If you prefer a standard dongle-style hub or just something that doesn’t have a built-in kickstand, here are some other options I’ve tried and like. Read our guide to the best USB hubs and docks for more recommendations.
Twelve South StayGo Mini USB-C hubs for $60: This little USB-C hub may be all you need and it is oh really compact. It’s a little taller but narrower than a Zippo lighter and has a 4K HDMI port, a USB-A, an 85-watt USB-C port with pass-through charging, and a headphone jack. I had trouble installing it on a case-protected iPad, but Twelve South includes a USB-C female to USB-C male cable that solves this problem.
Hyper HyperDrive 6-in-1 Dongle for $100: It has 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 leave it flush and secure with the edge or change it to a short, flexible cable. You need the cable if you have a case for your iPad, and Hyper provides the screws and screwdriver to change the part (it took me two minutes). Just remember to unplug it when you’re not using it, as it will slowly drain your tablet’s battery.
Satechi USB-C hybrid with SSD enclosure for $90: Satechi’s four-port hub is a little too big, considering the number of ports it has, but there’s a good reason for that. Remove the aluminum cover and you’ll find a slot for an M.2 SATA solid-state storage drive (SSD) slot. That means access to an external SSD, along with two USB-A connectors, a 100-watt USB-C pass-through charging port, and a 4K HDMI at the same time. I didn’t have an M.2 SATA drive to test, but this 1 terabyte card should work. Just know that the Satechi hub does not support NVMe M.2 cards.
Anker USB-C to Ethernet Adapter for $23: Most people won’t need an Ethernet port on an iPad, but maybe you’re trying out some cloud gaming on your tablet. If so, you’ll need the fastest speeds you can get so your games appear in the highest quality possible. This simple aluminum USB-C to Ethernet dongle delivered download speeds of around 700 Mbps on my home iPad Pro, which is what my desktop PC typically achieves.
