Here are the best three universal laptop adapters to buy for your device, a connection port on a computer acts as an interface or simply a communication point between the computer and other peripheral devices.

Some of the most common peripherals are mice, keyboards, monitors or display devices, printers, speakers, flash drives, and more.

The primary function of a port on a computer is as a mount point; a cable from a peripheral device can be plugged in and through it, allowing data to travel to and from the device.

Connection ports on a computer are also called communication ports because they are responsible for communication between the computer and its peripheral devices.

Computers usually contain female terminals of connection ports, and the motherboard is typically where these ports are found.

Depending on the type of connection or protocol used, computers have two different types of communication ports. They are Serial Port and Parallel Port.

Using a serial protocol, which only involves data transmission one bit at a time over a transmission line, peripheral devices can be connected through a serial port.

RS-232 signals are carried by a D-Subminiature or D-sub connector, the most famous serial port type.

Parallel Port is a form of the interface where information between a computer and its peripherals is connected in a parallel manner, i.e., data is transferred in or out in parallel using more of a transmission line or wire. An illustration of a parallel port is the printer port.

Today’s laptops have become increasingly thin and light, so manufacturers omit a lot of ports in the design.

So when you want to connect to other peripherals, you must buy additional adapters. The following is helpful information about the common types of connectors and adapters on the market today.

Three best universal laptop adapters you should buy Include: 

1. Anker 547 7-in-1 USB-C Hub (A8371)  
2. IOGear Dock Pro (GUD3C02B) 
3. IOGEAR Travel Pro USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460) 

Image	Name	Price Link
	Anker 547 7-in-1 USB-C Hub (A8371)	On Amazon, you can see the price right here.
	IOGear Dock Pro (GUD3C02B)	On Amazon, you can see the price right here.
	IOGEAR Travel Pro USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460)	On Amazon, you can see the price right here.

1. Anker 547 7-in-1 USB-C Hub (A8371) 

Can a USB-C hub have a refined feel? One of them does. 

Appearance and weight

The 7-in-1 USB-C hub from Anker weighs 3.5 ounces and feels surprisingly substantial thanks to its premium metallic (aluminum and polycarbonate) sheen.

Function ports

The hub from Anker is well-designed overall, with enough room between the two 5Gbps USB-A ports.

Additionally, there is a second USB-C port with a rated power input of up to 85W and a 5Gbps USB-C connection for data.

(The charger can accept up to 100W but only provides 85W.) The standard for the category, an HDMI port supports 4K/30Hz or 1080p/60Hz video to a single external display.

However, Ethernet is not supported, so that Wi-Fi will be required. Above the typical 6-inch length, the cord is about 8.5 inches long.

Transmission speed

When we tested data delivery speeds under load, including simultaneous data transfer between USB-A ports while the SD ports were open, Anker’s hub was among the fastest. 

Insurance

The hub comes packaged with a carrying pouch and has an 18-month warranty.

Price

Additionally, it costs a little more than its competitors. At about 87$, Anker’s hub was among the weightiest underload we tested.

We don’t advise buying the more expensive $79.99 Anker 8-in-1 Hub on Amazon unless you’re content with connecting to two 1080p (and not 4K) displays.

Which is acceptable. If not, the two HDMI ports will only be able to support two 4K displays at a laborious 30Hz rather than 60Hz.

IOGear Dock Pro (GUD3C02B)

This is the Big Kahuna of USB-C docks, given everything it can do. You almost wonder why a Thunderbolt dock wasn’t created.

Appearance and weight

It is a 2.9 x 11.02 x 0.5-inch long wedge with a grippy rubber strip that supports your laptop. It is an actual dock with a foot-long USB-C cable and several rear-facing ports for dual displays.

However, this USB-C hub is more of a USB-C dock; it’s not portable, and its form factor makes it ideal for a spot on your desk that you can dedicate to it permanently.

