4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT MAC OS
4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT SERIAL
4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT UPDATE
4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT FULL
4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT PORTABLE

For those unfamiliar, 'dial-up' was the type of telephony-based connection that cave-dwelling IT professionals used in the early Neolithic period of the internet, many generations before the emergence of Spacebook within the Twitterverse.

4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT SERIAL

Of course, unlike a simple power cable, there's far more to data transfer than simple polarity in fact, today there's a nearly endless list of connectors designed to move information from one device to another.Įons ago, in the halcyon days of the Intel Pentium Processor and Windows 3.1, there existed a now-mythical artifact known as the serial port, a 9-pin connector used to communicate with certain peripherals such as printers, high-end keyboards, and dial-up modems. They don't offer a ton of ports, but they're perfectly capable, and provide Apple fans with the Type-A connections that the newest laptops do not have built in.Įver since engineers pioneered computers small enough to fit reasonably inside homes, users have been plugging in peripherals in attempts to add even more functionality to their systems.

4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT PORTABLE

And if you need something simple and aren't terribly concerned with power passthrough, check out the Anker Portable and Sabrent Premium.

4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT FULL

It is actually capable of charging the MacBook Pro, but not at full speed, and probably not fast enough to keep the battery from draining while you're using it. Alternately, if you just want a couple basic expansion ports and SD card readers, and you're using a MacBook or MacBook Air, the Anker PowerExpand+ may be all you need. Seven of them are for transmitting data while 3 of them utilize the company's PowerIQ intelligent charging to keep sensitive devices' circuitry safe. If you're mostly looking for additional Type-A ports, check out the Anker PowerIQ, which has 10. Speaking of desktop use, while they're both quite expensive, the Plugable Docking Station and Siig JU Series are both remarkably full-featured, powered laptop docks that can add massive amounts of functionality, whether your computer is contained in a tower case or a tiny clamshell. The Satechi Clamp is a somewhat similar case, but instead of the MacBook it's built to clamp onto the 2017 iMac or iMac Pro to provide additional desktop functionality. The Purgo TC401, for example, features a color and finish almost identical to that of a MacBook and it connects to the dual Thunderbolt 3 ports without any additional wires.

4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT MAC OS

The Sabrent Multi-Port Hub is another niche choice, as it is designed solely for use with USB-C-compatible iMacs, but acts as a front-facing extension of its rear ports, which, as any iMac owner will attest to, are not exactly conveniently positioned.įinally, we included the Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro, which has many of the high-performance features of the Plugable TBT3-UD1-85W but incorporates more connectivity options, including five USB-A ports, and this is especially useful if you use a lot of static peripherals in your setup, such as multiple displays or digital audio devices.īy and large, the vast majority of quality USB hubs work great for both Windows and Mac computers, but there are a number of features and models that go especially well with Mac OS and Apple's highly streamlined devices. Our next addition is the Plugable TBT3-UD1-85W, as every port on this compact and tidy device has the highest performing functionality in its class at the time of writing, although your machine does require Thunderbolt 3 to achieve its full 40 gigabits per second transfer speeds.

Next, we selected the Sanho HyperDrive as it has the look and build-quality of an OEM unit, slotting into a Macbook Pro's two Thunderbolt-3 ports to provide a range of high-speed data transfer options. With this in mind, we upgraded the Anker Portable to the Anker 5-in-1, as this not only uses a USB-C connector, but is encased in Apple's signature 'Space Gray' tone of aluminum, and covers the basics as far as connectivity is concerned. While recent iMacs do still feature USB-A ports, they also have USB-C, while the latest ultra-portable Macbook Air has just two Thunderbolt 3 ports and nothing else one of which is usually occupied by the charging cable. Indeed, those who miss the USB-A port on their Macbook are the exact same folks who would benefit from one of the hubs in this ranking.

4 PORT USB HUB FOR MACBOOK WORTH IT UPDATE

Our latest update to this list focuses on Macs that connect using the USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 protocols, as USB-A ports have been phased out of all subsequent Macbook Pro models since late 2016.

4 port usb hub for macbook worth it