Update: Reviewed here.
We’ve already seen several crowdfunding campaigns for USB-C hubs to expand the capability of Apple’s 12-inch Retina MacBook, which features a single USB-C port for connecting accessories, and Satechi is joining the scene with its own USB-C hub available now.
Available in three color-matching aluminum finishes that fit Apple’s gold, silver, and space gray MacBooks, Satechi’s Type-C hub adds three USB 3.0 ports plus two SD card slots, both standard and Micro, to the USB-C-only Retina MacBook. This allows you to use standard USB cables and accessories like flash drives simultaneously with a single adapter. Satechi highlights its hub’s portable size, which appears to minimally extend the edge of the laptop with similar dimensions to an extra column of keys.
As a daily MacBook owner myself, one observation I have is Satechi’s hub’s lack of an additional USB-C port for charging while using it. Real world battery usage for me generally spans around 4-5 hours on one charge. Satechi notes that only one SD card reader may be used at a time, too, although that’s a reasonable limitation.
Satechi’s USB-C hub for MacBooks is available now for $34.99 (reg. $39.99) plus shipping on Amazon. Both the color and form-factor should appeal to Retina MacBook owners. Also check out my 12-inch MacBook review here plus Dom’s video review here.
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Does it offer enough power to drive an external mobile and bus-powered hard drive?
Won’t work if you use a shell to protect the MacBook – unlike hubs that are on a cable
Looks nice but no power-passthrough might be deal killer for some.
Yeah, major fail not including the USB C port so you can keep your charger plugged in.
I think this is one of those things that seems like a problem but wouldn’t be in practice, at least not ‘majorly’ so. In practice I wonder what the overlap is for absolutely must be plugged in and absolutely must have USB accessories attached. It might require some cable shuffling but if a user regularly needs things plugged into the USB port most of the time, then it might not be the best laptop to purchase.
Forthcoming OWC hub has USB-C port & external power – allowing charging & powering external drives using the hub.
Upcoming OWC hub does not have USB-C power passthrough either. It also does not look as sleek as this one and requires a separate (included) 80W power adapter.
The OWC hub is probably not intended as a portable solution so much as a docking station…
this covers the only place to keep the thing powered…
this could have been a slam dunk if they included a usb c for power passthrough
The more of these klugey things I see, the more convinced I am that Apple was as stupid as could be for not incorporating a USB 3 hub and at least 1 if not 2 additional USB Type-A connectors into the MacBook One powerbrick. Just a completely shortsighted omission that serves to belie the notion that Apple is still firing on all cylinders wrt to great design. At most a few dollars of profit loss, but a SIGNIFICANT win on usability and convenience to the buyer/user.
Phil Schiller is a moron.
You clearly have ZERO clue as to the target audience of the MacBook. Before you do, you might want to refrain from embarrassing BS such as calling people that achieve more in a week than you ever will in your life a moron. You pretentious little a$$hat.
Don’t like it? Don’t buy it and s.t.f.u. But then, flippin’ burgers isn’t ever afford you that luxury either way, so I guess we know where your real problem lies…
I’d have happily paid $50 with a pass thru. This thing will draw power from your MB and kill your 4-5 hr battery even faster. WTH?
Agreed that the lack of a power/USB-C port is a deal killer for me. Don’t think they get it. I am using the USB-C>USB/HDMI/USB-C plus a 10-port USB hub. I would trade that for something close. This is not close.
This explains “People don’t know what they want until you show it to them.” Vs “People don’t like it when you take away what they like.”
they can forget about my money until they include usb-c passthrough for charging. Simple as that.
no charging / USB C port…