Function ports

Gigabit Ethernet, three USB 3.0 (Type A) connectors, one SD/SDHC port, one HDMI 1.4 port supporting 4K30 video, and one DisplayPort 1.2 port.

One microSD slot (both USH-I), VGA, a 3.5mm connector, and a USB-C port with a 100W maximum output capacity are all included.

There are some restrictions on a few extra ports: For instance, the HDMI or DisplayPort connections cannot be used in conjunction with the VGA connection.

The manual states that two hard drives cannot be connected simultaneously, which is untrue. Remember that all the data transmitted along the USB-C cable can potentially interfere with one another.

Transmission speed

Be aware that the BC 1.2 port can deliver up to 1.5A of power to quick-charging smartphones, but it is incompatible with OnePlus or Samsung’s proprietary quick-charging technologies.

(Phones from both manufacturers reported “charging” rather than “Fast charging” when they were connected.) Even with HDMI and Ethernet connections, performance was unexpectedly strong, and there were no thermal issues.

The document consumes 15W of power and supports Power Delivery 3.0 up to 85W. Therefore 85W will be accessible for your laptop if you have a 100W laptop charger delivering power to the hub.

Price

Although a $125 or so price is significantly higher than you’d anticipate paying for a USB-C hub, it’s still less than a faster Thunderbolt dock. 

IOGEAR Travel Pro USB-C Mini Dock (GUD3C460)

Appearance and weight

The Travel Pro Mini Dock from IOGear is an unusual device with dimensions of 2.8 x 0.31 x 1.22 inches.

It’s a cheap, comparatively small USB-C dock that connects wirelessly to your laptop.

Function ports

You might think, “There’s no way this will work,” but it does, with just enough room for the USB-C charger for your laptop to squeak on one side of the dock, followed by an HDMI cord, a USB key, or cord, and a 3.5mm jack. (An external charger can input up to 60W of power into the Mini Dock.)

That’s fine, of course, if your laptop only has one USB-C Port. For laptops like the Asus ZenBook, which do away with the 3.5mm headphone jack but cram their USB-C ports too closely together to make IOgear’s dock practical, this is a problem because the Travel Pro Mini Dock will block ports as it attempts to provide expansion capabilities.

Price

The price of this adapter is considered the cheapest, so you should not expect it to be great and bring many advantages.

Although we like the concept, some adapters are better, cheaper, and more flexible.

Considerations to make when purchasing a switch port for a laptop

A USB hub (USB hub) helps get more USB ports. They are mainly used for laptops with limited USB ports. If you intend to buy a USB hub, keep the following in mind.

1. Number of ports
2. USB hub power input
3. USB hub power supply
4. The USB version of the USB hub

Number of ports

Suppose you don’t want to use the touchpad and laptop keyboard, so naturally, you will think of just needing a splitter with two ports, one for the mouse and one for the keyboard.

But take some time to think before you buy. Do you use a USB to transfer data? If yes, what other USB port on the laptop to use for this USB? So consider a splitter with more than two ports. Otherwise, you will have to unplug the keyboard or mouse to use the memory card.

This way of thinking will prevent future troubles. It would help if you considered USB hubs with more ports than needed.

If the price difference is not high, choose a set with more USB ports to use more peripherals and avoid future trouble.

USB hub power input

When purchasing a USB hub, you can choose between a hub that works on the original Port’s power supply or one that uses an external power source. Pre-selections seem more appealing as they are often cheaper than electrical outlets.

However, consider the equipment that plugs into the splitter port without using an external outlet. Each device draws a specific amount of power from the USB port.

When converting from the Port to the hub, the total power limit of the computer port is divided by the ports on the USB hub.

If the splitter has no external power supply overloaded, some splitter devices will not work. You can check the amount of power the splitter supports in the product description.

Is the number associated with the symbol mA? Self-powered USB hubs are usually around 500mA.

When there is a power limit, calculate the power dissipation for the peripheral. This is sometimes indicated on the sticker on the underside of the peripheral.

