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MacBook Air Q&A
Update Published August 12, 2019
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What is the best USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 hub to use with the MacBook Air while traveling?
As many MacBook Air users certainly have noticed -- based on e-mail received -- there are definitely times when the single built-in USB 2.0 port on models released prior to the "Late 2010" line is inadequate. Even for subsequent MacBook Air models, which have two USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 ports, there still are times when additional ports are desirable.
For MacBook Air notebooks released prior to the "Late 2010" models, there is the option of serious hacking, but the realistic way to add more USB ports to any MacBook Air is to use a USB 2.0 hub or a USB 3.0 hub.
Identification Help
As some MacBook Air models have USB 2.0 ports and others have USB 3.0 ports, it is important to identify your MacBook Air correctly before buying a USB hub. A USB 2.0 hub still will work with a USB 3.0-equipped MacBook Air, but it will be slower.
MacBook Air models released prior to the "Late 2010" series are easy to collectively identify by the single USB 2.0 port and no further identification information is needed.
However, for the "Late 2010" and "Mid-2011" MacBook Air -- which have USB 2.0 ports -- and the "Mid-2012," "Mid-2013" and "Early 2014" MacBook Air -- which have faster USB 3.0 ports -- the simplest way to collectively identify these models is externally by Model Number, which is listed in tiny type on the bottom of the notebook toward the hinge.
Specifically, the "Late 2010" and "Mid-2011" lines share model numbers A1369 and A1370 (USB 2.0) whereas the "Mid-2012" and subsequent lines share model numbers A1465 and A1466 (USB 3.0).
These MacBook Air models also can be collectively identified by Model Identifier in software:
| Series | 11-Inch | 13-Inch | USB |
| Late 2010 | MacBookAir3,1 | MacBookAir3,2 | 2.0 |
| Mid-2011 | MacBookAir4,1 | MacBookAir4,2 | 2.0 |
| Mid-2012 | MacBookAir5,1 | MacBookAir5,2 | 3.0 |
| Mid-2013 | MacBookAir6,1 | MacBookAir6,2 | 3.0 |
| Early 2014 | MacBookAir6,1 | MacBookAir6,2 | 3.0 |
| Early 2015 | MacBookAir7,1 | MacBookAir7,2 | 3.0 |
| Mid-2017 | N/A | MacBookAir7,2 | 3.0 |
Finally, EveryMac.com's Ultimate Mac Lookup feature additionally can uniquely identify these MacBook Air models by their serial numbers.
More information about specific identifiers is provided in EveryMac.com's extensive Mac Identification section.
Best Mac Compatible USB 2.0 Hubs
"Best" is a subjective term, but it seems logical that one if views size and weight as a priority (and those who buy a MacBook Air typically do), one also would want a USB hub that is as small and lightweight as possible.
It also is worth noting that the MacBook Air optical drive still must be plugged directly into the MacBook Air and is not to be used with USB hubs.
Nevertheless, for all the other USB devices you might like to plug into a MacBook Air -- an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, a mouse, printers, scanners, cameras, and so on -- there are a variety of small USB 2.0 hubs designed for travel.
Four of particular interest include the Belkin Swivel Hub, IOGear MicroHub, Gear Head Integrated Hub, and StarTech Mini Hub.
Photo Credit (clockwise from top left): Belkin, IOGear, Gear Head, StarTech.
Please note that the above images are not precisely to scale, but the USB connectors can be used for an idea of relative size.
The Belkin Swivel Hub, IOGear MicroHub, and Gear Head Integrated Hub are difficult to find these days, but the StarTech Mini Hub remains available readily and inexpensive.
The convenient Belkin Swivel Hub design provides four USB 2.0 ports and rotates 180-degrees -- up, down, left, and right -- to make accessing ports easier in tight spaces. In hands on use, EveryMac.com became quite fond of this hub.
The other three are quite similar in design, and all have four USB 2.0 ports, but the Gear Head and IOGear products both have a USB cable that conveniently "tucks away" within the device to protect the connector from damage in transit, whereas the StarTech option does not.
Best Mac Compatible USB 3.0 Hubs
There also are a variety of small USB 3.0 hubs that are compatible with MacBook Air models with USB 3.0 ports.
Four small USB 3.0 hubs of potential interest include two port and four port options from StarTech as well as four port options from IOGear and Sabrent.
Photo Credit: StarTech (Top), IOGear (Bottom Left), Sabrent (Bottom Right)
Note that the options from StarTech and IOGear have a built-in cable, which is convenient but potentially subject to damage whereas the Sabrent option includes an external cable.
You might also be interested in the Macally 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter -- which as the name makes clear -- helpfully combines three USB 3.0 ports and a Gigabit Ethernet adapter in the same compact design.
Photo Credit: Macally (USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter)
Please note that USB 3.0 hubs essentially require OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" or later versions of OS X (and have been reported to be flaky running OS X 10.7 "Lion", although they are formally supported by this version of OS X, too).
USB Hub Performance Tips & Summary
No matter which USB hub you buy, for maximum performance, be sure to plug the hub itself into your Mac before connecting any peripherals. Then, plug in the fastest USB device before connecting any slower ones.
In other words, if you are using one of the above USB 3.0 hubs, and you have an external hard drive that uses USB 3.0 and a printer that uses USB 2.0 -- (1) plug the hub into your Mac, (2) connect the external hard drive into the hub, and (3) plug the printer into the hub. The first peripheral you connect will determine whether the hub operates at its maximum speed or a slower one.
All of these USB hubs can be used with other Macs as well, not just the MacBook Air, and it is hoped, add as little weight as possible to your already overburdened carry-on bag.
In the US, site sponsor Other World Computing sells many of the USB hubs mentioned above as well as others. OWC sells the Macally 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Gigabit Ethernet Adapter, too.
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