Laptops, tablets and phones keep getting thinner, and the first thing to go is ports. One USB-C socket is tidy until you need to plug in a monitor, a USB drive and a charger at the same time. A hub or adapter fixes that, but the two are not the same thing, and buying the wrong one is the usual mistake. Here is how they differ and which to get.
Hub or adapter: what is the difference?
It is worth being clear, because the words get used loosely.
- A USB hub multiplies one USB port into several, so you can plug in more USB devices: drives, a keyboard, a mouse, a printer.
- A multiport adapter adds different kinds of connection from one USB-C port, typically video (HDMI), a USB port, and pass-through charging.
If you want more of the same (USB), you want a hub. If you want to plug in a screen or charge while you work, you want a multiport adapter.
Putting your laptop or Switch on a TV: USB-C to HDMI
The most common need is getting a picture onto a bigger screen. A USB-C multiport adapter with 4K HDMI does exactly that: connect it to a USB-C laptop, tablet or phone and run the display to a monitor, TV or projector at up to 4K. It also adds a USB 3.0 port and a USB-C charging passthrough, so a single cable to your laptop gives you screen, USB and power at once.
It also works as a compact alternative to a Nintendo Switch dock for TV mode, since the Switch outputs video over USB-C and needs power at the same time. One important caveat: video-out only works if your device supports display over USB-C (called DisplayPort Alt Mode). Most modern laptops, iPads and the Switch do; some budget Android phones do not, so check yours if you are buying mainly to mirror a phone screen.
More USB ports: a hub
If your problem is simply too few USB sockets, a 7-port USB hub is the answer. This one has a hybrid plug, USB-C with a tethered USB-A adapter, so it works on both newer Type-C laptops and older USB-A machines. You get three SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports for drives and fast storage, two USB 2.0 ports for a keyboard and mouse, a USB-C data port, and a 5W USB-C power input to keep things stable when you load it up.
What Power Delivery passthrough means
You will see Power Delivery, or PD, on the multiport adapter. It simply means the adapter has a USB-C port you plug your charger into, so your laptop or Switch keeps charging while the adapter is in use. Without passthrough, plugging into your only USB-C port would mean you cannot charge at the same time. It is the small feature that makes a one-port laptop genuinely usable on a desk.
Powering small gadgets: USB to DC
One more port problem worth solving: small electronics with an odd round DC barrel plug, like a desk lamp, a fan or a router. A USB to DC cable set with eight interchangeable tips powers those from any USB port or power bank, which is handy when the original adapter goes missing. Check your device's barrel size against the tip list before buying.
Adding wireless where there is none: a Bluetooth USB dongle
A genuinely different problem from everything above: an older laptop or a desktop PC that has no Bluetooth at all. None of the hubs or adapters here add wireless connectivity, since they are solving a wired port or display problem. A Bluetooth 5.0 USB dongle plugs into any free USB port and adds Bluetooth pairing for a wireless mouse, keyboard, speaker or headphones, plug and play with no separate driver install needed on most systems.
Which do you need?
- Need a screen, plus charging from one USB-C port: the multiport adapter.
- Need more USB ports for drives and peripherals: the 7-port hub.
- Need to power a small DC gadget from USB: the 8-in-1 cable.
- Need to add Bluetooth to a PC or laptop that does not have it built in: the Bluetooth USB dongle.
All are on the USB Hubs and Adapters page, shipping from Singapore.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect my laptop to a TV with USB-C?
Yes, with a USB-C multiport adapter that has HDMI, as long as your laptop supports video over USB-C (DisplayPort Alt Mode), which most modern laptops do. Connect the adapter to your laptop and an HDMI cable to the TV.
Does a USB-C to HDMI adapter work with the Nintendo Switch?
It can act as a compact stand-in for the dock in TV mode, because the Switch sends video over USB-C and needs charging at the same time, which the adapter's HDMI and power passthrough provide.
What is USB-C Power Delivery passthrough?
It is a USB-C port on the adapter for your charger, so your device keeps charging while the adapter is plugged into its only USB-C socket. Without it you would have to choose between using the adapter and charging.
Will a USB hub slow my devices down?
Plugging several devices into one hub shares the host port's bandwidth, but for everyday use like storage, keyboard and mouse it is not noticeable. Use the USB 3.0 ports for drives to keep transfers fast.
Do these need drivers?
No. The hub, the adapter and the Bluetooth dongle are all plug and play, just connect them and they work.
