Satechi releases Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Type-C Pro Hub Adapter for MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is a great laptop, but its lack of ports can be frustrating -- it only has Thunderbolt 3/USB-C. As the owner of Apple's latest computer, I have experienced situations where I didn't have a dongle and was left quite annoyed. Because of this, I have decided that I need some sort of dongle for these occasions.
Today, Satechi announces its latest such dongle, and it looks great. The Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Type-C Pro Hub Adapter for MacBook Pro (13- and 15-inch) is designed to be the perfect dongle -- the only one you'll need to buy. While it meets many needs, it does fall short of perfection.
This dongle offers HDMI (capable of 4K/30 or 1080p/60), and two USB 3.0 Type-A ports too. In addition, it has both SD and micro SD card readers. Rounding it out is two USB Type-C ports -- one of which is for data, while the other offers power pass-through. Not only will this serve as a great dongle when on the go, but as a home docking station too.
Where does it fall short? Well, while having 4K over HDMI is appreciated, being limited to 30Hz makes it largely a non-starter. It should really just be thought of as offering 1080p, as the 60Hz will be much more satisfying. I would much prefer DisplayPort for this reason. You can use a Thunderbolt 3 to DisplayPort adapter to get 4K/60 through this hub, but then you lose the power pass-through. It would also be nice if it had Ethernet, but oh well.
If this dongle is giving you déjà vu, it is probably because it is very similar to a different product. Last year, the Hyperdrive was made available through Indiegogo. Satechi's offering is functionally identical, although the port layout is a bit different. If I had to choose between the two, however, I would pick Satechi since it is a more reputable brand.
Keep in mind, this adapter will only work with the newest MacBook Pro. While a USB-C dongle is usually universal, this one is not. You see, it uses dual Thunderbolt 3 ports to connect to the laptop -- designed exactly for the layout/design of the ports on Apple's latest laptop. It phyisically won't fit on other notebooks. With that said, if a Windows manufacturer made a laptop with two Type-C ports in the exact same relative position, it could -- in theory -- work as well.
If you want to buy this dongle, it can be had today for $99.99 from Amazon or the manufacturer's website. Since the MacBook Pro comes in two colors -- silver and space gray -- so too does the Satechi Aluminum Thunderbolt 3 Type-C Pro Hub Adapter for MacBook Pro.