Plugable on Tuesday launched four USB-C adapters for connecting Macs and iPad Pros to a range of monitor types, and Ethernet too. Unlike the many multiport adapters on the market, each of Plugable’s offerings handles a single job. But they are inexpensive and portable.
Tiny adapter adds 480GB SSD and HDMI to your MacBook [Review]
Apple doesn’t make it easy to upgrade your MacBook. But the Minix Neo Storage Pro does. Clip this to your laptop to add 480GB of storage capacity. Even better, the multiport adapter also includes an HDMI port and a USB-A port for connecting legacy accessories. And there’s a Thunderbolt 3 port, too.
I’ve been testing the Neo Storage Pro for weeks. Here’s how well it works in regular use.
Samsung T7 tiny USB-C SSD stores up to 2TB
The Samsung T7 isn’t much bigger than a business card, but the portable Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in sizes up to 2TB. And USB-C brings compatibility with a wide variety of Apple computers, as well as other devices.
Designed to be used on the go, a solid aluminum cases makes it shock resistant from drops up to 2 meters.
Aukey USB-C hub packs a whopping 12 ports [Review]
The Aukey CB-C78 USB-C hub connects your Mac to two HDMI monitors, four USB-A accessories, Ethernet and much more… all at once. With no less than a dozen ports, you can be confident that you’ll be able to connect to anything and everything you need.
I extensively tested the Aukey CB-C78 12-in-1 Hub to be sure it lived up to the promises.
RavPower’s massive power bank pushes the limit with AC outlet [Review]
Power banks designed for phones don’t do much for laptops and tablets. But the RavPower RP-PB055 AC Power Bank packs a whopping 30,000mAh, and more than doubles a MacBook’s time between recharges. Even better, it includes a standard wall socket so it can run DVD players, lamps, fans … whatever you need.
I tested it not only with Apple products but with other electronics, too. Read on to see how this uber-size power bank held up.
OWC ThunderBlade external SSD offers 16TB of super-fast storage
Creative professionals working with 4K or 8K video, or anyone who just wants an enormous amount of portable storage, can turn to the OWC ThunderBlade. Starting Thursday, this SSD now offers up to a whopping 16TB in capacity, and can transfer data at 2800MB/s.
OWC also updated its Envoy Pro EX line with 4TB version. And the Accelsior 4M2 internal SSD now also offers up to 16TB of capacity.
Tiny MacBook adapter unites 480GB SSD, Thunderbolt 3 and HDMI
Minix Neo Storage Pro is a 480GB solid-state drive that’s also a USB-C multi-port adapter. Plug it into a MacBook and it expands the storage capacity, while also adding HDMI and USB-A ports. And there’s also an accessible Thunderbolt 3 port.
HybridDrive combines 2 TB of storage with a MacBook multiport adapter
HybridDrive offers up to 2 terabytes of additional storage in a small USB-C plugin for MacBook or iPad Pro. This add-on is also a multi-port USB-C hub with HDMI, dual USB-A ports and SD card readers.
Plugable 2.5Gbps Ethernet adapter doubles Mac network speeds at a reasonable price [Update]
Plugable Technologies announced Tuesday the availability of its 2.5Gbps USB Ethernet Adapter, bring a significant boost in speed over other ubiquitous devices at 1Gbps.
This affordable plug-in accessory is compatible with Mac and works over Cat 5e and Cat 6 Ethernet cables.
IOGear Share Pro sheds the HDMI cable for wireless video [Review]
Wirelessly connecting a MacBook to a TV is a snap with the IOGear Share Pro. It uses the computer’s USB-C port to stream video to a screen up to 60 feet away, no wires needed.
I fully tested this accessory. Dive in to see how it preforms in regular use.
Flash powerbank promises speedy recharges with graphene batteries
Chargeasap Flash holds 20,000 mAh, and can transfer that power to MacBooks at up to 100W. This newly-released powerbank sports USB-C and USB-A ports, and even wireless charging for Apple Watch.
At its heart are four Tesla Lithium Polymer Graphene Composite Battery Cells.
Samsung secures latest pocket-sized SSD with built-in fingerprint scanner
The Samsung T7 Touch goes the extra mile in security. This portable Solid State Drive (SSD) is available in sizes up to 2TB, but its signature feature is an integrated fingerprint scanner, so it can be unlocked with the press of a finger.
It was unveiled this morning at CES 2020.
Linedock 2TB multi-port hub grows to match larger MacBook Pros
Larger versions of the Linedock multi-port USB-C adapter are in development. This hub that boasts up to 2TB of storage sits under a MacBook, so increasing the size for the 15- and 16-inch MacBook Pro makes sense — and makes room for additional features.
