Survive remote work with this multipurpose hub.
For many years now, I’ve had to connect my MacBook Pro to external devices using adapters and hubs. I’ve been lucky to have some really versatile options at my disposal, but sometimes, they aren’t enough. Fortunately, accessory designer AUKEY has a 12-in-1 USB-C Hub that keeps you covered no matter what you want to connect to.
DETAILS
The 12-in-1 USB-C Hub allows users a single option for connecting a computer to many, many devices. One of the biggest features of this hub is the ability to connect to up to three monitors at one time (if you have a Windows machine). With the 2 X HDMI ports and the VGA port, users can mirror or extend their displays. The power delivery port supports up to 100W of power delivery and can charge a 15” MacBook Pro in about 2 hours. There is a Gigabit Ethernet port that supports 10/100/1000Mbps network speeds. The hub is slim and compact without any compromise on accessibility. It features simple plug-and-play connectivity.
| Interfaces | 2 x USB 3.0 ports 2 x USB 2.0 ports 2 x HDMI ports 1 x USB-C data port 1 x USB-C power delivery 2.0/3.0 charging port 1 x VGA port 1 x Gigabit Ethernet port 1 x SD card slot 1 x Micro SD card slots |
| Connector | USB-C |
| USB Power Delivery Input | DC 20V 5A (up to 100W) |
| USB 3.0 Data Transfer Speed | Up to 5 Gbps |
| USB 2.0 Data Transfer Speed | Up to 480 Mbps |
| HDMI Display Resolution | Up to 4K @ 30 Hz |
| VGA Display Resolution | Up to 1080p @ 60 Hz |
| Supported Network Speeds | 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Material | Aluminum alloy |
| Cable Length | 200mm/7.87” |
| Dimensions | 5 x 2.45 x 0.65 inches |
| Weight | 4.34 oz |
USER EXPERIENCE
Like other AUKEY products this hub comes in a nondescript cardboard box. It’s brown and has the brand name, product name, and an illustration of the product on the front of the box. The back of the box doesn’t call out any key details of the product other than the model, which is CB-C78. When you open the box, you will find a user manual and the hub wrapped in a plastic sleeve.
Right away I noticed that the hub was quite a bit larger than some of the others I’ve used. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the size since many of the multipurpose hubs I’ve experienced seem to cram many, many ports onto a small body. That said, this 12-in-1 hub is substantially larger than the last AUKEY hub I reviewed (Unity Link III USB-C Hub), but not too large to carry with you when you work remotely. Despite its larger size, the hub is still lightweight and the cable is flexible so the hub can fit easily into a laptop bag.
The user manual provides basic operation information in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and Chinese. The instructions for operation are very simple. You plug the hub into the computer and then plug in any devices you want connected to your laptop into the hub. You can plug a power source into the hub so that your laptop stays powered and the hub can provide up to 100W of power delivery to your laptop.
I plugged the hub into my 16-inch MacBook Pro, which requires a 96W charger, and had no problems with the laptop getting power once I plugged it into the wall adapter. Even though this hub has the ability to connect a single computer to three external monitors, because I was using a MacBook Pro, I did not have that option because it’s only compatible with Windows computers. That said, I did connect the MacBook Pro to an HDMI compatible monitor and it worked beautifully. In addition to the monitor, I also connected an external USB keyboard, external hard drive, and a web camera using the hub. I didn’t have any issues with any of the devices connecting properly or being functional with the laptop.
CONCLUSION
As a hub, the 12-in-1 works really well. It has provided a consistent connection for my MacBook Pro to any external devices I’ve tried. I think this is a really nice all-around hub. If given the choice between this one and one of the smaller hubs available, I would likely choose this one so that I would never have to worry about having additional adapters for my laptop.
For more information, visit aukey.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
