Articles about USB-C

Last year, Samsung released the T7 Shield -- a fast and durable USB-C SSD. At the time, the portable drive was offered in three colors (beige, black, and blue) plus two capacities (1TB and 2TB).

Today, Samsung adds a new 4TB capacity option to the T7 Shield lineup. Yes, you can now get the drive with double the storage of the previous top capacity. Unfortunately, this 4TB variant is only available in black -- fans of beige and blue are out of luck with this capacity.

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Apple's iPad is a tablet, obviously, but when you add a keyboard case, it magically becomes a laptop too. But did you know M1 or M2-powered iPad tablets (running iPadOS 16.1 and higher) can also serve as a desktop PC with full-screen monitor support? It's true! By plugging in a USB-C dock, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, monitor, external storage, and more.

Today, Plugable launches a new USB-C Stand Dock (model number UDS-7IN1). While this product is primarily designed for M1/M2 iPad devices (such as iPad Pro and iPad Air 5), it can work with USB-C Android devices and Windows tablets (such as Surface Pro) as well. While this dock should technically work with laptops and desktops, the "stand" aspect (which props up the phone or tablet like a monitor), would be wasted.

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If you need a new webcam and don't want to break the bank, there is a new product from Logitech that you definitely need to check out. Called "Brio 300," this beautiful cone-shaped webcam connects via USB-C and comes with an integrated privacy shade. And yes, it is certified for both Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Brio 300 costs just $69.99, which seems like a great value for a 1080p webcam from a top brand such as Logitech. It includes a microphone with noise cancellation, of course, but also, you get features like auto light correction and high dynamic contrast. If you love the environment, you will love the Brio 300 too, as it is partially constructed of post-consumer recycled plastic.

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There are so many docks and docking stations nowadays, that it can be hard to get excited about them. Look, I get it, they all pretty much do the same thing -- turn your laptop into a desktop while also charging it. The thing is, not all of them are created equally. In fact, some are much better than others.

With all of that said, today, trusted manufacturer Plugable launches an all-new USB-C docking station. Called "USBC-6950PDZ," the dock comes with all the ports that you'd expect, but in a conveniently small body. It can easily fit inside your bag when traveling.

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Back in the day, it was common for laptops to have a dedicated video output port, such as VGA or HDMI. These days? Not so much. Instead, computer makers rely heavily on USB-C, hoping you will invest in dongles for your video needs. And so, a USB-C to HDMI adapter, for instance, is a pretty common accessory.

What is not typical, however, is a USB-C dongle that offers four HDMI ports. The all-new Plugable Quad HDMI Adapter is exactly that. This dongle plugs into the USB-C port on your Windows or Mac computer and turns it into four HDMI outputs. And yes, the adapter is fully compatible with M1 and M2 Mac computers -- with the help of included software. If your computer doesn't have USB-C, there is no need to worry; a USB-A dongle is included.

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Does the perfect laptop docking station exist? Maybe for some consumers, but ultimately, no it does not. The reality is, consumers have differing needs and wants, so no single dock can truly please everyone. With that said, a new docking station from Plugable should prove to be a great option for most consumers.

Called "UD-ULTCDL," it technically is an update to an existing Plugable dock that carries the same name, but really, it is significantly different, meaning it should be considered an entirely new product. This second generation version features three HDMI ports as opposed to outdated DVI and VGA options. Not to mention, it now offers 100W charging (96W certified).

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If you are anything like me, you have several devices that use various chargers and cables. For instance, I recently went on a cruise with an iPhone and a Kindle. For the iPhone, I have a USB-C to lightning cable. For the Kindle, I have USB-A to micro USB cable. When packing for my trip, I had to pack both a USB-A and USB-C adapter so I could charge both devices. Isn't there a better way?

Yes, actually. Had I planned better, I could have purchased a single wall adapter that offered both USB-C and USB-A ports for simultaneous charging. This would have allowed me to pack less and use fewer outlets in my room. While there are plenty of these wall adapters on the market, a diminutive new model from Silicon Power, called "Boost Charger QM25," looks quite nice.

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Everyone's tastes are different, so when it comes to keyboards, it is impossible to call any of them the "best." With that said, today, the Das Keyboard 6 Professional gets officially released, and for some consumers, it could prove to be the best keyboard... for them.

