This is most dangerous when dealing with anything that draws power.įor a more in-depth look at USB-C, check out this article: Why Apple switched to USB C on MacBooks The 12 inch Retina MacBook Pro, the first implementation of USB-C on a laptop (only having one USB-C port and a headphone jack) What is the actual issue? cheap) docks often are not as reliable at pushing this packet.
This is where the importance of a quality USB-C hub is important, as more affordable (i.e. Due to the amount that USB-C can be extended (from charging your computer, to providing a display output for two 4K monitors), there is a special ‘packet’ which is sent to the computer to tell what the devices connected to the hub are able to do. This protocol must be supported by the OS (in this case MacOS) for any devices that are connected to function properly. This can be thought of like a language that is needed to communicate with the CPU, for the device to do its job. USB-C, like any other port relies on a protocol. This allowed Apple to simplify the design, while still allowing all the connectivity of older MacBooks, with one major caveat: adapters. These are more versatile than USB-C, and at least two ports have featured in every MacBook since 2018 (with the first being found in the 2015 12-inch Retina MacBook). USB-C also can be extended through systems such as PCI-E (which is a protocol designed to communicate with devices such as GPUs, network cards, SSDs, etc.) to create ‘Thunderbolt’ ports. USB-C is a very versatile port – functional in 2 orientations (no more trying to insert your USB-A devices in the wrong way), while also having the potential for increased bandwidth, courtesy of the higher number of contacts in the port. In this article we’re going to be investigating this issue and telling you if you need to be worried or not. There have been reports recently that some of these USB-C adaptors have been killing M1 MacBooks.
If you’re looking for true dual monitor support, which almost mandates being able to charge (and rules out M1 MacBooks), there are better options.You probably use (or plan to use) a dongle or adaptor with your M1 MacBook. That goes for all flavors of Thunderbolt equipped laptops. The Vava USB C Hub is a great addition to your kit for having HDMI and USB-A connectivity at the ready while being able to keep your laptop charged.
Dual Monitor support will leave your laptop without a charging option.It’s small enough that you might be tempted to leave it connected in your bag, but I’d recommend against that as it could put quite a bit of strain on your computer’s ports. The use case they mention is that some of the form fit hard cases for MacBook might not allow the hub to connect in the preferred orientation so you can flip it over and have it protrude from the back. I like the fact that the small LED shows you it’s connected and working, and the fact that it’s visible on both sides of the device. Here’s what it looks like connected to a newer MacBook Air. The USB-As are your best bet for charging a phone or battery since the USB-C is again data only. This means that while you could run dual monitors it would be limited to a quick presentation that will need to finish before your battery dies.įor data, you’ve got USB-C, two USB-A’s and that Thunderbolt 3 (if you’re not charging again). The USB-C port doesn’t help here as it is data only so it doesn’t work the same way the second port on your MacBook does. To charge your laptop simultaneously you’ll need to have a Thunderbolt 3 monitor that’s providing power through that one connection which narrows the compatibility quickly. The Thunderbolt 3 port does support video and lets you display gorgeous video up to 5k, but you unless you need USB-A ports, you would just connect that directly to your laptop. I had no issues connecting to my monitors, one at 3440 resolution and one at 4k. If you’ve got other devices connected to the hub, you’ll start to eat into the max available power so it’s recommended to connect a 100w charger which may be more than the one that came with your particular MacBook.įor video, the HDMI port works as it should. There’s a couple of limitations that the removable sticker calls out pretty well.įor charging, the Thunderbolt 3 port will pass through to your MacBook. For most users, it’s a perfect solution as it adds HDMI and two USB-A’s which is what you’re likely to need in most circumstances. The Vava USB-C MacBook hub is a great little unit. Use the USB-A ports to connect any of those peripherals Performance To connect an external display, use either the HDMI port or the Thunderbolt 3 port with a corresponding cable. To charge while using the hub, connect your power adapter to the Thunderbolt port.
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