UCOUSO 14-in-1 USB C Docking Station with USB-PD
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Unboxing
The Docking Station comes in a nice eco-friendly packaging, with a dedicated 18V power supply required to power-up the whole dock and two replacement rubber stripes with different sizes. Unfortunately it doesn't include a Type-C to USB-A adapter neither a Type-C Power Supply, something i would expect for this price target.
As regards the Materials, the main chassis is made of Aluminum, well polished with no imperfections, while on each side there is a plastic cover. Build Quality is just excellent, nothing to complain about.
On the upper, or front, side there is a plain surface with just the UCOUSO logo and the rubber stripe required reduce the slipperiness of the surface itself, otherwise the laptop would not stay in place.
While on the lower, or back, side there are four rubber feet and the indications for each port. It is weird that there is no model indication anywhere.
Starting from one end of the back side, there is 1x DC Input port (for the 18V power supply), 1x 3.5mm Headphone Jack (Generic USB Audio Card), 1x MicroSD Card Slot, 1x Full-Size SD Card Slot...
Here you can see how both SD Card slots are designed, unfortunately the full-size SD doesn't fit entirely (less than half of it), probably the only design flaw found for this product.
...4x USB 3.0 ports (VIA-branded USB Controller)...
...and finally 1x 10/100/1000MBps LAN Port (Realtek GBe LAN Controller), 2x HDMI Outputs and 1x Mini DisplayPort.
On one side of the dock there is a VGA port, while on the other side there is a USB Type-C input port for USB Power Delivery (not necessary, it works fine even without it) and the main USB Type-C cable.
Usage and Performance
Thanks to this adapter, i was able to test the product using my Laptop that doesn't feature any native USB-C port. Hopefully it will be included in the package for the next revisions, since it expands the product compatibility a lot.
As regards the internal hardware info, it is made of:
1x VIA VLxxx Chipset for the USB 3.0 HUB
1x Another VIA VLxxx Chipset for the Internal USB 2.0 HUB
1x Genesys Logic GLxxxx Card Reader (connected to the USB 3.0 HUB)
1x Realtek RTL8153 Chipset for the LAN Controller (connected to the USB 3.0 HUB)
1x Generic USB Audio Card (connected to a separate USB 2.0 HUB)
1x Unknown Controller for the Video Output Ports (unlisted)
Starting from the USB HUB, it works perfectly with no performance loss compared to the main USB ports, as shown here.
The SD Reader, even if not made by a well-known brand, is excellent, better than the Realtek PCIe SD controller i have on my laptop. Impressive, with no doubts. It supports SD UHS-III cards, tested with a Sandisk Extreme MicroSD card.
Conclusions
I won't stop saying that this is an impressive piece of hardware, but all comes at a cost. Overall, both materials and hardware are 100% premium, it doesn't lack any feature, but it lacks some accessories.
Can it be declared perfect? Surely not, but it gets close. Being a newly released product it is "normal" for companies to place it on the market at the maximum price (see Samsung or other brands with the new flagships), so if you can afford this masterpiece, then i can definitely recommend it, otherwise, wait for some discounts, hopefully coming in the next few months.
Still, if UCOUSO will include some accessories with the next revisions, no one would complain ^^.
Pros:
- Excellent Build Quality
- Impressive SD Reader Performance
- No performance loss using the USB HUB
- Full of any sort of I/O port
Cons:
- Really expensive
- No Type-C to USB-A adapter included for legacy support
- No Type-C Power Supply for USB-PD
Rating: 8.5
Packaging and Accessories: 8
Design and Materials: 10
Performance and Usage: 10
Price: 6 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.ucouso.com/product/alumi...ging-port-dc-4-ports-usb-3-0-docking-station/
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: https://imgur.com/a/JranM
Thanks for the brief review!
Did you try connecting multiple HDD/SSD enclosures (preferably more power hungry ones)? This is usually what shows whether it's cheap crap or good product, as doing power distribution right is not trivial.
Also it would be really interesting to know the performance of the Ethernet port (does it really do Gigabit?).
Handling of multiple monitors is definitely another important topic for such expensive docking station.
