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Article updated on August 8, 2023 at 3:00 PM PDT

Best USB-C Chargers, Docks, Batteries, Hubs and Accessories

Here are the devices to get the most out of the increasingly useful charging and data port.

Our Experts

Written by 
Stephen Shankland
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
Stephen Shankland Former Principal Writer
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Expertise Processors, semiconductors, web browsers, quantum computing, supercomputers, AI, 3D printing, drones, computer science, physics, programming, materials science, USB, UWB, Android, digital photography, science. Credentials
  • Shankland covered the tech industry for more than 25 years and was a science writer for five years before that. He has deep expertise in microprocessors, digital photography, computer hardware and software, internet standards, web technology, and more.
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Our Picks

$36 at Amazon
Anker Nano Pro 521 USB-C charger
Best compact USB-C phone charger
Anker Nano Pro 521 USB-C charger
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$101 at Walmart
Satechi 165W GaN USB-C Charger
Best beefy USB-C-only multiport charger
Satechi 165W 4-port USB-C GaN Charger
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$40 at Amazon
Monoprice's 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport 4K HDMI Adapter with ports for USB-A, USB-C, HDMI, Ethernet, and SD Cards
Best value multipurpose USB-C hub
Monoprice 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport 4K HDMI Adapter
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$50 at Amazon
Baseus Powercombo 65W Power Strip with USB charging ports and grounded outlets
Best USB-C power strip and charger for traveling
Baseus Powercombo 65W Power Strip
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$200 at Amazon
Ugreen's Nexode USB-C and USB-A Desktop Charger is a square brick with six charging ports
Best heavy-duty charger for gamers or creative pros
Ugreen Nexode 200W 6-port USB-C and USB-A Desktop Charger
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$80 at EZQuest
EZQuest USB-C Gen 2 Hub 7-Port Adapter with its connector cable
Best hub with lots of USB-C data ports
EZQuest USB-C Gen 2 Hub 7-Port Adapter
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$230 at Amazon
Zendure SuperTank Pro battery
Best USB-C laptop portable battery
Zendure SuperTank Pro
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$23 at Amazon
cylindrical Anker A2725 charger with 2 USB-C ports
Best USB-C car charger
Anker A2725 48W 2-port charger
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$44 at Amazon
Hyperdrive Duo Pro 7-in-2 USB-C Hub plugged into the side of a MacBook Pro
Best USB-C dock for Macs
Hyperdrive Duo Pro 7-in-2 USB-C Hub
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$90 at Walmart
Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter shown with its SSD housing cover removed
Expandable USB-C hub with an SSD housing
Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter
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$310 at Amazon
VisionTek VT7000 Triple 4K Display USB Docking Station with multiple video and USB ports
Best multimonitor USB-C dock
VisionTek VT7000 Triple 4K Display USB Docking Station
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$60 at Newegg
A coiled Plugable Active 2M USB-C cable with a white specifications label
Best premium 6-foot USB-C cable
Plugable Active 2M Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 cable
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$15.46 at Monoprice
Monoprice's AtlasFlex USB-C charging and data cable, coiled on a green background
Monoprice AtlasFlex Series Durable USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C cable
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$29.99 at Satechi
a closeup of the USB-C connector on a Satechi 2.6ft USB 4 cable
Best premium medium-length USB-C cable
Satechi 2.6-foot USB 4 cable
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$10 at Amazon
Cclose-up of the connectors on the Amazon Basics 6ft USB-C charging cable
Best cheap USB-C charging cable
Amazon Basics 6-foot USB-C charging cable
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$22 at Anker
a coiled Anker 331 6ft USB-C to Lightning cable on a tabletop
Best USB-C-to-Apple Lightning cable
Anker 331 6-foot cable
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$25 at Walmart
Chargerito USB-C wall charger
Best teensy USB-C charger
Chargerito USB-C wall charger
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$500 at Amazon
Anker 535 Portable Power Station, a large battery with a carrying handle on top
Best big battery
Anker 535 Portable Power Station
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USB-C is one of the best things to have happened to consumer tech. It's the universal port (barring the iPhone, for now) for almost all major devices, including laptops and Android phones. And now an abundance of accessories makes the most of the standard to speed up data transfer and charge your gadgets faster.

