USB Hubs For Mac Explained: Don't WASTE your MONEY!
USB Hubs For Mac Explained: Don't WASTE your MONEY!
Don’t buy just ANY USB hub for your Mac! Going over what to look out for, breaking down USB docking stations and hubs for Apple computers.
ALL THE GEAR IN THIS VIDEO IS LISTED BELOW 👇
UPDATED FOR 2025! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/Gidybrem2j0
I recently went through the painstaking process of finding the perfect hub for my M2 MacBook Air, and my M1 Mac Mini, and learned a lot during the process. There are so many USB docks and hubs out there, and so much JUNK. In this video, I want to break down what to look out for, and help you find the best usb hub for your Mac (or really, any PC or laptop).
PRODUCT LINKS:
UGREEN USB-C Hub: https://amzn.to/3dNZ6pO
Kingston MobileLite Plus UHS-II SD Card Reader: https://amzn.to/3CsFgLn
Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB Hub: https://amzn.to/3KjaoyM
ORICO Thunderbolt 3 Dock: https://amzn.to/3cIZzK1
Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock: https://amzn.to/3AhTFax
LINKS TO MY CURRENT DESK SETUP:
Apple MacBook Air M2: https://amzn.to/3PtGZCG
Hagabis Vertical Stand: https://amzn.to/3dC3wAl
Razer ProClick Mouse: https://amzn.to/3CvIGdf
Logitech MX Keys Mini: https://amzn.to/3PrfUQE
Edifier MR4 Speakers: https://amzn.to/3dBAJLS
LG 27UP850-W Ultrafine 4K Monitor: https://amzn.to/3Ps0w6w
NVMe SSD Enclosure: https://amzn.to/3SQIFct
Western Digital SN770: https://amzn.to/3A6aZPI
Grid Studio iPhone Classic Kit: http://shrsl.com/3nsgi
Harber London Folio Macbook Leather & Felt Sleeve: https://shrsl.com/3nrg1
Harber London Felt Wool Desk Mat: https://shrsl.com/3nsgr
BenQ ScreenBar Monitor Light: https://amzn.to/3w7DQBH
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LINKS TO PRODUCTS MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS
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0:00 Intro
1:41 Low-End/Inexpensive Hubs
2:31 Why Choose USB 3.0?
2:48 UGREEN USB Hub
3:24 Mid-Tier USB Hubs
3:39 What Is Passthrough Power?
4:46 USB Versioning Explained
6:37 Hub Display Output
7:08 SD Card Ports And Readers
8:40 Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB Hub
9:28 High-End USB Hubs and Docks
10:50 Orico Thunderbolt 3 Dock
11:23 Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock
12:02 Wrapping Up
@KyleErickson can you make a new video about? Last 2 years and thunderbold 5 in macbooks pro. Update video!
MAC is annoying to use with all the missing ports.
Another yellow tool! loved your logic! Awesome 😂
Saved many of us hours/days of research. Thank you!
Really helpful. Wanting to use a usb microphone to iPad without latency and this seems like it might work. Will try the USB hub you have.
If you come before GOD humbly and confess your sins and forgive those who are in debt to you then GOD too says that He is faithful and just to forgive your debts and sins and evils. If you come to Him, even if you have done wrong for months or years, just come to Him . Learn the teachings of the one true Orthodox Church to understand the scriptures. ☦
Awesome video. Got my eye on that anker dock and its half price on prime day so I’m thinking of treating myself to that and a monitor.
That fresh fade tho 😍
I’ve updated this video for 2025! You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/Gidybrem2j0
Worth bearing in mind with the high end ones, that the Thunderbolt limit applies overall to all the devices plugged into the hub.
This can start to hit hard when you (as I do) have 2 4k Displays via USB-C plugged into the hub. Each of those will gobble up 10 gbps of your theoretical 40 gbps at thunderbolt 4 speeds.
If you’re like me and you’r excessive you might then want to wire up your DSLR to also do streaming through this hub. That starts to eat up the remaining bandwidth.
Now, on the other hand, if you plug the camera recording device straight into one of the free MBP ports, suddenly the problem goes away because they each have their own 40gbps of bandwidth.
So in short, if you have a lot of high bandwidth applications you may not be able to run it all through a single hub and may need to use some of the additional ports on the MBP directly to take some load off the hub.
Atm I gave up on the streaming setup (too many cables, too messy, too fiddly, etc) and I have my 2x 4k monitors plus an SSD on the hub (plus everything else – 1GBPS fibre connection, sound, peripherals, etc) on there, and one working SSD directly into a mbp port.
