orchard apple tree ’s iPads now all employ the universal USB - C connective port rather than Apple ’s honest-to-god Lightning connecter . The M1 / M2 / M4 iPad Pro models use the even more capable but identical - attend ( and compatible to USB - C ) Thunderbolt connection ( USB4 ) .
What many people do n’t actualize is that the USB - C port is good for more than charge or plugging inwired earbuds . Apple ’s tablets can also be used with other peripherals that metamorphose it into an even more versatile information processing system . As such , iPad owners have a wide chain of USB - C accessories usable to them unless their older iPad still uses the Lightning connector .
Some of the USB - C hubs connect directly into the iPad . Others require a cable connector ; some come with both , which helps when the iPad is in a protective case . We have also includedstands for iPadsthat let in ramp up - in multiport hubs .
Best USB-C hubs and docks for iPad
HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Hub – Best overall USB-C hub for iPad
Pros
color : Space Gray , Silver
Ports : USB - ampere-second PD ( 5Gbps/60W ) , USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , HDMI , UHS - I microSD , SD card , 3.5 mm audio frequency
Compatible with : All USB - vitamin C iPads
Why we bonk it : The HDMI port means you’re able to sum up an extraneous showing , and it can deal 4 K displays at 60Hz , although that might be a energy if you are using all the other ports at the same time .
This just - search hub , with built - in USB - century connector , features a grasp that secures it onto an iPad Pro without damaging the Earth’s surface . However , you may remove the clasp if you use a third - party iPad case . It connects direct to the iPad but handily also come with a USB - C extender cable television so you’re able to use it as a USB - C hub for your MacBook or another USB - coulomb twist , too . It can charge a gadget at up to 60W.
It ’s also lightweight at just 33 g ( 1.16 oz ) and at 3.66 - x-1.3 - x-0.39 in ( 9.3 - x-3.3 - x-1 cm ) it ’s belittled enough to slip into a air hole .
Twelve South StayGo mini – smallest USB-C hub for iPad
Cons
colouring material : Black
port : USB - C ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 85W ) , USB - A ( 480MBbps , 7.5W ) , HDMI 2.0 , Audio Out
Why we love it : This little hub can connect to your iPad ( or MacBook ) via either the incorporated USB - C connector or a detachable transmission line ( 20 in ) . The cable’s length is useful if your iPad is in a protective case , and you could use your own long cable’s length if required . StayGo mini append just four porthole , but enough for you to bond an outside presentation ( 4 K at 30Hz ) , a USB - A gimmick and headphones as well as power your pad of paper or laptop at the same meter – especially ready to hand for tablets that have just the one port .
It weigh just 36 g and measures 2.8 - x-1.25 - x-0.3 in ( 72 - x-32 - x-8 mm ) , making it the low USB - C iPad hub we have tested .
The USB - A port wine is USB 2.0 , so modified to 480Mbps datum transfer compare to the 5Gbps on offering on some of the other hubs reviewed here .
Twelve South also trade a less - mini but still highly portableStayGoUSB - nose candy hub that boast nine larboard , include Gigabit Ethernet and SD and Micro USB card reader alongside the HDMI , USB - A and USB - C passthrough power manner of speaking .
Satechi USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD – lightest USB-C hub
Colors : Space Gray
Ports : USB - C ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 5Gbps/60W ) , USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , HDMI , SD and microSD card readers , 3.5 mm sound recording
Why we love it : This is the lightest USB - C hub we tested weighing just 33 g ( 1.16 oz ) . Its dimensions are 3.85 - x-1.45 - x-0.4 in ( 98 - x-37 - x-11 mm ) so It ’s a little bragging than the Twelve South StayGo miniskirt but a few grams lighter , and includes both SD and microSD wag lector slot , which are lacking from the StayGo .
The HDMI larboard can push a 4 thou reminder at 60Hz . And the hub can lodge a gimmick at up to 60W via the USB - nose candy PD passthrough charger embrasure . It ships with a detachable USB - vitamin C prolongation line if you want to use it with a equipment other than an iPad or purpose with an iPad in a case .
Satechi also sells a slightly cheaperUSB - C Mobile Pro Hubthat does n’t include the card readers .
Kensington StudioDock iPad Docking Station – best stand/dock for iPad
Compatible with : K39160WWStudioDock : 12.9 - in iPad Pro ( 2018/2020/2021 and 2022 models);K34031WWStudioDock : 11 - inch iPad Pro ( 2018/2020/2021 and 2022 models ) and iPad Air ( 2020/2022 ) but not with the 10.9 - column inch ( 10th propagation ) iPad;K34030WWStudioDock : 2.9 - inch iPad Pro ( 2018/2020 ) .
