Best USB-C Hub NZ: Which One to Buy
Most USB-C hub listings are a wall of port icons with no context. Here's which ports actually matter, which numbers are marketing fluff, and whether you need a dock or a travel hub.
HDMI output: check the resolution AND refresh rate
Almost every hub lists "HDMI 4K" on the box, but that claim hides a lot. 4K at 30Hz looks noticeably worse for everyday use — cursor movement and scrolling feel laggy — compared to 4K at 60Hz. Cheaper hubs frequently only support 4K30, while better ones support 4K60 or even higher refresh rates for gaming or video work. If you're driving an external monitor for daily use, specifically check for "4K@60Hz" in the spec sheet, not just "4K support." Also check how many displays it can drive simultaneously if you're running a dual-monitor setup — many hubs only support one external display despite having two HDMI ports.
Data transfer speeds: advertised vs real
USB-C hub ports are often labelled "USB 3.0" or "5Gbps," "10Gbps" — but the hub's overall bandwidth is shared across all ports and ultimately limited by your laptop's own USB-C port and cable. A hub with four "10Gbps" ports doesn't mean you get 10Gbps on each simultaneously; real throughput drops when multiple devices are active at once. For basic tasks like a mouse, keyboard, and external drive backup, this rarely matters. For video editors moving large files to an external SSD, it matters a lot — look specifically for hubs built around Thunderbolt or USB4 if speed is the priority, not just the highest advertised "Gbps" number on a basic USB-C hub.
Power delivery pass-through
Good hubs let you plug your laptop charger into the hub itself, so one USB-C cable both charges your laptop and carries all your peripherals — genuinely useful for a clean desk setup. Check the pass-through wattage against your laptop's charger rating; a hub that only passes through 60W won't fully charge a power-hungry 16" laptop that ships with a 96-140W charger, meaning your battery will slowly drain even while "charging" under heavy use.
- Basic travel hub (3-4 ports, USB-A + HDMI): fine for occasional presentations and a spare USB-A device.
- Full dock (ethernet, multiple displays, SD card, PD pass-through): better for a fixed desk setup where you want one-cable connect/disconnect.
- SD/microSD card readers vary a lot in speed — check UHS-II support specifically if you're offloading photos or video from a decent camera.
Where to buy one in NZ
PB Tech has by far the widest range, from budget travel hubs to full Thunderbolt docks, and detailed spec sheets that make comparison easier than most retailers. JB Hi-Fi and Noel Leeming stock mainstream brands like Belkin, Anker and Satechi. Harvey Norman and The Warehouse tend to carry only the most basic multi-port adapters, fine for occasional travel use but not for a serious desk setup.