Choosing the perfect USB-C hub or dongle feels a bit like visiting a salad bar: The sheer number of merchandise means that you could actually store for a tool that has precisely what you’re in search of, and for the perfect value.

That doesn’t at all times imply a USB-C hub or dongle works as marketed, or that it’ll fulfill you. To know that requires precise hands-on testing. I contemplate a USB-C dongle to be a less expensive various to both a DisplayLink dock or Thunderbolt docking station, which share some testing standards. USB-C docking stations, which have grow to be extra widespread, are extra full-featured merchandise, and require extra testing to verify they carry out as marketed.

I’ve examined USB-C hubs, dongles, and docking stations for the final three years, and compiled the ends in a listing of the best USB-C hubs and dongles. Some of the merchandise I take a look at get written up in separate opinions, however not all. Regardless, I exploit a set of widespread standards to guage each USB-C hub, dongle, and docking station:

• Price
• Ports and options
• Physical development and thermals
• Stability and connectivity
• Power and efficiency, with a subset of checks reserved for USB-C docking stations

All of the USB-C gadgets reviewed by PCWorld employees are carried out so independently, with none affect from distributors. We acquire every gadget both by buying it ourselves or by asking the seller for a overview unit.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

How I take a look at USB-C hubs by value, ports, and options

In normal, shopping for a USB-C hub is primarily a query of value and ports. USB-C hubs are usually marked as “X-in-1” hubs, which means that they’re merely a set of ports. That language signifies that I start by what the hub gives, and evaluate it to what the producer costs. It’s not honest to say {that a} USB-C hub is a commodity, however they definitely share a few of these components.

At press time, my choose for the best USB-C hub is an 8-in-1 hub, the Anker 555, which has what I contemplate to be a fairly ultimate mixture of ports: two USB-A ports (for a mouse and keyboard), a USB-C port for energy enter, and one other for data-out; plus a microSD/SD card slot, Ethernet, and an HDMI show port. I don’t take a look at (or advocate) all mixtures of ports, due to the huge variety of choices.

It’s value noting that older hubs tended to hook up with a single 4K show at 30Hz, which may pressure your eyes over lengthy classes. Newer hubs join at 4K, 60Hz as a substitute, which is what your eyes are used to.

My suggestions can and do fluctuate based mostly upon pricing. Budget hubs can drop into the $20 vary, whereas costlier hubs might be $30 or $40 and above. Competition might be brutal — however that’s good. I’ll fortunately bump a very good USB-C hub from our checklist of suggestions if a comparable product enables you to lower your expenses with out sacrificing high quality.

USB-C docking stations can use applied sciences corresponding to DisplayLink or DSC/HBR3 to approximate the flexibility of a Thunderbolt dock to hook up with multiple 4K show. I’m nonetheless in search of a aggressive value, although I’m prepared to account for the next value ($100 to $150 or so) if there are extra options and an influence brick to cost your laptop computer.

How I take a look at USB-C hubs for bodily development and thermals

Some USB dongles are fabricated from plastic; others are fabricated from metallic. I give no desire over both, however I do take observe if a hub will get excessively sizzling. I used to make use of a temperature sensor, however discarded it in favor of my very own fingers — on the uncommon event {that a} hub or dock heats as much as alarming temperatures, I merely don’t advocate it.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

I do plug in a lot of take a look at peripherals to verify the port spacing. It would possibly sound a little bit dumb, however I’ve caught dongle distributors jamming ports so shut collectively {that a} USB key can’t be inserted subsequent to a different gadget. I don’t do something like whack the dongle on my desk to check it; as a substitute, it’s right here that I’ll learn buyer opinions to smell out any long-term issues. Here, too, is usually the place I see if there’s a very good guarantee. It makes for peace of thoughts.

A metallic docking station usually prices a bit extra, but it surely tends to dissipate warmth higher than a plastic dock. Again, that is one thing that may be simply confirmed.

How I take a look at USB-C hubs for stability

Some stability checks might be carried out shortly — does a show flicker and/or refuse to gentle when linked to a dock? Is there sufficient energy to drive a peripheral, like an SSD? I’ve a couple of peripherals on my desk particularly designed for this, together with a pair of 4K shows that I exploit for Thunderbolt dock testing.

With a USB-C hub or dongle, I don’t run by means of the assorted take a look at laptops that I exploit with a Thunderbolt dock. I do attempt to use the USB-C hub connected to the identical laptop computer for a day or so, bringing the laptop computer up out of sleep and checking to see if it reliably connects.

How I take a look at USB-C hubs for energy and efficiency

I don’t ask a $20 hub to ship the efficiency of a $150 USB-C docking station, and I don’t prioritize one hub over one other due to high quality nuances in efficiency. Each USB-C hub is basically splitting a 10Gbps USB-C port bandwidth over a number of ports, and I measure to see if the efficiency suffers an surprising drop. For efficiency testing, I exploit a devoted laptop computer with a Thunderbolt 4 port that may fall again to the 10Gbps of a USB-C connection.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

Mark Hachman / IDG

I join a hub or dongle to the show — assuming it has a show port — after which play again a 4K60 YouTube stream and observe any body drops. This shouldn’t occur. I then carry out a storage take a look at with an SSD to measure the storage efficiency utilizing an trade benchmark, PCMark 10. I then repeat the streaming take a look at and run the storage benchmark once more. It’s commonplace for the mix to lead to diminished efficiency and dropped frames, producing a stuttering video stream.

Most full-featured USB-C docks embrace an influence brick that provides energy to your laptop computer and peripherals; a USB-C hub might embrace an influence enter port that routes your laptop computer’s USB-C charger energy by means of the hub. It’s at all times good to know if that hub goes to devour a lot energy that your laptop computer complains that it’s not getting sufficient.

With a dock, I exploit a USB multimeter to measure how a lot energy every port offers, and if relevant, how a lot is arriving in your laptop computer.

I take a look at USB-C docks by repeating the efficiency checks above, however I do observe my outcomes and the way nicely every docking station compares to others I take a look at. I additionally carry out an extra take a look at the place I copy a folder of recordsdata from an SSD I connect to the dock, all the way down to the take a look at laptop computer.

How to interpret our USB-C hub score system

Quite frankly, most USB-C hubs that I consider work fairly nicely. I choose our greatest picks based mostly upon value, options, thermals, and efficiency. I weight USB-C docks extra on efficiency and options than value.

Generally, most docks that I take a look at price three stars and above, a score which I contemplate to be a passable rating. Hubs, docks, and dongles that rating 4 our of 5 stars are usually ones that I’d advocate, however might have some flaw (a excessive value? A sluggish connection?) that holds them again. I award an Editor’s Choice award to a hub, dongle, or dock that I might unreservedly advocate to a buddy or member of the family. The finish aim, after all, is to check after which advocate the perfect USB-C docks so that you can take pleasure in.