I’ll be honest: USB-C hubs aren’t the most exciting gadgets to write about. They do a pretty simple job โย add extra ports to your laptop while allowing you to create a desktop-style workstation with external monitors โย and not much else. But given how many people work remotely without a traditional desktop setup, a USB-C hub is also pretty vital.
There are a lot of USB-C hubs to choose from in 2024. Most look the same โ little black or grey dongles that connect to your laptop via a USB-C cable. That’s the not case with the Dockcase USB-C Smart Hub “Explorer Edition,” my new favorite MacBook accessory. And it’s not even close.
Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition
Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition
At face value, the Dockcase USB-C Smart Hub is straightforward enough. It’s a 10-in-1 hub with enough ports to connect most of your peripherals. It supports 100-watts of pass-through power for your laptop. It has microSD and UHS-II SD card slots. And it connect up to two 4K external monitors (at 60fps) or one 8K display (at 30fps) via its HDMI and DisplayPort ports. These are all pretty standard features.
But the thing that truly sets the Dockcase USB-C Smart Hub apart … I mean, just look at it. It has a premium build that’s made mostly of aluminum and glass, and it’s transparent so you can see into it. You can see the motherboard, transistors and other inner workings of the device. It’s cool! Especially for a USB-C hub.