Plugable USB Hub with Ethernet, 3 port USB 3.0 Bus Powered Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Compatible with Windows, MacBook, Linux, Chrome OS, Includes USB C and USB 3.0 Cables

Product Information

There are still a couple of caveats here. First, your device needs to support a DisplayPort 1.4 video output over USB-C, which will count out many Chromebooks and some MacBooks and Windows laptops. Second, the hub itself takes 15W of power, which means that – even with a 100W USB-PD charger – you may find some laptops not charging at their highest speeds. But if you’re happy to live with these compromises, this is one of the best USB-C hubs we’ve seen. With a total of 6 ports, you can expand the functionality of your laptop’s single USB-C port to include Power Delivery pass-through charging, media display, ethernet connectivity, and data transfer. Even though two USB-C hubs may have wildly different brand names, you may sometimes find that they’re otherwise identical or just very similar.

If you plan to chain your habs to even more stretch the distance, it’s critical not to have more than 5 in a row. If you do, the whole set-up just won’t be working at all. Take some of the claims made by some manufacturers with a pinch of salt. We tested a couple of hubs that promised high-end features but failed to deliver during testing. For example, they might promise 4K at 60Hz, but you might find that this only works on specific laptops and displays. FlexiHub: Windows host device only, but any platform can remotely access the USB of the Windows host. Easiest setup. Cost-effective as it is priced by active connections, not total number of devices FlexiHub is installed on. Secure with 256-bit encryption.All models have Gigabit Ethernet support. 8- and 24-port models support 10 GB Ethernet with the option to use SFP+ connectors for fiber network connectivity. The 24-port models support dual Ethernet or dual SFP+ and optional Ethernet bonding for higher speeds and/or failover redundancy. Wi-Fi versions of the 8- and 24-port models are also available, providing Wi-Fi client or access point connectivity. USB/IP: Windows and Linux. Only free program. We couldn't get it working in our tests, but a free app is always worth a try first. The USB-C Power Delivery input port supports up to 53W pass-through charging to your connected laptop when used with a 65W charger (not included). This means you can fully refuel a 2020 MacBook Air 13ʺ in just 2 hours. Upstream connection (Type-A or Type-C?): USB hubs have multiple downstream ports to connect to your devices but only one upstream connector, which could be a port but is often a built-in wire that connects to your computer. Many laptops, including a lot of the best Ultrabooks, only have USB-C ports, so your hub's upstream connector would have to be Type-C.

We also like the choice of cables, with a short, pull-out cable that stows inside the case for travel, plus a longer desktop cable for when you need to stretch a little further. It gives this unit a little more flexibility than other USB-C hubs. On the hunt for a USB hub? We bought the top 11 models to test in a head-to-head showdown to see which are the best for various applications. These devices come in a vast array of designs and styles for all kinds of different purposes. Over the course of several weeks, we used each hub in the lab and at home to carefully inspect them for their ports and features, how well they travel, and their looks. In the end, we identified which models are the best overall, which is the best bargain, which is best for travel, and which are the best for specialized purposes. Sabrent's HB-U3CR looks like it was built for MacBooks, thanks to a gunmetal gray aluminum chassis and a stylish, slanted design that will prop it up at an insertion-friendly angle on any table. However, it's an equally strong choice for use with a PC laptop that has USB-C ports and needs a few USB Type-A connections.

Short of ports and crucial connections on your laptop, tablet or PC? Splash out on a USB-C hub and enjoy all the connectivity you need

Yes, but you must update to the latest version of the iPadOS. And due to the power input limit of iPad Pro, the maximum pass-through charging speed is 30W for an 11-inch iPad Pro and 35W for a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Despite this, image quality on our 4K display was crisp and free of any fuzziness, and it’s easy to get a working desktop setup on a laptop or tablet. You might want an extra Type-A port with a higher spec, but if you’re looking for a hub for life on the go, this one’s tough to beat for portability or convenience.