Best USB-C Hubs for Laptops in Canada: Anker vs Belkin vs StarTech

Work & Smart Living · Home Office

The best USB-C hubs for laptops in Canada are not separated by port count alone. The important differences are whether your laptop’s USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode, how much USB bandwidth the hub can actually expose, whether 4K output runs at 60Hz, how much charging power reaches the laptop after the hub reserves power for itself, and whether you need Ethernet, card readers or a USB-C monitor. The Anker 555 8-in-1, Belkin Connect 7-in-1, and StarTech HB31C3A1CDPPD3 solve those problems with three different architectures.

Fast Answer

Anker 555 is the best overall choice for a conventional home-office workstation. It combines 10Gbps USB data, 4K@60Hz HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD/microSD and up to 85W host charging. Belkin Connect 7-in-1 is the balanced media option with 4K@60Hz HDMI, SD/microSD, audio and 5Gbps USB. StarTech HB31C3A1CDPPD3 is the technical specialist: it gives you four 10Gbps USB ports, and its downstream USB-C port can carry DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode video to a compatible USB-C monitor while also supporting data.

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USB-C Hubs Compared

How the Technology Differs

USB-C is a connector, not a performance guarantee

A laptop can have a USB-C-shaped port without supporting every feature these hubs use. Display output normally requires DisplayPort Alt Mode or a Thunderbolt/USB4 implementation that exposes compatible video signalling. Anker explicitly requires DisplayPort Alt Mode for display use. StarTech makes the same warning and notes that not all USB-C ports expose the full USB-C feature set. Before buying, check the exact laptop port specification rather than assuming the connector shape guarantees HDMI or USB-C monitor output.

10Gbps versus 5Gbps matters mainly for fast storage

Anker 555 and StarTech are USB 10Gbps-class devices, while Belkin’s current 7-in-1 is a 5Gbps-class hub. A keyboard, mouse or printer will not benefit from 10Gbps. A fast portable SSD can. If your external drive is capable of around 1,000MB/s, a 5Gbps hub can become the bottleneck before the SSD does.

HDMI output and USB-C video output solve different desks

Anker and Belkin use conventional HDMI outputs, making them easy to pair with standard desktop monitors and TVs. StarTech instead exposes DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode over its downstream USB-C port. That is useful for USB-C portable monitors and desktop displays that accept USB-C video, but the host must support DP Alt Mode and the monitor must accept the resulting USB-C display connection.

Power Delivery numbers are not guaranteed laptop charge rates

Hubs consume power. Anker accepts up to 100W input and rates up to 85W to the laptop. StarTech explicitly reserves up to 18W for the hub and connected devices, leaving up to 82W for the host from a 100W source. Belkin specifies up to 100W PD input. The laptop also negotiates its own supported USB-PD profile, so a 100W charger does not force every computer to charge at 100W.

Ethernet versus peripheral bandwidth is a real design trade-off

Anker dedicates enclosure space to Gigabit Ethernet and card readers, which suits a fixed desk. StarTech spends that budget on four 10Gbps USB ports and USB-C video/data output instead. Belkin prioritizes SD/microSD and audio. The best hub is the one whose port mix matches the devices that actually stay attached.

Display bandwidth is shared with the host’s graphics capabilities

A manufacturer maximum such as 4K@60Hz assumes a compatible host, cable and display. USB-C hubs do not create unlimited GPU outputs. On Macs in particular, the number of independent external displays remains constrained by the Mac model and Apple silicon generation unless a dock uses a separate DisplayLink-style USB graphics architecture.

Anker 555 USB-C Hub: Best Overall for Fast Data and Wired Networking

Anker 555 is the most complete conventional workstation hub in this set. Its USB-C data port and two USB-A data ports are rated up to 10Gbps, making it the strongest fit for a laptop that regularly moves large files to or from a fast external SSD.

The HDMI 2.0 output supports up to 4K@60Hz when the host can provide the required DisplayPort bandwidth. Anker states that the host USB-C port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode for display output and USB Power Delivery for charging.

Gigabit Ethernet is the biggest functional difference from the other two. For a permanent desk, wired networking can provide more consistent latency and throughput during large uploads, remote desktop sessions and video calls. UHS-I SD and microSD readers also make Anker useful for camera workflows.

The PD input accepts up to 100W, but Anker rates host charging at up to 85W because the hub uses part of the power budget itself. The wall charger is not included.

Choose it when: your laptop desk uses fast storage, wired Ethernet, removable cards and one 4K60 HDMI monitor.

Belkin Connect USB-C 7-in-1: Best Balanced Media and Office Hub

Belkin’s current AVC009 V2 is built around a broad media-oriented port mix rather than maximum USB bandwidth. It provides HDMI 2.0 up to 4K@60Hz, two USB-A ports, a USB-C PD port, SD and microSD readers and a 3.5mm audio connection.

Belkin specifies up to 5Gbps data transfer. That is sufficient for mainstream flash storage, accessories and peripherals, but a 10Gbps external SSD can run below its potential when routed through a 5Gbps connection.

