Why a MacBook hub or dock?
You can expand the possibilities of your Mac with a USB hub or docking station. They are also very suitable if you have to work from home, so that you can connect a screen, wired mouse or a memory stick, for example. In this guide we explain the difference between a docking station and hub. Since all recent MacBooks only have a USB-C connection, we are only interested in docks and hubs that you can connect via USB-C. We have listed the best for you.
- Difference between docking station and hub
- USB hubs
- Docking stations
Difference between a docking station and USB hub
The difference between a docking station and a USB hub for the Mac is sometimes difficult to see, but it is still important to think carefully about your choice. Which one you need depends on how you want to work with it. Both are suitable for expanding the number of ports on your Mac. Some MacBooks only have USB-C ports, while not all peripherals are suitable for this yet.
Docking station for heavy work
In short, a docking station is more powerful and has its own power supply, but is more expensive. You will usually place a docking station in a fixed location in your study or office, for example behind your screen.
Example of a docking station with its own power supply.
Docking stations are generally more extensive and offer powerful ports with support for high data speeds. These are intended for if you want to connect multiple screens plus some other peripherals. This requires quite a bit of power and because of its own power supply it does not detract from the power your Mac needs. Most docking stations are suitable for supplying power to your MacBook. In that case, choose a model that supplies, for example, 85 or 100 watts of power.
A USB hub is easy to take with you
Do you just want to connect some extra USB ports and an extra screen every now and then? Then choose a USB-C hub. These are less powerful than a docking station, but also a lot cheaper. The compact size and light weight make them easy to take with you. This is useful if you often have to travel with your MacBook. A USB hub uses the computer’s power supply.
Example of a compact USB-C hub.
USB hubs for the Mac
If a USB hub is enough for you, then it is the cheapest option. See below which USB-C hubs we think are best for use with your Mac.
- Hyper Slim
- Satechi
- MacAlly
- Aukey
- BlueBuilt
- Twelve South
- CalDigit
- ACT
Hyper Slim 8-in-1 hub
This USB hub from Hyper fits perfectly with a modern Mac in terms of design. You can connect one extra 4K 30Hz screen via HDMI or mini DisplayPort. There is also an Ethernet port, plus two USB-A and two USB-C ports. It doesn’t matter which Mac you have, because the pass-through charging feature lets you charge your MacBook while you’re at work.
Satechi aluminum USB-C Pro adapter
The Satechi USB-C hub offers another collection of ports. This is also useful for microSD and SD cards. These can be read at a speed of up to 104 Mbps. The HDMI port supports 4K at 30Hz and the USB-A port goes up to 5 Gbps. You also get one USB-C port. So you don’t actually lose anything when you connect this USB hub to your Mac.
Available in the Apple Store, among others. There are many more Satechi USB hubs, a selection of which you can find here. For example, we are very fond of the Satechi USB-C Clamp Hub that you attach to your iMac. Or an aluminum stand that incorporates a hub. Satechi even has a stand that you place under the Mac mini, after which you have many more ports at your disposal.
MacAlly USB Hubs
MacAlly has various hubs, some of which are cleverly processed. There is an aluminum laptop stand with built-in hub or an aluminum keyboard with built-in hub, all in Apple style. You will also find traditional hubs at this brand, in all kinds of variants. Do you want to expand your MacBook with four USB-A ports? Which can. A power adapter for your MacBook that you can also use to charge your iPhone? Also possible. In addition, MacAlly has a large number of keyboards, mice and cables.
View MacAlly USB hubs at Appelhoes
Aukey Unity Hubs
Aukey has several hubs, including the Unity 5 with five additional ports. You get three USB-A ports, an SD and a microSD card reader. The adapter is made of aluminum and small in size, so it is easy to carry. The Aukey Unity 7 goes one step further, a USB-C hub with a 100 Watt charger. This ensures that you have a Power Delivery port to plug the MacBook into so you can charge as well. You also have 3 USB-A ports, an SD and microSD card slot and HDMI 4K. This is also made of aluminum.
View Aukey hubs at Appelhoes
BlueBuilt 9-in-1 hub
With the 9-in-1 hub from BlueBuilt you get comparable performance as with the above 8-in-1 hub from Hyper. The difference between the two is that the BlueBuilt can handle an extra screen. You have an HDMI port and a mini DisplayPort for this. Furthermore, this hub is virtually the same as the Hyper. We think the design of the BlueBuilt is a little less striking, but it doesn’t make much difference. BlueBuilt is a Coolblue brand, so you can only buy it there. On the other hand, you get a 5-year warranty.
On the website, Coolblue calls their product a docking station, but it is clearly not that. You can carry this item just as easily as the above alternatives and no external power is required at all.
