So, the big news last week is that Apple gave us new MacBook Pros, but removed the ports that so many depend on. Instead, buyers will have to use adapters and dongles to convert USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports into things like HDMI, USB 3, Thunderbolt 2, and even when hooking up your iPhone.
MacRumors attracts a broad audience of both consumers and professionals interested in the latest technologies and products. We also boast an active community focused on purchasing decisions and technical aspects of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Mac platforms. Nov 04, 2016 The adapters, also called dongles, will let buyers of Apple’s newest laptop connect it to external monitors, digital camera memory cards, and other devices. Even Apple’s own iPhone 7 needs a. The new MacBook Pro brings power. And a lot of USB-C ports. Adapt to the new normal with this roundup of new USB-C docks and dongles.
If you're like most people, you're going to miss the handy ports the old MacBook Pro offered. Here are the bits and bobs you'll have to carry with you to bring back the functionality Apple took away.
USB-C to USB 3.0
Nov 09, 2017 Hey everyone, I just purchased a new 2017 macbook pro non-touch an i have two LG external monitors i want to connect the macbook pro too and also be able to have it run in extended mode. Can anyone point me in the right direction of cables or dongles I need to buy to make this happen. The only ports on the monitors are hdmi. Thank you in advance.
Remember USB? It seems like it was only yesterday that you could just use your normal peripherals with a laptop from Apple, but…wait…it was only yesterday! If you use a lot of USB devices like keyboards, mice, hubs, or anything, really this is what you need to get started.
Apple's adapter is $19 normally, but you can grab an adapter that's just as good from Amazon for a fraction of the price. This two-pack of adapters gives you twice the ports for only $8.
USB-C to USB-C
You gotta charge your laptop at some point. Apple includes a USB-C cable in the box with each MacBook Pro, but if you want to grab a second charger for work, even Apple's charging brick doesn't have a cable in the box.
So, of course Amazon has you covered with this Choetech cable that's basically half the price of what Apple's selling. Does the same job, but less money. Everybody's happy.
USB-C to HDMI adapter
The old MacBook Pros could be connected to multiple monitors thanks to DisplayPort and HDMI. Not so much with the 2016 MacBook Pros.
So, you're gonna need something like Apple's digital A/V adapter (below), but if you wanna save a bundle of cash, you can grab a simple adapter like this CableCreation one for only $14.
USB-C to digital A/V adapter
Why carry around a ton of adapters when you could get away with one? That's the premise of this spendy $70 Apple adapter, one that gives you a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI port, and even a USB-C port so you can charge while you use the adapter.
If spending that much on a bit of white plastic seems like highway robbery, Amazon has this adapter from Avotech does the same for $30. Seriously, what are you doing with your life spending $70 on a simple adapter.
USB-C to Lighting cable
So, let's say you bought a shiny, new iPhone 7 Plus last month. Congrats! Now, once you get your new MacBook Pro in, you can hook it up and…hold up. Nope, nope you cannot. This is not possible.
Apple only includes a regular Lightning to USB cable with its phones still, so you're gonna need a whole new cable to hook up or charge your phone. Apple will gladly sell you its 1 meter-long cable for $25, but that's a lot of money. Grab this Micord cable instead, shipped via Prime for only $10.
So, yeah, if you've made it this far in the list, I'd like to congratulate you on being an early adopter. I know these Thunderbolt 3 ports are going to be everywhere in five years, but right now this is just a huge hassle, right? And, these aren't even all the adapters Apple makes either! Check this out:
Anyways, carry on...
Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter
This Mac-only, high-speed Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt devices into the new MacBook Pros. This is pricey dongle at $50. But, compared to the cost of replacing older Thunderbolt hard drives and docks, it's a small price to pay.
Note: even though the connector on the end is physically compatible with DisplayPort plugs, users are reporting that Apple's adapter does not provide video-out via DisplayPort. You'll need a different adapter for that (!).
Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 3 cable (USB-C to USB-C)
Here's something that might surprise you: Just because a cable has USB-C on each end does NOT mean it can support full Thunderbolt 3 speeds. Apple isn't making their own TB3 to TB3 cable this time around, instead hawking Belkin's cables.
Of course, longer cables can be had from Amazon and cable makers like CableMatters. Skip the pricey Belkin options and grab this 3.3-foot cable for only $21.
USB-C to SD card adapter
Photographers were understandably outraged that Apple got rid of the super-useful SD card slot. They aren't even bothering to make their own adapter, instead offering a SanDisk one for $50.
At that price, why not try this Masvoker adapter for just $11? Seriously, maybe even buy two. Why not? You need to read SD cards. Put one in every coat pocket for the price of Apple's officially santioned dongle.
USB-C to gigabit ethernet adapter
Apple's old Thunderbolt to gigabit ethernet adapters were worth their weight in gold. Sometimes, wifi flakiness is too much to bear, and in that case, something like this will be handy.
Apple's not making its own dongle for this use with USB-C, so go ahead and grab this Aukey adapter for only $17. Tim Cook won't judge you...much.
