USB Hubs For Mac Explained: Don't Be Fooled!
USB Hubs For Mac Explained: Don't Be Fooled!
Find the RIGHT USB hub for your Mac! Deep dive into look out for, breaking down USB docking stations and hubs for Apple computers.
ALL THE GEAR IN THIS VIDEO IS LISTED BELOW 👇
Anker 332 Hub | https://amzn.to/3Y0orSI
Satechi Multiport Adapter V3 | https://amzn.to/3VZPgUw
HyperDrive Thunderbolt 4 Hub | https://amzn.to/3WjocRb
CalDigit TS4 | https://amzn.to/460I3YQ
Lookout for the HyperDrive Thunderbolt 5 Dock Here | https://bit.ly/hyper-tb5-dock
My Favourite USB Accessories:
Samsung T7 Portable SSD | https://amzn.to/3Lk5dj8
HyperDrive USB4 SSD Enclosure | https://amzn.to/4cA6Vcg
Every year I try and remake this video with updated products which I find the most useful — I’m always using different Macs whether it be my M3 MacBook Pro or the M3 MacBook Air, but all docks and hubs work the same with either. The problem is there are a ton to choose from, and there’s a lot of junk out there! In this video I’ll explain everything as best as I can, and hopefully it’ll help guide you towards something that works best for you!
Download My Latest Wallpaper Pack HERE: https://iokyle.gumroad.com/
MY MAIN SETUP GEAR:
M3 MacBook Air | https://amzn.to/3TFaOG3
MacBook Pro M3 Pro | https://amzn.to/41dh6ic
Humancentric Vertical Laptop Stand | https://amzn.to/3TGp3KJ
Effydesk Wildwood Standing Desk | https://amzn.to/3Sy67NJ
Effydesk Deskshelf | https://amzn.to/426k2xq
Apple Studio Display | https://amzn.to/3GCr0R6
Walnut Headphone Stand | https://amzn.to/3U6NQYS
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro Headphones | https://amzn.to/3HpUmm0
CalDigit TS4 USB Hub | https://amzn.to/3Fc80Ji
Samsung 980 Pro SSD | https://amzn.to/48yWsfc
HyperDrive Next USB4 SSD Enclosure | https://amzn.to/3zq23YI
Logitech MX Master 3S Mouse | https://amzn.to/3mkvEfS
Apple Magic Keyboard with TouchID | https://amzn.to/4agndXg
Orbitkey Desk Mat & Keyholder | https://bit.ly/41jSoMg
Olanglab Wood Slat Panels | https://amzn.to/4aW3Q65
UMIAcoustics Wood Slats | https://amzn.to/4b0Px00
Lamomo LED Neon Rope | https://amzn.to/3S5PKWT
Grid Studio iPhone Classic Kit | http://shrsl.com/3nsgi
Mandalorian Lego Figures | https://amzn.to/3Et0oyB
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_______________________________
00:00 | Start
02:08 | Basic-Tier Hubs
05:11 | Mid-Range Hubs
08:27 | Premium Hubs & Docks
13:01 | The Next Big Thing
13:57 | Wrapping Up
#apple #usb #appleaccessories
Power delivery + display port output with clamshell closed seems to be a bottleneck, in my experience.
What’s that battery health app you are using please?
Based on ur recommendation, I just ordered the HyperDrive TB4 hub. I have Caldigit and love it but that monster power adapter and cords simply suck. Thank you.
Are you Canadian or something? It would be nice if you did one of your videos with a Southern US accent so that people like me would understand.
As an Anker adapter user (the 7 in 1 that is 100$), there is 1 issue am finding with all of them (I charge my Mac on a different port than the port I plug in the adapter to) I connect my mouse, keyboard, HDMI cable and an ethernet cable to the adapter and charge the macbook directly, the adapter becomes very hot after an hour or so and the keyboard and mouse starts to disconnect, it’s not robust enough as you might think.
So I have a desktop PC for gaming then I have a Macbook Pro for editing but What is the best hub for 2 monitor that support both? KVM?
Have you got a recommend for something in that midrange like the setachi, but still has some usb type A ports?
@Kyle love the vid. If I just want to add a USB C Mic and a Camera (as webcam) can I use a USB C hub? I’ve noticed notes such as "Can not be used for media" does this mean no webcams? Thanks in advance.
How does the hub get its power?
KYLE!!!! You portly fellow!
helpful. thank you.
13:03 did wonder about that ts4 caldigit 😂 i felt cheated.
yo i have a question, I’m using a 2023 macbook to power my music studio and am thinking of getting a higher end doc/hub for it. After watching I’m still not super sure on what would be best to go with. I want to have 3 monitors hooked up (doesn’t really matter about having 4k-8k but would prefer). Since I’m using alot of studio gear I find myself still needing a bunch of USB A ports. Any ideas for something like that?
Hmmm a Thunderbolt 5 docking station would be nice, but that means that my M2 mac mini won’t support it…
USB 3 👍
Remove one of the USB A ports and give us one HDMI port and it’s perfect
90210 👌
Make sure not to buy a hub without a solid no-questions return policy and make sure to stress test it for your use case immediately on purchase. As a working professional, I’ve had hubs from a lot of these brands fail in the field whenever they were used in anything outside the most relaxed conditions. Many have been particularly sketchy on large file transfers.
