If you prefer a standard dongle-style hub or just something without an integrated stand, here are some other options I’ve tested and liked. Read our guide to the best USB hubs and docks for more recommendations.
12 South StayGo Mini USB-C Hub for $60: This micro USB-C hub might be all you need, and seriously Pocket size. It’s slightly taller but narrower than the Zippo lighter, and you get 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 my case-protected iPad, but Twelve South includes a female USB-C to male USB-C cable that should fix that.
Hyper HyperDrive 6-in-1 Dongle for $100: It features a 60-watt USB-C port, USB-A, MicroSD slot, SD card slot, 3.5-mm audio, and 4K 60-Hz HDMI. You can plug it into the iPad’s USB-C port so it’s flush and secure against the edge, or swap it out for a short, fluffy cable. If you have a case on your iPad, you’ll need a cable, and Hyper provides screws and a screwdriver to replace the parts (it took me two minutes). Remember to unplug it when not in use, as it will slowly drain the 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 you get, but for good reason. Lift off the aluminum cover and you’ll find a slot for an M.2 SATA solid-state storage drive slot. That means simultaneous access to an external SSD, two USB-A jacks, a 100-watt USB-C pass-through charging port, and a 4K HDMI. I don’t have an M.2 SATA drive to test with, but this 1 TB card should work. Just know that Satechi’s hub doesn’t support NVME M.2 cards.
Anker USB-C to Ethernet Adapter for $23: Most people don’t need an Ethernet port on an iPad, but maybe you’re trying to do some cloud gaming on your tablet. If so, you will want to be as fast as possible so that your game displays at the highest quality. This simple aluminum USB-C to Ethernet dongle delivered download speeds of about 700 Mbps on my iPad Pro at home, which is what my desktop computer would normally achieve.
