB-A adapter. Available as either a small nub or a short cable, this kind of adapter lets you connect legacy USB accessories, including flash drives and cables, that have a traditional USB-A plug. We tested 16 adapters and found that they all worked equally well. Each tested model allowed full USB 3.0 data-transfer speeds and, on the 2016 MacBook Pro, 2.1 amps of power draw. Our favorite nub-style adapter (the JSAUX) has been discontinued, and our second favorite (the iXCC) is no longer being sold individually, so we've removed them from this guide.
We're in the process of testing other models, but if you really want a nub-style adapter now, with our former pick and two USB-C–to–Micro-USB adapters that might work for you. If you prefer a short cable over a nub adapter, go with.
The black cable has solid housings at the ends, and the cable itself feels pretty sturdy. The advantage of a cable over a nub is that it moves the connector away from the computer a bit, about 9 inches in this case. That extra length and flexibility can make it easier to use certain accessories—especially those with fat plugs—and the cable's smaller plug may fit some computers better, or let you connect multiple devices, depending on how close together the computer's ports are. Photo: Michael Hession In our tests, Aukey's adapter provided average write speeds of 340 MB/s, read speeds of 423 MB/s, and a maximum power draw of 2.02 amps. It was the most consistently fast of all the cable-style adapters we tested.
Aukey is well-known for its reliable cables and adapters, making us even more confident in this pick. And if something does happen, the company offers a well-regarded 24-month warranty. For video, USB-A, and charging from a single USB-C port Photo: Nick Guy Our favorite adapters for adding USB-A ports, connecting to HDMI displays, and powering your computer at the same time are the and its twin, the. They're identical in every way, including design, performance, and MSRP.
(Satechi claims to have designed the adapter, telling us, 'Due to manufacturing overseas and the long patent process, other companies have been able to get their hands on our designs and mimic our products.' Sanho said, 'It is the same product as we're doing the OEM manufacturing for them as well.' ) Both companies offer a one-year warranty. The adapter consists of a solid-feeling aluminum block (4.3 inches long, just over an inch wide, and less than 0.4 inch at its thickest point) that connects to your computer via a permanently attached, 6-inch USB-C cable.
Both Sanho and Satechi sell the adapter in Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold, and Silver hues to match Apple's 12-inch MacBook (though the adapters work with any USB-C computer). On one edge are two USB 3.0 ports and a USB-C port—the latter only for passthrough charging—and the single HDMI port is found on the end opposite the cable.
For this category, we tested only adapters with a USB-C port that supports Power Delivery, because we think passthrough charging is important, especially for computers such as the 12-inch MacBook that have only one port. We were somewhat surprised to find that on every adapter of this type we tried, the USB-C port supports only power, and only in one direction: You can use it to charge your computer, but it doesn't provide power to connected accessories, and it doesn't work for data. Both companies' adapters performed equally well in our data read and write tests, showing full USB 3.0 speeds across both USB-A ports. However, each port provided a maximum of 0.45 amp to connected devices, regardless of what was plugged in—even if a charger was connected to the adapter's USB-C port. This means that neither of these adapters will be great for charging tablets or phones, which can charge faster with more power; you're better off using. More important is that you may have problems using bus-powered hard drives, as many require 0.9 amp to run reliably: In our testing with a Western Digital MyBook (a USB-powered desktop hard drive), the drive was recognized only some of the time.
If your drive came with an optional power adapter, we recommend using it. In terms of HDMI performance, the adapters can run a 1080p display at 60 Hz or a 4K display at 30 Hz. We saw exactly what you should expect from a USB-C video adapter: While performing daily tasks such as Web browsing, using Slack, and watching YouTube, video was smooth without any graphics issues. Both adapters got warm when we had a display and some USB devices connected, but not too hot to touch. For video only: USB-C–to–DisplayPort cable Photo: Nick Guy If you're connecting to a DisplayPort-based monitor, you'll need a dedicated cable—none of the adapters we tested include a DisplayPort port. (If you've got a MacBook with only a single USB-C port, you'll instead need to use an HDMI-to-DisplayPort cable with one of the.) Every USB-C–to–DisplayPort cable we tested worked perfectly, offering a pixel-perfect image and full 60 Hz performance, even at 4K. That said, we recommend the if it's available.