For example, the mouse is 100mA, and the keyboard is 400mA, which equals a total operating current of 500mA. So a self-powered 500mA USB hub is fine, but if you add a memory stick, the setup will fall apart.

USB hub power supply

When buying a USB hub, please take a moment to think about its intended use. If you want the hub to power or charge, the device while the computer is off, we recommend using an external power adapter.

The USB version of the USB hub

When choosing to buy, you should also look at the version of the splitter port. Some hubs use USB 2.0 to reduce costs, which makes data transfer slower than USB 3.0 devices.

Of course, this is fine if all your devices use USB 2.0. However, if you have several 3.0 devices, you should consider buying a hub with compatible ports.

Here I introduce you to the various gate types and their practical applications, as well as how to choose the best universal laptop port adapter are briefly described below:

1. HDMI

2. RCA

3. USB

4. RJ-45

5. Audio ports

6. Display Port

7. PS/2

8. Serial Port

9. Parallel Port (or 36-pin Centronics port)

10. S/PDIF/TOSLINK

11. VGA

12. Digital Video Interface – DVI

13. SD card reader

14. microSD card reader

1. HDMI

HDMI, the abbreviation for High Definition Multimedia Interface, is the high-definition multi-media interface.

HDMI is a digital interface connecting high definition and ultra-definition devices such as computer monitors, HDTVs, Blu-Ray players, gaming devices, high-definition cameras, etc. In addition, it is also the current high-resolution image output standard.

Depending on the graphics card’s power, HDMI can output images up to 4K resolution, but you cannot output to two screens simultaneously from one HDMI port.

In addition, HDMI is also an audio port, so if you have a speaker on the screen, the sound will also be played.

Each leg of the 19-pin HDMI cable head performs a specific function, and while transmitting data, it must adhere to specific regulations.

HDMI cables are often supported with standard studio sound quality, so users are wholly assured when using them to switch to another device.

The newest HDMI specification, known as HDMI 2.0, supports digital video signals with a resolution of up to 4096 x 2160 and 32 audio channels.

Additionally, HDMI can be used to transmit compressed or uncompressed audio and video signals.

2. RCA

The RCA connector can transmit composite video and stereo audio signals over three cables. The connector for the Composite Video port, which transmits analog video signals, is highlighted in yellow.

Frame synchronizations send video signals over a single channel with a maximum resolution of 576i (standard definition).

Stereo audio signals are connected using red and white connectors (red for the right channel and white for the left channel).

3. USB

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, used to replace serial ports, parallel ports, PS/2 connectors, game ports, and as charging ports for mobile devices.

USBs were first used to connect peripherals to computers; they were usually designed as connectors for plug-and-play devices with a hot-plug and disconnect devices without rebooting the system).

The USB port serves as a power supply for connected devices, an interface for peripheral devices, and a means of data transfer. There are three USB ports: type A, type B, mini USB, and Micro USB.

USB 2.0

Capable of transferring data at 480Mbps, USB 2.0 is a reasonably common USB connection standard and works with most peripherals today.

USB ports that support the USB 2.0 standard are very diverse: USB Type-A, USB Type-B, micro USB, or miniUSB.

USB 3.0

USB 3.0 has transfer speeds of up to 5Gbps, ten times faster than its predecessor, so high-speed external hard drives, SSDs, or expansion docks all use USB 3.0; USB 3.0 is also backward compatible with 2.0; of course, the speed is only 480Mbps.

USB 3.0 is often difficult to distinguish from standard 2.0 with traditional Type-A ports. Some brands distinguish it by coloring the USB 3.0 port blue or adding the SS (SuperSpeed) symbol.

USB 3.1 Gen 1

Just like USB 3.0, USB 3.1 gen 1 has a transfer rate of 5Gbps, and only the other end is USB Type-C. This connection standard also supports Power Delivery technology that allows up to 100W of input and output current, enough to charge current laptops.