The current version supports up to 100W maximum Power Delivery input and uses a tethered 21cm USB-C host cable. Belkin requires a video-enabled USB-C port for display output.

Compared with Anker, you give up Ethernet and 10Gbps data. Compared with StarTech, you gain card readers, audio and a standard HDMI output. It is the least specialized option of the three.

Choose it when: you want one 4K60 monitor, memory-card access, audio and ordinary USB peripherals in a portable package.

StarTech HB31C3A1CDPPD3: Best for USB-C Monitors and 10Gbps Expansion

StarTech’s four-port design is different from a traditional HDMI/card-reader hub. It exposes three USB-A 10Gbps ports plus one downstream USB-C 10Gbps port. That USB-C port can also carry DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode video up to 4K@60Hz to a compatible USB-C monitor.

This architecture is particularly useful with a portable USB-C display because the downstream port can provide up to 12W for supported monitors or peripherals while carrying video. StarTech states that a USB-C power adapter should be attached to the PD pass-through port when powering an external USB-C monitor.

The hub supports USB Power Delivery 3.0 up to 100W input, but reserves as much as 18W for its own operation and downstream devices. Maximum host charging is therefore rated at 82W. StarTech also documents Fast Role Swap, overcurrent protection and UASP support.

It is driverless across major operating systems and does not include Ethernet, HDMI or card readers. That makes it less versatile for a generic desk but more focused for high-speed USB expansion and USB-C display workflows.

Choose it when: your priority is multiple 10Gbps peripherals or a USB-C portable/desktop monitor rather than HDMI, Ethernet or memory cards.

Which USB-C Hub Fits Your Laptop?

• Fast SSD + Ethernet + HDMI monitor: Anker 555 is the strongest fit.
• SD/microSD + audio + HDMI: Belkin offers the most balanced media port mix.
• USB-C portable monitor: StarTech’s downstream DP Alt Mode USB-C port is purpose-built for this scenario.
• Several 10Gbps peripherals: StarTech and Anker are better matches than the 5Gbps Belkin.
• One-cable charging: all three can participate in USB-PD charging, but actual laptop wattage is lower than or dependent on the advertised input ceiling.

Compatibility Checks Before You Buy

Confirm DisplayPort Alt Mode

Look up the exact laptop model and confirm that its USB-C port supports video output. A data-only USB-C port will not gain HDMI or USB-C monitor output simply because a hub is attached.

Check your laptop’s charging requirement

A thin ultrabook may work well at 45W or 65W, while performance laptops may expect 90W, 100W or a proprietary charger. If the laptop needs more than the hub can deliver, charging may slow or the battery may discharge under load.

Match the hub to your fastest peripheral

If your SSD can move around 1,000MB/s, choose a 10Gbps data path. If your attached devices are only a mouse, keyboard and printer, paying for 10Gbps ports provides little practical benefit.

Check the monitor input you actually own

Anker and Belkin are HDMI-oriented. StarTech is USB-C-monitor-oriented. Adapters can sometimes bridge standards, but adding adapters can also change supported resolutions, refresh rates and power delivery.

Related Hamejur Guides

For a more ergonomic desk, see our best laptop stands in Canada. If you are connecting a fixed external screen, compare HUANUO vs VIVO monitor arms. For desk lighting around a monitor setup, see BenQ ScreenBar Halo 2 vs Quntis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will any USB-C hub work with any USB-C laptop?

No. Basic USB data may work while video or charging does not. The host port must expose the features the hub needs, especially DisplayPort Alt Mode for video and USB Power Delivery for charging.

Why does a 100W hub charge at less than 100W?

The figure often describes maximum PD input. The hub consumes power and the laptop negotiates its own charging profile. Anker rates up to 85W to the host; StarTech rates up to 82W from a 100W source.

Do I need a 10Gbps hub?

Only if your peripherals benefit. Fast external SSDs can exceed 5Gbps-class performance. Keyboards, mice, printers and basic receivers cannot.

Can StarTech’s USB-C port connect a monitor?

Yes, the specified downstream USB-C port supports DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode video up to 4K60 on compatible hosts and displays. The host itself must support DP Alt Mode.

Can these hubs run two independent external monitors?

These exact models are not intended as universal dual-monitor docks. Their display capabilities depend on the host, and macOS external-display limits still apply. For multiple independent monitors, research a dock designed specifically around that requirement.

Does a hub include the USB-C charger?

Not necessarily. Portable hubs commonly expect you to connect an existing compatible USB-C PD charger. Check the package contents before ordering.

What I Would Choose

I would choose the Anker 555 for the broadest home-office use. Its 10Gbps data, Ethernet, card readers and HDMI 4K60 cover the most common fixed-desk needs. I would pick Belkin when cards and audio matter more than Ethernet or maximum data speed, and StarTech when the desk revolves around a USB-C display or several 10Gbps peripherals.

Sources and Method

Technical claims were checked against official current documentation from Anker Canada, Belkin Canada, and StarTech.com Canada. Maximum USB speed, charging and display figures are manufacturer specifications and depend on compatible hosts, cables and peripherals. Hamejur does not claim hands-on benchmark testing of these hubs.