If you’re a MacBook Air or MacBook Neo owner, there’s one accessory that I consider an absolute must-have; a USB-C hub. Why? Because it considerably expands the port options available to you, it’s not cumbersome, and the good news is that they’re also pretty cheap at around $25. What’s not to like?
A good USB-C hub will expand your port options beyond what the MacBook offers by default, and my particular MacBook Air USB-C hub of choice is the Anker 7-in-1, which includes an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, a USB-C data port, a USB-C charging port, an SD card slot, and a MicroSD / TF card slot. It’s simple, affordable, and lightweight, making it a fantastic accessory.
Arguably the biggest downside to the MacBook Air or the MacBook Neo is its lack of ports for accessories and expansions, with both computers having just two USB-C hardware ports and a headphone jack. And for the MacBook Neo and older MacBook Air models, one of the USB-C ports is typically used for charging, which further reduces your available port options. But what if you want to use an external display? What if you want to connect your MacBook to a TV via HDMI to watch videos? What if you have some older USB-A hardware or flash drives laying about that you want to put to use? What if you have some SD cards or a TF card that you want to use with the Mac? By default, you won’t have those options, but with the addition of the simple and cheap USB-C hub, you will have those capabilities available to you right away.
There are many other USB-C hub options out there, but I personally like the Anker because it’s small and lightweight so I can easily throw it in my laptop bag when I’m on the go, plus it’s very affordable. It’s also from a popular brand, which helps to have thousands of positive reviews behind it, and while our intended purpose is for a Mac, it also works on a PC if you need to use it elsewhere.
Personally I wish Apple made a USB-C of their own like this, I think it would be a big hit. But while they don’t offer a 7-in-1 hub like Anker does, they do have the $70 Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, but that only has one USB-A port, one HDMI port, and a USB-C power passthrough port, so it’s not much of an expansion in comparison, and it’s also nearly 3x the price of the Anker.
Do you use a USB-C hub to expand the port options for your MacBook Air or MacBook Neo? Do you have a preferred model? Are there any accessories that you consider must-haves for your Mac laptop? Share your thoughts and hardware in the comments.