Even Apple, which for years favored its competing Lightning connector, is building USB-C into future iPhones, not just iPads and Macs. That's great, because more USB-C devices means more USB-C charging ports everywhere, so you're less likely to be stuck with a drained battery in an airport, office or friend's car.

Watch this: How Apple's Switch to USB-C Will Change the iPhone

Accessories unlock USB-C's potential. USB docks and hubs multiply the abilities of a single USB-C port on your laptop or tablet. Multiport chargers are great for people with lots of devices to charge, and they're getting smaller and lighter thanks to efficient new electronics built with gallium nitride components. And now USB-C is increasingly useful as a video port to connect external monitors.

We've tested a range of products to help you get the most out of USB-C. This is a general list, but you can also check out our picks for best USB-C chargers and best USB-C hubs and docking stations.

First, though, a little explanation, because USB standards can be confusing. USB-C is the physical connection. It's the oval port and the reversible cables that now are commonplace on laptops and Android phones. The main USB standard is currently at USB 4.0. This governs the data connections between devices, for example plugging a backup drive into your PC. USB Power Delivery governs how devices cooperate for charging and is newly upgraded to reach powerful 240-watt levels.

USB-C is good for replacing both the original rectangular USB-A ports that first arrived on 1990s PCs to connect printers and mice and the small, trapezoidal ports that caught on for phone charging, called USB Micro B.

$36 at Amazon

Best compact USB-C phone charger

Anker Nano Pro 521 USB-C charger

This little two-port GaN unit is so much better than conventional phone chargers that it stopped me from being grouchy that phone makers stopped including them. Anker's Nano Pro 521 is just a little bigger but capable of pumping juice at 37 watts -- enough that I use it to power my laptop most days. That's not as much power as bigger laptop chargers offer, but it's super small and enough for my daily needs. You can toss into your backpack before heading to school or work. (You may find a clippable coupon at Amazon that will save you as much as 15% on the price shown.)

$101 at Walmart

Best beefy USB-C-only multiport charger

Satechi 165W 4-port USB-C GaN Charger

If you're moving into the USB-C future, this charger is great. It dispenses entirely with the legacy USB-A ports while offering lots of power over its four ports. It uses GaN charging technology, which lets designers shrink chargers into compact sizes unthinkably small compared to a few years ago. This one delivers 165 watts total. Its included power cable can be handy but bulks up the package if you're traveling.

$40 at Amazon

Best value multipurpose USB-C hub

Monoprice 7-in-1 USB-C Multiport 4K HDMI Adapter

This reasonably priced hub adds a lot of utility to a single port on your laptop. It's got two USB-A ports, microSD and SD card slots, a gigabit Ethernet jack, and an HDMI port that supports 4K video at 60Hz. Its USB-C port can pass along 100 watts of power from an external charger or connect to peripherals.

$50 at Amazon

Best USB-C power strip and charger for traveling

Baseus Powercombo 65W Power Strip

I like this compact Baseus charger for its two USB-C and two USB-A ports, but what helps set it apart from others is a pair of regular grounded outlets that you can use for more chargers or other devices. That's useful for families traveling, where you might not have enough power outlets, or for gadget-heavy excursions. Right now I have an extra USB-C charger plugged into it to charge a multitude of gadgets at my home office desk. Its USB-C ports delivered a healthy 61 watts to my laptop in my charging tests. Its built-in power cord is beefy to handle the extra outlets, so it's not as small as a charger with flip-out power prongs, despite its compact GaN power electronics. In my view, though, the power cord length is often very useful. Another perk: It comes with a USB-C charging cable.

