Best USB-C adapters and hubs 2023: Add ports to your laptop

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.

There are SD and MicroSD (TF) slots for storage cards, so you can slot in a camera card, or use the flash memory for extra laptop storage.

Gigabit Ethernet is there, too, as is an HDMI port that can support 4K displays at 30Hz—not a refresh rate to excite gamers but enough for most of us.

The business end of the integrated USB-C cable can be stored in a special slot, creating a handy loop to keep things tidy, and could also be used to hang from a hook, if desired. And there’s an LED indicator to show activity.

Baseus has a range of USB-C hubs if you want fewer or more ports; available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

This USB-C hub is bristling with high-end ports, including 4K HDMI at 60Hz (if your device supports DP 1.4) and Gigabit Ethernet.

There are three USB-C ports, one for 100W passthrough charging (88W to the laptop and 10W to the hub for USB device charging) and two rated at 10Gbps for fast data transfer. One of the USB-C ports and both of the 5Gbps USB-A ports can charge connected devices at 7.5W.

Both SD card and MicroSD card readers are included, but at the slower UHS-I speed. A 3.5mm combo In/Out audio port rounds off the impressive 10 ports.

The strong integrated cable measures nearly a foot long, which is longer than on most USB-C hubs reviewed here.

The compact and very affordable 7-port Plugable USB-C Multifunction Hub has seven ports from one integrated USB-C connection, including a 4K HDMI output for adding an external display, power pass-through (at an impressive 87W) to charge connected devices, three 5Gbps USB-A ports, and SD and microSD slots.

You can use the HDMI 1.4 port to output to a 4K (at 30Hz) or Full HD 1080p monitor or projector.

Pass-through charging is especially handy if your laptop or USB-C device has just one USB-C port. The 87W power is more than you get from most hubs.

At 88g, it’s lightweight, and, as with many hubs, features a short integrated cable so works well as a portable travel device.

There are a generous three USB-A ports that can also provide 7.5W power pass-through to charge other devices.

There’s just one USB-C port, so look elsewhere if you need more of the newer USB standard.

Wired Internet is also not present, but, fear not, Plugable has a longer 7-in-1 USB-C Hub that drops a USB-A port for Gigabit Ethernet.

This hub isn’t just USB-C, it’s the latest USB4, so offers full 40Gbps bandwidth for USB4 and Thunderbolt computers, but is also backwards compatible with any USB-C laptop or PC.

It’s built for speed everywhere. Its two USB-C ports (one offering 100W passthrough charging) and one USB-A port are rated at 10Gbps, and the HDMI port can connect an external 4K display at 60Hz—and up to 8K at 60Hz for Windows computers.

Its really special feature is its MultiGig 2.5G Ethernet, 2.5x as fast as Gigabit Ethernet, and perfect for the every latest WiFi 6 routers and networks.

This hub wins on having the highest number of ports (an incredible 11) of any port reviewed here. This also makes it the longest hub (8.7 inches, 22cm) we have tested.

Its two HDMI ports can support dual 4K external monitors at 60Hz for Windows laptops, but only one at that specification for Mac or two Mac displays that are Mirrored rather than Extended.

The USB ports (1x USB-C and 3x USB-A) are rated at 5Gbps. Some hubs we reviewed boast faster 10Gbps USB ports.

There’s Gigabit Ethernet and SD and MicroSD card readers (only UHS-I rather than faster UHS-II).

If you don’t want to pay for a full docking station but require more than one external display, this 10-port hub is as close as you’ll get to a portable dock that supports two monitors. Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is another but will require adapters to connect the displays to its Thunderbolt 4 ports.

Owners of Apple’s plain M1 or M2 MacBooks will be delighted that this hub gets past the MacBook’s one-display limitation via some smart InstantView software.

Windows users ,however, might find better value with Plugable’s cheaper USB-C 11-in-1 Hub, which is not as great for Mac users owing to it not offering two Extended displays with a Mac.

