TLDR:
(that’s Too Long, Didn’t Read)
For its size, this compact USB-C hub has a TON of useful ports. It allows power pass-through for up to 100W which can charge your iPad or most Macs. It has a convenient short USB-C cable that stores in the case, but that cable limits flexibility.
Pros:
* Great build quality with a metal shell.
* TONS of ports; USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet, HDMI, VGA and memory card slots for both Regular and MicroSD.
* Pass-through charging for iPads and most Macs.
* Short USB-C cable stores in the unit for convenience.
* Longer USB-C cable included.
* Perfect color/texture match to Apple Space Gray.
Cons:
* The short USB-C cable is flat and not flexible side-to-side which limits the unit’s placement relative to your devices.
Summary:
If you have a tablet, phone or computer with a USB-C port, chances are this great travel hub will allow you connect a myriad of things to it. I won’t get into the specs because those are evident in the product description, but suffice to say that there is a port on this hub for just about anything you’d like to connect. I especially like the MicroSD card slot so I can easily import photos from a camera without needing to find an SD-to-MicroSD adapter.
All of the ports are clearly labeled and there is plenty of space between them to easily get your fingers around the plug for insertion or removal. You do have to pay attention to the orientation of the plug, though. For example, the HDMI plug is inserted with the up side of the cable matching the top of the hub, whereas the VGA cable is inserted upside down with its “top” surface facing down. This is really minor but something to be aware of. Another thing of note is that the HDMI and the VGA will typically be used for monitors, but come out of different sides of the hub. This means that if you are connecting to two monitors (one HDMI and one VGA), the cables will be coming out of different sides of the hub which might make cable routing a bit messy.
The unit does get warm to the touch when being taxed, but the metal case helps dissipate that heat. The box includes two USB-C cables; a long braided one and a shorter flat one that stores in the case itself. That shorter cable is really convenient to use for attaching the hub to your tablet or computer, but it is flat and doesn’t flex side-to-side. This means that the hub needs to extend straight out from your device’s USB-C port which may not be the best place for the hub. Of course, you can always use a different USB-C cable for this, but that negates the benefit of having that shorter cable which stores in the dock.
This hub is not really intended to be kept plugged in as a long-term dock. Rather, it is best when used for temporary connections which traveling. As such, it really does its job well and is very easy to carry and hook up. If it meets your connectivity needs, you’ll be happy with the features, size and convenience this hub offers.