For more convenience, please use an adapter to convert from USB Type-C to other connection types.

USB 3.1 Gen 2

USB 3.2 Gen 2 known as: SuperSpeed USB+, USB 3.1, SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps. This connection standard gives speeds up to 10Gbps.

To utilize the maximum speed of this connection standard, it would be beneficial if you had an additional 10Gbps cable.

Micro USB

They are also known as Micro-B. This standard connection port on today’s phone and tablet devices rarely appears on computers and laptops.

MicroUSB ports typically support standard 2.0 (480Mbps). In addition, there is also a standard micro USB 3.0 with an additional connector next to micro USB 2.0.

MiniUSB

This type of connection port is less common than micro USB. This connector is found on older music players and DualShock 3 controllers on PS3.

To connect, look for commercially available USB Type-A—to—mini USB and micro USB-to-mini USB converter adapters, even from USB-C—to—miniUSB.

USB, USB Type-A

USB is the most popular connection port today, not only for computers but also for other electronic devices.

The USB port we often see is classified as USB Type-A; it is rectangular and can only be plugged in one way.

Depending on the supporting hardware, there are currently two standard USB Type-A types, USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 (with higher speeds).

The connectivity of USB is almost limitless: from the keyboard, hard drive, mouse, connection cable, printer, data transfer, or combined with some adapter to switch to other connection types.

The regular USB port doesn’t have a built-in picture standard, but you can still connect it to an external display via an expansion dock or adapter with DisplayLink technology.

USB Type-B

You will have a hard time finding a USB Type-B connector on any computer because they are often used to connect multiple computers and laptops through hubs to a printer.

You can use the USB Type A-to-Type B cable that is usually included with the above devices or buy it outside if you want to convert.

USB Type-C

This new generation USB connector can replace USB Type-A, Type-B, and even micro USB in the future.

The strength of USB-C is its smaller and thinner size, which is suitable for thin and light laptops. USB-C also has a 2-way plug-like Lightning port, so you won’t have to worry about being plugged in the opposite direction and breaking the connector and adapter.

The USB-C Port supports various connection standards such as USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10Gbps), or USB-PD to help charge mobile devices.

USB-C can also send DisplayPort signals through “alt mode” or be used as a standard high-speed Thunderbolt connection.

Manufacturers can sign for USB-C that meets the USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard with the SS10 logo or the battery icon next to the connector, but not all brands have such a symbol.

Most of us see a thunderbolt icon next to the USB-C Port representing the Thunderbolt 3 connection standard and the ability to output images to an external display.

Suitable adapter: Quite a few manufacturers ship with their devices a dock that expands the connection from USB-C to various ports: SD card reader, USB-A, HDMI, etc.

Thunderbolt 3

It is the fastest connection standard today. Up to 40Gbps of transfer, speed is provided by Thunderbolt 3, four times faster than USB 3.1 Gen 2. Thunderbolt 3 can also simultaneously output 2 4K displays due to its ability to support dual DisplayPort signals.

On many new devices, you can also use Thunderbolt 3 to connect to discrete GPUs, helping to increase graphics processing power and play games smoother on thin and light laptops.

The Thunderbolt 3 connection standard uses a USB-C connector. Before Thunderbolt 3 was born, Thunderbolt 2 and first-generation Thunderbolt used the same DisplayPort connection, so you needed to buy an adapter for older Thunderbolt devices.

4. RJ-45

As we all know, Ethernet is a networking technology used to connect your computer to the Internet and communicate with other computers or network devices.

The Ethernet port allows the device to connect directly to wired networks. While Wi-Fi is extremely popular, Ethernet is still valuable, especially in hotels with no Wi-Fi or too weak Wi-Fi.

Most models of computers and laptops are equipped with this network connection port.

The connection interface used for computer networking and telecommunications is called Registered Jack (RJ), and the RJ-45 Port, in particular, is used for Ethernet over cable. The RJ-45 connector is an 8-pin 8-pin (8P – 8C) modular connector.

