This is a very easy to use hub. There is some compatibility issues with certain systems and there are limitations when it comes to using it with M-series Apple computers.
- DESIGN
- EASE OF USE
- PRICE
Upgrade your workspace with this fast, reliable multimedia hub.
I can’t stress the importance of having reliable hubs in this day and age. When I upgraded my laptop in 2016 to a MacBook Pro that exclusively had USB-C/Thunderbolt ports built-in, multimedia hubs and adapters became a mainstay in my laptop bag. I’ve tested out many different brands of hubs and found a handful of trustful manufacturers. EZQuest is one of them.
In 2021, EZQuest released the “Ultimate USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter 13 Ports with Power Delivery 3.0,” which is designed specifically to work with Apple MacBooks that have dual Thunderbolt/USB-C ports on one side. The dock has 13 ports (as the name suggests) and can provide dual 4K monitor support for Intel Macs.
About EZQuest X40213 USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter
EZQuest has provided high-quality accessories for PC and mobile users since 1994. Today, their product line includes USB-C Hubs, Docks, Cables, Adapters, and Power Options. The EZQuest X40213 USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter connects your Mac’s USB-C port to two HDMI 4K 60Hz displays or VGA port to extend or mirror the computer’s display screen, while also connecting up to four standard USB 3.0 or 2.0 devices. In addition to that, the Thunderbolt 3 port utilizes Power Delivery 3.0 with passthrough charging up to 100 watts.
It’s important to note that even though this hub supports two external displays, M-series chips have some limitations that only allow a connection to one external display.
Main Features
- Designed for Apple MacBook Pro or Air with dual Thunderbolt/USB-C ports on one side.
- Monitor: Operate dual HDMI 4K 60Hz external displays to create extended or mirror mode with HDCP on MacBooks with Intel Chips, M1 Pro and M1 Max. Due to Apple M1 and M2 chip limitation you can only use one external display.
- Data: USB-C Port 10Gb/s, Two USB-A 3.0 Ports 5Gbs, Two USB-A 2.0 Ports 480Mbs. Total shared data is 10Gbs.
- Power Input: One USB-C 100W Power Delivery port version 3.0 with pass-thru charging up to 85W output and FRS technology.
- Power Output: USB-C Port 5V/1.5A (7.5W), Two USB-A 3.0 Ports 5V/0.9A (4.5W), Two USB-A 2.0 Ports 5V/0.5A (2.5W). Total shared power is 15W.
- Compatibility: MacBook Pro/Air
- High speed Gigabit Ethernet network connection
- Simultaneously read and write SDHC or Micro SDHC card reader
- 3.5mm Audio Jack with Microphone 2 in 1
- 16 CM/6.25 inch cable with EZ connect-disconnect grip
- LED power indicator
- VGA Port
- USB-A ports will not support Apple SuperDrive (we recommend using our X40100 USB-C to USB-A Female Mini Adapter to connect your SuperDrive directly to your Mac)
- 1-Year Worry Free Warranty and our 5 star customer service
- Content: EZQuest 13-in-1 Hub (Part No. X40213), and Manual
Specs
- Part Number: X40213
- UPC Code: 694307402133
- Input: 2 X Thunderbolt 3
- Output: 2 X HDMI 4K 60Hz, VGA 1080P 60Hz (see the resolution chart for different set ups)
- 1 X USB-C, 100 Watts USB-C with Power Delivery 3.0
- 1 X USB-C 10Gb/s, 5V/1.5A (7.5 Watts) for charging
- 1 X RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet with LED indicator
- 1 X SDHC and 1 X Micro SDHC Card Reader
- 2 X 5Gbs USB 3.0 with 5V – 0.9A (4.5 Watts) charging output for each ports
- 2 X USB 2.0 with 5V – 0.5A (2.5 Watts) charging output for each ports
- 3.5mm Audio Jack with Microphone 2 in 1
- Thunderbolt 3/4 Compatible
- Unit Length: 34 CM/13.4 Inches (including the 16 CM cable)
- Dimension: L 55mm X W 144mm X H 14.7mm
- Weight: 5 oz
- One (1) year limited warranty
Compatibility
- All Apple computers with USB-C ports
- Google Chromebook Pixel
- HP Spectre and HP Pavilion X2
- Dell XPS 13/15
- Lenovo Yoga 5 Pro
- Thunderbolt 3 ready computers
- USB-C ready computers/devices
- Smartphones and tablets with OTG support
