- Best for new MacBook pros.My use of this usb c to usb A adaptor is mostly for my new MacBook Pro with touch bar 15in and with that laptop having all usb c ports its nice to have this adaptor because I can use all my standard usb A devices'.
- Choose a USB hub to connect more peripherals to your computer. The USB standard is the most popular interface used by computer accessories for carrying data and power. With a hub, you can easily expand the number of available USB ports on a laptop with one or two built-in ports or on a desktop PC tower with its USB ports inconveniently placed at the back.
If you need to attach more than one external device to your Mac using USB, it is recommended that you use a powered USB hub, as this will grant you more flexibility and ease of use.
First of its kind, the Type-C Aluminum Stand & Hub elevates and transforms your Mac Mini into a powerful, surprisingly compact workstation. Equipped with a USB-C data port, three USB-A 3.0 ports, micro/SD card readers, and a 3.5mm headphone jack port. StarTech.com USB-C to Ethernet Adapter - Gigabit - 3 Port USB C to USB Hub and Power Adapter - Thunderbolt 3 Compatible - USB Type C - External - 3 USB Port(s) - 1 Network (RJ-45) Port(s) - 3 USB 3.0 Port(s) - PC, Mac - TAA Compliant.
A powered USB hub will give you the option to connect a lot more USB peripherals to the machine, and this will allow you to access and use multiple gadgets at the same time, without compromising on the battery life or the power source of the machine. A Personal Computer has become the center of a multitude of activities that we undertake in our homes and offices, and it is becoming increasingly important to use the USB ports on the machine.
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Most laptop computers and desktop computers come with a limited number of USB ports, but today we need more and more of these ports. This is where a USB hub comes into the picture, and this allows us to attach up to 7 devices to one single port. It connects to the computer via one single USB port, and it has 7 or less ports at the other end, which can be used for any purpose.
The various devices that can be attached using a USB port are external hard drives, flash drives, MP3 players, digital cameras, mobile phones, printer, scanner, computer mouse, computer keyboard, and handheld gaming consoles. Attaching all these gadgets at the same time is not possible on any machine, let alone a Mac, unless you make use of a hub.
Powered Vs. Unpowered
A powered USB hub has its own power source cord, which can be connected to an electrical outlet. An unpowered one derives its power from the power source of the computer, in order to juice up the devices that are attached to it.
If a number of heavy devices are attached to the hub, and it is running on the computer battery, the battery will die very soon, since it cannot support all these devices together. Thus if you are using an unpowered USB hub, then you must ensure that your computer is plugged in to an electrical outlet and is deriving power constantly. A powered one, on the other hand, can work perfectly on a laptop running on battery, and the transfer speeds are also higher. If you know that you are going to be connecting more than one heavy device to your Mac, it is advisable to use a powered one.
Top Powered USB Hub for Macs
There are plenty of choices of such hubs available in the market today, and you should read reviews from a variety of sources, before you go ahead and buy one for yourself. Most are compatible with Apple Computers as well as Windows based computers. Here are some choices that you can explore.
- Belkin 7-Port
- Belkin 4-Port
- CyberPower CP-H720P 7-Port
- D-Link (DUB-H7) 7-Port
- Sabrent Arkview Premium 7-Port
- Targus Desktop 7-Port
- IOgear 4-Port Wireless
- Sabrent Ultra Slim
- Kensington DomeHub 7-Port Weighted Hub 33118
- Macally 4-Port Hi-Speed
- Entrega MAC-HUB-7U 7-Port
- Startech 4-Port Self Powered
- Linksys Compact USB 4-Port
- Dynamode 4-Port Passive Micro Hub
- Strand USB 4-Port
- Trust HU-440P 4-Port Mini
The best powered hub should first and foremost be compatible with the operating system, and it should be lightweight enough to carry around wherever you go. You are sure to find plenty of uses for these, and purchasing them is a decision that you will not regret.
You can also get a USB hub for iMac if you use an Apple desktop, and most of these choices are suitable for MacBook Air notebooks as well. A powered one will solve many of your portability problems, and it will grant you easy access to a number of peripherals and devices on your Mac.
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Symptoms
Symptoms such as these could mean that a device connected to the USB-A , USB-C , or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your Mac isn't getting enough power:
- A message says that the device needs more power, the operation can't be completed, or USB devices are disabled until you unplug the device using too much power.
- An operation that requires more power doesn't work. For example, writing to disk requires more power than reading from it.
- The device doesn't turn on or isn't recognized by your Mac.
Solutions
- Use your device as a self-powered device or connect it to a powered USB or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) hub if possible.
Self-powered devices get power from an electrical outlet or their own battery. Bus-powered devices get power from the device they're plugged into, such as your Mac. - Reduce the total amount of power needed from your Mac by reducing the number of bus-powered devices connected to your Mac, or using more of them as self-powered devices.
- If your device is plugged into another device (such as a display or multiport adapter) as part of a chain of devices, the other device might not be providing enough power or passing through enough power from your Mac. Plug your device directly into your Mac instead.
- Make sure that the port on your Mac and the cable you're using to connect it to your device both support the same or later USB specification as your device. For example, a device designed to support the USB 3 specification might not get enough power when plugged into a USB 2 port or cable.
- Try a different cable, in case the cable that you're using is damaged or defective. If you're using an adapter with your cable, the adapter could also be damaged or defective.
- If your Mac has multiple Thunderbolt 3 ports, connect your device to a Thunderbolt 3 port farthest away from the current port. For example, if your device is connected to the ports on the left side of MacBook Pro, connect to the Thunderbolt 3 ports on the right side.
- If your device has software (such as drivers or firmware) that can be updated, make sure that it's using the latest software from the manufacturer. To get firmware updates for Apple accessories, update your Apple software.
- Make sure that your Mac is awake and started up from the Mac operating system. Some Apple devices can request extra power only when your Mac is awake or started up from macOS.
Learn more about USB power on your Mac
Powered Usb Hub For Macbook
System Information provides additional detail about USB power on your Mac. Connect the USB device directly to your Mac, then select USB from the sidebar in System Information. For each USB device, System Information shows:
Best Usb Hub For Imac
- Current Available: The default power provided by the port to which your device is connected.
- Current Required: The power needed by your device.
- Extra Operating Current: Mac computers and Apple displays introduced after 2006, when directly connected to certain Apple devices such as iPhone or iPad, can provide extra power over one or more ports. The Mac or display must be powered on and awake to provide this extra power. A Mac started from the Windows operating system doesn't provide extra power.
Best Powered Usb Hub For Macbook Pro
Learn more about the power available under each USB specification, such as USB 2 and USB 3.