The most recent version of Ethernet, known as Gigabit Ethernet, supports data transfer rates greater than 10 Gigabits per second. Ethernet or LAN port with 8P – 8C type connector along with RJ-45 male cable shown in the image below.

The keyless 8P – 8C modular connector is commonly known as Ethernet RJ-45. Typically, RJ-45 ports are equipped with two LEDs that notify data transmission and traffic packet detection.

As mentioned earlier, an RJ-45 Ethernet port has eight pins, and the following figure shows the connection diagram in an RJ-45 port.

5. Audio ports

The audio ports connect speakers or other audio output devices to the computer. The audio signals can be analog or digital, depending on the type of Port and the corresponding connector.

This is the most popular audio jack today, appearing on most electrical devices, phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, etc. If your device does not have this 3.5mm jack, please buy it.

A set of headphones used via USB, mini USB, Micro USB, and most recently, an adapter to convert from a 3.5mm jack to a Lightning port of Apple products. Otherwise, use Bluetooth headphones to listen to music.

Surround audio connectors (aka 3.5mm TRS connectors)

This type of audio Port is found most commonly on devices and is still known today. The 3.5mm audio port can connect stereo headphones or other audio channels.

A 6-port 3.5mm connection system is applied on most computers for audio output as well as connection to microphones.

A 6-port 3.5mm connection system usually uses distinguishing colors, including blue, lemon yellow, pink, orange, black, and gray.

These six connectors can be used for up to 8 channel surround sound configurations.

6. Display Port

The Display Port is a digital display interface with multiple audio channel options and other data formats. The Display Port was developed to replace the VGA and DVI ports as the primary interface between the computer and the monitor.

The latest version of the Display Port port, DisplayPort 1.3, can handle resolutions up to 7680 X 4320. The Display Port has 20 pins, which is quite a modest number compared to the DVI port, while providing better resolution.

7. PS/2

PS/2 is a form of connector developed by IBM to connect a mouse and keyboard to a computer. The PS/2 interface is a 6-pin MINI DIN connector (DIN – Deutsches Institut fur Normung – is an interface standard developed by the German Institute of Normative Sciences).

PS/2 is the personal computer line manufactured by IBM in 1987 (of the 286 series).

This series introduces new standards such as Micro Channel Bus (later replaced by PCI standard), video card (VGA Graphics), 3.5-inch floppy drive, and PS/2 interfaces for keyboard and mouse.

Therefore, when widely used by everyone and developed on all kinds of computers, people still call this interface the PS/2 Port.

Desktop computers usually have two separate PS/2 ports – one for the keyboard and one for the mouse (distinguished by purple for the keyboard and green for the mouse).

Laptops (laptops) often have a PS/2 port shared for both an external keyboard and mouse.

Although the pinout of the PS/2 ports is the same, the computer still requires the peripherals to be connected to the correct ports.

The PS/2 Port is now obsolete and no longer used on newer devices. The USB port has replaced the PS/2 with its convenience.

8. Serial Port

Although the communication in PS/2 and USB is serial, serial Port refers to interfaces compatible with the RS-232 standard. Two serial ports are commonly found on computers, DB-25 and DE-9.

Today, because the data transfer rate is slower than the newer ports, serial ports are gradually being phased out in today’s computer standards; they are replaced by faster ports such as USB and FireWire.

DB-25

The native Port of RS-232 serial communication is the DB-25, a variation of the D-sub connector. They were developed as the primary port type for serial connections using the RS-232 protocol.

Based on RS-232, the DE-9 protocol was created for serial connections. While DB-25 is frequently used as a parallel printer port as an alternative to Centronics Parallel 36-pin connector, it is rarely used as a serial port.

DE-9 aka RS-232 or COM Port

DE-9 is the main Port used for RS-232 serial communication. It is a D-sub connector with an E shell and is often confused as DB-9.

