One of our favorite USB-C hubs for laptops is on sale for $30 today

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Today's Dealmaster is headlined by a deal on VAVA's VA-UC006 USB-C hub, which is down to $30 on Amazon when you use the code "ALVMMR83" at checkout. As of this writing, shipping times are longer than usual due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but this is a bigger-than-usual drop from the hub's typical $50-60 going price online.

This USB-C adapter is a recommended pick in our guide to the best USB-C docks and hubs, particularly for those who want a compact option on a budget. If you have a laptop like the latest MacBook Air or MacBook Pro that eschews traditional ports in favor of USB-C, a hub like this can bring many of those legacy connectors back. When connected to a USB-C port, the VA-UC006 here adds three USB-A ports (two of which are USB 3.0), an HDMI port capable of playing 4K video at least 30Hz, USB-C power passthrough at about 49W (which isn't strong enough to refill all laptops at max speed but still provides a decently fast charge), SD and microSD card slots, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm audio jack.

To be clear, this hub can get a little hot to the touch while in use, its data-transfer speeds aren't nearly as fast as those of a beefier Thunderbolt 3 dock, and its trio of USB-A ports might be too close together to fit three devices simultaneously. It won't work with iPad Pros, either. But in testing, we found it performed safely and reliably for a device that, at just 2i-0.5i-4 inches, can save this much space on a desk or on the road. Especially at this discounted price, it's a strong value for the amount of functionality it enables. VAVA says it comes with an 18-month warranty.

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