Lack of USB-C hubs to allow for additional USB-C ports

[psycoperl]

I have been having an issue trying to find a hub to add additional USB-C/Thunderbolt ports to my MacBook Pro. I cannot seem to find any hubs that offer additional USB-C/3/Thunderbolt ports. All the USB-C hubs have only USB-A and/or other non-USB Inputs.

Are there any recommendations on hubs or is there a reason why they are not out on the market? This laptop is three years old and Apple had moved to USB-C longer than that.

It is very hard for me to manage my external devices. I have a 4 USB-C ports on the computer.
When I have to use USB C for the following: Charging (1), External Monitor (1), Ethernet (1), External Mouse Receiver (1), Backup Drive (1), TimeMachine Drive (1), Video Conferencing Headset (1), Document Scanner (1), Additional Devices including USB Thumb Drives and External Storage Devices (multiple).

Currently I use the expensive Apple HDMI Dongle which allows for charging, HDMI and one USB-A port. But this does not allow to allow me to accommodate as many of the devices as I would ideally have connected at once.

 

[NativeTxn]

I've got this on order: https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/owc-thunderbolt-dock

Pricey, but I feel like it probably future proofs me as much as possible compared to what is currently available, and it's not much, if any, more than some of the "higher end" docks.

It provides extra C and A ports, and has a SD card slot. I've got the Mac mini (so the SD slot will be useful at times), so don't need the ethernet port, but it's there if I move back to a laptop in the future. And in your case, the dedicated ethernet port would free up a USB-C port.

Right now, I've got the Anker 13-in-1 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088F7SY6S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), and it's fine, but it'll go back as soon as I get the OWC.

Another that may help/fit your needs is the CalDigit TS3+.

Can you set up the mouse, scanner, and/or headset to use bluetooth/WiFi instead of taking up a port?

 

[coolajami]

I'm not sure if you want to add more TB3 ports (that can be rather expensive) or more USB-C ports (that can be rather dificcult).

For TB3, I'm also using Caldigit TS3+ and generally can recommend it, bought it because was suggested on Apple Website.
When I got it, I was thinking the same, what on earth I'll do when my TB3 devices multiply. Truth is that it's not an actual problem as most TB3 devices can be daisy-chained together and use the single TB3 port of the Dock. The USB-C devices can be connected to a USB-A port with an adaptor (the most USB-C devices I have they actually came with a USB-C to USB-A adaptor).

If you're really, really, really need more than the extra TB3 port that most docks offer, the upcoming OWC Thunderbolt Dock is your only solution ATM. Another very good option is the OWC Thunderbolt Hub that adds 3 TB3 ports and one USB-A port (that still is in pre-order) Theoretically if you have a Dock with a TB3 port and you get the OWC hub, you could connect it to the dock's TB3 port rather than the laptop as a daisy-chained device (no clue if that work though).

If you just looking for a USB-C hub, I don't believe that you can have more than 2 USB-C ports on the same hub that actually can transfer data (if there is an extra, usually is for only pass-through power), because of the current limitations in the architecture and the supported bus speed. If you're desperate for one and you don't want to pay the extortionate prices of the TB3 docks, Caldigit and OWC offer very good USB-C docks, while Anker has some of the cheapest and more reliable docks in the market.

 

[joevt]

USB-C hub questions get asked a lot (maybe because there aren't a lot of options?):

USB-C (not A) hub suggestions

Hi all, I'm after a USB-C hub that supports 100w power delivery, but here is the rub - I don't need a hub where I can plug in USB-A's but rather one which has 5+ USB-C ports (preferably USB4/TB3 but not essential, conscious USB4 is so new that hubs supporting this may not even exist yet). Has...

forums.macrumors.com

Tested: USB-C Hub with USB-C Data Port

There have been previous posts from people looking for USB-C hubs that have both USB-C power and USB-C data ports. I just got this 7-in-1 hub from Anker - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZVKTP53 I tested it with my 2018 12.9 Pro on iPadOS 13.7. I simultaneously attached a 500GB Samsung T5 SSD via...

forums.macrumors.com

Can someone recommend a usb-c hub that has multiple (3 or 4) usb-c ports also?

Can someone recommend a usb-c hub that has multiple (3 or 4) usb-c ports also? I am only seeing them with multiple usb3 ports. Thanks for any info.

forums.macrumors.com

Trouble finding USB-C hubs with additional USB-C ports

Looked all over Amazon and at best, I can find hubs with two USB-C ports, but one has to be for PD charging. Thus, plugging in the port still leaves me with one open USB-C port. I'm looking to buy one and I'm trying to transition most of my tech to USB-C plugs. While one USB-A port is good to...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Tagbert]

this is a property of the new Thunderbolt 4 hubs like the OWC that are just starting to come out.

See the recent Caldigit one

CalDigit's Latest Dock Features Four Thunderbolt 4 Ports and Four USB-A Ports

CalDigit today introduced a new "Element Hub" dock, equipped with four Thunderbolt 4 ports and four USB-A ports for connecting external...

www.macrumors.com

 

[MacDividend]

I know that there are not many hubs with extra USB-C ports, but joevt posted above where those questions get asked for more research. Depending on how many extra USB-C ports you are looking to add, I have had a good experience with my NOVOO 8-1 USB-C hub, and it has one USB-C PD port for an additional USB-C port on the USB-C Hub.

 

[coolajami]

I know that there are not many hubs with extra USB-C ports, but joevt posted above where those questions get asked for more research. Depending on how many extra USB-C ports you are looking to add, I have had a good experience with my NOVOO 8-1 USB-C hub, and it has one USB-C PD port for an additional USB-C port on the USB-C Hub.

The USB-C PD port provides power only and it cannot transfer data.