Chromebooks are constructed mild, lithe, and long-lasting. Nonetheless, as extra Chromebooks shed USB-A and card-reading ports for future-proof, multifunctional USB-C ports, customers are confronted with a alternative. You’ll be able to attempt to improve all of your peripherals to USB-C, or you may get a USB-C hub and maintain utilizing your USB-A keyboard, in addition to ripping pictures off your digital camera’s SD playing cards. Many USB-C hubs additionally assist HDMI screens, Ethernet, and Energy Supply charging, so regardless of your wants, there’s an awesome USB-C hub on the market for you. Listed here are a number of the finest Chromebook USB-C hubs you should buy proper now.
What are the very best USB-C Chromebook hubs?
Hyper HyperDrive USB-C Hub 5-in-1
Works with Chromebook
This USB-C hub from HyperDrive might not appear like it is a lot, nevertheless it’s arguably one of the crucial moveable choices to pair together with your Chromebook. It is “Chromebook Licensed,” and provides twin USB-A ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, an HDMI 4k port, and USB-C Energy Supply as much as 86W. Not solely is that this good in your Chromebooks, nevertheless it’s additionally an awesome answer for any of your USB-C tablets and laptops.
Uni USB-C Hub
Pocket-friendly powerhouse
This credit-card-sized hub means that you can swap out the host cable for an extended C-to-C cable, and maintain the hub in your desk whereas your laptop computer sits on an elevated stand. It additionally is available in two sizes: a 6-in-1 with out Ethernet, and an 8-in-1 with Ethernet.
7-in-1 Plugable USB-C Hub Multiport Adapter
Simply the necessities
Plugable is healthier identified for its docking stations, making a surprisingly succesful and compact USB-C hub for a superb value. If you happen to want a hub to attach a monitor and some peripherals, it is arduous to beat the Plugable 7-in-1’s worth and sturdiness.
LENTION 4-in-1 USB-C hub
A little bit of aptitude
If you happen to’re seeking to develop the port choices in your Chromebook with a no-frills USB-C hub, then this selection from LENTION will do nice. It offers again the one USB-C port that it takes when plugged into your Chromebook and provides three USB-A ports — and it stands out from the boring grey hubs in its Rose Gold and Gold colours.
UGREEN USB-C Hub 6 in 1
Compact connections
This hub sports activities practically each port you’d need, all in an reasonably priced package deal. Whereas you do not get an Ethernet port, you get an HDMI port that helps 4K output, full-size SD and microSD slots, and three 3.0 USB-A ports. With this hub, you may have a spot for nearly any twine you want to plug in.
Anker PowerExpand Plus 7-in-1 USB-C Hub
Lengthy and lean
This smooth hub from Anker solely has two USB-A ports, nevertheless it makes up for that by additionally that includes HDMI, Ethernet, and the power to plug in a USB-C peripheral along with the USB-C port for pass-through charging. Which means you get precisely the ports you want, a little bit of future-proofing, and no wasted area.
Uni USB-C Hub with 4ft. Twine
Tremendous lengthy cable
Want to achieve some peripherals to your Chromebook with out crowding every part proper subsequent to it? This hub has a 48-inch twine, so you’ll be able to sneak the cables in your keyboard, USB webcam, and microphone out of sight, out of thoughts. Simply be aware that this hub does not have a USB-C pass-through to recharge your Chromebook.
Acer USB Sort-C Dock D501
Between dock and hub
That is technically a docking station, nevertheless it’s powered by Energy Supply similar to USB-C hubs and is slimmer than what you would possibly discover in different docking stations. Acer launched this late in 2021, and it is a good way to attach your Chromebook to a couple completely different screens if you want to. You get 4 USB-A ports, each dual-HDMI and DisplayPort video outputs, SD and microSD slots, Ethernet, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a front-facing USB-C port, and is licensed by Google’s Works With Chromebook initiative.
Anker 655 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)
Huge compatibility and ports
The Anker 655 is among the newest USB-C hubs to turn into out there, however this mannequin provides an Ethernet port and provides a novel design. You additionally get twin USB-A ports, 100W USB-C pass-through charging, 3.5mm audio, 4K HDMI, SD, and microSD card slots.
Decide the hub that is best for you
Whereas the HyperDrive 5-in-1 USB-C hub was introduced a few yr in the past, it is solely lately turn into extra broadly out there. It is supported by the Google “Works with Chromebook” initiative, that means that you should not have any difficulty utilizing this with any of the finest Chromebooks. Hyper has been within the USB-C hub recreation for some time, getting its begin over on the iPad and Apple facet of the world. However this USB-C Chromebook hub provides the entire ports you would possibly want.
Since I acquired the Uni USB-C hub two years in the past, I have been completely in love with it. I can swap out the brief cable it comes with for an extended USB-C to USB-C cable to prepare cables additional away from my Chromebook on my standing desk (it will most likely turn out to be useful for you in the event you make money working from home). Simply be aware that in the event you’re utilizing it for an exterior monitor, you may want the finest USB-C cable rated to 10Gbps to make sure the image does not stutter. It is also the dimensions of a bank card with the cables indifferent, making it one of many best hubs to pack for frequent vacationers or college students.
Need one thing beefier and extra stationary in your workplace desk? Chances are you’ll take into account upgrading from a USB-C hub to a full-fledged docking station. Docking stations normally have their very own energy provide, all kinds of ports, and longer cables so you’ll be able to maintain your desk much less cluttered.
Be aware: Except you recognize you are going to be utilizing headphones via it each time you plug it in, you would possibly need to keep away from USB-C hubs with a headphone jack. Once I use hubs and docking stations with headphone jacks, it generally mixes the enter/outputs whereas utilizing video calling companies like Google Meet and Zoom.
