Get a powered USB-C hub for the MacBook Air.

Yes, but with a caveat. You can use all those ports at once, but if you plug in anything that draws too much power (like a bus-powered external drive), the MacBook Air might disconnect things or complain about power.

The issue is that the MacBook Air’s USB-C port provides limited power to peripherals. A cheap unpowered hub splits that already-meager budget across everything you plug in. HDMI and SD card readers are low-draw, but USB-A ports vary. Plug in a portable SSD and a charging phone at the same time, and you might hit the wall.

The fix is simple: get a hub with its own power supply. A powered hub gives each port the juice it needs, and you won’t have to wonder why your SD card reader stops working in the middle of a transfer. It’s a few extra bucks and one more cable, but it’s worth it.

A powered hub turns your MacBook into a proper desktop.