Introduction:

If you’re one of those people who owns a MacBook, you know how frustrating it can be to have to deal with its limited amount of ports. Sure, Apple’s laptops may look sleek and stylish, but they often lack the functionality that we need to get our work done efficiently. The good news is that Hootoo has released a game-changing USB C hub that will enable you to unlock your device’s full potential. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 6-in-1 USB C hub and provide you with our honest review.

Body:

Hootoo’s 6-in-1 USB C hub is a multifunctional device that connects to your MacBook’s USB C port and provides you with several additional ports. These include two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card reader, a micro SD card reader, an HDMI port, and a USB C port that can handle power delivery. With the 6-in-1 hub, you’ll be able to connect to external displays, transfer data to and from your MacBook, and even charge your device.

One of the things we like the most about the Hootoo hub is its compact and durable design. The hub’s body is made from high-quality aluminum, which not only looks great but also ensures that the device can withstand everyday wear and tear. Additionally, the hub is small enough to fit comfortably in your pocket, making it a great travel companion.

In terms of performance, the Hootoo hub is simply excellent. We tested the device with several external displays and found that it delivered crisp and clear visuals every time. The USB ports also functioned flawlessly, allowing for quick and easy data transfer. We appreciate that the hub’s SD card slots are compatible with all standard SD and micro SD cards, so you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.

One of the standout features of the Hootoo hub is its USB C power delivery port. With this port, you’ll be able to charge your MacBook while using the hub’s other functions. This is a game-changer for people who use their MacBook for extended periods and often find themselves running out of battery. The Hootoo hub ensures that your device stays charged throughout the day, no matter how much you use it.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we highly recommend Hootoo’s 6-in-1 USB C hub to anyone who wants to unlock their device’s full potential. This hub is a game-changer, providing you with several additional ports, excellent performance, and a compact and durable design. The USB C power delivery port is a standout feature that sets this hub apart from its competitors, making it a must-have for anyone who owns a MacBook. So, if you’re tired of dealing with your MacBook’s limited ports, it’s time to invest in the Hootoo 6-in-1 USB C hub.

HooToo USB-C Hub 6-in-1

  • Plenty of connectivity

  • PD charge port

  • Decent price

  • HDMI and SD reader are handy

  • Inconsistency between stated and actual power

  • HDMI at 4K limited to 30Hz

The HooToo USB C Hub offers a lot of connectivity, nice build quality, and compact design that most users can safely purchase without too many reservations.

  • Design
  • Setup Process
  • Connectivity
  • Performance
  • Price
  • Competition
  • Final Verdict
  • Specs

We purchased the HooToo USB C Hub so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

Shopping for a good USB-C hub can be a bit of a minefield as buyers are forced to sift through a sea of cheap products with misleading claims about their features. Luckily, as this market matures, better options are slowly starting to rise to the surface and distinguish themselves. The HooToo USB C Hub is definitely one of the better choices we’ve seen so far, and performed very well in our testing with its numerous connectivity options, Power Delivery (PD) port, and support for 4K HDMI and SD cards. 

Unfortunately, HooToo is also guilty of exaggerating a few claims about the performance of their product and neglecting to mention some of the shortcomings. In our mind, these aren’t necessarily dealbreakers, but potential buyers should definitely familiarize themselves with these flaws first to determine if the device still meets their needs. Let’s take a look.

Design: Compact and well built

Measuring 4.1 x 1.5 x 0.9 inches (HWD), the HooToo USB-C Hub 6-in-1 uses a very small and space-efficient design. An approximately 5-inch cable connects the hub to the USB-C port on your computer—helpful for ensuring the hub doesn’t interfere with any neighboring ports. The body of the device contains an illuminated HooToo logo on the top, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports and an SD card on one of the long sides. There’s a USB-C PD port on the reverse of this, and at the farthest end from the main connector, the HDMI port.

We were generally happy with the construction of this compact device. Though mostly made of plastic, it still felt pretty solid. The bottom of the hub is coated in a rubberized material that helped prevent it from sliding around too easily on a desk, and also prevented it from scraping the desk when picked up or moved around (a problem we’ve had with USB-C hubs featuring a metal finish). The USB ports were aligned properly within the housing, which is another area where manufacturers sometimes slip up.