For MacBook (and other new gadget) owners it would be also very useful to see how PD pass-through behaves, but I am not sure, whether you have means how to test that... With Type C hub, this is usually the most important feature, to really make it one cable connection to your working place.
Related
AUKEY Quick Charge 3.0 Type C Car Charger
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Unboxing
Packaging (eco-friendly) doesn’t come with any accessory, just the Instruction Manual, a Warranty Card and the Charger (of course).
Unlike some other devices, this one supports QC 3.0 directly with the USB Type C port. Sincerely, I find it a bit confusing because if you don’t own an USB Type C device, you’ll need to use an USB Type C adapter in order to take advantage of the Quick Charge technology, otherwise you’ll be limited with the Standard VoltIQ USB Ports, without QC tech. It would have been better if this adapter was included.
As regards the Charger, it is made of Plastic, extremely solid and without useless glossy parts that can be scratched easily.
There are 3 USB Ports available, just one of them support Quick Charge 3.0 (USB Type C). The other USB ports supports Standard 5V output, just with another technology called “AIO” from AUKEY that works on the voltage depending on the attached device. It seems to work pretty fine, without voltage issues. Follow my next paragraph to know more.
Also, it is pretty compact, and fits perfectly every type of Car Socket.
Efficiency
I have tested the device using my 1A/2A USB Capacitor to stress everything to the maximum. Unfortunately I can’t test its Quick Charge capability because I need to buy an adapter first, i’ll update this review as soon as I get it. I still have tested the USB Type C port, and it works as good as other USB ports. (5V/3A)
As you can see, under 2A load the voltage is just perfect, 5.00v (on the left, test done in-car). Only at home (on the right), while using a Car Socket adapter, it dropped a bit under 5.00v (4.98v), nothing really important, it probably depends on the Voltage Input that at home might be lower due to the different power supply.
Internal components do not make any kind of strange noise on high-load unlike some other bad chargers.
Conclusions
As always AUKEY releases great accessories, with excellent quality. This device solves almost every problem that you could have if you need to charge multiple devices at the same time, and the Quick Charge could be a life-safer if you forgot to charge your device at home or if you need some urgent battery juice. It’s a pity that they haven’t included any adapter in order to not sacrify Micro-USB devices, but considering its price it is something that could be accepted. Maybe in the next version/revision they’ll include it? Let’s hope so.
So...do I recommend it? Yes, especially if you have an USB Type C device that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge and if you need to charge multiple devices at the same time.
Pros:
- 3 USB Ports (one of which is Type C)
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Support
Cons:
- No Power LED
- Quick Charge available only on the Type C port
Rating: 8.5
Packaging and Accessories: 6.5
Design and Materials: 9.5
Performance and Efficiency: 9
Price: 9 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.aukey.com/product/CC-Y3
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/suLGI
HooToo Shuttle Type C Hub with HDMI
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Unboxing
It comes in a dual-package with no accessories, it means that there is just the USB Type-C Hub and a nice sheet where everything is well-explained about each connection.
As regards the Materials, it is entirely made of Metal (except the lower side), similar to Apple's Macbook, with a rubberized and well-made cable that has a Metal Connector too.
On the front there is just the HooToo logo, pretty cool with a White LED that turns on when connected to the Device or Power Supply. It works as a classic Power LED, just bigger and stylish.
This is the full-featured (HT-UC001) variant of the Hub, HooToo offers also other variants with less features without HDMI, DC in, etc...
On one side of the device there are 3x USB 3.0 ports (one of them for Charging only) and 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC Slot.
On another side there is 1x DC IN port required to get the pass-through Power Delivery feature used to charge your device in the same time.
On the left side there is 1x Full-Size HDMI port used for Video Output. Remember, it isn't guaranteed that your device supports this feature so please check everything before buying this variant, otherwise get the one without it.
Finally on the right side there is the rubberized USB Type-C cable, with a nice Metal connector that definitely improves its durability.
Real Usage
Unfortunately i don't have a Laptop with USB Type-C, so all my tests were executed on one of my USB Type-C smartphones. It means that i won't be able to provide any video output test because Android doesn't support this feature. (do not confuse it with MHL, it is different and this adapter isn't MHL-enabled, completely different technology)
Just as the most elementary test, i have tested my USB Flash Drive with the device, and it has been immediately recognized without any issue. i know it is a USB 2.0 Flash Drive.
