How to buy USB-C adapters and USB-C hubs for travel and working remotely?
Whether you’re on a business trip conducting a presentation or you want to get your vacation pics off your camera, you’ll be needing a USB-C adapter and hub. But with so many to choose from, which is right for you? Read our guide to find out.
What to consider when buying a USB-C adapter?
Adapters turn one type of signal into another, such as HDMI or Ethernet, or create multiple ports (as with our USB-C to 4-Port USB-C Hub). Your main consideration is what port you’re trying to connect to from your laptop. A USB-C adapter gives you back the video and audio ports that many laptop manufacturers have removed to make their laptops smaller or slimmer. We have adapters with either ethernet or HDMI ports, as well as a USB-C port that allows power pass-through charging while you’re using the adapter and additional port.
What to consider when buying a USB-C hub?
While adapters give you either a single port or several of the same type, a USB-C hub usually has multiple different port options. That’s why, when you’re buying a USB-C hub, you should consider what ports you need in addition to those your laptop has already. What other devices do you need to connect to your laptop? You might need video ports (such as HDMI, VGA or DisplayPort) or SD card readers, as well as USB-A ports. If you’ll need to power your laptop through the hub, will the USB-C hub take up a port you’d usually charge your laptop through? If so, go for a hub with power pass-through, such as our USB-C 6-in-1 Multiport Adapter.
Do USB-C adapters work for all devices?
When you’re working remotely, you don’t want to take lots of cables with you. The good news is that USB-C adapters work for most laptops that have USB-C ports. Screen resolution, data transfer speeds and Ethernet speeds will always depend on the technical specifications of the ports included in the hub or adapter, as well as on the cables used and the specifications of your device.
Downloading your vacation pictures.
So you’re back from your travels — but can you connect your camera to a USB-C hub or laptop to download your images? Most cameras will connect using USB, which is a common port on our hubs, but you’ll need the right cable and connectors. You could also use a hub with an SD or Micro SD card reader if your camera uses these.
If you’re using a MacBook, a multiport USB-C hub will get around the issue created when Apple removed many of the different ports from their newer models. These offer port expansion for the different devices you’re travelling with and can also offer pass-through charging so you can charge your devices at the same time.
What is the best USB-C adapter and hub for working remotely?
Your choice of USB-C hub and adapter will depend on the make and model of your laptop and what you want to connect to it while you’re working remotely. However, if you’re looking for a good all-round product for working outside the office, our USB-C 6-in-1 Multiport Adapter is a very versatile and portable option. This docking station not only allows for 100W power pass-through, but it has five other ports for all your devices. These include an HDMI video port to connect to an external monitor, an Ethernet port for stable internet connections, an SD card reader and USB-A ports for accessories such as mice and keyboards.
Our favorite travel USB-C adapters:
