I Tested 12 Different USB-C Hubs - Here Are My Top 5

So I bought 12 of Amazon's most popular USB-C hubs. And here's the thing...the highest rated ones on Amazon, performed the worst. The best USB-C hub is going to cost a few more dollars that the top rated Amazon ones BUT you're getting so much more functionality out of them!

Here are the Top 5 USB-C Hubs (w/ Amazon affiliate links):

In this video:

0:00 Intro
0:19 #4 and #5
2:57 Top 3

#reviewernotinfluencer #mobilereviewseh #reviews

-Among the top 5 tested, with significant drawbacks.
-Slowest charging speed, failing to charge a MacBook Pro in Game mode and losing charge despite claims of 100W (effective 87W after hub consumption).
-Overheats at 110°F, the highest in the test group.
-Below-average USB 3 data transfer speeds.
-Redeeming features include two USB-C ports for data and charging, avoiding the "hanging dock look" due to a longer cable.

-Considered the bare minimum standard for USB-C hubs.
-Larger size with 7 ports but below-average USB 3 port performance and inadequate iPhone charging in demanding conditions.
-Main advantage: decent SD and MicroSD card transfer speeds, despite not fully supporting SDXC2 speeds.

-Superior to the 7-in-1 model in almost every aspect.
-Priced higher at $50, which may deter budget-conscious buyers.
-Slightly slower flow-through charging.
-Highlights include top 3 SD card reading speeds, fast USB 3.0 data transfer, quicker charging through ports, and a metallic cover for a premium feel. Comes with a carrying bag.

-Surprisingly high performer for its price, making it the best budget option.
-Performs averagely well in most tests except for poor SD card reader speeds.
-Suitable for those needing basic peripheral connectivity without high demands on SD card usage.

-The best overall based on comprehensive criteria.
-Heavier than average but lacks an ethernet port.
-Average SD card reader speeds but excels with a longer connection cable, significantly faster USB A port data transfer speeds (800 mb/s), and 25% faster charging through USB A ports.
-Unique for having a second USB-C port, a rare feature among tested hubs.
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[godfather]

The main reason I like this channel is because he points out the little annoyance stuff that I wouldn’t think about. One of the best product reviews channels out there.

[devcybiko]

Also - thanks for being a human being... all the other reviewers were bots.

[volatilememory]

Many of these USB C hubs only support 4K HDMI at 30 Hz, which is headache inducing lag. I bought the Anker 555 because it has 4K 60 Hz. IMO, the Anker 555 is the more rounded one *if* external monitor is important.

[patrickr]

Monty is on fire!!! Best reviews for mobile accessories by far is here. Thanks for sharing!

[badvertise]

I've been subbed to you for a while and enjoy+appreciate your videos on phone accessories! I wanted to say that this is a helpful overall comparison video but technically speaking you should distinguish between Megabits (Mb) and Megabytes (MB) to do an accurate comparison of USB or SD card transfer speeds. You say bits throughout the video when the SD cards indicate their bytes figure on them (8 Mb = 1 MB), but your on screen graphics say MB and mb at different times.

According to Samsung, your T5 SSD is advertised with a max transfer rate of 540 MB/s which is 4320 Mb/s which is >86% the theoretical bandwidth of USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gigabits per second or 5000Mbps). With no bottlenecks, good heat management, and good/lucky flash memory, you might be able to temporarily meet or exceed that spec of 540 MB/s. But probably not on a 5Gbps connection; there will always be overhead/a buffer with a theoretical bandwidth, you'll never be able to meaningfully "access" or "use" the full 5000Mbps. Regardless whether you're using USB C or USB A, the hub you're using will have a theoretical throughput of either 5 Gbps (625 MB/s) or 10 Gbps (1250 MB/s) depending on the advertised specification of the USB hub. For a given product, provided specifications/marketing materials/images should indicate whether the USB ports are 5Gbps (USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1) or 10Gbps (Gen 2). Even in the manual for the T5 SSD, Samsung says you must use a USB 3.1 Gen 2 (i.e. 10Gbps) connection for the max data transfer speed.

Of the top 4 hubs you linked, only #1 wouldn't cause a bottleneck for the T5 because the UGreen has 10Gbps USB ports. The Anker 553 is 5Gbps, but the 555 which loses an HDMI port is 10Gbps (it looks like a major selling point of the 553 is the dual 4K HDMI ports which likely made them cut costs on the USB). I couldn't find the Zmuipng through your link but given its price, it's probably safe to assume it's 5Gbps. All this to say that it's a given that a 10Gbps USB connection will perform better than a 5Gbps connection if a storage device can utilize the additional bandwidth. Also USB (and HDMI) naming conventions are absolute garbage.

