There is no shortage of USB-C hubs on the market that you can choose from, ranging in price from $15 to $60. These dozens of devices are useful for connecting multiple peripherals to your USB-C equipped computer with a single port, and whether you choose the cheap or expensive model, you can expect basically the same performance from each of them, although the cheaper model may have fewer bells and whistles or not look as pretty.
But one company called DockCase is trying to bring something new and unique to the market called the Explorer Edition 6-in-1 USB-C Hub, and it’s looking to break that space by offering new features that you just won’t find in any of the regular USB-C hubs you can find all over Amazon. He is currently participating in a KickStarter campaign that has already reached its funding goal.
Sign in to the DockCase Explorer Edition USB-C Hub
A quick glance at the DockCase Explorer Edition 6-in-1 USB-C Hub reveals that it takes a transparent approach to the case, allowing you to see the technological innards contained within. But when you plug it in, the magic happens. The built-in 16-bit LCD displays real-time data about the hub, including power consumption, baud rate with display resolution, and more…
Like I said when demonstrating the SharGeek Storm 2 battery pack, I have the mount with transparent cases because I like to see what makes things work inside. DockCase easily does the same to me with its Explorer Edition 6-in-1 USB-C hub, and it’s neat because you can see the quality of the electronics and soldering from the outside.
So let’s take a closer look at this thing, shall we?
Ports
DockCase Explorer Edition 6-in-1 Hub has six different ports. Our model is equipped with:
- Power Input: USB-C Power Delivery @ 100W
- HDMI: Resolution up to 4K @ 60Hz
- Data: 1x USB-C @ 5 Gb/s (USB 3.2 Gen 1), 3x USB-A @ 5 Gb/s (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
There’s also an optional Pro model available that replaces one of the USB-A ports with a Gigabit Ethernet port, but that’s not the model we’re looking at in this review.
LCD display
The highlight of the DockCase Explorer Edition 6-in-1 hub is the 1.44-inch 16-bit LCD display, which provides a real-time readout of all the different information regarding the ports in use on the hub.
If you are using any of the USB ports, the display will indicate how much bandwidth is available for each port. When using USB-C, it will show how much power is passing through it, not only as power, but also as a ratio between voltage and current. And, of course, the HDMI readings show the display’s output resolution, refresh rate, and bandwidth used in real-time data transfer.
This hub doesn’t have a Gigabit Ethernet port like the “Pro”version, but if it did, you’d also see Gigabit Ethernet speed readings instead of one of the USB-A readings.
It’s a USB-C hub, but neat
The DockCase Explorer 6-in-1 USB-C Hub is a device that works with almost any device that supports USB-C, including all Macs, iPads with USB-C, some Windows computers, some Android phones, and even game consoles like the Nintendo Switch and Valve Steam Deck.
To be clear, the DockCase Explorer 6-in-1 USB-C hub is just a USB-C hub, not a Thunderbolt hub, and is somewhat simplistic in that it lacks SD or microSD card support, doesn’t provide a DisplayPort port, and doesn’t offer USB speeds above 5Gb/s compared to some competitors.
For a USB-C hub that has a MSRP of $100 (or $110 for the Pro model), which is 3-5 times the cost of similar hubs from competing brands, the one feature that stands out to me the most is the LCD, and I can’t justify the added cost of such a feature. For $30 more, you can get a real Thunderbolt 3 hub from OWC with the same number of USB ports and all the bandwidth to connect the same devices you can use to DockCase Explorer.
That’s not to say that I don’t find the DockCase Explorer or Explorer Pro to be cool devices because, as I said, I love the transparent aesthetic and the ability to view real-time data on the LCD. However, these features just don’t deliver the kind of value I’d like to see at $100. Instead, I think the starting $69 KickStarter support price might be closer to an affordable price, and certainly not $100.
My thoughts on the DockCase Explorer 6-in-1 USB-C Hub
I’ve compiled a short list of the pros and cons of the DockCase Explorer 6-in-1 USB-C Hub to summarize:
Pros:
- Neat transparent design
- Built-in LCD display with real-time data
- Lots of I/O to get the job done
- Rugged aluminum body
- USB-C to USB-C braided cable included
Minuses:
- The price tag is hard to justify
- Transparent top cover – fingerprint magnet
Conclusion
If you’re looking for an interesting USB-C hub that offers what the DockCase Explorer or Explorer Pro offer, which most markets don’t, namely an LCD display and a transparent top cover, then you can head over to the KickStarter page to support the project for just $69 for a non-professional USB-C hub.
Do you think the DockCase Explorer 6-in-1 USB-C Hub is a worthwhile investment? Let us know in the comments section below.