My relationship with HyperDrive goes back over a decade when they began manufacturing some of the first in-the-field card backup devices for use with Compact Flash cards. If anyone is looking to forgo the laptop entirely on their next photography trip, this hub should definitely be considered for the job. Whilst my testing was performed with a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro, the hub has also been optimized for use with the iPad Pro, allowing you to attach memory card readers and external hard drives to Apple’s most powerful tablets.

The HyperDrive 9-In-1 hub has an impressive collection of ports for its diminutive size: I have tested some from Anker and VAVA, and today I’m reviewing another contender from HyperDrive. Over the last couple of years I have been on the lookout for good USB-C hubs and adapters that might be suitable for photographers, or just other people wanting to plug a lot of peripherals into their latest Macs or PCs that use USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 ports. Whilst my laptop has gotten smaller, the cable bag I carry with me – full of adapters – has gotten bigger. Different computers have different ports, different card readers have different cables, as do hard drives and cameras.

In terms of computer peripheral connection, the industry is in a weird transitional place at the moment, stuck between the newer USB-C standard, and the older USB-A standard.

Photographers generally spend a lot of time plugged into computers, whether it be performing card imports, backing up photos or editing their latest images.

Hyperdrive usb hub for macbook pro