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However, if you really only need a small selection of ports and you have at least two USB-C ports, then you might want to consider saving your cash and investing in a more affordable model instead. This is particularly useful if your laptop only has one USB-C slot, as otherwise you'd need to choose between charging your battery or using your USB hub (and if you're ever on a deadline, this will be a particularly frustrating choice to have to make!). This means that you can use the USB-C hub to charge your laptop at the same time as connecting your other devices. You'll also find that high end USB-C hubs will also feature passthrough charging. If you have a lot of different devices that you regularly use, then it'll likely be worth investing in a more expensive model. The best USB-C hubs can actually vary wildly in price – but what's the reason for this? Well, aside from a superior build quality, more expensive hubs will typically feature a wider variety of ports and more ports in total. It's worth noting that the fastest USB-C connectors support the Thunderbolt protocol, so look for this if you're in need of a particularly zippy USB-C hub. USB-C is now the industry standard, enabling users to transfer data in a speedy fashion and output video at higher resolutions and faster refresh rates. However, a new type of connector emerged called USB-C that delivers faster transfer speeds than its older brother, USB-A. USB connectors all used to look the same a few years ago. But if that’s all you need, then you’ll be able to avoid sullying your set up with non-Apple equipment, and you certainly won’t have any worries about compatibility. So if you’re a true Apple fan, there’s no doubt about it: you’re going to want the brand’s official USB-C hub. Admittedly, there are only three ports here: a Thunderbolt USB-C port, a USB-A (USB 3.0) port, and a 4K HDMI port.
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Some people like to stick to all-Apple kit where possible.
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