If you are using a device that’s limited to only USB-C ports, you may be on the lookout for a USB-C hub that allows you to connect older devices and peripherals to your USB-C only laptop, or even an iPad Pro. The 8 in 1 USB-C Hub from AUKEY is sleek-looking USB-C hub that features a variety of additional I/O connection ports that allows you to connect your Apple MacBook or USB-C device with up to eight other devices or peripherals.
In the box, you’ll find the AUKEY CB-C71 8-port hub, an instruction booklet, a soft carry pouch and an AUKEY warranty card. The hub itself is relatively small in size, similar to many USB-C hubs out there. It’s colour, shape and size mirrors that of a Space Grey Apple Magic Mouse at 102 x 57 x 15mm / 4.02” x 2.24” x 0.59” and it weighs 109g / 3.84oz. The exterior casing is a mix of black on top and space grey plastic underneath. The extruding cable that you connect to your primary device is 17cm / 6.69″ in length, which is just 44mm / 1.73″ shorter than the Anker 7 in 1, that we also reviewed last year, but it is still a good enough length to not feel constrained once it has been plugged into your laptop or tablet.
The AUKEY 8 in 1 hub packs a lot of tech in a device that’s this small. It makes it an ideal companion when travelling or on the move. On one side of the hub, you have 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) ports and one SD and one microSD card slot, all ports support data transfer rates up to 5Gbps.
Over on the other side, we have one more USB 3.1 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) port. Next to this is an HDMI port that supports up to 3840×2160@30Hhz, and on the far side is a USB-C power delivery port that supports up to 100W passthrough to your main device along with additional devices that are connected to the hub.
Finally, on the far end of the hub is a Gigabit Ethernet port. This port is an added bonus for anyone finding themselves in a situation where Wi-Fi is poor, or limited and Ethernet is available. Offices, hotel rooms, for examples, come to mind where Ethernet may be a better connection to getting online than the Wi-Fi there.
Through all 8 available ports, the AUKEY 8 in 1 hub offers a well rounded I/O port setup that suits your everyday needs on your MacBook, or the latest 11” and 12.9” iPad Pro with its USB-C connection. If you’re a budding photographer you’ll relish access to the dual SD card ports, whilst the iPad Pro user can also charge through the single USB-C Power Delivery charging port whilst opening access to other supported peripherals.
Unlike some other USB-C hubs available, you CAN use both the standard SD and micro-SD card slots simultaneously. If you are a photographer this is ideal when accessing both card slots, whilst away from a desktop or workstation, as long as you use an SD card caddy in the standard size slot with any spare micro-SD card. Both ports also support up to 5Gbps speeds, so offloading large files and viewing content directly from each SD card slot is nice and fast.
The single HDMI port supports 4K resolutions, which allows me to easily cast sharp visuals from my MacBook Pro to a nearby display. It is also worth noting that this hub seemed able to send certain (possibly encrypted) video feeds from my iPad Pro and both Netflix or Plex apps to a display monitor via HDMI. Trying this same scenario with the Anker dongle failed to display anything on the monitor as successfully, so the AUKEY 8 in 1 seems more able to not get in the way of sending particular copy-protected video from a device, such as an iPad, to an external source.
The pass-through power USB-C port is super handy if you are limited on USB-C ports on your device, such as the latest Apple iPad Pros or the early retina MacBooks. If you’re in a scenario where you are using both of the two ports on your MacBook and still want to power it, this hub can be a lifesaver!
The AUKEY USB-C 8-in-1 Hub is a super handy accessory to have in your backpack or laptop bag alongside your Apple MacBook or iPad Pro. At certain times, you just never know what kind of situation you may find yourself in where you may have the need to connect to something that isn’t available on your laptop or tablet. Retailing for $33.99 from Amazon.com, the AUKEY 8 in 1 hub is priced well against its rivals and its ability to bypass any display limitations alone makes this my ‘go-to’ hub that will remain in my bag when I am on the move and I want to share video content from my MacBook Pro or iPad Pro devices to a display screen.