Very informative, thanks 🙂
Very good information. Might suggest an explanation of Thunderbolt vs. USB and compatibility between them. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thanks for the overview Kyle. I’ve found Anker and UGREEN to be the most reliable brands for my use case.
Taylor Kimberly Johnson Dorothy White Elizabeth
12:52 modding his caldigit face.
I stopped the video searching everywhere for "caldigit faceplates" (because I do have this hub) and couldn’t find a thing!! And THEN you said it was custom made! So, yes, I would like the stl file for it 🙂
I would love to get the STL for that faceplate!
Excellent information thanks. I have previously purchased so many hubs that are slow and useless.
I like my Hiearcool hub that I bought 3.5 years ago- 4k HDMI out, 2x usb a 3.0, sd card and micro sd card reader, and a usb c 100 watt pass-though (no data, just power). It is $18 on amazon, and I use it everyday. I’m sure hardware snobs will call it a cheap POS but it has worked really well for me.
I have a question, if I had a monitor with a resolution lower than 4k ( 1080p 144hz ) to reach at least 120hz should I buy a hub specially or the first one in the list which is 4k 30 hz is still ok ?
I only trust Dell docks. In the IT world, Dell is the standard (without getting overly expensive or complicated) for pc, laptop and dock.
They support their products, have software updates…sometimes even when the product is no longer sold. When in doubt, go with Dell.
Still no Thunderbolt 5. 😫😭
just in time for prime day
wow thanks Kyle, i appreciate the real data and reporting, and efficiency on the report. I bout for portables two of the Satechi
I did it the other way around, bought new cables and accessories with usb-c instead of buying a hub. We’re moving to usb-c anyway so why spend money on a usb-hub?
I recently bought a Ugreen hub that has usb-c pass through power, hdmi, 1 usb-c, 2 usb-a, sd card slot, and micro-sd card slot. Good build quality, works fast enough, and does its job. I think it was like $60. 📸😎
Hub or dock is something people shouldn’t go cheap with as it’s a huge link that you have to rely on full time for years.
The only problem with the anger is that the connection cable is not replaceable
Thanks, use-full video!
I agree as well – 100 % 😅
😁Thanks!
Looking at buying the TS4, but wondering since it’s been out for a good bit, if there’s a newer model that might be not he horizon?
03:18 I’m afraid I have to disagree. At work, for my family and some of my friends, we recently (July and August 2024) bought many different thumb drives (USB memory sticks). And although the packaging often only had USB 3.0 printed on it, the USB memory sticks from SanDisk, for example, actually have USB 3.2 Gen 1
I just wanted to commend you on a truly informative, helpful, no-BS video. It’s rare to see that these days when "content creators" (sigh) focus more on trying to look cool and show off than actually help their viewers. More matter, less art, as the Bard said. Keep it up.
Great vide! It seems even the Caldigit TS4 isn’t enough to cover all of my peripherals.
I have…
1. Monitor – HDMI/Display port
2. Ethernet
3. Web cam – USB
4. Stream Deck – USB
5. Focusrite audio interface – USB
6. Komplete keyboard controller – USB
7. Shure SM7B mic – USB
8. Ext HDD – USB
9. Ext SSD – USB
That’s 7 USB ports!
I have a Mokin hub that covers most of them but I wind up having 3 USB devices that have to take turns with the port.
Got any suggestions?
yes pleace the stl file for the ts4 face plate. so much cleaner than the original
Loved the review. What about Spigen ArcDock USB Hub? And does heating of usb hubs a bad sign?
Brilliant. This video is great. My nearly 80 year old dad who recently bought a new Mac was flummoxed by the fact it only had USB C ports, and so few of them to boot. So…All his external devices with USB type A connectors would now be otherwise junk. Crikey…I find all these standards with different power through puts and transfer speeds confusing, so someone who’s 80 years old? Well good luck! Many thanks for this.
I use henge/brydge docks and hubs (or did-company was aquired by someone) my lg monitor has hub functionality as well. 4 hdmi,display port, usbc and a. One cable laptop monitor and peripherals to monitor. I use a vertical dock and it’s all i touch.
Have you tested how the hubs/docks perform when utilizing several ports at once? Like display output, webcam on, Ethernet on, mouse, keyboard, and transferring files.
Hello Kyle
You do good work, very clear and simple!
However I have yet to find a techy that is able to explain how to make a real docking station that will allow multiple computers to reach multiple SSD drives without wifi!
I have three computers, 1 IMac and 2 Macbooks, but all my data is stored on three IMac connected drives: 1 Thunderbolt 2 LaCie 4T main drive + 2 Transcend SSD 5T each that are used as Backup 1 and Backup 2.
I have yet to find a hub that would allow to connect my Macbooks simultaneously without using WIFI or AirDrop..(too slow and not practical for backups).
Am I asking for some miracle or is there a simple solution out. there?
Cheers
Andre
Please share your stl files for the dock faceplate and the ssd enclosure! Great video!
Can someone pls help me? My MacBook screen is actually broken fully, so i connect it to my monitor ( 24E4 ) My macbook has 2 ports and one of them is broken. I can only use 1 port so thats the reason i need a multiport adapter. With the adapter, i should be able to plug in my logitech g203, macbook charger, and also my hdmi cable. However, with the koorui 24E4 monitor i have, the hdmi cable is slightly "different" i think and it doesnt fit into any of the hdmi ports in the adapters i recently bought. Can someone pls help me? Thank you so much