The DE-9 Port is also a COM port and allows for comprehensive dual serial communication between the computer and the peripheral.

Some DE-9 Port applications are serial interfaces with mice, keyboards, modems, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), and other RS-232 compatible devices.

These days, the DB-25 and DE-9 ports are less used and gradually replaced by USB or other ports.

9. Parallel Port (or 36-pin Centronics port)

Parallel Port (Parallel Port) is a connection interface between the computer and peripheral devices such as printers that use parallel communication.

Centronics port is a 36-pin port invented to become a connection environment for printers, scanners, and computers; therefore, a Parallel Port is also known as a Centronics port.

Before USB ports were widely used, Parallel Port ports were very popular on printers. A DB-25 port later replaced this Centronics port with a parallel interface.

10. S/PDIF/TOSLINK

The Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format (Sony/Phillips Digital Interface Format – S/PDIF) is an audio connection used in home media systems.

It can be transmitted using a fiber TOSLINK connector or a coaxial RCA Audio cable supporting digital audio.

The majority of computers and home entertainment systems have S/PDIF on TOSLINK capabilities. The most popular digital audio Port, known as TOSLINK (Toshiba Link), supports 7.1 surround sound with just one cable.

11. VGA

VGA ports are commonly found on computers, projectors, video cards, and TVs that support high definition.

The IBM PS/2 computer and the VGA (short for Video Graphics Array) display standard were introduced in 1987.

It is used to support the connection from a laptop to a presentation device (projector, external monitor) through cables. VGA uses a D-sub port with 15 connector pins set up in three rows.

The VGA port’s connector, known as DE-15, supports multiple resolutions, including 640×400 pixels, 1280×1024, and now 1920×1080 pixels (FullHD), as well as 2048×1536 pixels.

With the increasing demand for entertainment through digital video, VGA ports are gradually being replaced by HDMI and Display ports.

Some laptops are equipped with an onboard VGA port for connecting to an external monitor or projector.

12. Digital Video Interface – DVI

Through a DVI interface, a display controller, such as a computer, and a display device, such as a monitor, can quickly and digitally communicate. It was created to replace VGA technology with analog functions

 and transmit digital video signals without sacrificing quality.

Three types of DVI connectors are designed based on the type of signal they can carry, namely DVI-I, DVI-D, and DVI-A. DVI-I is a DVI port with built-in analog and digital signals.

Only digital signals are supported by DVI-D, while DVI-A supports only analog signals.

The digital signals can be a single or dual link. A single link can support a digital signal with a resolution of 1920×1080, and a dual-link can support one with a resolution of up to 2560×1600.

The illustration below compares the construction of DVI-I, DVI-D, and DVI-A types and their connection pinouts.

Mini-DVI

As a replacement for the Mini-VGA port, Apple created the Mini-DVI port, which was conceptually similar to Mini-VGA. It’s a bit smaller than a regular DVI port.

Mini-DVI is a 32-pin connector capable of transmitting DVI, composite, S-Video, and VGA signals with their respective adapters.

Micro-DVI

Micro-DVI Ports, as implied by their name, are smaller than Mini-DVI Ports and can only transmit digital signals.

External devices with DVI and VGA interfaces can be connected to this Port with the necessary adapters. In the image below, a Micro-DVI port can be placed next to the USB and headphone ports.

13. SD card reader

This connector reads large memory cards used in cameras or camcorders. Current laptops and computer models all have this reader, so there is no need to buy more.

14. microSD card reader

This reader helps computers and laptops read microSD cards on smartphones and tablets via the USB port. Micro USB memory cards with expansion capacity from 4GB – 128GB

If the computer does not have a microSD port, a microSD – SD adapter must be used.

Final Thoughts

The paragraphs above can find information about connectors and a laptop adapter. As well as a few recommendations to help you select the best connection ports suited to your requirements.

Related  article: 

What Can be done to extend laptop Battery life?(Explained)

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