The UGREEN USB 3.0 4-Port Switch is a modernised version of the company’s classic dual-PC USB sharing switch, designed for desks where at least one of the hosts is a USB-C laptop or MacBook. It offers four downstream USB-A 3.0 ports shared between two host computers, with the host-side connectivity providing both USB-A and USB-C options so the same switch can sit between a USB-C MacBook and a USB-A desktop tower. As before, this is a USB switch and not a true KVM — video stays on the host. This UGREEN USB 3.0 4-Port Switch review covers the switching performance, USB pass-through, build and value at around $35.
Prime UGREEN USB 3.0 Switch 2 Computers Sharing USB C & A Devices, 4 Port USB Switcher Sharing Keyboard and Mouse, Printer/Scanner USB Switch Hub for Two Computers with 2 USB3.0 Cables and Controller
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UGREEN USB 3.0 4-Port Switch at a Glance
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type | USB switch (peripheral sharing, no video) |
| Computer count supported | 2 PCs (USB-A and/or USB-C hosts) |
| Monitor count | 0 (USB switch only — no video routing) |
| Display resolution support | N/A (peripheral switch, video handled separately) |
| USB peripheral count | 4 USB-A 3.0 ports |
| USB version | USB 3.0 (5 Gbps) |
| Hot-key switching | No — button-press selector only |
| Cables included | 2x host cables (USB-A and USB-C) |
| Approx price | around $35 |
Switching Performance & Latency
The 4-Port Switch uses the same single-button selector as the earlier UGREEN models: press it, and the four downstream USB-A 3.0 ports re-enumerate on the other host. Switching takes the usual half-second to one-second USB negotiation, which is unavoidable on any USB switch and is the same delay you would experience unplugging the device manually. The headline functional difference here is host flexibility — one of the two hosts can be connected by USB-C rather than USB-A, which matters for the increasingly common case of a MacBook or USB-C Windows laptop sharing peripherals with a USB-A desktop tower. The USB-C side carries the same 5 Gbps as the USB-A side, so the switching behaviour is identical between the two hosts. There is no hot-key support, no driver to install, and no software toggle.
Reliability of the changeover is strong. The host LEDs make it obvious which side currently owns the peripherals, and the four downstream USB-A 3.0 ports survive the toggle cleanly even with fast SSDs or 4K webcams attached, which is the same generational improvement UGREEN delivered with the dedicated USB 3.0 2-port model reviewed above.
Display Compatibility — Single / Dual / Triple
As a peripheral switch only, this model does not affect the video side. The expected setup is a USB-C laptop with its own display sharing peripherals with a desktop tower whose monitor stands alongside, or a single multi-input monitor where you swap inputs from the monitor’s own button and let the UGREEN follow on the USB side. For users who want the keyboard, mouse and monitor to switch together with a single press, an HDMI KVM is required. For users with separate monitors per host, this switch is exactly the right shape. For the display side of a dual-machine desk, see our best HDMI cables guide.
USB Pass-Through & Peripherals
Four USB 3.0 Type-A ports at 5 Gbps cover the modern peripheral set easily — keyboard, mouse, a 4K webcam and a fast external SSD all happily share the bandwidth. The USB-C host-side connector is important to call out: it carries USB 3.0 data only, not USB-C DisplayPort Alternate Mode and not USB-PD pass-through, so plugging a MacBook in via the USB-C side will not charge it and will not route a monitor through it. That is consistent with the product’s purpose as a peripheral switch, but a buyer expecting docking-station behaviour would be disappointed. For a single-cable docking solution see our best USB-C hubs guide. As a four-port USB 3.0 sharer the bandwidth is plentiful for typical desk use.
Build Quality & Switching Method
The chassis is the same compact plastic moulding UGREEN uses across the family, with USB-A and USB-C host inputs on one edge and the four USB-A 3.0 downstream ports on the opposite edge. Both host cables are included in the box, which removes the most common purchase-friction point — you will not need a separate cable order to use this with a MacBook. The selector is the familiar single button on top of the housing, with two host LEDs to indicate the active side. The switching method is button-only — no hotkey, no software, no remote toggle — which keeps the design simple and reliable but means the switch is best positioned within arm’s reach. As ever with UGREEN, the build is workmanlike rather than exotic, and the included cabling is the right call for the price.
Use Cases — Gaming + Streaming, Home Office
The natural buyer is the modern home-office user who has a USB-C work MacBook on one side of the desk and a USB-A personal Windows desktop on the other, and wants a single mechanical keyboard, mouse, webcam and external SSD to follow them between the two machines. It also fits dual-PC streaming setups where the streaming PC has a USB-C front port and the gaming rig is USB-A, allowing capture-card peripherals to be shared without the usual cable-juggle. As with all USB switches it is not a full KVM and does not do video; for the gaming side of such a desk, our best RTX 5070 gaming laptops guide covers the typical hardware.
Verdict
The UGREEN USB 3.0 4-Port Switch is the right choice for two-host desks where one host is USB-C and the other USB-A — a setup that is now common as MacBooks and USB-C Windows laptops join older desktop towers on the same desk. The bundled USB-A and USB-C host cables remove a usual pain point, the USB 3.0 bandwidth is plentiful for modern peripherals, and the button-press switching is reliable. As with the rest of UGREEN’s USB switch family, it does not switch video — if that matters, look at the HDMI KVMs further down this list. As a modern dual-host peripheral switch with USB-C support, it is one of the cleanest options on Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the USB-C host port carry video or charging?
No — the USB-C connector on this switch is USB 3.0 data only. It does not support DisplayPort Alternate Mode for video output, and it does not pass USB Power Delivery. The switch is for peripherals only.
Is this a KVM switch?
No — it is a USB peripheral switch with USB-C host support. It shares four USB devices between two computers but does not route the video signal. For a true KVM look at the HDMI KVMs on this site.
Do I need to install software to switch hosts?
No — the switch is driverless. Press the top button to toggle between hosts; the USB peripherals re-enumerate on the newly active machine in about a second.
Will it work between a MacBook and a Windows desktop?
Yes — that is the headline use case. Connect the MacBook with the included USB-C cable and the Windows desktop with the included USB-A cable, and the peripherals follow whichever host is selected.
More KVM Switch Reviews
- IOGEAR 2-Port USB VGA KVM Switch Review (GCS22U)
- BENFEI USB 3.0 Switch Review: 4 Ports, 2 PC Selector
- TRENDnet TK-209K 2-Port KVM Review with Audio Pass-Through
- UGREEN HDMI KVM Switch Review: 4K@60Hz + 4 USB 3.0
- UGREEN 4K@60Hz HDMI KVM Switch Review: 2 PC, 4 USB
- MLEEDA Dual Monitor HDMI KVM Review: 4K@60Hz, 2 PCs
- 4-Port HDMI KVM Switch Review: Dual Monitor, 4K, 4 PCs
- UGREEN HDMI KVM 2 Monitor 2 PC Review: 4K + USB 3.0
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