$200 at Amazon

Best heavy-duty charger for gamers or creative pros

Ugreen Nexode 200W 6-port USB-C and USB-A Desktop Charger

If you need serious wattage, Ugreen's 6-port Nexode can pump out 200W across its four USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. That's great if you have two laptops or a laptop and power-hungry accessories like battery chargers or drones.

$80 at EZQuest

Best hub with lots of USB-C data ports

EZQuest USB-C Gen 2 Hub 7-Port Adapter

USB-C has evolved beyond initial limitations that meant hubs only had one port. With four USB-C and three USB-A ports, this is the hub for you if you need to plug in lots of peripherals such as thumb drives or external drives. All the ports can charge phones or tablets, though you'll need to plug a charger into one of its USB-C ports if you need higher power levels. The hub's USB-C ports can't handle monitors, unfortunately.

$230 at Amazon

Best USB-C laptop portable battery

Zendure SuperTank Pro

This 26,800-mAh battery pack is just what you need to keep your laptop running when out and about, whether photographers on a shoot or businesspeople on long airplane flights. It's got four USB-C ports, two rated at 100 watts for laptops and two lower-power ports good for phones. An OLED status display is useful for tracking usage and remaining battery life, all in a rugged aluminum housing.

$23 at Amazon

Best USB-C car charger

Anker A2725 48W 2-port charger

The combination of USB-C and GaN has been a godsend for car charging. This compact Anker charger has two relatively high power USB-C ports, enough to deliver 27 watts to my laptop. That's enough for moderately fast charging. If you have an iPhone, make sure you get a USB-C-to-Lightning cable.

$44 at Amazon

Best USB-C dock for Macs

Hyperdrive Duo Pro 7-in-2 USB-C Hub

This clever design snaps into the two USB-C/Thunderbolt ports on the side of a MacBook. A narrow shim ensures a snug fit, although you can skip it and use the included short cable to plug into any USB-C port if you're away from your MacBook. In addition to 5Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports, it's got a full-on Thunderbolt/USB-C port that reaches 40Gbps, a pop-up Ethernet jack, an SD Card slot, an HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio jack.

$99 at Walmart

Expandable USB-C hub with an SSD housing

Satechi USB-C Hybrid Multiport Adapter

If your laptop's solid-state drive is running out of space, this hub has a compartment for M.2 SSDs for conveniently boosting storage space. It's also got a pass-through USB-C charging port, two USB-A ports and an HDMI video port. The SSD isn't included.

$310 at Amazon

Best multimonitor USB-C dock

VisionTek VT7000 Triple 4K Display USB Docking Station

If you need to plug three 4K monitors into your computer -- and some people do, for tasks like programming, monitoring finances and designing buildings -- the VisionTek VT7000 will let you do that from a single USB-C port. It's also got an Ethernet jack, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB-C and two USB-A ports for other peripherals. The cable to your laptop delivers power up to a healthy 100 watts with the included cable, making this a very versatile docking station. One of the monitor ports is HDMI only, but the other two let you plug in either HDMI or DisplayPort cables. Note that it comes with a beefy power adapter, and you have to install drivers for Synaptics' DisplayLink technology to support all those monitors.

$60 at Newegg

Best premium 6-foot USB-C cable

Plugable Active 2M Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 cable

Long USB-C charging cables are common, but they're usually just rated for slow data transfer speeds. Plugable offers the best of both worlds with its 6.6-foot (2 meter) USB-C cable. It's rated for 40Gbps data transfer -- enough for dual 4K monitors -- and 100 watts of power delivery. You'll pay a premium for those features at this length, but sometimes a 1-meter cable doesn't reach where you need it to. It's also certified for Intel's Thunderbolt connection technology, on which newer USB data-transfer standards employ.