The bottom of the hub is coated in a rubberized material that helped prevent it from sliding around too easily on a desk, and also prevented it from scraping the desk when picked up or moved around.

Setup Process: Fast and easy

Setup for the HooToo USB-C Hub is nonexistent. Simply remove the device from the packaging and plug it into your computer to begin using it. Every feature worked out of the box without any fuss. The only thing users might want to take note of is the HDMI limitations we’ve outlined in the below section.

Connectivity: Plenty of options

The HooToo USB C Hub offers three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, capable of delivering up to 5Gbps of data transfer speeds. For MacBook users, these ports might often be used for connecting a keyboard, mouse, and perhaps an external hard drive. All devices were recognized immediately on our computer when connected to the hub, and we didn’t experience any dropouts during testing, including when moving the hub around slightly. 

The HooToo USB-C Hub is an overall winner, covering all the bases most users would want in a USB-C hub for a perfectly suitable price.

The HDMI port functions as intended, supporting resolutions up to 4K (3840x2160), albeit at 30Hz. The PD port is also useful, letting users free up an additional USB-C port normally reserved for the power cable. 

Performance: Some limitations for monitors 

The three USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports performed well, delivering up to 1.8A of power (a step up from the 1.5A maximum of the 3.0 specification). This is handy for charging devices quicker, and supporting power-hungry devices that might not be able to work together on a USB-A hub. 

HDMI is one of the main areas where limitations start to creep up. The port supports 60Hz only up to full HD (1920x1080) displays, and 4K (3840x2160) is limited to 30Hz. This just means that movie and TV viewing will be fine on displays, but gaming and productivity will feel sluggish and laggy. For what it’s worth, the HooToo USB-C Hub supported up to 50Hz on our ultrawide display (3440x1440) and was suitable for most productivity scenarios. 

Power delivery is another mixed bag. The exact model of the HooToo USB C Hub that we tested was the HT-UC001, which is one of four similar-looking USB-C hubs that HooToo offers. This particular model advertises 65W of power delivery through the PD port on product pages online, but the device itself as well as the manual state 100W max. When we connected our 87W Apple power adapter to the hub during testing, our MacBook Pro showed 78W of draw through the hub (as opposed to 86W when connected directly). 100W, 78W, 65W, any of these numbers are fine, we just wish there was some consistency. 

This particular model advertises 65W of power delivery through the PD port on product pages online, but the device itself as well as the manual state 100W max.

Price: Good bang for the buck

At a list price of $39.99, the HooToo USB-C Hub 6-in-1 is a fairly good deal, priced near competitors, and offering slightly better build quality. The price might not seem that cheap for an adapter, but the HooToo USB C Hub definitely offers enough functionality to justify its pricing.

HooToo USB C Hub vs. Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USB

Those looking for an alternate product might also consider the Anker USB-C Hub 5-in-1 USB. This hub is even slimmer than the HooToo, at a meager 1.2 inches wide, while maintaining roughly the same length as the HooToo. The main difference between these two hubs, however, is that the Anker hub forgoes the SD card reader and PD port in favor of a 10/100/1000 Ethernet port. If you don’t work with SD cards but you do want a wired internet connection, this is definitely a good pick. Anker’s hub retails for the same $39.99 price as the HooToo.

The price might not seem that cheap for an adapter, but the HooToo USB C Hub definitely offers enough functionality to justify its pricing.

A great all-around hub.

Specs

  • Product Name
  • USB-C Hub 6-in-1
  • Product Brand
  • HooToo
  • UPC
  • 191280000986
  • Price
  • $39.99
  • Release Date
  • July 2013
  • Weight
  • 2.72 oz.
  • Product Dimensions
  • 4.1 x 1.5 x 0.9 in.
  • Color
  • Silver, Grey
  • Inputs/Outputs
  • 3x USB 3.0 ports, SD card reader, USB-C PD, HDMI
  • Warranty
  • 12 months
  • Compatibility
  • MacOS, Windows