There are one USB-C and two USB-A ports, all at a decent if not super-fast 5Gbps, and a further USB-C port that can passthrough power to the connected devices at 100W (85W to the laptop).

Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-I SD and MicroSD card readers and a combo audio port complete the impressive 10 ports on offer.

This clever hybrid device is both a laptop stand and a 7-port USB-C hub. It may be all you need to carry around with you when travelling and works just as well sat in the home or office.

The portable stand is lightweight and collapsible, raising a laptop (up to 17in) to a healthier viewing angle, with five ergonomic settings.

Along one side are the six built-in ports, and a USB-C PD (100W) to keep your laptop charged via the integrated cable.

There are one 5Gbps USB-C port, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, a 4K 30Hz HDMI video port, and SD and microSD card readers (104MBps UHS-I).

The Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter isn’t just a 4-port USB-C hub. Its hidden secret is its enclosure that allows you to add SSD storage to boost memory space, backup data, and transfer files at 5Gbps, without taking up an additional USB-C port.

Of course, you can add an SSD drive to most USB-C hubs but this one allows you to carry just one gadget around with you, as the SSD fits inside the adapter. It supports SATA M.2 SSD only (no SSD is included in the price).

There is a 100W USB-C PD charging port (15W is required to run the hub itself), and an impressive 4K 60Hz HDMI display output to connect an external monitor. The two USB-A 3.1 ports support fast data transfer at up to 10Gbps.

Laptops often have just two USB-C or Thunderbolt ports, so some users will yearn for more of the modern connectors.

Satechi’s well-named 4-Port USB-C Hub boasts four USB-C, which will at least double most laptops’ port count and help add Type-C SSD drives, flash drives, and other peripherals.

The USB-C is rated at 5Gbps.

The 7-port EZQuest USB-C Gen 2 Hub reviewed later is more expensive but includes 4x USB-C ports and 3x USB-A ports, plus 100W passthrough charging.

This is your simplest solution to needing to add a USB-A (USB 3.0) device to the USB-C slot on your laptop, Mac or PC.

Quite simply, it’s a one-port male USB-C to female USB 3.0 adapter, rated at 5Gbps. Attach a charging cable, memory stick, or keyboard, etc.

Other adapters have a bunch of ports. This has just the one, and that might be all you need. Actually, it is sold in a pack of two, so it’s doubly useful at a great price.

If all you need is a bunch of older, standard USB-A ports to add a phone charging cable, memory stick or external hard drive, then you won’t need a more versatile hub—just an adapter with a row of USB 3.0 ports.

There are plenty of these about, but for a quality brand take a look at the UGreen USB-C to 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub, which is inexpensive and ultra-portable.

It has four USB 3.0 ports, and even a 12W micro-USB power port for extra power supply for devices that require it—although this is weak and nowhere near enough to charge a laptop!

Even with this handy extra, you should really just consider most of the four ports for data transfer rather than powered devices.

There’s no HDMI, no extra USB-C port for passthrough charging, no memory card slots or Gigabit Ethernet. But who cares: you just want a few old-style USB ports, and this has enough to satisfy the most ardent accessory fan.

Backwards compatible and foreseeable-future-proof, Caldigit’s Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is great for modern laptops that can feel the benefits of the latest connectivity standard. As such, it’s the ultimate USB-C hub.

It boasts four 40GBps Thunderbolt 4 ports (compatible with USB-C, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4) plus four 10Gbps USB-A ports. One of the TB4 ports is upstream, so connects to the computer; the other three are downstream for connecting other devices.

Power delivery to external devices is more impressive than other hubs reviewed here, up to 15W on the Thunderbolt ports.

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.

If you need wired Internet access, you can add a USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet adapter.

iPad Pro and Air (2018 and 2020) users will appreciate this aluminum USB-C hub that turns the tablet’s single USB-C port into six ports: 5Gbps and 60W PD charger, 5Gbps USB-A, 3.5mm audio, HDMI (4K at 60Hz), and UHS-I MicroSD and SD Card readers.