It's the only one of the five cables we tested that has a clip on the DisplayPort plug housing to hold the plug in place—you have to squeeze the clip to release the cable from the port. This is admittedly a small advantage, though: The, and, which are all identical to one another but missing the aforementioned clip, work just as well if the Cable Matters cable is out of stock or more expensive. If you have an existing DisplayPort cable that you'd like to hook up to a USB-C port, we like, but because there's hardly a difference in price we think you're better off getting the Cable Matters cable. For multiple older USB devices: USB-A hub Photo: Michael Hession For those who don't need video output but still want passthrough power and multiple ports for older peripherals, we like the. It's wider and thicker than the HDMI-equipped adapter from Sanho, but a lot less expensive.
It has a USB-C port that supports Power Delivery for passthrough charging—you can plug your USB-C laptop charger into the hub to charge your laptop through it—as well as a Gigabit Ethernet port and two USB 3.0 ports. In our testing, we found that both USB 3.0 ports performed well in terms of charging speed and read/write data transfer speeds. We preferred the compact size of Anker's older, version of this hub, but the newer model is still very small and light, and can easily slip into a drawer or backpack pocket. For power and data between USB-C devices: USB-C–to–USB-C cable Photo: Nick Guy Chances are, you'll eventually need a USB-C–to–USB-C cable, whether it's to replace the charging cable for a USB-C laptop, phone, or tablet, or to transfer data between USB-C devices.
You'll find a ton of inexpensive options, but though we'd normally lean toward saving a few bucks on cables, it's not worth the risk with USB-C: As Google engineer Benson Leung found out—the hard way, as they say—some cables that don't adhere to the USB-C specification can actually. You should spend a little bit more to get something that's verified to work safely with your machine. Based on the testing he and Benson Leung have done, recommends in his, where it's ranked 'definitely get.' We tested the cable ourselves, and though our tests weren't as exhaustive, it worked well for us. The cable supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds of up to 10 Gbps, 5-amp and 100-watt charging, and it's USB-IF certified. Put simply, it will charge your computer as fast as possible (as long as you're using ) and will move data as fast as USB can.
Every JUCX01 also has a unique serial number, so if the company ever has a recall or support issue, you'll know if your cable is affected. When he, Nathan K. Called it 'the best cable I've analyzed yet,' stating, 'Unless there's something really wacky that I'm not catching, like it degrades the USB3.1Gen2 signals or something, this cable is THE cable you want. The only downside to the cable is that it's pretty short. We'll do more electrical testing, but based on Nathan K.'
S results and our hands-on experience so far, we think it's a safe bet and a good performer. Photo: Nick Guy If you're not concerned about moving data at the fastest speeds, is a great charge cable that's a bit less expensive than our top pick. Says it's 'the best 'charge' cable I've ever seen' (emphasis his). (Just be sure to.) It supports 5-amp, 100-watt charging (the most power USB-C is designed to provide, and more than any current devices need); its 2-meter length is handy for connecting your charger to wall outlets; and it's sturdy. 'It's widely available from a well-respected manufacturer known for its stringent quality control,' Nathan told us, while praising the worldwide distribution and ease of buying a known-good cable from an Apple Store. He also likes that the cables are—like the J5Create cables—individually serialized.
Apple's warranty and support network are also appealing. Nathan is so impressed that he recommends Apple's cable for Google Pixel owners ' over even the Google OEM cables' (emphasis his). The downside of Apple's charge cable is that it supports only USB 2.0 data speeds, so it will be considerably slower than the J5Create if you're transferring data. For charging USB-C devices: USB-C charger Given the mess that is currently USB-C power, the safest option is to buy a spare of the charger that came with your computer—you know it works, and works safely. However, while some PC makers let you buy a replacement for the charger that came with your laptop, not all do, and oddly, sometimes a spare stock charger isn't easy to find and purchase. We researched chargers that use the, which allows USB-C to transmit the high power required to charge a laptop. After our initial testing of 18 USB-C chargers with four computers, we found to be the best option for most people.
It provides enough power to charge most computers at full speed, plus three additional USB-A ports for powering accessories. You can read more about it. For connecting to VGA projectors and displays: USB-C–to–VGA adapter Photo: Michael Hession If you need to connect to a projector or an older monitor with a VGA connection, the best option is.
All the adapters we tested worked equally well, pushing out 1920×1080 resolution at 60 Hz. The Monoprice model is one of the least expensive we found, it comes from a very reputable brand, and its 7-inch cable cable gives you a bit more flexibility than a model with a shorter cable. For connecting to HDMI monitors and TVs: USB-C–to–HDMI adapter Photo: Nick Guy The best way to connect a USB-C computer to a high-definition TV or monitor, even at 4K resolution, is to use. All 12 of the adapters we found that promised a 60 Hz refresh rate worked as advertised. The Anker is our pick because it's fairly inexpensive, it has a nice metal body, and it works with the 2016 MacBook Pro. Some other models either explicitly list that they don't work with the newest Macs or have customer reviews claiming as much. If what you're looking for is a USB-C (male) to HDMI (male) connector, we also like this adapter from, which achieved maximum frame and refresh rates in our testing.
