Review – If you use a Windows laptop with a MacBook or USB-C and need additional ports, if you use an iPad or Android device and want to use them to replace your desktop computer, then the best way to get all the connections you need What is it? EZQuest's USB-C multimedia hub is a good choice.
The EZQuest USB-C Multimedia Hub is an 8-port hub designed to add the most commonly used connectors to MacBooks, Windows or Chrome OS computers, Android phones or tablets, and even the recent iPads with USB-C connectors. It includes ports including: 3 USB-A 3.0, USB-C input supporting PD 3.0 for charging and data transmission, HDMI, SDHC and Micro SDHC card readers, and Gigabit Ethernet. The included USB-C cable connects to the host and transmits data and up to 100W of power to charge the device.
The EZQuest USB-C multimedia hub is an 8-port rounded rectangular device with a short USB-C cable at one end, which can be connected to a host, a tablet or a mobile phone. On the other end is an RJ45 Ethernet connector with LEDs to indicate the connection status. One of the long sides is the USB-C power input connector, the USB-A BC 1.2 connector, and the HDMI output. On the other side are two other USB-A connectors and two SD card readers.
The hub is mainly made of aluminum, but has two shiny black plastic parts, one on each short end. I don’t know if this design decision is more practical or beautiful, but I think it looks good, and the aluminum finish matches my space gray MacBook Pro very well. It feels like it will last a long time, unlike some other similar devices I use that are mainly plastic.
Hopefully, one of the ports included in this hub is a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It would be nice to permanently connect it to the soundbar on my desk so that I only need to plug the docking station into my laptop while sitting down to work. However, my laptop does have a headphone jack, so plugging in two cables instead of one is not a big problem.
Apart from plugging in all the cables, there is really nothing to do. No need to install drivers, no need to charge, just plug in and run (assuming all the devices you plug in are compatible).
I tested this hub with a MacBook Pro running macOS and Windows 10 through Boot Camp, my M1 iPad Pro and my Samsung Galaxy S20. On macOS and Windows, everything works as expected. The Ethernet is connected to my network and works normally; the speed test shows my expectations for upload and download speeds. It takes about 10-15 seconds to transfer a 1.12 GB file from the USB 3.0 thumb drive to the internal SSD; since the writing speed of the USB drive is slower than the reading speed, it takes several minutes to transfer the file back to the drive. HDMI output to 1080p computer monitors and 4K TVs looks clear and works well and smoothly. The SD card reader is as effective as any dedicated card reader I have tried.
I tested this hub with three different USB-C chargers that support PD 3.0. All chargers can output up to about 100W of power. Using each one, I measured that the power going into the computer is 15W lower than the power of the charger, which means how much power the hub uses. This is not negative, because any hub like this requires electricity to do its job, and this is just something to be aware of when making a purchase decision.
Compared with the hub that I have been using on my desk for months, a nice feature of this hub is that it can be powered by the host for portable use. You don't have to plug the charger into the incoming USB-C port to make the hub work properly. The length of time you can run in this way will vary depending on the computer or tablet you are using, but it is very convenient for presentations or temporary use, you still need to connect to an Ethernet, monitor or just need to download from a USB thumb drive or SD The card transfers some files.
When connected to my iPad Pro, I was able to use all the functions of the EZQuest USB-C Multimedia Center as expected. Transferring files from a USB drive, transferring photos from an SD card, connecting to an external monitor, and even Ethernet works perfectly. I can even use my Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE mouse and its attached receiver as an input device for the iPad. This is as effective as using the same mouse on Bluetooth or the built-in trackpad in my Logitech keyboard case. The HDMI output is very suitable for mirroring the iPad's display to an external monitor, just like any other USB-C to HDMI dongle. I was also able to use the HDMI output as a separate monitor for the video editing application LumaFusion, displaying the preview window on the external monitor, while keeping the timeline and the rest of the user interface on the iPad’s screen.
Tested on an external monitor that Netflix works fine in full screen, although this does bring a quirk of iPadOS. In this mode, I cannot use the built-in speakers; it forces the audio into the HDMI output, but the monitor is not connected to speakers, so I can't hear anything. If I really want to see things like this, I might use my Bluetooth headset. I also installed some AirPlay devices on the network as an option, so I may have sent audio to one of them. This is not a problem with the dock, but an interesting thing that I noticed while testing.
The Galaxy S20 mobile phone works similarly. I was able to copy the phone’s screen on an external display and use Samsung’s DEX application, which provides a desktop environment for using the phone as a computer; it can even turn the phone’s screen into a touchpad surface, even though I can Use the Corsair mouse and its USB receiver as a pointing device. Power pass-through is also applicable to S20.
I cannot get Ethernet to work in DEX mode-although it is shown as an option in the Android connection settings menu, it is grayed out. When I test in a normal telephone interface, the Ethernet settings are available and I can configure it using DHCP or static IP settings like any other Ethernet device. I also cannot see my USB drive in DEX mode, but in Samsung's "My Files" application, I can access it and the MicroSD card inserted into the card reader. This phone does have a built-in MicroSD slot, but it is in the same slot as the SIM card, and can only be accessed when I remove the phone case, so this is a more convenient way to access files on the SD card Way.
As a technician and gadget reviewer, I constantly connect new things to my MacBook Pro, my iPad Pro, and my Samsung Galaxy S20 Android phone. At work, I need Ethernet connection and HDMI output. In order to view gadgets, I need an SD card reader, USB-A connection, Ethernet, etc. to set up, test, and charge various things. Recent MacBooks do not have built-in Ethernet, HDMI, USB-A, or SD card readers (although some of these ports have just been added back to the latest MacBook Pro models). Even so, there is still a great need for a USB-C hub like the EZQuest USB-C multimedia hub.
This is a very convenient device that can be used in many different scenarios. One thing I do every week is to help our elementary and junior high schools broadcast the meeting on Wednesday morning. I streamed from my MacBook Pro to YouTube via OBS to run this stream. For this, I need a wired Ethernet and USB 3.0 connection for input from the ATEM Mini video switcher. This hub works out of the box and replaces the USB hub/Ethernet adapter I usually use without any problems. No configuration, no attempt to connect things, it just works. With power pass-through, I even have one less cable to connect to my computer than usual.
A slight limitation of this device is that the 4K output on HDMI is limited to 30 frames per second. This is good for general office use and even most online video viewing, but for watching high frame rate video content or playing games, 30 fps is not enough.
Please note that the EZQuest USB-C multimedia hub becomes very hot during use. I won't say it is very hot, I don't think you will burn yourself with it, but it does become noticeably warm. With this in mind, make sure to place it in a well-ventilated open space when in use.
If you are looking for a way to expand the functionality of your laptop, tablet or mobile phone, and you even only need a few of these connectors, then the EZQuest USB-C multimedia hub is your desk or office Perfect equipment for your bag.
Price: $69.99 Where to buy: ezq.com and Amazon Source: The sample of this review is provided by EZQuest. For more information, please visit their website.
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