OWC USB-C travel dock review

The OWC mini USB-C travel dock is a handy companion to keep inside your gear bag. The hub brings USB Type-A and Type-C ports, HDMI, and even an SD card reader.

We have taken a look at quite a few larger USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 hubs, but few are as convenient to take on the go as the OWC USB-C travel dock.

Subscribe to iDownloadBlog on YouTube

What is it

The OWC USB-C Travel Dock is a small square hub with several useful ports.

The ports include:

  • 1 SD card reader
  • 1 HDMI
  • 2 USB Type-A
  • 1 USB Type-C

The cable is permanently attached, which means you never need to fret about losing it.

I like that the body is made out of anodized aluminum, and it matches my MacBook well.

The good

This is a handy little box with quite a few tricks.

The USB ports are handy, and the HDMI even supports 4K at 30Hz.

The integrated cable means you won’t ever lose it, and the metal edges should help it stand up over time.

The anodized body also comes in different finishes as well. They just so happen to match the four available colors for the MacBook; Gold, Silver, Space Gray, and Rose Gold.

The bad

On the downside, I wish there was another USB-C port or two. The one there is only useful because it supports passthrough charging at up to 60W. Since everything is moving to USB-C, why do we only get additional USB Type-A ports for expansion? Much of my gear has already been converted to to Type-C, and would prefer if more hubs supported it.

The other downside is that since the cable is integrated, you won’t be able to remove it, or swap it for a longer one. If you need a longer cable, you will have to check elsewhere.

I could also see the benefit of a Micro SD card reader as well. If you are on the go with something like a GoPro that uses the smaller memory card, you will have to remember to bring along an adapter.

Wrap up

As it usually goes with gear like this, it depends wholeheartedly on your workflow. Do you use more USB-C accessories than USB-A? Do you need DisplayPort instead of HDMI? Perhaps a Micro SD card reader? If the answer is yes to any of those, then maybe look at another option.

However, if you need some additional USB-A ports, the popular HDMI video output, and a standard card reader, then the OWC Travel Dock will do just fine.

You can find it on Amazon for $49.88 in one of four different color options.