View the BlueBuilt 9-in-1 hub at Coolblue for €119.
Twelve South StayGo
This is a bit of a cross between a hub and a docking station. The name also somewhat indicates this: stay or take away? It’s possible to do both. You get a desktop cable and as you can see in the photos, this versatile USB-C hub is especially useful to leave in place all the time.
The StayGo from Twelve South contains a total of seven connections and ensures that you can connect almost everything to your MacBook with one device. This black TwelveSouth has three USB-A 3.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet input, an HDMI port for 4K (maximum 30Hz) and a (micro) SD card slot.
There is also a USB-C port for charging your MacBook. This USB-C port with Power Delivery can handle up to 85W, so you can charge even the most powerful 15-inch MacBook Pro. You supply the hub itself with power via the USB-C connection, into which you plug your current MacBook cable. It is therefore remarkable that the hub does not have USB-C ports for suitable accessories. If you are just transitioning from USB-A to USB-C and you have various cables and accessories with the C connection, you cannot use them on the hub.
CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 mini docking station
The CalDigit Thunderbolt 3 mini docking station is, as the name suggests, also a cross between a docking station and a hub. It’s bus-powered, allowing you to connect your Mac with Thunderbolt 3 to two HDMI displays up to 4K at 60 Hz.
A USB-A 3.0 device (such as USB stick, camera or SD card reader) and a USB 2.0 keyboard or mouse can also be connected. It also has a Gigabit Ethernet connection. This CalDigit will not win a design prize, but it is very practical. The compact design makes this mini docking station easy to take with you when traveling. You can instantly connect two 4K displays and important accessories wherever you are.
View at Apple
ACT USB-C 4K Dock
This guy may have ‘dock’ in the name, but that’s not actually what it is. You get 1 of the following ports: USB-A, USB-C, HDMI and Ethernet. This USB hub for your Mac is therefore suitable if you often travel and need to connect to different HDMI screens. The HDMI port supports 4K.
Docking stations for the Mac
If you have decided to go for a docking station, take a look below at what we think are your best options.
- Brydge
- i-tec
- Star Tech
- Kensington
- Dell, Lenovo and HP
Brydge Stone Pro
The most stylish docking station we discuss here is the Brydge Stone Pro. We understand where the name comes from, because you place this docking station on your desk like a rock. Thanks to the shape and the rubber strip on the top, your MacBook can remain stable. The Stone Pro immediately gives you a better viewing angle.
On the back and side of the Stone Pro you will find no fewer than 10 ports, if you do not count the power port. This item is mainly intended for people who do not change their cables very often. For convenience, the SD card reader is on the side. You will find an Ethernet port on the back, but also several USB-A ports and USB-C ports. One of them has support for 15 Watt power delivery.
View the Brydge Stone Pro at Appelhoes for approx. €279.
i-tec USB dock
The i-tec docking station may not be as stylish as the Brydge Stone Pro, but we think it is a bit more practical for most people. You will not only find ports at the back, but also at the front. That makes it easier to switch between devices. The i-tec is for anyone who really wants a lot of ports and uses 4K and 5K screens.
At the back you will find 4x USB-A, 2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort, 1x Ethernet, 1x USB-C with power delivery and the power port. That’s certainly not all, because you can expect another USB-C port, USB-A port, headphone port and a microphone port on the front. You will also find LED lights that indicate whether the dock is on and whether data is being transferred.
StarTech USB-C Triple 4K 60W PD
This is a powerful docking station. You can connect three 4K displays at the same time. You also have 4 USB-A ports and 2 USB-C ports. Some of these ports also support fast charging for your iPhone, for example. If you need it, the microphone input is separate from the headphone input. If you use both with one cable, you will have to use an adapter.
This docking station is available in a 60W and 100W version. If you have a 15 or 16-inch MacBook Pro, we recommend the 100W version. For other Macs, 60W should be sufficient.
Kensington SD Series Docks
Kensington makes several docking stations with type numbers such as SD3500, SD4700 and SD5000. They are quite difficult to obtain in the Netherlands. For example, the SD5000 lets you connect two 4K displays for full Ultra HD support via the Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort ports. Some models also have a lock, so that the accessory cannot be ‘borrowed’ if you walk away. The advantage of this dock is that most of the ports are on the back so you can better conceal them in your setup.
View at Alternate
Dell, Lenovo and HP Docking stations
Can’t find what you’re looking for? Then you could also take a look at the well-known laptop manufacturers. For example, Dell markets docking stations for various laptop models and the same applies to Lenovo and HP. Make sure they have the correct connections and whether they work with your MacBook. It just depends on what you want to connect and which ports you need.
Check out some docking stations here
