The USB-C connector has been around for quite some time. So why is it always so difficult to find a good USB-C hub?
ContentsWhat is USB-C?Challenges for USB–C1. It's still new. Demand is low3. Lack of manufacturing expertise What to buy?
This may be less obvious to consumers. You should shop carefully and look for the specific logos stamped on the end of the cable. Look for the USB 3.1 Gen 2 Superspeed trident with the 10 Gbps mark.
So if USB-C is the biggest and baddest new USB connection standard, why isn't it better supported in the market? This is primarily a much smaller market, lack of competition, and relative OEM inexperience with the USB 3.1 standard.
In addition to its new power, USB-C is the newest type of connector on the market. Although you'll find it on some devices, very few computers offer USB-C ports only. Apple's MacBooks and MacBook Pros are the notable exceptions, though the USB-C connectors on these computers may actually support Thunderbolt 3, depending on the model. The connector type has begun its slow diffusion through the peripheral market, but it hasn't made much headway yet.
But replacing such a popular and widely used connector as USB is bound to take a long time. This kind of change does not happen quickly. So Type-C adoption was always going to be more of a trickle than a flood:a few devices at first, starting with speed-sensitive apps. Eventually, Type C will take over completely, but it's hard to predict when that day will come. Right now, that day seems far away.
This limited adoption means that there isn't a huge demand for USB-C devices just yet. Since few devices support the standard, most people haven't really figured it out yet. And when they buy a device with USB-C, they'll probably buy a conversion dongle to continue using the USB Type-A connectors on their computer. Simple direct converter dongles for USB-C to USB A are also reliable and cheap, so it's a good choice for most users. Thanks to the relatively slow adoption of USB-C among consumers, there isn't as much competition in the market for hubs and cables.
Since relatively fewer hubs are made, manufacturers don't have as much practice correcting flaws in their design and production processes. This means that hubs are more likely to be unreliable or not fully up to spec in ways that are both frustrating and limiting. Although your host device probably "sees" the USB ports and recognizes the devices connected to them, the connection may be buggy or slower than necessary.
Simply multiplying USB-C ports is actually the easiest way to create a USB-C hub. However, even this is more complicated than USB 2 thanks to changes in standards. But it's not as difficult as creating a multi-input USB-C hub. And that's exactly what many manufacturers are trying to do. That's the big draw of USB-C, after all!
USB-C "Alternate Modes" can accept either graphics or network input, and these ports are even more prone to buggy. This is one of the reasons USB hubs are so expensive:they are more difficult to design and build. Since data type is no longer segregated by connector, the USB-C hub will include chipsets to sort inputs. And all this is not necessarily a simple process. The majority of factories in China, where almost all hubs are built, are excellent for simple and cheap processes; other things need practice and expertise.
It's not just about hubs; the cables are not even safe. Stories about off-spec USB-C cables frying laptops are not unheard of. As OEMs gain experience, this will become less of an issue. But for now, it's a real concern.
Over time, all of these issues will subside and eventually go away. As manufacturers get better at building USB 3.1 Gen 2 compatible hardware, we will see a commensurate improvement in the quality of available hubs. Until then, opinions are your friends. Look for devices made by reliable manufacturers with positive reviews from real users.
