Best Usb Hub Powered For Mac
Even as the world is going gaga for new wireless devices like smart watches and Bluetooth headphones, one thing still hasn’t changed: the vast majority of gadgets charge over USB, and in most cases, a USB cable is the fastest way to transfer data between devices. The USB standard isn’t going anywhere, but what is changing is our need for USB ports for our ever-growing list of personal tech items – and that’s where USB hubs come in. USB hubs are small devices that include a handful of USB ports that connect to your computer or a power source through a single port. In much the same way that a power strip enables multiple appliances to plug in for electricity, USB hubs expand your capacity for connected USB devices. And many of them support USB charging as well as data transfer, so they can be useful for charging multiple gadgets at once. Read our USB hub shopping guide to understand the features you’ll be looking for, then check out our favorites and learn why they made the list. USB hubs are designed to do two things: transfer data between devices and charge devices when connected to a power source.
A powered USB hub will give you the option to connect a lot more USB peripherals to the machine, and this will allow you to access and use multiple gadgets at the same time, without compromising on the battery life or the power source of the machine.
It can get tricky, however, because not all USB hubs provide power to connected devices, and not all USB hubs enable data transfer. Here’s what you need to know.
• If you need your USB hub to charge your devices, make sure the product description explicitly states that it can do so. If you plan on charging multiple devices, each with different power requirements, get a USB hub with “smart” charging, which dynamically adjusts to charge any connected device as quickly as possible. • If you need your USB hub to connect devices to your laptop or desktop computer, make sure to buy one that can transfer data at acceptable speeds. Stick with a minimum of USB 3.0, and check individual reviews to get a better sense of what real-world transfer speeds you can expect. As you’re shopping for USB hubs, you may notice that certain models are much more expensive.
That’s usually because they include more than just USB ports. Sometimes called port replicators, these USB hubs typically use one port from your computer to host services for multiple other ports. Port replicators are ideal for use with.
Imessage games for mac. Using just one of your laptop’s USB slots, these devices can add ports for many things. • Ethernet connectivity Even though WiFi can be fast, a hardwired Ethernet network connection will be faster. If you want a USB hub that speeds up your computer’s ability to download or transfer files, make sure you buy a port replicator with a gigabit Ethernet port.
• HDMI or DisplayPort passthrough If you want to connect your laptop to an external monitor, get a USB hub that includes at least one HDMI or DisplayPort interface. • Audio If you’re ready to hear your laptop’s audio through a proper set of computer speakers, find a USB hub or port replicator that features a dedicated 3.5mm auxiliary headphone jack. This can be useful for listening to music from your workspace, especially if your phone doesn’t have a jack.