Thanks.I am looking to capture mini-dv footage from my sony cameras (Pd150’s) and import into my new mac mini computer.I have always gone firewire 800 into an external drive.I plan to get a newer larger hard drive,but that Sony will still be my way to access all that old footage i treasure. I just dont want to buy extra un-needed cables,if i were buying wrong ones.
spend 2500 bucks on a apple and oh hey, lets not include any hdmi ports…. Apple is fucking trash since steve jobs died . never buying another apple product again
Ty great stuff u got
I have a monitor with 15 W Type C. When I connect my Macbook Pro 14 via this type C, the system shows as it charges, but it is not – because 15W is not enough. Is it possible to connect the monitor via this type C maybe using a USB hub or something else and not charge the Macbook?
amazing introductory video, easy to follow and precise. I kinda get where i should be aiming with the payload thank you
Apple should be ashamed of themselves. How is a guy supposed to run a focusrite scarlett 4i4, a m-audio keystation 49 mk3, and a wireless mouse at the same time? My macbook is a 2013 so at least I have 2 full sized ports, but there definitely should be 4 of them
just don’t waste your money on MacBook’s and get a killer pc or gaming laptop. Its good to have different brand technologies instead of having everything apple. Apple has no customization like android or choice of technology brands you want to use like usb mouses lol dont waste money on this crap apple should stop making computers and make the iPhone instead. not even the iphone my midrange Motorola works faster and can do more than my iphone 15 pro max.
Hmmm. I don’t see anything here that isn’t applicable to PC laptops. Is there a reason you only talk about Macbooks? Would my PC laptop still work with these hubs if I got an Apple sticker and covered up my Lenovo logo?
I have had a really good experience with the UGREEN USB C 10 in 1 dongle. Apart from the 1xHMDI 4K 30hz (which is good enough since I use a 1080p monitor), it has: 1xVGA 1080p 60Hz, 1xRJ45 1000Mbps, 1×3.5mm audio jack, 1xPD 100W USBC Charging port, 1xSD 104Mb/s, 1xTF (MicroSD) 104Mb/s and 3xUSB 3.0 ports for 40€ or 44$ on Aliexpress.
I have a 2021 Macbook Pro M1 16gb RAM and a heavy user of applications like Photoshop, Lightroom and Final Cut Pro.
No problems so far and for that price…can’t beat it imo.
Portronics have some pretty good hubs from 10usd to 20usd
SCENARIO; I’m a mobile musician, want to boondock and not rely plugged in on 120v. I’m in a camper with no access to power in the middle of nowhere. Just myself and nature (I call it God, do and think what you will). HOW and WHAT do I use as a hub to power my audio interface and external SSD from my M1 laptop? Don’t care if the power drains the laptop battery in 2 hours. I care about the inspiration in the middle of nowhere with no one around.
Your approach is spot on. Break it down to components and buy the components you need. Establish the core needs and discard what you can. This is where the savings is located.
Thanks. What would be the optimal/best solution for three computers to one display? I don’t need +2 displays, but one to switch between different computers.. 😅
will the hdmi on a hub work if my laptop usb c do not support pd/display?
Docktech
The space grey Anker power of my little laptop when the hard drive gone along with a Samsung one terabyte disk running the operating system off. Fantastic little thing.
Do you have a video on docks?
Apple: How would you like it if I built you a nice posh house and only put two outlets in the whole house because I was paranoid about spoiling the sleek smooth lines of the walls and told you to use extensions with multiple sockets?
PULWTOP I’ve been using on my iPad and iPhone and its been working great. I’d thought I’ll share with you great channel by the way. And thanks for your the ideas
15$ Orion usb c hub is my goal 😅
2k 120hz, webcam, mouse, Keyboard, headset
thank you for all the helpful info
$200 for the Razer on Amazon right now.
Super helpful video, wish I would have found this guy sooner and this video before I wasted 30 or so bucks. Just ordered the Anker 8 in 1, Amazon didn’t have any stock so I got directly from Anker.
Sounded interesting. I wish I understood it.
@KyleErickson are you able to connect to your external ssd on your network from another computer? If so, how? I’m not sure of the correct configuration to get it to show up. I’m using a 2017 Macbook Pro with an 8tb G-Raid ssd attached thru the usb port of an AirPort Extreme. It works fine connected directly to the Mac, but isn’t visible when connected to the Extreme, and doesn’t show up on Disk Utility. It does power on when connected both thru the Extreme.
I’m able to get 960 mbps on a Transcend drive. I’ve had it a few years now and put it through a lot of use and still as fast and stable as ever.
THANKS !!! Nice video.
@KyleErickson would 4k 60hz supporting dock will also function witk 2k 144hz ?
Great video! I need a USB hub because the one I have cannot handle the charge from my midi interface (scarlette 2i2). I only need 4 or 5 ports max. Which is my best option you think?
Who needs sd card reader
Those stupid USB-C ports are a consequence of Apple’s fever dream of producing a million-dollar 2D laptop.
What is that wallpaper
Thank you for reminding me of hubs. LOl. I have an old Macbook air 13 inch Intel from 2017 and use my USB for backup and want to keep doing that. You can lose anything you have up there in the air now a days. Just playing it most safe as I can.
thank you , really informative
Anker make good stuff.
Hi, could you check the STAYGO USB-C Hub and tell us your opinion about it ? I am looking for a honest review out there and looking for a hub that could last for a long time. Have a nice day
Helpful
Before I bought my m1 air I looked at the ports. Thought it was gonna be ok cause it has two thunder ports. Little did I know that the one is for charging and so really only ONE port is available 😢
For anyone wondering, yes there’s a typo at 5:08. The asterisk (*) under USB 3.2 should be USB 3.2 GEN 2X2, not USB 3.2 GEN 2X1.
This is just a testament to the stupid retroactive naming scheme 🥲
Very useful and important video for folks who invested money on a new laptop especially wren it comes to powered devices.