Product Info

Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition

Type

USB Type-C Hub

Price

$159.99

We have reached a point in technology where USB hubs have become quintessential. Modern laptops do not come with as many ports as we would want, and the best way out is to spend money on a good USB hub. However, if you look beyond that, you start realizing that even PC and mobile users often need something that can allow them to add more devices to their computers or mobile setups, and keeping that in mind, Dockcase seems to have a solution with it's Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition.

This is not Dockcase's first rodeo, as the company has released a 7-in-1 USB hub that was reviewed on our website. While that did not impress my colleague as much, this one seems to be doing pretty well so far, aside from a few issues I ran into that I will discuss later in my review.

Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub is an excellent hub that looks good and gets the job done every single time

Now, I have been using an OEM USB hub that I received with my HP Envy for some time, it isn't much, but it gets the job done with its two ports. So, when Dockcase reached out to me and told me about the 10-in-1 USB hub, I was immediately sold; not only it looked cool, but it also seemed to have all the ports that one would need and then some. I spent my weekend testing the USB hub and its various functionalities on my PC, my laptop, and even on my phone to see how it reacts, and honestly, I am pleased to see that I did not run into a significant issue.

Before I talk further about this Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition, I am going to share some technical details so you can be familiar with what you are getting with this USB hub.

100W USB Type-C power inHDMI for either 8K@30Hz or 4K@120HzDisplay Port for 8K@30Hz or 4K@120Hz2x USB Type-A 2.0 480MbpsGigabit EthernetUSB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 10GbpsUSB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 10GbpsSD/TF card slot

Now, it is safe to say that there are a lot of ports, and regardless of the task at hand, there is one port for everyone. I have only been using two on the USB hub, and they both work fine. That is not to say that I did not try the rest of them, I did try all the ports, and aside from the HDMI and DisplayPort, everything works fine. That is not to say that the ports for display don't work. The setting up process can be tedious.

So, I called it the prettiest USB hub, right? Well, aside from being loaded with ports, the Dockcase 10-in-1 USB hub also comes with a transparent top, which shows the internals, and while internals can be boring, there is also a small display in the middle that shows you all the information such as the ports that are currently occupied and even the charging statistics. Below is a picture of the hub connected to my laptop and charging it at the same time.

Speaking of the display, there is also a D key or control key on the Dockcase 10-in-1 USB hub that lets you control various modes of the hub. The display shows information such as charging speeds, Power Delivery mode, you also have access to the settings for both HDMI and DisplayPort, and the overall operation of the D key is super easy. You have to look it up on the website because you don't get any manual in the box. I won't criticize the lack of paperwork, though. Because let's be honest, when was the last time you referred to a manual in the first place? It can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get a hold of it and learn the button commands, you are good to go.

During almost a whole week of testing the Dockcase 10-in-1 USB hub with various devices, I did not run into any severe issues. However, when I plugged in a Bluetooth dongle I had lying around to see if it allowed connectivity, I started running into problems there. When connected, my computer detected the dongle, Bluetooth was turned on, and I could see my computer in the list of devices as well, but no device that I would try to connect would actually connect. The connection would drop, or an unknown error would appear. Changing the ports didn't help either, and restarting my computer and unplugging and replugging the hub didn't work. Thankfully, I am sure that almost all modern computers are equipped with Bluetooth, so you really won't have to face this, but for the sake of transparency, I had to mention it here.

Simply put, the Dockcase Smart USB-C Hub 10-in-1 Explorer Edition is great for anyone who wants a one-stop solution for all their portable needs. It's small enough to fit inside any backpack and works well with multiple devices. It has Power Delivery, allowing you to charge your laptop while connected to it, and it gives you access to a display that might feel gimmicky at first, but it gets the job done just fine. The only actual issue I have is that the tempered glass on top is a fingerprint magnet, but aside from that I did not run into any issues with the transfer rate, random transfer stopping, or the hub powering off. However, at its retail of $159.99, it might be a tough sell for people who are looking for functionality and not looks. The hub is live on Kickstarter now, and you can save upwards of $50 if you want to get your hands on it.