BestDocking Stations for MacBook ProiMore2019
Docking stations are like power strips for your laptop. They have a variety of ports and usually their own power source so they can handle high-speed data transfer and multiple display connections. They are also usually able to charge your laptop and mobile devices while they work. If you connect lots of devices and peripherals and need high-speed data transfer, these are the best docking stations for MacBook Pro.
Dual 4K support: Elgato Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
Staff pickWith up to 85 watts of charging power, this is one of the few docking stations that can power up the 15-inch MacBook Pro and drive two 4K displays at the same time. With a Gigabit Ethernet port, your laptop is hardwired to the internet. Separate microphone and headphone ports mean you don't have to use a splitter or special USB microphone.
Dongles For Mac
$250 at Amazon
Ultimate versatility: Diamond Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
With 3 USB-A ports and a USB 2.1 charging port, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a headphone jack, there's not much else left for you to want out of a docking station here. The Thunderbolt 3 ports offer fast data transfer with PD charging or direct connection to a Thunderbolt 3 4K display.
$230 at AmazonExtremely powerful: CalDigit TS3 Plus Docking Station
Not only does this diminutive box power up to 85 watts of charge, but it's also got two Thunderbolt 3 ports with 40Gbps of data transfer. You also get DisplayPort support, USB-C, Digital Optical Audio, three USB-A ports, one of which supports 15 wats of device charging, a separate headphone, and a microphone jack, and an SD card reader. It's the workhorse of multi-port docking stations.
$310 at AmazonVertical Expandability: Plugable Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Plugable's reliable docking station provides 60 watts of charging with five USB-A ports, one of which supports device charging. It also has two Thunderbolt 3 ports for fast data transfer and 4K display support. You can even daisy chain up to five Thunderbolt 3 devices to a single supported port. With the included base adapter, you can set this dock in a vertical or horizontal position for the ultimate in desktop customization.
$239 at AmazonSpace saver: Henge Docks Vertical Dock
Though this isn't actually a docking station (it doesn't have additional ports or its own power source), it's a neat little accessory that might be the perfect fit for your desktop. You slide your MacBook Pro into the dock, and your two USB-C ports are redirected to two ports on the side of the dock. So you don't lose the use of your USB-C ports, but you can still keep your laptop out of the way. It's a great way to work in Clamshell mode with an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
$199 at Amazon5K support: StarTech Docking Station
StarTech's docking station has eight different ports, including Ethernet, USB-A 2.0, microphone, headphones, Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort, USB-A 3.0 for fast charging, and HDMI. It is explicitly designed to let you connect a 5K display using the Thunderbolt 3 port, or two 4K Ultra HD monitors using the Thunderbolt 3 port and the DisplayPort port.
$265 at Amazon<!-- ###Security and flexibility: Kensington SD5000T Docking Station
Kensington's Thunderbolt 3 Dual 4K docking station gives you security and flexibility. Connect your two 4K monitors to the Thunderbolt 3 and DisplayPort ports for full Ultra HD support. Kensington also adds a bit of extra special security with a lock slot, so it doesn't 'walk away' from your shared public space.
$239 at AmazonMounts to MacBook: LandingZone Docking Station
LandingZone makes a docking station that actually connects to the 15-inch MacBook Pro. It has 16 ports, including three USB-C 3.1 ports, two USB-A 3.1 ports, a USB-A charging port, an HDMI port, a mini DisplayPort port, an SD and microSD card slot, and a few more. It doesn't support 5K or dual 4K connections, but it does support multi-display connection if you have a few standard or 1080P monitors.
$299 at AmazonPowerful but portable: OWC Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station
This powerful port extender is one of my favorites. It's small enough to fit in your backpack if you need to take your hub on the go but is powerful enough to be a stationary docking station. The DisplayPort supports a single 5K display at 60Hz, or you can connect two 4K displays (one via DisplayPort and one via USB-C) up to 60Hz. It also has a hybrid 3.5mm microphone/headphone jack so that you can connect your podcasting gear, right to your MacBook Pro.
310 at AmazonDocking station, hub, or adapter: Which one is right for you?
Docking stations are designed for multi-display use with charging support. They usually have their own power supply and can charge your laptop and mobile devices while also providing fast data transfer and 4K or 5K display support. For the most part, they're meant to be stationary to give your desktop workflow more versatility and convenience. When it comes to docking stations, I personally use Elgato's Thunderbolt 3 docking station because of its 85W charging support and its dual 4K display option.
Hubs are very similar to docking stations; They always have a lot of ports but don't always have their own power source. They also tend to be more portable because they're lighter and smaller (and don't need their own wall plug). If the docking stations listed here seem like too much for you, you may need a hub instead.
Adapters are the simplest peripherals for port versatility. They are almost always a single-port changeover, like USB-C-to-USB-A or USB-to-Lightning, though sometimes they may have one or two additional ports, like HDMI. They're the least expensive, but also the least versatile. You may not need 4K or 5K display support, high-speed data transfer, or 12 different things plugged into your MacBook Pro at the same time. A simple single-port adapter may be a better solution.
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