Next i have tested my Sandisk Extreme MicroSDHC card, with UHS-III. Thankfully, it has been immediately recognized (as USB drive) without any issue at all.
Well the charging port is working just fine too, it is a simple charging port (the third USB 3.0 port with a Lightning picture on the left), nothing special to say about it. With DC IN connected, it charges any device connected without using too much power from your device.
I have ordered a USB 3.0 adapter from China in order to the test the Video Output feature, and to provide some USB 3.0 speed tests. This review will be updated as soon as i get it. If you don't have a USB Type-C port, this adapter might be for you
Conclusions
Well this device impressed me for the Materials Quality, it is probably one of the most complete Type-C hubs available but its cost isn't so low too. So...this time it is correct to say that you have to pay in order to get some good quality devices. Except this price issue, that might not be an issue for someone else, i think this is something pretty useful to have for mobility reasons. You can do everything with just a small piece of Metal, it is impressive to see how many features can fit inside.
So...do I recommend it? If you can afford it, and your device supports all features, Yes, otherwise go for the lower variants that allows you to save some money.
Pros:
- Impressive Metal Quality
- Dedicated Charging Port (DC IN & USB Output)
- Cool Power LED (HooToo Logo)
- Supports UHS-III SD Cards
Cons:
- Expensive
- No Type-C adapter included
Rating: 9
Packaging and Accessories: 9.5
Design and Materials: 10
Performance and Usage: 9
Price: 7.5 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.hootoo.com/ht-uc001-usb-type-c-hub-charging-hdmi-apple-pd.html
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/RIoQD
AllMaybe 6-Port 12A Desktop Charging Station
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Unboxing
This accessory comes with an standard packaging (not eco-friendly unfortunately) and some accessories: 1x Protective Pouch (nice quality), 1x Power Plug (mine is an European Version), 1x User Manual, 1x User Satisfaction Card, 1x Warranty Card and the Charger (of course).
As regards the Charging Station, it is made of Plastic, entirely covered with a rubber-coating, a bit fingerprint unfriendly but it guarantees an excellent grip on the Desk.
On the front, there is an useful Power LED (Blue) that could be pretty useful if you need to find the charger in a dark room or just to know if it has been plugged properly to the power socket. Just like another Charging Station i have reviewed, its color doesn’t seem to change, so it is just a standard Power LED.
Being a Charging Station, it couldn’t have had few USB Ports. There are 6 USB ports available that support Standard 5V output (2.4A max each, but also more, check my next paragraphs to know more), i don't know what the "IM" word means though. (some other technology name made by AllMaybe, maybe)
As regards the size, it isn't super compact, a bit thick compared to others, nothing serious to complain about though.
Efficiency
As always, all my tests are made using high-quality cables (with 20AWG or 22AWG power lines) in order to get the best results. AllMaybe doesn't provide any USB Cable, neither they produce them as far as i know, so i had to go with other brands cables.
On idle, the voltage is just fine: 5.17V. Increasing the current to 1A, it decreases to 5.09V.
Let's start with the real stress test, with 2A of Load the voltage decreases to 5.03V, and with more than 3A of Load (over-specs, do not do this frequently or for long-period usage otherwise you risk to fry the USB Port) it decreases to 5.00V. Great Results!
Something i noticed is a slight buzzing noise coming from the charger on idle, it isn't annoying, but if you place your ear on the charger it is noticeable.
Conclusions
Well, this is the first charger i review from AllMaybe, a brand that was completely unknown to me, available officially on Amazon.com only (excluding other chinese e-shops). What to say, there are lots of Desktop Charger available on the Market currently, some of them with Qualcomm Quick Charge support, others with a different number of USB ports, etc. so can this one be considered too? My reply is: so and so.
I am not saying that this isn't a good charger, it is powerful (see my risky stress test i made) and solid, but it lacks something that, i think, everyone would have expected.
Nowadays Type-C ports and Quick Charge devices are becoming the new standards so the release of a standard 5V charger may be a bit risky. If you are looking for a powerful standard USB charger with lots of USB Ports, i can definitely recommend it, if you need QC Support or anything else, this isn't for you.
