Windows users can add up to three displays, using the two HDMI and one Thunderbolt 4 port. The TB4 port can attach directly to a USB-C monitor or you can buy a USB-C adapter to connect to a DisplayPort or HDMI display. One 8K display can run at 30Hz, or you can have two 4K at 60Hz. Video resolution for up to three displays is dependent on your laptop’s capabilities. Apple and Intel’s Thunderbolt 2 standard has given Mac users — particularly professional Mac users — a premium, high-speed connector option for situations where bandwidth and speed are necessary: hooking up big, fast hard drives, high-resolution monitors, or even external graphics cards. The latest iMacs, Mac Pros, MacBook Pros and MacBook Airs all feature at least one Thunderbolt 2 port, a boon for expandability. The UHS-I (104MBps) SD and microSD card readers aren’t the fastest but should suffice. Such memory cards are an affordable way of adding portable storage, and will also delight camera users. I have MacBook Air 13" with a Thunderbolt 2 port.....can anyone recommend a (mains powered preferably) Thunderbolt 2 USB hub which will plug into the Thunderbolt 2 port & has some USB 3 ports on the hub?

The best Thunderbolt 2 docks for the MacBook Pro - Macworld

Apple has a range of adapters, too, but at a (high) price. We have tested them here, but other gadget makers offer more budget-friendly alternatives, along with a range of other USB-C cables, chargers and accessories–and we present the best ones below.This adapter is designed to help you smoothly transition to using USB-C. You may well have devices such as hard drives and external displays that use Thunderbolt 2 connections. This little gadget lets you keep using them with your MacBook or new MacBook Pro. There are ports for an SD card and microSD/TF cards, although at 60MBps this is not as speedy as even the UHS-I standard. If your monitor is Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C it can connect directly to the spare Thunderbolt ports on the Element Hub. The Cal Digit also has audio in and out which wasn’t listed. It also has a great utility which will safely eject all devices so you can grab your laptop and go.

Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hubs and docks - Tech Advisor Best Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 hubs and docks - Tech Advisor

While not certified as either USB4 or Thunderbolt 4, this compact and very portable 5-in-1 USB-C hub (AMS-5IN1E) offers 40Gbps data-transfer via its USB-C port, and is designed for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros introduced in 2021, or MacBook Airs introduced in 2022. A smart cutout keeps access to those MacBooks’ MagSafe charger port. Many printers nowadays have wireless support, so there’s no need for a cable. But maybe you have an older printer, or you find wireless printing unreliable. Most consumer printers have a USB-B port. It’s a squarish connector, much different from USB-A or USB-C. That’s a great set of ports, but it’s not it’s biggest plus for users of Apple’s original M1/M2-based MacBooks.

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I really like how Apple is presenting Thunderbolt as “Thunderbolt / USB 4“ on its latest Macs. You see, Thunderbolt 4 finally promises PC/Windows users all the features Thunderbolt 3 has long offered Apple users.

Thunderbolt Hub OWC Thunderbolt Hub

The adapters and cables in this article work with Mac computers with Thunderbolt 4 ports, Thunderbolt 3 ports or a USB-C port. If your Mac only has one port, it doesn't support Thunderbolt connections. Take, for example Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter, which cost a lot for just an HDMI port, one USB-A port and a passthrough-power USB-C port. The fact that the Element Hub has multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports means that you can connect to any type of monitor you require.Look for hubs that offer passthrough charging, so you can charge your laptop even though you are using up one of the laptop’s USB-C ports for the hub itself. Most don’t ship with a charger, so you’ll need to add your own, and remember that it needs to be a 100W charger to give 85W and above charging if offered by the hub. Lower wattage chargers are fine but will limit the hub’s charging potential. Here we have tested and reviewed the premium USB-C hubs and adapters. There are many much cheaper versions out there, but we recommend these for quality and robustness. Which extra ports do you need Plugable’s USB4-HUB3A calls itself a USB4 hub but, as the branding on the front suggests, is also a fully certified Thunderbolt 4 hub that is competitively priced and boasts a fast USB-A port as well as the one upstream and three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports. in that respect, it is a better solution than the company’s more expensive TBT4-HUB3C, reviewed later on. It doesn’t consider swapping a TB4 port for HDMI or DisplayPort, instead allowing you to choose either a direct USB-C display—or one of the other video connections via a third-party adapter. The StayGo’s singular USB-A port features BC 1.2 for up to 7.5W fast charging, but is USB 2.0 so limited to 480MBps data transfer compared to the StayGo’s three 5Gbps USB-A ports.

Best Thunderbolt 2 docks for the Mac | iMore Best Thunderbolt 2 docks for the Mac | iMore

If you use Netboot/NetRestore then forget about the Belkin. It won’t work. The OWC works fine. I’m not sure about the others but if you need those services to work you better test before the return policy……That aside, the US-4VPD is a tempting offer, with 2.5Gb Ethernet future-proofing for fast wired network access as it becomes more mainstream.