Best USB-C Hub for an M-Series MacBook

First, the limit no hub can fix: your Mac's display count

Base M1 and M2 Macs support one external display. Period. That limit lives in the chip. A hub, a dock, or a second adapter on the other port does not raise it, and closing the lid doesn't either. This is the single most common disappointment in MacBook hub reviews: the hub "worked with my Windows laptop" because Windows wasn't the limiting factor — the Mac is.

Dual-HDMI hubs mirror on a Mac. macOS does not support DisplayPort MST (Multi-Stream Transport) for extended desktops — the feature Windows docks use to split one port into two independent screens. Plug two monitors into a dual-HDMI USB-C hub on a Mac and both show the same image. (The one hub in this guide with an HDMI port has exactly one, so this trap doesn't apply to it directly — it applies to the "dual monitor hub for MacBook" listings you should be skeptical of.)

Newer chips raise the ceiling, not the hub. M3 MacBooks run one external display with the lid open, or two with the lid closed. M4 MacBooks run two with the lid open. Pro and Max chips run two to four. If you own one of those and want two external monitors, you need a Thunderbolt dock with two separate video outputs (or two cables into two ports) — still not a dual-HDMI USB-C hub, which will mirror. And if you're on a base M1/M2 and truly need a second screen, the working routes are a DisplayLink adapter or dock, which drives the extra display through its own driver, or a different Mac.

So for the large majority of MacBook owners, a hub's job is: one external monitor, plus the ports the MacBook doesn't have — Ethernet, USB-A, card slots, fast SSD transfers, and one-cable charging. That's the comparison that matters, and it's where our two reviewed hubs genuinely differ.

The two hubs we've reviewed, compared

Both hubs carry SD and microSD slots and two USB-A ports alongside a USB-C data port, and both drive exactly one external display. Specs above are the manufacturers' figures as recorded in each hub's full review on this site. The 7-in-1's figures were confirmed against Anker's official page for the 341 (model A8346) — the variant with this exact port layout: its HDMI runs 4K at 30Hz, and its PD port takes 100W in and passes up to 85W to the laptop, reserving 15W for the hub. Anker sells other similar 7-in-1 variants, so check the listing's spec table for the unit you're buying if 4K refresh rate matters to you.

The desk pick: Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1)

The 555 is the hub to build a one-cable MacBook desk around. Its single HDMI output runs 4K at 60Hz from a DP 1.4 host (4K at 30Hz from DP 1.2), which covers the one external display a base M1/M2 Mac can drive anyway. What actually separates it from cheaper hubs is everything around that port: built-in Gigabit Ethernet — the feature owners single out most, because a wired connection stays stable on video calls when Wi-Fi doesn't — and 10Gbps data on the USB-C and both USB-A ports, so an external SSD isn't bottlenecked the way it is on 5Gbps hubs.

Charging, honestly: the 555 takes up to 100W of PD input and reserves 15W for itself, delivering up to 85W to the laptop. That's full speed for a MacBook Air and adequate for a 14-inch MacBook Pro. A 16-inch Pro with its 140W adapter charges more slowly through it under heavy load — feed power through MagSafe instead if that describes you. Two owner notes worth knowing: pass-through charging depends on the charger you feed it (a 100W PD charger is what delivers the full 85W), and Anker itself flags that the shell can reach about 122°F when every port is busy — owners report the warmth as normal, so keep it on a hard desk surface.

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The travel pick: Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub

The 7-in-1 is the smaller, lighter bag hub: two USB-A ports, a USB-C data port, both SD and microSD slots for card imports, a single HDMI output for one external display or a hotel TV, and a USB-C PD port for pass-through charging. For a MacBook Air that mostly needs legacy ports and card slots away from the desk, that mix covers the real-world list, and the aluminum body and braided cable are the build quality owners consistently praise in this class.

Fit check: know the two trade-offs before you buy. There is no Ethernet port, so if wired internet matters — hotel rooms and offices with Wi-Fi restrictions are the classic cases — this isn't the hub, and no adapter-free workaround exists. And its data ports run at 5Gbps, half the 555's speed: fine for peripherals and card imports, a real bottleneck if you live on a fast external SSD. Its HDMI also caps 4K at 30Hz (1080p runs at 60Hz), where the 555 reaches 4K@60Hz from a DP 1.4 host — fine for documents and presentations, noticeably less smooth for heavy window management on a 4K screen.

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When neither hub is the right buy

Step up to different hardware if any of these is you:

• You need two external monitors on a base M1/M2 Mac — no standard hub does this; look at DisplayLink adapters or docks, accepting their driver and their limits with protected video content.
• You have an M3, M4, Pro, or Max Mac and want two external displays — you need a Thunderbolt dock with independent video outputs, not a USB-C hub; a dual-HDMI hub will mirror.
• You run a 16-inch MacBook Pro hard all day and want full-speed one-cable charging — a powered Thunderbolt dock, or MagSafe for power plus a hub for everything else.
• You need more than one fast SSD at full speed, or 2.5GbE networking — that's dock territory, not travel-hub territory.

We'd rather route you to the right category than sell you a hub that mirrors your second monitor. Thunderbolt docks are a category we're expanding our reviews into; until one is reviewed here, buy on the chip's published display support and the dock's per-output specs, not on a listing photo showing three glowing screens.

MacBook hub questions, answered honestly

Can a USB-C hub give my M1 or M2 MacBook a second external monitor?

No. Base M1 and M2 Macs support exactly one external display natively, and a hub or dock cannot raise that limit — it only passes the Mac's video signal through. macOS also does not support DisplayPort MST for extended desktops, so a dual-HDMI USB-C hub mirrors the same image on both screens instead of extending. The workarounds are a DisplayLink adapter or dock, or a Mac with a Pro, Max, or newer base chip that supports more displays natively.

How many external displays does each M-series MacBook support?

Base M1 and M2 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models support one external display. M3 MacBooks support one with the lid open, or two with the lid closed. M4 MacBooks support two with the lid open. MacBook Pros with Pro or Max chips support two to four, depending on the chip. Always confirm your exact model on Apple's tech specs page — the limit is set by the chip, not the hub.

What is the difference between the Anker 555 and the Anker 7-in-1 for a MacBook?

The Anker 555 adds Gigabit Ethernet, doubles data speed to 10Gbps, and delivers up to 85W of pass-through charging from a 100W input. The Anker 7-in-1 is smaller and lighter with the same card slots, runs its data ports at 5Gbps, and has no Ethernet port. Both drive exactly one external display over a single HDMI output.

Is 85W pass-through charging enough for a MacBook Pro?

For a MacBook Air or a 14-inch MacBook Pro, yes — 85W covers their charging needs while the hub runs everything else. A 16-inch MacBook Pro that ships with a 140W adapter charges more slowly through a hub that reserves part of its input, and can lose ground under sustained heavy load. Use the MagSafe port for power and let the hub handle data and video, or step up to a powered Thunderbolt dock.

Why does my USB-C hub get warm?

Pass-through charging and video conversion generate heat in a small aluminum shell. Anker itself notes the 555 can reach about 122°F when every port is busy with a power adapter attached, and owners report warmth under full load as normal rather than a sign of failure. Keep the hub on a hard desk surface with air around it, not on a couch or bed.