Hyper claims it was the world’s most crowdfunded iPad Pro accessory and USB-C hub.

Available in iPad pro-matching Space Gray or Silver, this good-looking hub features a grip that secures it onto an iPad Pro without damaging the surface. You can remove the grip if you use a third-party iPad case.

It comes with a USB-C extender cable so you can also use it as a USB-C hub for your computers other than the iPad, too, including MacBooks, Windows laptops and other tablets.

The USBC-MSTH2 is a simple, driverless solution for those looking to add screens to their laptop through a single USB-C or Thunderbolt port.

It uses Windows and Chromebook-friendly MST (Multi-Stream Transport) technology that lets users extend or mirror their display onto two additional screens at up to 3840×2160 at 60Hz refresh rate. The laptop needs to support DP 1.4 to support 4K. Laptops with DP 1.2 are limited to HD (1080p) 60Hz across both displays.

Due to the lack of MST, Macs are limited to just one extended display, with a second only mirroring the laptop’s screen.

The adapter supports playback from High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), a copy-protection scheme that stops the capturing digital content from the source to the display. This means that, unlike some HDMI adapters, it works well with streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu and ESPN.

This USB-C hub eschews HDMI or Ethernet ports for a solid seven USB ports: four modern USB-C and three USB-A, so you can connect old and new devices as you see fit, including Ethernet or HDMI adapters if you need those too. While you may need to buy extra adapters, this hub offers more flexibility.

Three of the USB-C ports are rated at a speedy 10GBps (USB 3.2 Gen. 2) for fast data transfer, with the other at 5Gbps but aimed at 100W pass-through charging for your laptop. The three USB-A ports all offer 5Gbps bandwidth.

The data transfer is excellent but the charging capacity of all but one of the 7 ports is weak.

The integrated USB-C cable is 22cm (9in) long.

The quality 7-port Kingston Nucleum boasts seven ports from one USB-C connection, including a 4K HDMI output (30Hz), power pass-through (60W) to charge connected devices, two USB-C (5Gbps) ports, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, and SD and microSD slots.

You can power up a USB-C laptop while also connecting to a USB Flash drive and charging your smartphone. It’s compact in size and lightweight, and features a short built-in cable so works well as a travel accessory.

The two old-school USB-A ports also provide power pass-through to charge devices such as your smartphone or Bluetooth headphones.

One USB-C port on the Nucleum can be used for charging, and the extra USB-C port can connect your other more modern devices for data.

One port it does lack is Gigabit Ethernet. If you’re happy with Wi-Fi, this won’t matter, of course.

The Startech.com USB-C Multiport 4-in-1 Video Adapter can connect your USB-C laptop to a VGA, DVI, HDMI or Mini DisplayPort (mDP) display. It has pretty much everything except full DisplayPort.

The short breakout cable features a magnetic retainer that secures it in place while you’re not using it.

The HDMI and mDP outputs support UHD 4K resolutions. All of the outputs (HDMI, mDP, VGA, DVI) support high-definition resolutions up to 1920 x 1200. The adapter is compatible with USB-C DP Alt Mode devices.

It’s available in Aluminium, Rose Gold, and Space Gray trim, which will please owners of Apple MacBooks—but it will work with Windows laptops too, of course.

Many of the USB-C adapters tested here have a Gigabit Ethernet port, but none except the TrendNet TUC-ET5G can boast 5X gigabit speed for the absolute fastest wired transfers.

This is the first-to-market USB-C to 5GBASE-T (5Gps) Ethernet Adapter that is compatible with existing Cat5e cabling or better. Now you can add super-fast Ethernet (which you usually find only on top-end workstations such as the Mac Pro) to your laptop.

It’s not cheap, but it is the fastest. TrendNet also sells a TUC-ET2G model that can handle 2.5GBASE-T (2.5Gbps), which is about half the price and still 2.5X faster than Gigabit Ethernet. But if you want the very fastest only the TUC-ET5G will do. 

