USB-C adapters are often seen as economical alternatives to DisplayLink docks or Thunderbolt docks, although they differ in performance and testing standards. As USB-C docks become more popular and more comprehensive, more rigorous testing is needed to verify their performance.
Price vs. Port Selection
Price and ports are key factors when choosing a USB-C hub. Hubs are often sold as "X-in-1," indicating that they integrate a variety of ports. When evaluating, first compare the features a hub offers with its price. For example, an 8-in-1 hub might include two USB-A ports (for mouse and keyboard), two USB-C ports (one for power input and the other for data output), a microSD/SD card slot, Ethernet, and an HDMI display port.
Display Performance
It’s worth noting that newer hubs can often connect to monitors at 4K, 60Hz, while older models may only connect at 30Hz, which can cause visual fatigue.
Price and Competition
Hubs vary widely in price, ranging from cheap options around $20 to high-end options over $30-40. If similar products can provide the same quality at a lower price, I would consider removing the more expensive options from my recommendation list. For higher-end USB-C docking stations, I’d be willing to pay around $100-150 if they had additional features (such as the ability to connect to multiple 4K monitors) and a power brick for laptop charging.
Physical Construction and Heat Dissipation
The physical construction of a USB-C hub is also an important consideration. Some hubs are plastic, while others are metal. While I don’t have a specific preference, I would check to see if the hub is overheating. Port spacing is also a consideration, as ports that are too close together can prevent the use of multiple devices at the same time. In addition, metal bases generally dissipate heat better, but they are slightly more expensive.
Stability Testing
Stability testing includes checking whether the display flickers or refuses to light up when connected to the hub, and whether the hub has enough power to drive peripherals such as SSDs. I will try to connect the USB-C hub to the same laptop and observe how it performs in daily use.
Power and Performance Testing
When it comes to performance testing, I would not expect a $20 hub to provide the same performance as a $150 USB-C docking station. I will measure the performance of the hub under different loads, including playing 4K60 YouTube streams, performing storage tests, etc. In addition, I will check whether the hub consumes too much power and causes the laptop to run out of power.
Conclusion
When testing USB-C hubs and docking stations, I take into account multiple factors such as price, ports, features, physical structure, heat dissipation, stability, and performance. Through detailed testing and comparison, I can provide users with accurate and useful information about these products.