In recent weeks we have had the opportunity to try Ugreen 70411, a USB-C hub complete with most of the useful connections to fully use a latest generation computer but also to expand the capabilities of iPad Pro and all those smartphones and tablets that have a single USB-C port. We tell you how it went.
How it is made
The peculiarities of this accessory are mainly two: compactness and lightness. It is held in one hand (specifically it measures 11.5 x 3.6 cm and is just 1.2 cm thick) and despite being built in sturdy brushed aluminum it weighs just 60 grams.
The shape is rectangular, the edges are shaped and part of the internal structure is made of polycarbonate, recognizable by eye because it is black, while the aluminum that covers the rest of the shell has a shade that changes from gray to violet depending on the type. of incident light.
From one of the two ends protrudes a cable about 15 centimeters long that ends with the USB-C plug strengthened by a large cover built with the same polycarbonate and the same aluminum as the hub. The construction of the connector is excellent as it is a single metal molded piece while very often the connector of inferior quality accessories are built by bending an aluminum foil.
Ugreen 70411 presents at the other end the SD card reader and a second one for the microSD while along one of the two profiles there are the remaining ports: two traditional USB-A with 3.0 technology, an HDMI socket and a USB-C port with technology Power Delivery that allows you to recharge the device to which the hub is connected.
The contents of the package are very sparse: for example, we would have appreciated the presence of a bag to protect it during transport (some competitors put it there): here there is not so it is good to organize independently to extend its life in contexts like this.
How is it going
One of the greatest advantages of Ugreen 70411 lies in the capacity of the USB-C pass-through socket: it is in fact capable of managing up to 100 W of power, which means that with our latest purchase, a MacBook Air 13 “version of July 2019 taken between Apple refurbished, there were no power problems even with the hub in its maximum condition of use possible, that is with all the ports occupied and in operation.
In fact, this computer needs 30 W to be recharged and even by connecting an iPad and an iPhone to the hub at the same time, we were still able to recharge all three at maximum power simply by connecting a 100-inch power supply to the Ugreen 70411 USB-C pass-through socket. W with Power Delivery (but in reality, making two quick maths, even a 60 W one would have been enough).
The only note to report: in this context, the hub has warmed up a lot but still managed to adequately dissipate the heat without interfering with the charging speed or with the connection of the devices under management.
For the rest, the two USB-A sockets as we said are of type 3.0 and support data transmission up to 5 Gbps, while the HDMI can manage monitors with resolution up to 4K at 30 fps.
Finally, there is another feature, reported by the manufacturer, which, however, we have not been able to verify because we do not have the necessary accessories to be able to put it to the test. For completeness, however, we enclose the wording we found in the user manual: «The USB 3.0 interface present in most usb-c hubs interferes with wireless devices due to frequencies similar to 2.4 Ghz. Our hub is equipped with the latest chips to minimize interference and ensure smooth operation of your mouse, keyboard and wireless Bluetooth devices. “
Conclusions
The USB-C hub is an indispensable accessory for those who own a recent generation device and this one from Ugreen is an excellent compromise between build quality, capacity, supported power and above all for the price, especially if you compare it to other hubs that offer the same management capacities for incoming energy.
Price
Ugreen 70411 is on sale on Amazon for only 25.99 euros.
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