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Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons

7.2 Very Good
Adrian Cel By Adrian Cel

The Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 5-in-1 Core Hub is a compact Thunderbolt 4 hub that trades port variety for simplicity and a lower price. Launched in late 2023, it offers four Thunderbolt 4 ports (one upstream, three downstream) and a single USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port in a small aluminum enclosure measuring just 135 x 75 x 18mm. Belkin markets this as a "5-in-1" hub, though one of the five Thunderbolt 4 ports connects to your laptop, leaving you with three usable downstream TB4 ports and the USB-A port. The hub delivers up to 96W of power to your laptop through the host connection, which is enough to keep a 16-inch MacBook Pro charged under normal workloads. Each downstream Thunderbolt 4 port provides 15W of device charging and the full 40Gbps data rate. You can run dual 4K@60Hz monitors or a single 8K@30Hz display through the downstream ports using USB-C to HDMI or DisplayPort adapters. At $149.99 MSRP, it undercuts the Satechi Thunderbolt 4 Slim Hub Pro by $50 while offering the same port configuration and power delivery. The 150W external power supply and a 0.8m Thunderbolt 4 cable are both included in the box.

Budget TB4 Hub

Pros & Cons

What We Like

  • Competitive $149.99 MSRP, $50 less than the comparable Satechi TB4 Slim Hub Pro
  • 96W Power Delivery charges even large laptops like 16-inch MacBook Pro
  • Three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports with full 40Gbps bandwidth each
  • Compact 135 x 75 x 18mm aluminum enclosure, very desk-friendly
  • 3-year warranty, longer than most competing TB4 hubs
  • No drivers required, true plug and play on Mac and Windows
  • 150W power supply and 0.8m TB4 cable both included

What Could Be Better

  • Only 5 total ports: no Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, audio, or card readers

    Workaround: Use Thunderbolt downstream ports to connect adapters or a secondary hub for missing connectivity.

  • Only one USB-A port, which limits legacy device connectivity

    Workaround: Connect a USB-A hub to the single port, or use USB-C to USB-A adapters on the TB4 downstream ports.

  • USB-A port provides only 4.5W of power, too weak for charging most smartphones

    Workaround: Use a downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (15W) for device charging instead.

  • No dedicated video output, requires adapters for external displays

    Workaround: Connect USB-C/Thunderbolt displays directly, or use USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort adapters on the TB4 ports.

  • Fixed orientation with host cable always exiting from the rear

    Workaround: Position the hub so the rear faces toward your cable management area.

  • Base M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs limited to single external display

    Workaround: This is an Apple limitation, not a Belkin issue. Consider a DisplayLink dock if you need multiple displays on base Apple Silicon.

Display Support

Max Displays: 2
1 display (Single 8K@30Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port (Windows only, requires DSC-capable monitor))
7680x4320 @ 30Hz
1 display (Single 5K/6K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port (e.g., Apple Pro Display XDR on Mac))
5120x2880 @ 60Hz
2 displays (Dual 4K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. Requires M1 Pro/Max or later on Mac.)
3840x2160 @ 60Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

3x USB-C 4.0 15W
1x USB-A 3.2 4.5W

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer Belkin
Model INC013ttSGY
Release Date 2023-09
MSRP $149.99
Connectivity
Host Connection Thunderbolt 4
Max Data Rate 40 Gbps
Driver Required No (native)
Display Output
Max Displays 2
1x Display 7680x4320 @ 30Hz (Single 8K@30Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port (Windows only, requires DSC-capable monitor))
1x Display 5120x2880 @ 60Hz (Single 5K/6K@60Hz via Thunderbolt 4 downstream port (e.g., Apple Pro Display XDR on Mac))
2x Display 3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Dual 4K@60Hz via two Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports. Requires M1 Pro/Max or later on Mac.)
Ports (4+ total)
USB-C 4.0 3x (15W)
USB-A 3.2 1x (4.5W)
Power
Power Input DC-barrel
Laptop Charging Up to 96W

Compatibility

macOS (11.0 (Big Sur)+)

Full native support. Dual displays require M1 Pro/Max or later. Single display on base M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs.

Windows (10+)

Full support on laptops with Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 3 ports.

ChromeOS

Works as a USB-C hub with Thunderbolt-equipped Chromebooks. Reduced functionality on USB-C-only Chromebooks.

Linux

Basic USB and Thunderbolt functionality works on modern distributions. Full Thunderbolt 4 features depend on kernel and BIOS support.

Known Issues

M1/M2/M3/M4 base MacBook Air/Pro

Limited to single external display

USB-C only laptops (no Thunderbolt)

Reduced functionality

7.2 /10

Our Verdict

Very Good

The Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub fills a specific role well: it is a Thunderbolt port expander with strong charging power, not a full docking station. For users who need to split one Thunderbolt connection into multiple high-speed downstream ports for external storage, displays, or peripherals, it delivers reliably at a reasonable price. The 96W power delivery matches what you get from docks costing twice as much, and the 3-year warranty is longer than most competitors offer. The trade-offs are clear, though. With only one USB-A port and no Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, SD card reader, or audio jack, it cannot replace a full-featured dock for users with varied peripherals. The fixed orientation means the host cable always exits from the rear, which may not suit every desk layout. If you need diverse port selection, look at the Belkin INC006 Pro model or the CalDigit TS4 instead. But if your desk setup revolves around Thunderbolt devices and USB-C displays, this hub does the job with minimal fuss at a competitive price.

Available at Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub have HDMI or DisplayPort?
No, the Belkin Connect Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub does not include any dedicated video output ports. External displays connect through the three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports using USB-C monitors directly or via USB-C to HDMI/DisplayPort adapters. You will need to purchase adapters separately if your monitors only have HDMI or DisplayPort inputs.
Does the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub support dual monitors?
Yes, you can run dual 4K@60Hz displays by connecting one to each of two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports. On Mac, dual display support requires an M1 Pro, M1 Max, or later chip. Base M1/M2/M3/M4 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are limited to a single external display due to an Apple hardware limitation.
Can the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub charge a MacBook Pro?
Yes, the hub delivers up to 96W through the host Thunderbolt 4 port. This is enough to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro during everyday tasks. It will not charge as fast as a dedicated 140W MagSafe charger under maximum load, but 96W handles normal workflows without draining the battery.
What is the difference between the Belkin INC013 Core Hub and the INC006 Pro Dock?
The INC006 Pro Dock is Belkin's full-featured Thunderbolt 4 docking station with 12 ports, including two HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, an SD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, four USB-A ports, and 90W power delivery. The INC013 Core Hub is a compact 5-in-1 hub with just four Thunderbolt 4 ports and one USB-A port, but with slightly higher 96W charging. The Core Hub costs roughly half the price of the Pro Dock.
Does the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Core Hub work with Thunderbolt 3 laptops?
Yes, the hub is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices. It also works as a basic USB-C hub with non-Thunderbolt USB-C hosts, though with reduced bandwidth and without Thunderbolt-specific features like daisy-chaining.

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