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One of the biggest changes to computers — especially laptops — over the past five years has been a march towards making them thinner, lighter, and sleeker looking. But computers that are easy on your eyes and back, come with a cost: an abundance of different types of ports. This is especially true of Apple’s MacBook line, which only have Thunderbolt 3 ports, which are confusingly shaped like USB-C ports, and work with USB-C accessories.
If you want to connect a computer without an HDMI or VGA port to a monitor, TV, or projector, the best solution is a graphics adapter. This accessory converts one of your USB ports into the one you need. The upside is that you can unplug the graphics adapter when your computer isn’t hooked up to a monitor — you’re not giving up a USB port forever.
We’ve saved you time by rounding up the best graphic adapters available online. Each one is best suited to a different type of situation, but all of them get the job done. If upgrading to a new laptop has left you without some of the functionality of your old one, this accessory can restore some of it.
What You Need to Know Before Buying a Graphics Adapter
There are many factors to think about when choosing the right graphics adapter for you; below are the most important ones, which we considered while we were researching this list.
HDMI vs. VGA:All of the graphics adapters in our guide get plugged into a USB port (more on that in a second), but some terminate into a VGA port while others terminate into an HDMI port. Both ports carry a video signal, but HDMI also carries an audio signal. Make sure to check which type of port your monitor uses before getting an adapter, to ensure it’ll work properly.
USB vs. USB-C:For a long time, all computers had full-sized USB-A ports on them (they’re shaped like rectangles), but many ultra modern computers have USB-C ports instead (they’re shaped like a small oval). We’ve included graphics adapters that can connect to USB-A and USB-C ports in our guide, but make sure to take a look at your computer to determine the right one for you.
Maximum Resolution:USB ports have a fixed amount of bandwidth (the amount of data it can transfer at one time), which determines the maximum video resolution it can output. All of the adapters in our guide can produceat least a 1080P (Full HD) video signal. Some can go beyond that, but have a lower refresh rate, which means video will look sharper but choppier. For reference, a refresh rate of 60Hz is ideal for a smooth experience.
Single Use vs. Hub: If the only port your computer is missing is an HDMI or VGA port, a single-use graphics adapter is the right choice for you. But, we’ve also included USB hubs in this guide; this accessory is a graphics adapter with additional ports on it (USB, Ethernet, an SD Card slot, etc.) If you want to restore all of the functionality computer makers have stripped away over the past few years, a hub is worth considering.
Compatibility:Unless otherwise stated, the USB graphics adapters will work on both Mac and Windows computers without any additional software.
