Satechi’s new hub brings back HDMI, USB-A and other missing ports to your Mac and iPad Pro

Accessory maker Satechi announced a new USB-C hub sold exclusively in select Apple Stores.

It features a USB-A port for connecting your legacy devices at USB 3.0 speeds (up to 5 Gbps), an integrated USB-C port for charging with the USB Power Delivery protocol support, a pair of SD and microSD card readers (UHS-I) for transferring your DSLR photos, videos and drone clips, and an HDMI port for video output at up to 4K resolution and a refresh rate of 30 Hz.

The accessory costs $70 a pop.

The Satechi Aluminum USB-C Multiport Pro Adapter, as they’re calling it, basically brings back all of the legacy ports that Apple has removed from its notebooks over the years. And the best thing about it is that all of the hub’s ports are taking advantage of just a single USB-C port on your MacBook, connecting to your computer via an integrated USB-C cable.

Satechi’s hub features a 15cm integrated USB-C cable for connecting to a host device.

“The new hub is configured specifically for Mac and iOS devices and gives users the ability to expand ports and maximize productivity in one simple, user friendly solution,” Satechi noted in a press release. And because USB is an industry standard, you can use this USB-C hub without any additional software or driver support across many devices, ranging from Mac and Windows PCs to USB-C-enabled mobile devices like iPad Pro and Android smartphones.

Here’s a promotional video by Satechi.

Check out the key highlights:

  • USB-C power delivery
  • High-resolution HDMI video output up to 4K at 30Hz
  • USB 3.0 supporting transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps (640 Mbps)
  • Dual card reader slots for micro and SD card access, up to 104 Mbps
  • Plug and play design for simple installation—no drivers required

Considering that the upcoming iOS 13 and iPadOS software includes a vastly improved Files app that can now manage external storage devices, this is the perfect hub for anyone looking to import stuff from their memory cards, digital cameras and other devices into their iPad.

Aside from the aluminum enclosure in space gray that matches your overall Apple aesthetics, this hub is very compact and lightweight with a height of 0.43 inches (1.1 cm), a width of 1.33 inches (3.4 cm) and a weight of just 2.29 oz (65 grams).

By comparison, Apple’s USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter also costs $70 but it lacks integrated memory card readers found on Saetchi’s new gizmo. Apple’s Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter, a $39 value, also lacks SD and microSD card readers and neither Apple adapter has HDMI output. All told, this is a solid USB-C hub from Satechi.

You can get your Satechi Aluminum USB-C Multiport Pro Adapter exclusively from Apple.com.

Satechi offers a range of USB-C hubs, adapters and more so be sure to check out their website.