This $12 USB-C hub adds 5 ports your laptop should’ve had | usagoldmines.com

Tired of missing connectivity on your laptop? Wish you had extra USB-A and HDMI slots but don’t want to buy a bunch of different adapters to juggle? There’s a small accessory you can get that’ll solve your woes: the Ugreen 5-in-1 USB-C hub, normally $16 but on sale for $12 right now.

This hub turns your laptop’s USB-C port into five ports without making you give up the USB-C port’s charging capabilities. The hub includes a 100W USB-C Power Delivery port so you can keep your laptop charged while using its other ports: a 4K HDMI, a 5Gbps USB-A data port, and two USB-A ports for peripherals. All laptops should come with these ports by default, but if yours is lacking, this is a great way to add them back in.

Need examples of what exactly this hub can do for you? That HDMI port lets you connect a high-res external monitor as a second screen for boosted productivity. The 5Gbps USB-A port is for flash drives and external SSDs, allowing you to fast-transfer data to and from your laptop. And those slower USB-A ports can be used to connect a keyboard, a mouse, a gaming controller, a headset, or maybe a printer. And the best part? Just unplug the hub from your laptop and everything disconnects with it, then plug it back in to instantly reattach it all.

It’s a budget option, but one worth having even just as a backup. If you want a more powerful hub (sometimes called a docking station), check out PCWorld’s picks for the best USB-C hubs and Thunderbolt docks.