For connecting to legacy chargers and older computers and peripherals: USB-C–to–USB-A cable Photo: Nick Guy If you'd like to connect a USB-C device to an older computer or charger that has only USB-A ports, you'll need a USB-C–to–USB-A cable. We limited our search to those that Nathan K. Noted had passed his tests, and that also support at least USB 3.0 data speeds. (USB 2.0 is just too slow at this point.) This left us with a handful of cables, all of which passed our tests. If you're concerned more about charging speeds than data-transfer speeds, we recommend. Much like Anker's and versions of the cable, this one features a clean and simple design at an affordable price.
We saw power draw approaching 3 amps when we plugged it into a high-amperage USB-A port, and Nathan K.' S test verified that the cable can support 3 amps at 20 volts, or 60 watts. In our data tests with a Samsung T3 Portable SSD and a Dell XPS 13, we measured read and write speeds at 3.46 Gbps and 3.43 Gbps, respectively, right on a par with every other USB 3.0 cable we tested. USB 3.1 Gen 2 cables will offer faster transfer speeds than USB 3.0 cables such as the PowerLine (USB 3.0 is equivalent to USB 3.1 Gen 1)—the Gen 2 standard promises data rates of up to 10 Gbps, double those of Gen 1. However, at this point very few devices support these kinds of speeds, so we don't think most people need to spend the extra money on a Gen 2 cable.
If you can take advantage of those speeds or would like to future-proof, we recommend. It matches the charging rates we'd expect, and though we measured read speeds of 3.49 Gbps and write speeds of 3.32 Gbps on the USB 3.1 Gen 1 Samsung T3, it'll theoretically support faster speeds with faster devices. The build quality is also really nice: The cable is thinner than that of many other models, and the well-designed strain-relief collars should help prevent breakage over time. It even has a built-in plastic clip for keeping the cable coiled. For connecting to DVI displays and projectors: DVI adapter We found only a handful of DVI adapters that claim to handle 1920×1080 resolution at 60 Hz, and the best among them is.
Unlike the other adapters we tested, this one doesn't require a separate DVI cable: It has a USB-C plug on one end and a male DVI connector on the other. It's available in both 3-foot and 6-foot lengths, so you can get the length that's better for your needs. In our tests, the resolution and refresh rate were exactly as promised.
If you need an adapter with a female DVI connection—for example, if you need to use a separate DVI-DVI cable— and male-to-female adapters did well in our tests and seem sturdy, so we think you should buy whichever of those is cheapest. The competition USB-C–to–USB-A adapter For nubs, we also tested the,. All exhibited the proper charge and data speeds.
The Nonda had a nice-feeling build quality, but (like our pick) is too wide to use two at a time on a MacBook Pro. It also had slower charging and data-transfer speeds than our pick. The Rankie model just felt cheaper than the rest we tested.
The Aukey used to be our pick in this category, but was significantly slower than the newer models we tested. We still like that its slim design allows you to plug two nubs in side-by-side, however, unlike our pick. For cable-style adapters, we also tested the Google USB Type-C to USB Standard-A Adapter (no longer available), (sold through Google), and RAVPower Type C Adapter (no longer available). All performed well and felt sturdy and well-designed, and nothing in our tests indicated that they're structurally inferior, but we prefer the Aukey adapter because of our confidence in its future availability at its current low price. Video/USB-A/charging adapters The is identical to our HDMI-less pick, but it costs significantly more.
It's not a bad option if the price drops into the same range as the Satechi and Sanho adapters. The (currently unavailable) is functionally the same as our two picks, but is physically larger.
Has only one USB-A port and normally sells for a crazy-high price. Even with Apple's current discounted pricing, it's expensive for what you get. The worked great in our testing, but it's larger and more expensive than our picks thanks to the addition of an Ethernet port and SD and microSD slots. It's worth considering if you need all those features. The also worked great in our testing, but it's almost twice the price of our current picks and we didn't think it added much to justify the price. But if you like it better for some reason, buy it with a clear conscience. Is a knockoff of Apple's HDMI adapter, but the spacing of its ports prevents you from connecting a flash drive and an HDMI plug at the same time.