Pros:
- Lots of USB Ports
- Powerful
- Rocking Stable Voltage Regulation
- Power LED
Cons:
- No Quick Charge
- No Type-C Ports
- No USB Cables included
- Slightly noisy on Idle
Rating: 8.3
Packaging and Accessories: 7
Design and Materials: 9
Performance and Efficiency: 9
Price: 8 (based on Amazon price)
Official Facebook page (no website available): https://www.facebook.com/Allmaybe-434309326762638/
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/jXUc4
Hi Alberto,
Thanks for your unbiased and honest review. We really appreciate your help and your advice on our product. Yes, we totally agree that a standard charger can not best meet people's need nowadays, so we are developing two QC3.0 chargers at present. They are expected to be available in April. Please keep tuned.
It's true that the charger is not amazing for its size or appearance. It has no advantages in these, but I hope you will love it more and more since you will find it quite durable and long-lasting. Performance is quite good too.
Meanwhile, please allow me to specify some concerns in your review. IM means "Intelligent Management" the same technology as Power IQ of Anker or Aipower of Aukey. Your guess is right.
We have an official website www.allmaybe.com.
This charger is officially available on both Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Also, it can be found on ebay and aliexpress. We have our official stores on these platforms at present.
Thanks again for your time and help.
Regards,
Allmaybe
dodocool DC33 - 4-Port USB Hub with 3 Charging Ports and Quick Charge 3.0
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Unboxing
The multifunctional USB hub comes in a eco-friendly package with almost no accessories included: 1x USB-to-USB 3.0 Cable, 1x 15/4A Power Adapter (seems to be an high-quality one) with a Power Cord, 1x User Manual and of course the product itself.
The whole body is made of plastic with no glossy parts but it is pretty to scratch (as you can notice), but it feels solid enough and doesn't seem to have any imperfection. It is also pretty lightweight and unfortunately this isn't always positive because it is too easy to move the hub on a smooth surface.
It is 12.96x5.46x2.37mm, pretty common size for this type of HUB. Some ports on the sides would have been nice.
On the front there are 4x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x 5V/2.4A USB Port, 1x Quick Charge 3.0 USB Port, 1x Type-C Port (max 5V/3A) and a simple power LED, while on the back there is everything required to use the device, including a power button.
There is enough space between each port making it compatible even with oversized USB devices.
It is nice to use a single device for two usages (Data Transfer and Charging), but i would have preferred to have switches for each port in order to turn off devices without having to unplug the cable.
Something interesting is that standard USB Ports are usable even without turning on the PC so, theorically, there are 6x USB Ports that can be used for charging, even though this isn't something reported by the manufacturer.
Efficiency and Performance
Starting from the USB Hub, it is Genesis Logic based (not the best unfortunately like VIA chipsets) and, somehow, my PC recognized two hubs, an USB 3.0 HUB (reported as USB 3.1 for some reason) and an USB 2.0 HUB. It it confusing since only the USB 3.0 ports are available, so i guess the board is also used for other models with more ports. Interesting.
Tested using my Sandisk Ultra USB 3.0 Flash Drive, there doesn't seem to any performance issue and the HUB doesn't got hot while using it.
But...most important, does it charge a smartphone/tablet properly? Yes, it does.
Starting from the 5V/2.4A USB Port, its voltage even on high load is stable and doesn't get lower than 5V, reaching 5.12V at 2A load.
Also each standard USB port can handle 2 amps without any issue, but the voltage in idle is a bit too much high.
The Quick Charge 3.0 port works great as well, charging my Power Bank at maximum QC 3.0 speeds without a single voltage drop.
Unfortunately the USB Type-C port doesn't support USB-PD (Power Delivery) and its voltage gets below the 5V barrier under 2A load meaning that i have some doubts about its maximum supported load. Based on my experience, with this result, it gets can't higher than 2.4A.
Conclusions
Having to deal with a Multi-USB Charger and a separate USB HUB on my desk, the possibility to use something that does both things using less space is just great.
What to say about this device...it is useful for users like me that do not have lots of space available plus it also offers an high level of quality.
Unless you need USB-PD or a more powerful Type-C Port, i can recommend this device.
