If you prefer a standard dongle-style hub, or one without an integrated stand, here are some other options I’ve tested and liked. For more recommendations, read our guide to the best USB hubs and docks.
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub $60: This little USB-C hub might be all you need. seriously compact. Slightly taller than the Zippo lighter but narrower, it has a 4K HDMI port, USB-A, an 85-watt USB-C port with pass-through charging, and a headphone jack. I struggled to attach it to a case-protected iPad, but Twelve South includes a female USB-C to male USB-C cable that solves this problem.
Hyper HyperDrive 6-in-1 dongle, $97: It features a 60-watt USB-C port, USB-A, MicroSD slot, SD card slot, 3.5mm audio, and 4K 60Hz HDMI. You can plug it into your iPad’s USB-C port and lock it flush against the edge, or you can replace it with a short, flimsy cable. If you have a case on your iPad you’ll need the cable, but the screws and screwdrivers to replace the parts are provided by Hyper (I took him 2 minutes). Always unplug your tablet when not in use, as the battery drains slowly.
$90 for Satechi USB-C Hybrid with SSD Enclosure: Satechi’s 4-port hub is a little oversized given the number of ports available, but for good reason. Removing the aluminum cover reveals a slot for the M.2 SATA solid state storage drive slot. That means you’ll have simultaneous access to an external SSD, two USB-A jacks, one 100-watt USB-C pass-through charging port, and 4K HDMI. I didn’t have an M.2 SATA drive to test, but this 1 terabyte card should work. Please note that Satechi hubs do not support NVME M.2 cards.
Anker USB-C to Ethernet Adapter, $23: Most people don’t need an Ethernet port on their iPad, but maybe you’re up for cloud gaming on your tablet. In that case, you need the fastest possible speed to see the game in the highest possible quality. This simple aluminum USB-C to Ethernet dongle of his delivered download speeds of around 700 Mbps on his iPad Pro at home. This is the speed my desktop PC usually reaches.