Was promising thanks to four USB-A ports and a low price. Unfortunately, we heard an annoying coil whine during use, so we don't recommend it. The seemed sturdy and well-built, and performed well in our tests, but it's still a bit slower (and more expensive) than our picks. It would make a good backup if the Sanho and Satechi go out of stock. The was clunkier than others we tested, and performed poorly in all of our tests. Passthrough charging and data transfer simply didn't work through the USB-C port.
We don't recommend buying it. Performed fairly well on most of our tests, but transferring data through the USB-C ports didn't work for us.
We also didn't like the fact that it might (depending on your laptop) block the use of a neighboring port. Also performed well in our tests, but no better than our current picks, which are both cheaper.
This would make a decent backup if our picks are sold out. The did pretty well in our tests, but it wasn't able to transfer data through the USB-C port. The casing on the AmazonBasics is plastic; we prefer the aluminum casings of our picks. USB-C–to–DisplayPort cable The, and are identical to one another and work as well as our top pick—they just lack the clip that 'locks' the DisplayPort plug in place. Don't hesitate to get one of these if the price is particularly good or if our pick is out of stock.
USB-A hubs The costs more than the HooToo but has one fewer port; on the other hand, it has SD and microSD slots. We like the design, which allows the adapter to sit flush against the computer's body, rather than hanging off by a cable. However, we worry about the stress such a design puts on your computer's USB-C port, and Amazon reviews (30 percent of which include one-star ratings at the time of publication) frequently mention the hub breaking down or getting dangerously hot. The design of the makes it difficult to fit USB plugs in adjacent ports simultaneously. Aukey's CB-C23 (currently unavailable) is inexpensive but especially large compared with the competition. Our testing also showed that one of the ports provided more power than the rest, which was strange and a bit concerning. The performed fairly well but it had a clunky, plastic design.
Unless you need an Ethernet port (which this hub has) we think you're better off with our pick. USB-C–to–USB-C cable The performed almost as well as our pick, and (depending on the length and color you want) is comparably priced. We think it would serve you well if our pick is unavailable. USB-C–to–VGA adapter The and (currently unavailable) both lack screw holes to hold the attached cable in place. It's a small fault, but considering that everything else performed just as well, it's enough to knock these cables out of the running.
The, and are all functionally equivalent to our pick, but they cost more and offer no advantages. The worked well in our testing, but enough customer reviews cite failure over time that we don't feel comfortable recommending this adapter. The was formerly our pick in this category, but we replaced it because our pick is nearly half the price, seems sturdier, and performed just as well in our tests. If you can get this cable for a better price, though, you might want to consider it. USB-C–to–HDMI adapter The product listing for the says it works with Apple's 2016 MacBook Pro models, but we can't recommend it, because too many customer reviews on Amazon say they've experienced issues using it with those computers. The has a warning that explicitly says 'NOT compatible with late 2016 MacBook Pro.'
The and both work well, but are more expensive than our pick and don't provide any advantages. The and performed well and are both a little cheaper than our pick, but they also felt cheaper in terms of materials and build quality. We prefer our pick. The adapters we tested from, and were plastic, although they still seemed well-made.
We prefer our pick, but if it's out of stock any of these would do. Performed fine, and had a cute fold-up design, but we found it hard to unfasten (outweighing the cuteness of said design). Looks expensive (and it is) but it felt flimsy to hold and didn't outperform our pick. USB-C–to–USB-A cable Nathan K. Has verified two other USB 3.1 Gen 1 cables: the Anker USB-C to USB 3.0 Cable(currently unavailable) and the.
The former is more expensive than our pick with worse build quality, and the latter is about double the price of our pick. The braided cable of the PowerLine+ may be a bit sturdier than our pick's, but we don't think most people need to pay extra for the rugged design. The PowerLine+ did work well in our testing, if you happen to prefer its looks or want something that's overbuilt. Belkin offers a good alternative to the Google USB 3.1 Gen 2 cable with its Apple-exclusive. The plug housings are a bit bigger than our pick's—the only real downside. The cable performed second-best in our tests, and is a fraction of the price of the Apple/Belkin cable.
It's another good alternative if our pick is unavailable. The and both had decent charging speeds, but were extremely sluggish in terms of data transfer. We don't recommend them. What to look forward to We've called in —which has three USB-A ports, Mini DisplayPort and HDMI ports, USB-C power delivery, microSD and SD card-reader slots, and an Ethernet port—for testing. We're also interested in testing a new that clamps onto a desktop monitor to add USB-A ports and Micro/SD readers. This guide may have been updated. To see the current recommendation, please go.
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