For the ultimate iPad hub , enter the Kensington StudioDock — a full - featured docking post that ’s also a thoroughly - expect 120 - degree tilting stand that will evoke your iPad up to 13 curium from the desk . StudioDock wrick your iPad into a desktop workstation , with affiliated peripherals , charging and external show .
The iPad magnetically bind in either portrayal or landscape painting mode and will even fast - point your iPhone ( 7.5W ) and AirPods ( 5W ) at its base ; you could also add an optionalApple Watch charging modulefor the full Apple experience .
The iPad is connected via USB - coke with 37.5W charging and 5Gbps data point transfer . The in vogue iPad Pro uses USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 but it is back compatible with USB - vitamin C , although some of its 40Gbps will be lost in the connexion .
At the back a single HDMI 2.0 video output signal connect your iPad to an external 4 super C or HD presentation at 60Hz ; maximal resolution is 3840 x 2160 .
Alongside the HDMI are three 5Gbps USB - A porthole ( slightly underpowered at just 4.5W ) and Gigabit Ethernet for wired Internet access .
To the side is a fast UHS - II SD 4.0 card reviewer , which tally portable storage to your iPad when connected , and a 5Gbps USB - C port ( 15W ) . There is also a combo 3.5 mm audio frequency jack here .
The included superpower supplying can extend up to 135W.
StudioDock is available in three model , so verify you take the right one ; see compatibility inclination above .
Satechi 6-in-1 Aluminum Stand & Hub – best mini USB-C dock
port : USB - C ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 5Gbps/60W ) , USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , HDMI ( 4 K at 60Hz ) , 3.5 millimeter audio , and UHS - I microSD and SD Card readers
Why we love it : Combining both a standstill and a ready to hand array of well-heeled - access code ports at the back , this iPad Pro hub raises your iPad to a good slant for regard and Zoom call as well as enabling simple twist connection .
It folds into a neat portable software package ( 283 g , 10 oz ) , and connects to the iPad with its integrated USB - C cable so everything is included .
Plugable USB-C Docking Station (UDS-7IN1) – best budget stand/dock for iPad
port : USB - C ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 5Gbps/91W ) , 2x USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , HDMI , Mount Rushmore State and microSD card readers , 3.5 millimetre audio frequency
Why we love it : A more low-cost hub / stand alternate to the mighty Kensington StudioDock is the Plugable USB - nose candy Docking Station , which is both a USB - 100 dock and a convenient stand for up to a 12.9 - in iPad Pro .
It features two erstwhile - school USB - A ports , HDMI 1.4 port , both SD and MicroSD card reader and a combination In / Out audio larboard . It connects to the iPad via its USB - speed of light port , and a 20 - inch ( 50 cm ) USB - C overseas telegram is include .
At the back , alongside the HDMI interface is another USB - coke interface that you may tie to a USB - C wall charger to allow up to 91W charging for the connected gadget — plenty for even the athirst iPad . The USB - A port wine are n’t really build for saddle connected devices , so are limited to 4.5W charging .
With the HDMI 1.4 embrasure you could relate a 4 KiB external display at 30Hz . Gamers and banner might prefer a hub with at least HDMI 2.0 to get the smoothest 60Hz silver screen refresh rates , but for universal productivity usage 30Hz is perfectly satisfactory .
Made of aluminum , it ’s wakeful enough ( 303 M ) to be carried around and it folds up for added portability points . The iPad can be tilted on the stand for the best watch slant .
iPadOS 16.1 or later is required for using Stage Manager to extend your laptop silver screen to the iPad .
StarTech.com USB-C Multiport Adapter – best USB-C hub for passthrough charging
Colors : Space Gray , silver
Ports : USB - C ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 5Gbps/92W ) , USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , USB - A ( 5Gbps , BC 1.2 Fast Charge ) , HDMI , 3.5 mm audio
Why we love it : The 92W passthrough charging is telling . Although this may be overkill when used with a tablet , it makes a big deviation when you use it with a laptop . The HDMI interface means you may add an external video display , and it can do by 4 K showing at 60Hz .
This compact hub , with built - in USB - C connexion , is the lightest we have test , at just 44 g ( 1.5 oz ) . It ’s also modest , at 3.5 - x-1.3 - x-0.3 in ( 90 - x-32 - x-8.5 mm ) . As well as the HDMI and audio port , it feature two USB - A port wine , one for information ( 5Gbps ) and one for fast charging ( 7.5W ) .
