This handy Laser AO-UCHUB8 USB-C adaptor has loads of functionality that anyone with a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 PC/Mac/MacBook device needs have in their toolkit.
I went shopping for an expansion dongle that had USB-C to HDMI and at least one USB-A port. Samsung has a USB-C multi-port adapter at $139 that supports HDMI 4K@30Hz, USB- 3.0 gen I power pass through, and a USB-A 3.0 port but I wanted an Ethernet port as well. I ended up with the Laser AO-UCHUB8.
More specifically the Laser’s USB Type C Multi-Port Hub USB-C to USB-3.0 USB-C SD Card Reader HDMI Ethernet at $199.95. It is more a Swiss Army knife approach.
In its milled Aluminium body, it has
- HDMI up to 4K@30Hz
- 3 x USB 3.0
- SD card slot
- microSD slot
- Ethernet RJ-45
- USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 power delivery 2.0 pass through
- Indicator power light
Power – make sure your device uses USB-C Power delivery 2.0 or earlier
It supports USB-C power delivery 2.0 standard that in theory allows voltages/amperages from 5V to 20V/3A, 60W to pass through. In practice, we found this will support up to 85W chargers although the latter may cause it to get a little hotter.
Tests
We ran a 4K Sony TV from the HDMI port, and it synced at 4096 x 2160 @30Hz. That is as good as the output device can get – its only 4K Blu-ray players that can achieve 60Hz. PASS.
We ran tests over the Gigabit Ethernet Port (equivalent to 125MBps) and achieved a data transfer rate of 120MBps to a WD MyCloud NAS. PASS.
There is no USB-C data port, so we used a USB-A port capable of 5Gbps (625MBps) half-duplex (half the theoretical speed so around 300MBps). We achieved 220MBps in a Samsung 1TB Samsung T3 SSD. Each port can deliver 5V/2A charging. PASS.
Using an SDHC Class 1 (10MBps), it achieves 7.5MBps read. A MicroSD Class 3 (30MBps) achieved 25MBps read suitable for 4K streaming. PASS.
GadgetGuy’s take. Laser AO-UCHUB8
Within the limitations of 5Gbps, this can do everything you need on either USB-C 3.0 Gen1 devices or even Thunderbolt 3 devices. Just watch that your charger is around 60W if you use pass through.
I needed it for a media player laptop and specifically the Ethernet connection to a WD MYCLOUD NAS. Before that, I used the Samsung adaptor, but Wi-Fi was a little too patchy for 4K streaming.
You should have one of these as a travel companion.
Laser is a good Australian company with excellent after sales support. Yes, you can buy cheap Asian products, but our experience is that performance is nowhere near as good as the Laser product.
The recommended retail is $199.95, but you can find it online -search for Laser AO-UCHUB8 for around $120 plus post. If you can bag a bargain, it gets 5 out of 5.
If you don’t need the Ethernet Port or microSD/SD slots, the Laser AO-UCHUB4 at $149.95 you can find it for under $100.
Like to know more about USB-C and power delivery? Read our guide here
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