The best USB-C hubs for Mac and iPad 2019
Nothing expands the capabilities of your Mac or iPad Pro more than a good USB-C hub. Plug one in and you can connect to TVs and tons of other peripherals, including external storage.
There’s an immense variety of these, depending on whether you want portability or a huge number of ports. There are even hubs designed specifically to clip to the side of an iPad.
To help you find the best USB-C hubs, Cult of Mac compiled this list of our favorites.
Space-saving USB-C docking stand sports a whopping 11 ports [Review]
Forget your frustrations with the minimal number of ports on your MacBook or iPad Pro. The Brando 11-In-1 Hub Type-C Docking Stand lets you connect virtually any peripheral to your computer. There’s a trio of USB-A ports, Ethernet, HDMI and an SD card reader. And that’s only the start.
Get the full list, and see how well this multi-port stands up to real world use, in this review.
Tiny HyperJuice 4-port charger pumps out 100 watts
Sanho calls its newly-unveiled HyperJuice “the smallest 100W charger on the market.” Despite the svelte design, it has a pair of USB-C ports that can put out 100W, dual USB-A ports that max out at 18W, and swappable power prongs.
It’s on Kickstarter now, available for well below the eventual regular price.
OWC’s USB-C multiport hub is built like a tank [Review]
The OWC USB-C Travel Dock has five ports to extend the capabilities of your MacBook or iPad Pro, including HDMI and dual USB-A. Wrapped around these is a casing of aluminum and plastic thick enough to stand up to the kind of punishment many of us subject our gear to. Yet it still looks professional.
We used this multiport hub on several business trips. Here’s how it came through.
Proposed iPad Pro docking station packs keyboard, trackpad, ports into one
DoBox is looking for funding for a desktop docking station that gives the 2018 iPad Pro an array of additional features. A keyboard and trackpad are the most obvious, but there’s also a built in hub with HDMI and other ports.
On top of all that, the proposed DoBox Pro will have a slot capable of adding up 2TB of additional storage.
Satechi makes one of Apple’s favorite USB-C multiport adapters [Review]
The Apple Store has just two USB-C hubs with multiple types of ports, and one of them is made by Satechi. This offers USB-A and HDMI ports, as well as dual memory card readers, but so do many other accessories. What makes the Aluminum USB-C Multiport Pro Adapter so good that Apple picked it from all the other USB-C hubs on the market?
Read our review to find out.
Take wireless charging on the go with the Powerstation Hub [Review]
The Powerstation Hub is a powerbank with an extra trick: wireless charging. There’s no reason to leave the convenience of wireless power at home when you can take it with you anywhere. This accessory also sports USB-C and dual USB-A ports, plus there are built-in AC power prongs for easy recharging.
We kicked the tires on this mobile battery. Come see how it performed in our tests.
HyperDrive 9-in-1 multi-port hub is surprisingly slender [Review]
USB-C hubs with a profusion of ports are hot now, but Sanho’s HyperDrive Power is far sleeker than any of its rivals. And it doesn’t sacrifice connectivity options for its svelte profile, offering a trio of USB-A ports, dual memory card readers, HDMI, a headphone jack and even Ethernet.
Our review involved testing all nine ports, which took a while. Read on to see if the HyperDrive Power deserves a place in your gear bag.
This is the handiest travel battery you can buy [Review]
The ZMI PowerPack 20000 is the most useful backup battery you can buy. It packs a huge, 20,000mAh battery that can power a MacBook and two other devices at the same time. Plus, you can quick charge it via USB. And it can even work as a USB data hub.
This 14.29-ounce (405 gram) brick might be overkill for daily juicing of your iPhone, but for everything else it’s amazing.
Inateck’s USB-C hub brings back ports you forgot you need [Review]
The designers of Inateck’s latest USB-C hub obviously believe that too much is never enough. It has eight ports, including the typical USB-A and HDMI ones but also some real legacy ports, including Ethernet and even VGA. There’s also a built-in removable USB-C cable for use on the go.
There’s a lot to test here, but I put this full-featured hub through its paces. Plug into my review to see what I learned.
IOGear switch will let Mac and iPad share a screen, keyboard and mouse
The IOGear Access Pro 2-Port USB-C KVM Switch will enable users to share a 4K monitor, keyboard and mouse, as well as other USB-A accessories, between a Mac and an iPad, or a Mac and MacBook. A single cable connection will be required for each computer.
Minix’s amazing USB-C hub is also a 240GB hard drive [Review]
The Minix Neo Storage is one of those inventions so clever they make you ask, “Why didn’t someone think of this before?” It combines into one small package two accessories many people carry around: an external hard drive with up to 240GB of capacity and a 4-port USB hub.
We tested it with both a MacBook Pro and an iPad Pro. We’re sharing our real-world experience.