HyperDrive 6-in-1 USB-C Media Hub for iPad Pro/Air – best USB-C hub for media controls
Colors : Gray
Ports : USB - carbon ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 5Gbps/60W ) , one USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , one HDMI 2.0 embrasure , UHS - I SD and microSD carte du jour readers , 3.5 millimeter audio , Play / Pause / Fast - forward / Rewind button
Why we love it : Alongside the ready to hand special ports , this mini hub adds a row of big Play / suspension / libertine - forward / Rewind push button on the top for spiritualist control of your film , call or podcasts without interrupting your workflow .
We ’ve seen faster ports on the other hub reviewed here , but it ’s the culture medium button that make the difference here .
It can connect in a smashed fit to the iPad or via a detachable longer 2 in cable’s length if you need the extra distance .
At 3.85 - x-1.14 - x-0.47 in ( 9.8 - x-2.9 - x-1.2 cm ) , it ’s a little longer than other iPad hubs tested here , but it ’s lightweight at just 1.62 oz ( 46 g ) .
Baseus 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
Ports : USB - nose candy ( to iPad ) , USB - C PD ( 5Gbps/100W ) , three USB - A ( 5Gbps ) , one HDMI 2.0 interface , UHS - I SD and microSD wit readers , Gigabit Ethernet
Why we screw it : The Baseus 8 - in-1 USB - 100 Hub does not fit directly to the iPad , as it ’s more of a universal USB - C hub that can work with any USB - C estimator . While that may be a negative point in time in term of neatness , it does think this has more embrasure than most other hubs review here .
The integrated USB - C cable television itself is quite neat , with its death salt away in a special one-armed bandit , create a ready to hand loop to keep things tidy . At 132 millimetre tenacious and 82 g in weight , it ’s larger than most but still extremely portable .
Its eights ports let in Gigabit Ethernet , HDMI ( although 4 kB at 30Hz rather than 60Hz ) , three 5Gbps USB - A port , passthrough charging at 100W ( overkill for a pill but great if you also apply it with a laptop ) , and both SD and MicroSD card proofreader .
Baseus has a wide-ranging but almost overwhelming grasp of cabled USB - cytosine hubs onAmazon US , Amazon Canada , andAmazon UKso you could pick out only the ports you need .
Caldigit USB-C SOHO Dock
colour : Silver
Ports : USB - C ( to iPad ) , USB - C ( 10Gbps ) , USB - 100 PD ( 10Gbps/100W ) , USB - A ( 10Gbps ) , DisplayPort 1.4 , HDMI 2.0 , UHS II SD , UHS II microSD
Why we have it away it : Coming with a disjoined USB - one C cable television , this aluminium mini dock has the high - specification port .
Although pretty little ( 3.66 - x-2.53 - x-0.75 in or 93 - x-64.3 - x-19 mm ) for a moorage post , it ’s heavy than the dedicated iPad hubs tested here , so there ’s space for both DisplayPort and HDMI porthole so you may choose your preferred connection to add an external display to the iPad .
As the cable is detachable , you’re able to apply your own longer cable if necessary , but you ’ll need one rated to handle 10Gbps . And because of the high bandwidth , the wharfage can well treat a 4 K showing at 60Hz , even with other ports in use .
say the fullCaldigit SOHO Dock review .
CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub – best Thunderbolt 4 hub for multiple USB devices
port : Upstream Thunderbolt 4 ( to iPad ; 60W PD ) , three downstream Thunderbolt ( 40Gbps , 15W ) , four USB - A ( 10Gbps , 7.5W )
Why we get laid it : Apple ’s iPad Pro ( 2021 ) model use 40Gbps thunderclap rather than 5Gbps USB - C , so to gain that full bandwidth a Thunderbolt hub is the serious you could get .
This is a hub that you may also expend for maximal MacBook bandwidth as well as with your iPad Pro . Choosing a hub or dock with the late Thunderbolt 4 connection standard makes double-dyed good sense as TB4 is backwards compatible with USB - vitamin C and so will work with any USB - C iPad too .
You wo n’t find more innovative USB port on a hub than you get here , and they are all place at top speeds .
As such , it ’s expectant than other consecrated iPad hubs , measure out 4.48 - x-2.74 - x-0.7 in ( 114 - x-70 - 18 mm ) and weigh 6.2 oz ( 180 1000 ) .
Recommended if you command multiple gimmick to connect to your iPad , and if you employ it with a MacBook , too .
Read theCaldigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub reexamination .
Choosing a USB-C hub
With a hub you could impart redundant USB ports ( Type - C and the older Type - A ) , Coyote State and MicroSD card reader , gigabit ethernet , wired headphones , cameras , keyboards , and more . you’re able to also touch base your USB - C iPad to your computer or to an external display using a hub ’s USB - C , HDMI , DisplayPort outputs . The latest iPad Pro models ( with Thunderbolt / USB4 ) can even connect to Apple ’s Pro Display XDR video display .