$15.46 at Monoprice

Monoprice AtlasFlex Series Durable USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB-C cable

Monoprices' AtlasFlex line are rugged and usefully pliable. Their 10Gbps data rate is good enough for most uses, though not up to 40Gbps speeds of top-end cables. But the price is a great value.

$29.99 at Satechi

Best premium medium-length USB-C cable

Satechi 2.6-foot USB 4 cable

I had fraying problems with Satechi's earlier cables, but they've beefed up the braided housing and connectors for their newer models. They look classy, feel supple, include a tie to tidy up the coils and are rated for 40Gbps data transfer and 100 watts of power.

$10 at Amazon

Best cheap USB-C charging cable

Amazon Basics 6-foot USB-C charging cable

Amazon's cheap but sturdy cable gets the job done. It's not as supple or durable as higher-end options, and it only supports USB 2's slow, archaic 480Mbps data transfer speeds, but you might not always want to pay a premium if you're just charging your Nintendo Switch controllers.

$22 at Anker

Best USB-C-to-Apple Lightning cable

Anker 331 6-foot cable

What can I say? This 6-foot braided cable is affordable and looks great in red. My test models worked reliably, charging iPhones for months over lots of car trips and office use. You can save a couple bucks if you only need 3 feet, but 6 feet is nice for reaching the outlet when you're lying in bed scrolling through TikTok until 1 a.m.

$25 at Walmart

Best teensy USB-C charger

Chargerito USB-C wall charger

A bit bigger than a 9-volt battery, the Chargerito is the smallest USB-C charger I've found. It even comes with a keychain loop. It plugs into the wall with flip-out power prongs and another flip-out USB-C connector, so you don't need a cord. It's sturdy enough, but don't put it in the hallway where you or your dog might bang into it.

$500 at Amazon

Best big battery

Anker 535 Portable Power Station

This hulking 512-Wh battery has a single USB-C port, three USB-A ports and four conventional power outlets. I'd rather have more USB-C ports and fewer USB-A, but this is still useful, with plenty of capacity to top up multiple devices. It's a good idea for emergency power outages or working on the road, especially if you're charging drone batteries or draining your phone battery using it as a Wi-Fi hot spot. 

The USB-C port maxed out at a healthy 56-watt rate. But plugging my Mac power adapter into its power plug lets me reach 90 watts -- an approach I'd use sparingly since it wastes energy converting power from DC to AC and back. A front status panel lets you monitor its capacity, and a carrying handle makes it more portable. It's also got a handy built-in lighting bar.

To ensure the Power Station doesn't drain while not in use, be sure to switch on power-saving mode. And turn that off to keep the system awake for intermittent jobs taking time-lapse photos or running CPAP medical equipment. I found it handy to power a digital telescope. If you're car camping, you can charge it from your car's 12-volt port.

USB-C FAQs

See at

Why use USB-C?

The USB-C standard emerged in 2015 to fix a variety of problems that cropped up as USB expanded past plugging in printers to becoming an all-purpose charging and data port. First, it's a smaller connector than the older rectangular USB-A port, which means it fits on phones, tablets and other small devices. Second, it's reversible, which means there's no fiddling to make sure the connector is right side up. Third, it's got a built-in "alt mode" that can extend a USB-C port's abilities so it can handle HDMI and DisplayPort video or Intel's Thunderbolt data and charging connections.

See at

What are the pitfalls of USB-C?

The versatility of USB-C has brought some problems, because not all laptops, phones, cables and accessories support all possible USB-C abilities. Unfortunately, that means you often have to read the fine print to ensure USB-C can do what you need. It's very common for USB-C charging cables to communicate only with slow USB 2 data-transfer speeds, and fast USB 3 or USB 4 cables are shorter and more expensive. Not all USB hubs can handle video signals, too. Last, check that USB-C cables can handle the power you need. Higher-end laptops can draw 100 watts of power, a top rating for USB-C cables, but USB-C is being expanded with 240-watt charging abilities for gaming laptops and other power-hungry devices.