The Moshi Symbus Q is a similar offering to the HyperDrive hub above. It offers slightly less functionality at a slightly higher price, but you’re really paying for the sort of premium finish and build quality that Moshi delivers.

As with the HyperDrive, this is a USB-C hub that doubles as a 15W wireless Qi charger. Beyond that it packs in two USB-A 3.1 ports, 4K HDMI at 60Hz, and Gigabit ethernet, while it offers 60W USB-C PD pass-through charging to whatever laptop it’s plugged into.

The main body is built out of aluminum, so feels pretty sturdy, while there’s a soft fabric and rubber finish to the top to keep any glass-backed phones from sliding around. It’ll also happily charge through most phone cases.

Bear in mind that this only takes power from the mains, so even if you don’t want to use it for charging you’ll still need to plug it in, meaning this is best suited to leaving on your desk, rather than a hub for travelling.

If your laptop, tablet or even USB-C phone lacks a 3.5mm audio jack, then this simple and compact 2-in-1 adapter is what you need if you still use wired headphones, speaker or microphone. 

It doesn’t just feature the audio jack, it has a USB-C port for pass-through 60W power delivery (PD). You can attach it to your USB-C wall charger, or untethered it can be bus-powered. 

Long in length and connecting directly rather than by cable, it may cover up other ports on your computer.

The OWC USB-C 6-Port Travel Dock E is tiny, but includes at least one of each port you might need, whether out and about or just on your desk at home or in the office.

There are two 5Gbps USB-A ports, one pass-through USB-C PD port (100W), HDMI 2.0, an SD Card reader (fast UHS-II), and Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet access.

The version 2.0 HDMI is an upgrade on most adapters with HDMI 1.4, and can get to 60Hz with 4K displays. 

At 174g, it’s heavier than most of the USB-C adapters tested here, but we like it compact and robust shape. 

Note that the USB-C cable that connects to your computer is quite short (15cm) so it will have to sit right next to the host. Of course, the ports can accept any length of cable for the required devices and accessories.

As a mini dock, rather than in-pocket adapter, it’s compact, solid and well built and includes Gigabit Ethernet.

There is also a slightly cheaper model without Ethernet, although we’d argue that wired Internet access is essential for any device calling itself a dock.

The Startech.com USB-C Dual Monitor Multiport Adapter is portable but quite chunky, and it features a neat wraparound integrated USB-C cable that is rated at a speedy 10Gbps.

It has two display ports: one HDMI 2.0 that can connect to a 4K display at 60Hz, and a VGA port that offers 1080p HD. Next to these is a fast 10Gbps USB-C port that can connect to a 4K display (using DP Alt Mode) at 60Hz. Sadly, you can’t use all three at the same time, but can mix between the three.

Also included are 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A ports, plus a 100W passthrough USB-C PD port (88W to the laptop). To top it off, there’s a Gigabit Ethernet port to round off a generous collection of ports.

The Kensington UH1440P hub has a choice of DisplayPort, HDMI and VGA, although it is limited to a maximum of two external displays, and these would be at 1080p HD only. It does support a single 4K display at 30Hz.

There are three 5Gbps USB-A ports, two of which can charge connected devices at 7.5W. Gigabit Ethernet is included, as is a 3.5mm audio jack, and UHS-I SD and MicroSD card readers.

Passthrough charging via USB-C can power a connected laptop at up to 85W.

Available in a range of colors (silver, gold, rose gold, and Space Gray) that match Apple’s MacBooks—but compatible with any USB-C laptop—the Satechi Aluminum Type-C Slim Multi-Port Adapter 4K is one of the lightest and smallest multiport USB-C hubs we’ve seen.

Weighing just 46g and both slim and short, the hub/adapter boasts dual USB 3.0 ports for standard accessories and a 4K HDMI port for displays and projectors.

It also has an extra USB-C port for 60W pass-through charging, so you can keep your laptop powered up while it’s in use.

The flexible cable is 15cm long.