A couple disclaimers though: I'm assuming you used the T5 (shown in the video) in your transfer tests, which is why I'm confused how the T5 SSD performed at 400MB/s (500 on the Anker 553?) on "average" hubs but with the UGreen you got 800MB/s, if the max speed of the T5 according to Samsung is 540MB/s? Those numbers don't make sense to me but maybe you were using a different SSD (T7?) or somehow you did a test of the connection somehow and not a transfer test? I also can't speak to the transfer speed of SD cards because I don't know as much about them but it's obvious that most hubs are cheaping out on the SD card reader slots. Thank you for testing that and determining which ones are usable and which aren't.

Hope you see this and can address if you have the time. Thanks!

[drkblde]

One thing I wish you had looked at was using hdmi with an iPad/iphone. I went through my older usb c dongles and tried to use the hdmi on my iPad. Only one actually worked. The test was a 10ft hdmi 2.1 cable to a 1080p input while the iPad as getting pass through power.

[btam]

You didn’t mentioned HDMI performance. Are they all 30khz or 60?

[MichaelSchmidt_UrbnPxl]

Nice… and yes I can confirm of all the USB-C Hubs in that price range and size / style I used/tested the UGREEN HUBS work the best, fastest and reliable.

[russty]

ok every time I need a peripheral, I come to this channel. been following this guy for more than a decade now.

[brianc]

Reviews just at the right time!!! In the market for a new USB-C hub! Thx! Its great to have the truth with no frills!!!

[Zonker]

Wish you reviewed one that you loved, but the Ugreen was better than expected. Also, I like your humor, the fact that you said 'by' accident, that you didn't play loud and annoying music... also, your puppy that looks like a little old man... and that I thought was stuffed it was so chill.

[aaroncobeng]

Why do people who review USB-C hubs have huge arms

[wesleylloyd]

I’ve watched two videos that were basically ads. Thanks for a thorough review!

[rnmn]

This is such a disingenuous video.

First, from 0:04 you go on a rant about read speeds of SD cards. So look at your SD card @ 6:05; see that second row of pins on the card, that's what makes that a UHS-II card. Not a single one of your "top" hubs are UHS-II compliant, which is why none can reach faster read speeds than 90 MBps (which is near the max read UHS-I readers can reach when accounting for any overhead).

Second, you mention testing 12 hubs, so list the other 7 that didn't make your "top 5" in your description such that they can be avoided instead of showing them seemingly scattered on your workspace @ 2:51 outside of a Sabrent hub throughout the video & the Belkin Connect 6-in-1 @ 5:50, which you point out specifically due to its flimsy HDMI connection.

Third, the ugreen hub is the only "top" hub that was USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), whereas all the other 4 "top" hubs are USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps); that obviously puts the ugreen hub ahead of every other "top" hub, simply due to its faster bidirectional connection to your MacBook & iPad Pro.

Fourth, as others are pointing out in this comment section: you need to understand the difference between megabits per second (Mbps) & megabytes per second (MBps); you keep verbally switching between those throughout this video as well as likely all of your "reviews" and "top" lists, when they are actually different.

Finally, not a single one of these "top" hubs has USB-IF certification. Unfortunately, that designation is usually a rarity amongst these devices and many USB devices. For some of those manufacturers, it's likely too much of an expense to submit them, but the large & popular manufacturers like Anker, Belkin and ugreen really have zero excuse to not get verified.

You could and should do better in these reviews and top lists.

[khrenaud]

One thing was missing and that was HDMI specs. The hubs vary a lot regarding the maximum frequency they support and if they support AMD Freesync or not.

[sujezz]

Can we get a list for usb c hubs with charging and hdmi 4k 60hz ? Most of us don't really care about microsd slot when we can just use a pendrive or external ssd.

[yekevin]

I think you got MB/s (pronounced "megabytes") and Mb/s (pronounced "megabits") mixed up in this video. 800 Mb/s is very very slow for an SSD

[polterghosty]

There you are!!! Duuuude. Been forever.

[adambell]

Thanks for your honest reviews I have watching the channel for the channel for a couple years & always use your links for buying the products! Would love to see an HDMI cable review!! 🎉

[coreymusicman]

Your channel is not popular enough. This is a great video, entertaining, informative and exactly the thing I was looking for. Honest first hand perspective on budget hubs and I didnt have to sit through 20 minutes of fluff to get there. Excellent. Thank you!