In recent years, laptop manufacturers have successfully reduced the size and weight of their devices through component miniaturization. As a result of this race for portability, laptops offer fewer and fewer ports, and you have to equip yourself with a dock or a MacBook pro standing dock to be able to connect the various peripherals we need daily. 

The popularity of a USB C hub with multiple USB C ports can be explained by a simple observation: Laptops, especially ultrabooks, are sorely lacking in ports.

A necessary sacrifice to achieve a slim and refined design. Investing in a hub, therefore, allows you to find all this connectivity that you may need from time to time without sacrificing the portability of modern laptops. Especially with the democratization of USB 3 among manufacturers, the speed of a single port is largely sufficient to simultaneously connect screens and other external devices such as a hard drive or a sound card.

Which USB-C hub to choose?

Choosing a MacBook pro standing dock is not easy. On the entry-level, you can easily turn to known manufacturers who market a multitude of computer peripherals.

But these brands are not USB-C hub specialists and often just offer basic functionality. If you are more exacting and are prepared to pay more, you will have to look to other manufacturers. Lention offers excellent premium solutions.

What is the best USB-C hub for MacBook Pro?

In 2016, Apple made a major shift with its MacBook Pro. Its range of laptops has indeed abandoned all of its ports in favor of USB-C inputs to the USB 3 standard.

For many users, this means incompatibility of their USB cables and devices. Apple does not offer an official USB C hub with multiple USB C ports, so we have to look at third-party solutions.

But even on that side, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question. Favor hubs over the USB 3 standard, which will have better performance, because they will take advantage of the port bandwidth.

As Apple computers have several in USB-C format, it will be more judicious to choose a hub with other connectors absent from the MacBook. Conventional USB-A ports, HDMI, Ethernet, and SD and Micro SD inputs will be much more useful than a second USB-C port.

What precautions should be taken when using a USB-C hub?

The USB C hub with multiple USB C ports that are available in the market are self-powered, that is, they do not require power beyond that supplied by the computer to which they are connected. This design choice has advantages over larger docks.

In addition to releasing an outlet and requiring no more than the computer's power supply to operate, they easily fit into a bag or cover, due to their small size.

On the other hand, it is necessary to pay attention to the number of peripherals which one connects there and with their consumption. If a mouse doesn't require too much power, the same can't be said of a sound card. Coupled with connection to an HDMI port, the high voltage of the dock can cause the accessory to overheat, which can damage it or even directly damage the computer.

On another note, it is necessary to check that the hub does not cause malfunctions during recharging. Some poor-quality hubs can irreparably damage your computer, especially when it is charging. Large brands are not affected by these issues, and that's why we have only selected recognized names.

How many ports do you need on a USB-C hub?

It all depends on the machine you are using. If MacBooks are only equipped with USB-C ports, other laptops are much better provided in terms of connectivity. No need for a hub equipped with an HDMI port if you already have one on your machine.

Also think about the number of peripherals that you want to connect occasionally and constantly to your computer: mouse, keyboard, gamepad, SD card, or even a USB key. In the end, it is often better to prioritize the variety of ports over their quantity.

Can I charge a MacBook or computer from a USB-C hub?

Many MacBook pro standing dock have the “Pass-Through” functionality. This allows the computer to charge by plugging the power cable into the USB-C port on the hub. The power can however vary according to the model, going up to 100W on the most high-end, even if all use the PD standard and therefore offer a satisfactory charging speed.

However, this theoretical maximum power is only rarely reached if peripherals are connected to the hub since part of the power goes into their power supply. To find out if the model you're interested in has Pass-Through, look for a small lightning bolt logo above the USB-C port.

Buy the high-quality MacBook pro standing dock from Lention. We also have MacBook case at the best prices that prevent your MacBook from scratches and dirt.