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These USB-C adapters make your MacBook Pro better

The 12-inch MacBook and the new MacBook Pros have just USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports. So if you want to plug in an iPhone or an SD card, you'll need a dongle. Here's several of them.

Dong Ngo
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
Dong Ngo
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1 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub

The Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub turns a USB-C port into two USB 3.0 ports, one SD card slot and one miniSD card slot.

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2 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub

The hub connects directly into a USB-C port, the way a thumb drive does. This is convenient to use but also means the hub can be detached from the host computer easily when there are multiple devices connected to it and when you're moving the computer around.

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3 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Satechi Type-C USB Passthrough Hub

The hub also has a USB-C port of its own, however it can only be used for pass-through charging.

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4 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Choetech USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

The Choetech USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter connects to a computer via a short 5.5-inch dongle.

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5 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Choetech USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

It plugs into a computer's USB-C port and adds one USB 3.0 port, one HDMI port and one USB-C port.

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6 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Choetech USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter

The best thing about the adapter is the fact its USB-C port can be used for both pass-through charging and data connection.

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7 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Nonda USB-C to USB 3.0 Mini Adapter

The Nonda USB-C to USB 3.0 Mini Adapter quickly turns a USB-C port into a regular USB A port.


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8 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Nonda USB-C to USB 3.0 Mini Adapter

It's the fastest and cheapest way to connect a regular USB device (such as an iPhone) to your USB-C-only computer.

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9 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Nonda USB-C to USB 3.0 Mini Adapter

Costing as little as $10, you just can't go wrong with this small device.

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10 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter

The Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter adds two USB 3.0 ports, one HDMI port and one USB-C port to the computer.

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11 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter

Its USB-C port can only be used for pass-through charging, however.

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12 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter

Available in enough colors to match your Mac notebook, the Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter is a quick way to connect your notebook to a big screen TV.

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13 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Griffin BreakSafe

Going strictly USB-C, Apple's new MacBooks no longer use the MagSafe charge connection. The Griffin BreakSafe is the alternative that fills in the slot.

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14 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Griffin BreakSafe

The cable has two parts, a plug-in part that goes into the a USB-C port and stays there. The rest is a 6-foot (2-meter) long cable that has one USB-C end, the other end connects to the plug-in part via magnetism.

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15 of 18 James Martin/CNET

Griffin BreakSafe

If you trip on the cable, it will break off easily, saving you from accidentally sending your computer flying.

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16 of 18 Josh Miller/CNET

​The SMK-Link USB-C Multi Port Hub

The SMK-Link USB-C Multi Port Hub is the ultimate dongle for your Mac notebooks.

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17 of 18 Josh Miller/CNET

​The SMK-Link USB-C Multi Port Hub

It's one of the few multiple-port dongles that includes a Gigabit Ethernet port. There's also a USB-C port for pass-through charging.

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18 of 18 Josh Miller/CNET

​The SMK-Link USB-C Multi Port Hub

Most importantly, it has all other popular ports, including three regular USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, one SD card slot and one miniSD card slot. If you just want to carry one dongle, this is the one to get.

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