Some USB - coke hubs are specially design for the iPad ( and check neatly with the need for a long cable connection ) , but you’re able to also use an raiment of generic USB - C hubs . And you could take it one step further with a full dockage station that can also work with your laptop . calculate on which model you buy , a hub or tail connects to the iPad and extend an regalia of extra interface .
USB-C
Whatever hub you buy will use up the iPad ’s exclusive port , so you ’ll involve at least one extra USB - C port on the hub for pass - through charging , as you do n’t desire your tablet ’s barrage to fade mid utilization . Make indisputable at least one of the hub ’s USB - hundred ports is capable of Power Delivery ( PD ) for charge . And look for in high spirits charging power if there is a maximal wattage on the hub . The iPad need at least a 20W charger for fast charging , which all the hubs can treat but a more hefty charger may enable speeds up to 30W.
More USB - C port wine on the hub mean you may apply them for more New peripheral gadget and an external video display that tie in via a USB - snow cable . The minimal data - transfer of training bandwidth of USB 3 is 5Gbps , so this is the most common speed on hub , but some offer 10Gbps that is more open for thing like connect an external reminder .
In Apple ’s latest ( 2024 ) iPad descent - up , the iPad mini has a 5Gbps USB - C port , while the received iPad has a USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate port with a much slow USB 2 data - transfer rate of just 480Mbps . The iPad Air has 10Gbps bandwidth , and the iPad Pro use 40Gbps Thunderbolt , see below .
Thunderbolt
The M1 / M2 / M4 iPad Pro boasts the more subject Thunderbolt connectedness . It use the USB - C connexion , but Thunderbolt has bandwidth up to 40Gbps compare to just 5Gbps or 10Gbps for USB . bolt of lightning hubs and docks are more expensive than their mere USB - 100 first cousin , but tycoon substance abuser will do good from the extra bandwidth .
For example , a Thunderbolt hub or pier can use this bandwidth to associate a 4 K show running at 60Hz and still have data - transfer mental ability for other devices such as severe drives .
USB-A
Universal and reversible , USB - C is a with child connector , but most of us still have a few equipment that connect via the more common eccentric - A USB embrasure , such as flash memory sticks , knockout driving force , and input devices . USB - A ports are used mainly for lower - powered devices , but the ports do come in dissimilar f number . USB 2.0 is the dull at 480Mbps . USB 3.2 Gen 1 is rated at 5Gbps and USB 3.2 Gen 2 is 10Gbps . Some hub boast multiple USB - A ports , so regard how many you might need to use at the same time .
SD and microSD Card readers
you’re able to connect a camera or a menu reader directly to the iPad ’s USB - C interface , but a more conciliatory option is to use a hub with either an SD or microSD plug-in reader , and many hubs have both . These footling memory cards are also an inexpensive portable storage and patronage solution , with capability of up to 1 TB . Look for the faster UHS - II type reader , which can handle up to 312MBps data transfer , equate to UHS - II ’s maximum 104MBps .
Gigabit ethernet
Wired internet or net memory access is much fast than WiFi , so if you ’re using your iPad at a desk , make certain the hub you choose has a gigabit ethernet porthole . Otherwise , you ’ll need to use a USB - C - to - Gb ethernet adapter that plugs directly into your iPad .
Audio
If you need to crochet up some pumped up headphones or a microphone , look for a hub with 3.5 mm sound recording diddly port since none of Apple ’s current iPad range has one . Some older iPads have an audio port .
External displays
A hub is basically essential when using an external exhibit because the iPad has just one USB - coke porthole and you ca n’t simultaneously charge the tablet at the same time . So , you ’ll desire to seem for a hub with either two USB - light speed port wine ( one for charging ) or a hub with an HDMI or DisplayPort ( or even VGA if you have an old display ) .
It you want to mirror your iPad ’s screen to a declamatory one , it ’s possible to connect an international display direct with a USB - C cable length , but unless the monitor has its own USB - C stimulation , see for a hub with a DisplayPort or HDMI interface . Using a hub ’s USB - C port , you will need either a USB - one C - to - HDMI or USB - C - to - DisplayPort cablegram or arranger .
For general productivity purposes , 30Hz screen rates are acceptable for 4 thousand monitors , but 60Hz is secure for gaming or action - graphics picture . Depending on the line , you might get varied refresh rate . It ’s a little confusing , but for the most part , 5Gbps USB - C is mostly limited to 30Hz ( but can be push to 60Hz if the bandwidth is not taken up by the other larboard ) , a 10Gbps USB - nose candy connectedness should provide 60Hz 4 kilobyte , and Thunderbolt will easy drive 6 kilobyte display with high refresh pace .
