Have an abundance of USB devices but a shortage of ports? It’s a charging conundrum that plagues many tech enthusiasts—and with the new Power Console and USB Hub, Eleks has the solution Read More
Would be neat if it wasnt USB 2.0. USB 3.0 is like 10x faster than 2.0... making a USB 2.0 hub pretty much antiquated tech at this point. Sure, a USB 2.0 hub isnt a too bad if all you are doing is connecting peripherals... but once you need a port for data transfers its gonna be a real kick in the nuts.
This product retails for less on AliExpress, and I understand why. All 6 toggled switches are power only, and 5v only at that. There are no switch controlled USB ports, so it's actually less useful than the $10 USB 3.0 hub it was replacing. If for some reason you have a bunch of low power USB devices that don't need data, this is perfect if you really need to get rid of $60 fast. Very disappointed in this "deal"
Looks great, an the screen is a nice touch, but.... usb 2.0 an 60 usd?? Where this shines is undoubtedly on the design aspect but if you are looking for a good usb hub with an on/off functionality there is many great option out there for lees money. Here is an example (with power adapter included).
There is no mention of which model this drop is selling. I checked eBay and they have various models ranging from NK1 to NK5 and pricing is about the same or lower with free shipping from China. Model NK3 and NK5 come with voice commands. Definitely, USB 2.0 is a drawback. The unit looks great, nice as a gadget.
Very nice aesthetically. I love the look... but provides even less functionality than the less-than-30-dollar switched powered hub I found elsewhere... just look for "Powered USB 3.0 Hub, Wenter 11-Port Hub Splitter (7 Faster Data Transfer Ports+ 4 Smart Charging Ports) with Individual LED On/Off Switches"
It was just $28.99 and has switches even for data devices, which run at USB 3.0 speeds. Charging is still slow... but not as slow.
I like the design, but can anyone tell me the use case for this? I am genuinely interested...
The charging speed is a joke, especially since it's a hub and that means it should supply enough power for everything AND the data speed is even bigger of a joke.
I just can't find a scenario where this would actually serve a purpose on it's own.
So...
Bump the wattage to 60W
give it at least USB 3.2 gen 1 ports (previously known as USB 3.0)
I love the design, but creating actual e-waste just because it looks cool ain't it chief.
TominiThe use case is basically to provide the manufacturer with a profit margin. People defending this thing as being mainly for charging should re-read the specs. They recommend a 5V 3A (15W) charger to power this thing. That will get you USB 2.0 charging current AT BEST (6 "charging" ports x 0.5A = 3A). That is a USB3 Type-C port's max power output unless you want to go up to USB-PD support. And this appears to be a 6 port charger with a SEPARATE small 4 port USB2.0 hub, making it inadequate for data transfer AND charging. That is, unless you want to charge your collection of 20 year old flip phones.
this would be awesome if it was USB 3.0 and could switch between two computers. A pair of USB-C ports for fast charging (at least 30 W) and its golden.
I agree with USB 2.0 and charging but lets be honest. With the changes made just for being able to switch inputs it would cost over $100. I am not sure who would want to pay over $100 for a USB 2.0 hub that can switch inputs with max 15 W charging.
With USB 3.0, fast charging and some USB-C ports people could talk themsevles into paying over $100 for it. I totally understand the design surcharge I mean it looks awesome but USB 2.0 for $70? I can't justify a usb 2.0 hub for even $40.
With a price this high they should be turning this design into a Dock with the unique option to switch between input devices.
Ed3291I understand what you say, and I totally would love to buy a USB 3.0, fast-charging hub that looks awesome for $100. But the fact is looking at its current price, that's not happening any day soon.
Changing the USB hub to have a switchable input literally cost less than a dollar. The only thing they need to add is a switch IC and an extra USB connector, which cost like $0.2 each(PCB will have 0 cost increase).
On the other hand, adding 3.0 and fast charging will likely push this up to 2-3x the price. In order to do fast-changing alone, the USB power hub will basically have to add all components of a fast-changing AC adapter inside, which is a lot more costs compared to what it was, a basic USB splitter (don't even talk about the cost for certifying all of the power related function). Also, USB 3.0 is much more expensive than 2.0 as well (2.0 needs only 4 connections and 3.0 needs 10+ on just one USB header, not counting the cost for a 3.0 IC).