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Network and storage

Anker USB-C hub with HDMI and card reader

One cable from the laptop that fans out into display, network, cards and USB ports.

What it is good at

  • Turning a single USB-C port into the ports a desk needs
  • Driving an external screen while the other ports stay in use
  • Keeping a card reader and wired network on the desk rather than in a bag

Check before you buy

  • Whether the laptop port carries video at all, since some USB-C ports only carry data
  • The display limits: one screen at high resolution, or two at a lower refresh rate
  • Where the hub gets its power, and whether it throttles when the laptop is unplugged

Who it is not for

Anyone whose laptop has no video-capable USB-C port, and anyone wanting a full dock with its own power supply.

A hub is a switch and a set of converters sharing one upstream link. The bandwidth is fixed, so a display takes a large slice and whatever is left is divided among the drives and cards being used at the same time.

The variable is the laptop port, which must support DisplayPort alternate mode to send video at all. When it does not, the hub behaves as a plain set of USB ports and the screen stays dark, so the manual of the laptop is worth checking first.

Also in Network and storage

Two or three units that put one Wi-Fi network across a flat instead of one weak signal.

Best for
Flats and houses with thick walls or a router stuck in a hallway cupboard.
Watch out for
The wireless backhaul between units halves the speed unless the units are wired together.
Check price and availability

Network and storage

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

A pocket drive with no moving parts, for moving large files between machines.

Best for
Video, photo and project files that are too big for a cloud upload.
Watch out for
It still has to obey the port it is plugged into, and it can run warm during long copies.
Check price and availability