USB hubs have seen massive innovation over the past few years, going from just providing additional USB interfaces to a whole new level. Similarly, Dockcase's high-end Smart USB-C "7-in-1" Hub is indeed targeted towards taking multi-tasking and portability to new heights, courtesy of its features, including a dedicated screen and an SSD slot.
Diving into what the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub brings in, the product has a total of seven ports available onboard, all featuring high-end connectivity that we'll talk about later. The more interesting part of this device is the use of a dedicated touchscreen, which does not have much use case but adds up to the premiumness of the product. The touchscreen is mainly there to navigate through the connected interfaces, showing the transfer speeds as well.
Key Features:
- Dynamic Touch Screen
- Supports Max 2TB 2230/2242 SSD
- UHS-II SD & TF
- 4K@120Hz HDMI
- 100W Power Delivery
- 10Gbps USB-C & USB-A
- Dual Data Protection
- Read-Only Mode
- SSD Health Status Display
- Adjustable Cooling Fan
Moreover, the screen also shows the status of the onboard SSD enclosure, which is the most exciting element of the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub to me. Giving a rundown of the SSD interface, the Hub supports an M.2 form factor (2230/2242) storage device with a PCIe 3.0 connection that isn't high-end but certainly gets the job done. The review unit sent to us had an SSD onboard, which was SK hynix's native BC711 NVMe, but we aren't sure whether this will be the case for an average consumer.
Just out of curiosity, I decided to test the onboard SSD using CrystalDiskMark to see what sort of performance we were looking at. The SK Hynix BC711 NVMe SSD saw read speeds of up to 1,018 MB/s and write speeds of up to 940 MB/s. The important point to note here is that you can mount an M.2 SSD of up to 2TB with this Hub, which has much better speeds, making simultaneous data transfer much easier. It basically means that you have a portable hard drive with you but with much more functionalities.
Moving onto the onboard interfaces, the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port is capable of 10 Gbps of transfer speed. It is also equipped with a USB-C PD port, which allows a power delivery of up to 100W, allowing connections with external devices much more effectively. For display, the USB hub features an HDMI 2.1 interface, supporting 4K 120Hz display output or 5K 60Hz, making it an optimal choice if you are looking to use it for a multi-display setup.
Finally, you get an SD card and a TF port as well, and for me, this was a great inclusion since instead of transferring images from my main camera to the laptop directly, I utilize the onboard SSD to save storage space and then access media content whenever I needed to, everything on the palm of my hands. With such hefty interfaces onboard, Dockcase has integrated a decent cooling mechanism as well, with a dedicated fan onboard, along with heat vents at the sides of the unit.
In terms of pricing, Dockcase's high-end Smart USB-C "7-in-1" Hub is available for around $179.99, and the firm already has a Kickstarter campaign in place to ensure a seamless product launch. Overall, it is indeed a solid and practical device designed to guarantee a great user experience, especially for those who are looking for a reliable USB hub.
You can find additional information about our hardware review process and ethics policy here.
Dockcase's high-end Smart USB-C "7-in-1" Hub boasts several great features, including ample connectivity options, a dedicated touchscreen and support for M.2 SSD. However, the pricing might make it a bit unattractive in front of many several consumers.
- Impressive Touchscreen
- M.2 SSD slot makes data transfer much easier
- High-end USB connectivity options
- Great Cooling Mechanism
Pros
- High Pricing
Cons
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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