What makes the Das Keyboard 6 Professional so appealing? Well, besides the company's legendary quality, this mechanical keyboard seems to check so many important boxes. Not only does it connect to your PC via USB-C, but it has a 2-port USB-C hub on the rear. It features beautiful white backlighting for the keys, and you can choose between Cherry MX blue and brown switches. It even has a huge volume knob and convenient media keys. Plus, if you like number pads, it has that too.

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Many people are working from home nowadays, using work-issued laptops. The problem, of course, is that these workers often own personal notebooks too. And so, if they regularly connect their computers to a mouse, keyboard, and monitor, it can be quite cumbersome to constantly plug and unplug cables when switching between two machines.

A KVM switch is a great solution for this dilemma, as it allows you to easily switch peripherals and accessories from one computer to the other. IOGEAR has unveiled its newest such product and it is quite elegant. Called "GCS72CC," it offers two USB-C cables that you plug into both computers. Then, the device offers two USB-A ports and one DisplayPort. This lets you connect a mouse, keyboard, and monitor. You then press a convenient button to switch between machines.

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USB4 is already plenty fast, with its theoretical maximum speed of 40Gbps. Quite frankly, it is much faster than most consumers truly need. Most people are not even taking full advantage of current USB4 speeds. But rather than leave well enough alone, The USB Promoter Group has instead decided to push boundaries once again, this time with what it calls USB4 Version 2.0.

The group has announced this second generation of USB4 doubles maximum transfer speeds, this time topping out at 80Gbps. But don't worry; the new standard is backwards compatible with the first gen of USB4, plus the even older USB 3.2, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt 3. Best of all, USB4 2.0 performance should be possible using existing USB4 cables.

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Apple's iPad is a tablet, yes, but when you add a keyboard case, it magically becomes a laptop. But did you know the new M1-powered iPad tablets with USB-C can also serve as a legit desktop? It is true! By plugging in a USB-hub, you can connect a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and/or external storage. The desktop capabilities of Apple's M1 tablets will greatly improve with the upcoming iPadOS 16 too.

Today, Satechi launches the "USB-C Mobile Pro Hub SD," which is primarily designed for M1 iPad devices such as iPad Pro and iPad Air 5. The hub plugs into the bottom of the tablet and offers HDMI (4K compatible), USB-A (up to 5Gbps), 3.5mm audio, SD card reader, and microSD carder. It even offers USB-C power delivery (up to 60W) so you can charge the iPad while the hub is in use. There is only a single USB-A port, however, so you will need to use a wireless mouse and/or keyboard -- both cannot be wired.

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USB-C docking stations and hubs are a dime a dozen these days. There are so many such products that can transform a single USB-C port into several others. Quite frankly, it is almost impossible to get noticed with such an adapter these days.

With all of that said, a new USB-C adapter from Belkin has managed to grab my attention. Called "CONNECT USB-C 6-in-1 Multiport Hub with Mount," it has a unique feature that I find quite neat. You see, the "mount" in the product's name indicates that it can be attached to the back of a computer, such as Apple iMac.

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Are all NVMe M.2 solid state drives the same from a performance perspective? Technically, no, but nowadays, even the lower-speed offerings are still rather fast. In other words, no NVMe SSD is "slow" although I would still caution to stick with trusted brands if you value your data. After all, it doesn't matter how speedy your drive is if it dies and your files are lost.

Samsung is probably the most trusted name in solid state storage. Not only are its SSDs historically very dependable, but very fast too. While a Samsung SSD may cost a bit more than some other brands, it is absolutely worth the premium if you want the best.

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USB-C docking stations are very common these days. Hell, websites like Amazon are littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor do they offer the same things. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs. I recommend sticking with reputable brands such as Kensington, StarTech.com, and Plugable to name a few.

Speaking of Plugable, today, that company launches a USB-C docking station that can push two 4K displays at 60Hz at once. Called "UD-6950PDH," the dock also offers 100W of charging and provides an impressive 13 useful ports, including Gigabit Ethernet, USB-A, and both SD and micro SD card readers.

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Last year, in the beginning of 2021, we told you about the Envoy Pro FX -- an external solid state drive from OWC. What made this particular SSD special was its use of two chipsets to maximize compatibility with both Thunderbolt and regular USB-C. The drive even comes with a dongle to make it compatible with USB-A.

And now, in 2022, OWC is giving the Envoy Pro FX a capacity boost. While the SSD remains the same in all other ways, as of today, it can now be had with a 4TB capacity option. Previously, the drive was limited to 240GB, 480GB, 1TB, and 2TB sizes. As you can see, 4TB is a pretty significant increase.

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