DOCKCASE Explorer Edition Visual Smart USB C Hub (6-in-1) with HDMI Port 4K@60Hz,Gigabit Ethernet,USB-C and 2 USB-A 5Gbps Data Ports, 100w PD Power Delivery, for MacBook Air/Pro, XPS, and More

During Amazon Prime Day I managed to get the Dockcase Explorer Edition M.2 SSD Enclosure and liked the aesthetics and design enough that I started to look at Dockcase's other products. Their M.2 Enclosure meets and exceeds my expectations as I work in IT and sometimes need to swap between drives, and it is helpful to know its SMART stats especially when troubleshooting potentially failing drives. The fact that it worked out of the box with most of my hardware and supports the faster connection speeds I was looking for (10gbps connectivity over USB 3.1 Gen2) I have found uses for it on my MacBook Pro, Steam Deck and in my work life!Boiling my review down into something simple:Pros:Small design that fits in the same footprint as their M.2 Enclosure.Lightweight and durable metal housing with a really cool techy design.Versatile ports (2 USB-A, 1 USB-C all at 5gbps, 1 HDMI and a PD-in port that supports up to 100W)The onboard display that no one else on the market has.Cons:It's flashy, and its gimmick might make people envious.Slightly stiff USB ports.Out of the box, the network port did not immediately get an IP until I power cycled the device.I've been using an older no-name USB-C Adapter for my MBP and recently the networking port stopped working on it and I was weighing several options, but the utility of Dockcase's product really won me over. Being able to see the connectivity speed for the various USB ports, what display modes are being set, how much power is being supplied directly, and what network speed was negotiated at a glance without diving into the network settings are invaluable when I am trying to quickly help customers while I am at work.It is smaller than the hub that I am replacing by a sizable amount and the versatility as far as USB-C power delivery goes makes this a much better option as I was never able to use my older hub with my MBP's charger. This one handled it automatically for all three of my test cases: MBP @60W, Steam Deck @45W, and Nintendo Switch @12W. It supported the Switch out of the box and even has a mode in the menus to tailor the experience for it.The connectivity speeds are about as expected. The USB 3 ports all run up to 5gbps, but don't expect to pull that continuously from all 3 ports as the port back to the computer will usually run at 5gbps itself unless you have something like a MacBook that supports 10gbps or higher on its USB-C ports. I did not have any issues getting 3440x1440 out of it, and it worked flawlessly with my Elgato Capture at 1080p card which is what I usually use for my Nintendo Switch.Durability appears to be fine. I've had their M.2 enclosure for a week or so now as of the writing of this review and it has been fine coming with me to work and I have not seen any issues with the coating getting scratched off or the glass scuffing even with some metal-to-metal contact with my MBP. This product is constructed nearly identically, and so I imagine it will fare similarly. It certainly feels premium when you hold it in your hand.The only problem of note that I had initially, and that was that the networking port did not come up when plugging it in the first time. After the first time, and every time since, it has worked. If it doesn't work the first time for you, I definitely recommend just replugging the USB-C lead to your device and/or the RJ45. It may have been the fact that the first time I tried on the Switch it was on low-battery mode so you may have a different experience. Outside of that the product has worked great so far!

The DockCase Explorer Edition offers a useful array of ports in a compact design. The two USB 3.0 ports, USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet provided easy connections for multiple accessories and peripherals. I really liked the ability to mirror or extend my display through the HDMI port.However, I was unable to get 4K at 60Hz working with my M2 MacBook Air. The highest resolution I could achieve was 4K at 30Hz. This may be a limitation of my laptop's display output, but it was disappointing given that 4K/60Hz is advertised.The digital display on the hub showing port information is a nifty feature, but largely unnecessary in my opinion. It's easy enough to see which ports are in use without having an onboard display.Aside from the 4K/60Hz issue, the hub worked well for adding a display, ethernet, and USB ports. I could see the charging state and speed of the ethernet connection, which is interesting but not super necessary.Overall, the DockCase Explorer Edition is a solid, attractive hub for basic port expansion. Just don't expect to achieve 4K at 60Hz with all laptops. The extra display is cool but not totally useful. Aside from those caveats, it's a handy accessory to connect multiple devices to your USB-C laptop or Steam Deck.

The DockCase 6-in-1 USB-C hub is a well-designed and versatile device. It has a premium build quality, a good selection of ports, and works well for expanding connectivity. However, the included USB-C cable is unreliable. I experienced frequent connection issues and had to replace it with my own cable to get a stable and consistent connection.The hub itself is great, but for the price, DockCase should include a higher-quality cable. If you pick this up, be prepared to use a different cable for the best experience.

I've become a lover of transparent tech, it just has that cyberpunk feel to it. I also love well built, well designed and engineered gear. The DockCase USB-C HUB crosses off all these checks. The Explorer Edition brings the transparent see through technology that gives this such a super cool look. It's high quality well built with aluminum and tempered glass build. It also packs a nice performance punch with its ports. Catering to 4K HDMI at 60hz. USB 3.2 Gen 2 at 5GBs speeds, Gig ethernet at 1000mbs. It also has a PD USB-C port so you can charge through it at 100W. Super portable, the cable removes and makes it a small footprint vs those that have a long dangly cable always attached. The LCD screen makes this a Smart device as well, so no more need to any 3rd party USB devices in the middle to look at IO or Power. The Smart LCD registers each port active or not, and reports on its use. This HUB is an amazing little gadget that won't disappoint. Could it be a little cheaper? Could you find similar HUBs cheaper? Yes.. But you get what you pay for, and I don't know of any hubs that offer transparent look, LCD Smart Display, and top of class performance. So in my opinion. Worth the cost of admission.

SCREEMS PERFORMENCE AND QUALITY

I purchased this device because I wanted a quick way to identify a flash drive Version and speed. I received the device and was impressed with the my impression of overall build quality and design. I attached the device to my laptop and plugged in my 2.0 flash drive. Viola, it identified it a 2.0 at 480M - perfect! I then plugged in my 3.0 flash drive...crickets. Nothing happened. I assumed my drive must have coincidentally went bad before testing so I plugged it into my laptop and it worked. That means the device is not performing as expected. I love the idea, just wish it worked. I am sending it back.