- Samsung Galaxy S8, S9, S8 & S9 Plus
- Nexus 5X, 6P
- Google Pixel 2, Pixel XL
- Microsoft Lumia 950 / 950 XL
- LG G5
- HTC Ultra, U Ultra, U11, Bolt
- Mac OS X v10.13.6 and above
- Windows 10 and Windows 8.1
- Chrome OS 46.0.2490.82 and above
- Android 7.0 and above
Pricing & Availability
The EZQuest Ultimate USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter has a list price of $99.99 on ezq.com, but is discounted to $59.99 at the time of publishing. It can also be purchased on Amazon for $49.99.*
Unboxing
The hub comes in a standard EZQuest retail box. The yellow and white brand colors are very prominent and you can open the front cover to see the product inside. I always like this feature if the box doesn’t have a transparent front. Because the hub is self-contained and has an attached cable for connectivity, there isn’t much to unbox other than the adapter and the user manual, which is a simple printed quick instruction guide.
Set-up
To get started, I unplugged my external devices from my existing docking station and plugged them into their respective ports on the EZQuest Adapter. These devices include shelf speakers connected through the headphone port, wireless keyboard and mouse with USB dongles, an external monitor (HDMI), lightbar (USB), and webcam (USB). Once I had all the peripherals connected, I plugged the hub into the side of my 2020 M1 MacBook Air. I left the Thunderbolt port open so that I could plug in power after my initial testing with the external devices. I did this so I could see how much heat the adapter produces.
The adapter is plug-n-play for my purposes and the only thing I had to do was allow the accessory to connect to my computer from my system prompt. After that, every thing was working as promised. I did notice a small change in my monitor’s resolution from the previous connection I was using, which was a DisplayPort connection. I discovered that if I wanted the higher frame rate of 60Hz, I was sacrificing the higher resolution, as well. Instead of 3440 x 1440, I was only able to use 2560 x 1080 at 60Hz.
Experience/Testing
The EZQuest X40213 USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter works well. I’ve not had any issues with devices working as expected, except for the screen resolution issue I described above. I really like that USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports are included so that if you are using a device that really needs the added technology benefits of USB 3.0 you can select that, but if it’s not needed, you can leave those ports open for other devices.
Since this device has been out for some time, there is quite a bit of user feedback available online. One of the biggest criticisms I saw was that the hub tends to run hot. This is why I wanted to include some heat readings in my testing. I did start with only the external devices connected for about an hour and then I plugged the hub into a 100W power adapter. I did notice that the temperature rose after connecting it to power, but it was still well below 140º F, which is where most manufacturers will note that failures begin to occur. Also, it did seem as though the hub cooled down fairly quickly.
Heat Tracking
- Initial temp → 88º F
- 1st Test (~30 minutes) → 101º F
- 2nd Test (~60 minutes; connected to power) → 104º F
- 3rd Test (~90 minutes; still connected to power ) → 101º F
Conclusion
The EZQuest X40213 USB-C Multimedia Hub Adapter offers a powerful and versatile solution for connecting various devices to your laptop or desktop. With its wide range of ports including HDMI, USB 3.0, SD card reader, and Gigabit Ethernet, this adapter provides seamless connectivity for all your multimedia needs. It does have its limitations with multiple monitor connections with the newest Apple M-series processors, but it’s a solid solution for connecting to many external devices while on the go.
For more information, visit ezq.com, Facebook, and Instagram.
*All prices are based on information that was available at the time of publishing.