Pros:
- Compact 2-in-1 design
- Quick Charge 3.0 Support
- No Performance Loss compared to a standard HUB
- Powerful
Cons:
- No USB-PD support
- High 5V voltage in idle
- Slightly under-powered Type-C port
Rating: 8.4
Packaging and Accessories: 7.5
Design and Materials: 8
Performance and Efficiency: 9
Price: 9 (based on Amazon price)
Official Product page: http://www.dodocool.com/usb-hubs-1771/p-dc33beu.html
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: https://imgur.com/a/sUp0g
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Beelink is mainly known for making affordable mini PCs and TV boxes, but the brand is currently expanding its business to the area of PC accessories. The recently released Beelink Expand M is a USB-C smart hub which also serves as a mobile drive. I have been using this gadget for over two weeks to see what it's all about and whether or it's worthy of your money.
The good：
Metallic build
100W Power Dlivery
Portable SSD
The bad:
No [email protected] video output
No storage card slot
Design
The Beelink Expand M smart hub has an aluminum case, which gives it a premium and professional look.
It connects to your computer over USB-C and features 2 USB Type-A ports, a USB-C port for power delivery, and an HDMI port for video output. I am a little disappointed to find out that there's no storage card slot of any kind.
If all you are looking for in a hub is to add additional ports, there are plenty of options out there, lots of them are cheaper than the Expand M. However, this smart hub brings something rather unique to the table: an SSD enclosure, and it does so without adding extra heft or size to the product.
This Expand M measures 115.3*39.3*11mm, and weighs only 76g. Putting it in your bag or pocket will be extremely easy, the included carrying bag handily prevents the case from getting scratches.
Mobile Drive
The unit that I received includes a 512GB m2. SATA3 2280 SSD, which is much faster than normal mobile HDD storage, but still not as fast as top NVMe SSDs.
I connected the Expand M to the Type-C port on my Lenovo YOGA Duet, and ran the CrystalDiskMark test, the recorded sequential read and write speeds were respectively.
The M button on the front side of the Expand M controls the power supply for the SSD. The mobile drive function is disabled by default after you connect the smart hub to the front-end device, but you can manually switch it on by pressing the M button when you need to get access to the storage. There’s an LED indicator to help you check the status of the SSD.
One thing you need to be aware is that the Expand M doesn’t come with a USB-A to C adaptor, you have to pay some extra for one if you wish to visit the Expand M’s storage from an old PC.
USB 3.0
Data transmission through the two USB type-A ports is quite stable. Copying a 4K video clip from a USB flash disk to the Huawei Matebook 13, I didn’t really see much fluctuation in the transfer speed, which stayed at the peak sequential read speed of the USB flash disk the entire time.
HDMI 1.4
The HDMI port here is HDMI 1.4 instead of HDMI 2.0, and that means the maximum video output here is [email protected] If you want 60Hz refresh rate, you will have to change the resolution to 1080P. It’s a little bit disappointing since most midrange and high-end smart hubs now support [email protected] video output.
Not only does the Expand M work with ultrabooks, but it also works with tablets and smartphones. If your smartphone supports desktop mode like my Honor 30 Pro does, it will instantly turn into a computer when you connect it to a monitor via the Expand M.
Power Delivery
The USB-C port on the Expand M supports up to 100W power delivery. It works ideally with all my laptops, tablets, and smartphones, and never gets too hot during charging. One thing I need to mention is that the power inputs of all my laptops are limited to 65W, so I can’t tell you whether power delivery above 65W will also be stable.
Price & Availability
The retail price of the Beelink Expand M starts from $42, quite a bargain for a smart hub with the mobile drive feature. But please be aware that the base model doesn’t include an SSD, you need to add one yourself if you wish to use the Expand M as mobile storage. It is now on sale on Beelink’s official website, and will be made available on Amazon and other eCommerce platforms soon.
Verdict
The Expand M is not perfect. The HDMI 1.4 port could be a deal breaker for some, and the absence of storage card readers is also a little bit disappointing. But with a fetching design, a sturdy metal case, two fast Type-A USB 3.0 ports, the flexibility to work as a portable SSD, and an affordable price tag, the Expand M could still be a worthy investment for many, as long as you understand and accept its limitations.