Portable USB-C docks with USB-A and HDMI

Moshi USB-C Multiport Adapter

FEATURES £68.95 FROM Moshi, moshi.com USB-C power, HDMI 1.4 and USB-A (2.0) ports

Design

This aluminium dock has a trench on one side, in which its integrated USB-C cable rests; a notch enables extraction with a fingernail, albeit by touching the USB-C connector. The LED charging indictor is nice but incidental.

Portability

This dock’s a little longer but also a little narrower than its rival, but that’s inconsequential; neither is really any less portable. Despite the metal body’s toughness, it’s a shame a protective pouch isn’t provided to stop it getting scuffed.

Performance

The USB-C port can pass only 60W of power, so 13-inch MacBooks may use some battery power under load. Disappointingly, the USB-A (2.0) port impeded our SSD’s speed, but that affects Accell and Apple’s similar adapter.

Value

Moshi’s dock is the more expensive of these two adapters, but then it is aluminium – Apple’s white plastic Multiport AV Adapter costs about the same. Moshi’s dock comes in silver, gold or rose gold; if you like your accessories to match your Mac, that might justify the cost for you.

Accell USB-C Mini Dock

£51.05 FROM Accell, accellcables.com FEATURES USB-C power, HDMI 2.0 and USB-A (2.0) ports

Design

Being black plastic, this dock feels less durable. The cable tucks away into a trench on the underside here, and is marginally easier to extract, though pretty short, with the dock’s edge resting just 4.7cm from your Mac.

Portability

At first glance, this dock might look a bit more pocketable, but there’s really very little in it. The integrated cable again lends itself to portability. The choice of material here makes it lighter, but by less than 30 grams.

Performance

This also maxes out at 60W, so the battery/workload issue applies to 15-inch MacBooks here too. USB-A port speed is again a weakness, but HDMI 2.0 means smoother, 60Hz output with the right Mac and display.

Value

Accell’s dock is the more affordable option, even when Amazon adds postage (supply comes from Amazon US, but is sold through the UK site). Ignore the budget look and feel and think about the smoother motion you’ll get if you ever use your Mac with a 60Hz-capable HDMI display.