Multi-port Adapter adds a plethora of connections for your USB-C laptop.
There is a case to made for having multiple accessories for connecting multiple devices to a computer. For years, I’ve struggled with finding ‘the one’ accessory that will work for all circumstances, but I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s ok to have more than one accessory because every situation is not equal. Ever since the 2016 MacBook Pro was released with only USB-C ports, I’ve searched for accessories that will allow users to connect to other devices with ease and I’ve had really good luck with Satechi products. So, when I came across their Multi-Port Adapter for USB-C devices, I decided to give it a try.
The Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter from Satechi gives you the opportunity to connect multiple devices to your computer by only using one port from your computer. While there are many multi-port options out there, this one gives you 2 Type-A USB ports, an HDMI port, and a USB-C port. The USB ports are USB 3.0, which support data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps and the USB-C port supports pass-through for charging. The HDMI port is compatible with 4K monitors. The adapter is available in three colors — silver, gold, rose gold, and space gray.
The first thing I will say about the Multi-Port Adapter is that it’s a really nice portable hub. I like that it doesn’t latch directly onto the side of your computer like some other hubs (i.e. Satechi’s Type-C USB Hub). While that might appeal to some users, I feel like it’s a waste because it ends up blocking other ports on your computer. So, I like the extension cord design of this adapter because it gives you a bit of space to work with when you are setting up your workspace. I believe that this adapter’s real calling is as a portable travel device and not really a permanent workspace.
As far as use goes, I decided to test it with my HP Spectre laptop, which features two USB-C ports for connectivity. I opted for this option to test because of the power that the HP Spectre requires. The 15-inch MBP (2016) requires 87W to properly charge it whereas the HP only needs 65W. When I plugged in the HP, it was showing 89% battery and after 10 minutes it had 91%. It can be hard to find accessories that will both power and charge your USB-C computers, but this adapter seems to handle pass-through charging pretty well. It didn’t retain any heat and the computer recieved a charge.
The next test I ran was data transfer speed test. I used a PNY USB 3.0 flash drive to transfer a video file that was 2.36GB. When I transferred it from my 13-inch MBP (USB 3.0 to USB 3.0 connection), it took just over 1 minute to copy the file to the flash drive. When I connected the flash drive to the Satechi adapter, it was immediately recognize and the file explorer on the HP popped open. I was amazed to find how quickly that same 2GB file copied over to the desktop of the HP. It was only 18.03 seconds from the time I dropped the file onto the desktop to when it finalized the transfer.
I think the Satechi Multi-Port Adapter is a really nice option for portable workspace needs. It gives you the ability to have two USB 3.0 devices along with an external monitor hooked up at the same time. I could find this very useful in business situations when you need to connect to a projector or a display during a presentation. It’s really a very handy accessory and it works very well.
For more information, visit satechi.net.
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