Adapters for adding thicker ports are nothing new for Apple’s modern line of notebooks. Even the high-end Retina MacBook Pro decidedly excludes a direct Ethernet connection, and Apple’s MacBook Air and new ultrathin 12-inch MacBook are especially too thin for a wired connection to the Internet without relying on an adapter in the middle.
While modern WiFi is fine for most everyday situations, even Apple acknowledges that a wired connection is necessary in some instances. To remedy this, it sells a $29 USB Ethernet Adapter and a faster $29 Thunderbolt to Ethernet Adapter. The 12-inch MacBook has neither port, however, additionally requiring Apple’s $19 USB-C to USB Adapter to work with the slower adapter.
Fortunately with USB-C being a new industry standard, accessory makers like Kanex are ready with solutions like the $29.95 USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter made for the new 12-inch MacBook and other USB-C computers…
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At first glance you may mistake Kanex USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for some sort of mystical Lightning to Ethernet adapter for iPhones and iPads, but at its core it’s a USB 3.0 dongle with a super thin connector end met with a rather thick brickish end with an Ethernet port.
This is absolutely the first time my MacBook has been connected to a wired Internet connection since it shipped in April. That seems crazy but it’s handy to have a way to connect directly on occassion. Busy work days when streaming a spotty Apple live stream, when on the phone with technical support with my Internet service provider, and if I need to connect to another machine over the Ethernet line to name a few.
Kanex’s USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet adapter looks very similar to Apple’s own adapters, although the plastic shell is a shade closer to gray than Apple’s bright white cables and adapters; my first thought is that this might combat discoloring over time. The RJ45 end of the adapter is a bit bulkier than Apple’s standard USB adapters, measuring 1.25-inches wide by 2.5-inches long by 0.25 inches thick.
The overall length of Kanex’s USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet adapter measures 11.5-inches in total. In comparison, Apple’s USB Ethernet Adapter measures 8-inches long, or 12.75-inches long when attached to Apple’s USB-C to USB Adapter. The length of your data cable is what’s most important when connecting directly to a router or modem, but Kanex’s adapter lets the RJ45 end hang freely from the USB-C end with flexibility.
While most of the adapter resembles the USB-C Charge Cable bundled with the new MacBook, the RJ45 end of it makes it obvious why the ultra thin notebook doesn’t include an Ethernet port: it’s much thicker than even the thickest part of the entire MacBook. The thickness is comparable to two iPhone 6s stacked.
Not apparent until you see it in action, Kanex’s USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter hides two status indicator lights inside — something you won’t find in either of Apple’s USB Ethernet adapters. Both indicator lights glow soft green when connected. One presumably shows connection in general as it remains solid when connected, although it remained green when I removed the Ethernet cable between the modem and the router. The other indicator light pulses at various speeds based on data transfer speeds. A mostly idle machine shows a slower flash while opening multiple Safari tabs creates a constant flash until all the pages have loaded.
Kanex’s USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet works entirely as expected with the only surprise being the green status indicator lights. If flashing lights are too distracting and un-Apple for you, you can pay the premium and buy separate USB-C to USB and USB to Ethernet Adapters, but Kanex’s solution is one of the first available and provides a gigabit ethernet port for the same price that Apple sells its Thunderbolt Gigabit Ethernet adapter.
If you’re looking to add access to an RJ45 port on your new MacBook for frequent or occasional use, especially during conference season (and for quickly downloading new software betas), Kanex’s solution is a fine one for a reasonable price. The biggest issue comes when you need to use both ethernet and power, as the MacBook features only one port; a hub-style adapter like Anker revealed this week would be ideal in this instance, although it may be reaching edge-case territory.
| Manufacturer: Kanex |
MSRP: $29.95 |
Compatibility: 12-inch MacBook |
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What a crazy link bait headline for an *ethernet* adapter. These died out in the 80’s – it’s just an out of date convertor cable – who gives a f***
The title is click bait, but “out of date convertor (sic) cable”?? “80s”?? You weren’t even born until like ’99 so how would you know? Ethernet still serves a purpose little guy.
What in the hell are you talking about? You do you know there are some of us who use their computers for things other than posting Facebook updates at Starbucks? Sometimes we even need to get on the corporate networks where WiFi isn’t an option, and that’s where these weird “Ethernet cable” thingies come rather handy.
If using on corporate networks where WiFi isn’t an option then why didn’t Apple add the Ethernet connector or at least provide the adapters in the first place? That’s the entire issue with a computer that only has one port for everything. Maybe this is not the right type of computer to use in corporate environments. Plus in a corporate environment you’re always connecting to a projector; there goes another adapter.
Dude what are you saying hahah
If your spending this much on a computer (and accessories) you better make sure your wireless gear is the best money can buy. That means a top notch AC dual-band Gigabit Router and possibly repeaters/range extenders.
$500 computer….you technically have built in Ethernet/multiple ports.
$1000 plus computer….you better not cheap out on wireless gear. Your other wireless gear will benefit as well.
Adding Ethernet to a premium computer is like adding a gasoline engine to a Tesla. You paid for the convenience so why go backwards?
Ok, so mr know-it.-all, the condition at hand was: “While modern WiFi is fine for most everyday situations, even Apple acknowledges that a wired connection is necessary in some instances.” READ, for once!
Maybe you leave me my own choice of MacBook even if you don’t like it…
I do most of my work at my desk where I have big screens to work on multiple tasks. Even there I only need the USB ports very seldom.
When I am out of my office I only use my MacBook for minor Excel sheets, Word documents, Mail and surfing. Sometimes in hotels the room is not in the fastest wifi area. I have to say that an ethernet adapter can be very handy at those times. If I need the ethernet and the power supply at once I will just use infiniteUSB-C from kickstarter.
Just except that there are people out there who don’t need multiple ports. If you don’t like the MacBook: Don’t buy it!