Compact USB-C hub quick review (ep00)

Intro

From time to time I purchase laptop computer accessories not because I need them personally, but to satisfy my curiosity on how well they actually work. I run a business building ergonomic workstations for large corporate fleets ands home offices and I like to keep up-to-date on what’s out there in case there are questions. But my focus has been on stationary desktop accessories like docking stations rather than portable items. Today I’ll review two portable USB-C hubs that I’ve been using for several months.

Full disclosure: While this is not a sponsored post, the products reviewed was provided at no cost by the manufacturer or through a promotion for evaluation purposes. Products received in this capacity are destined for teardowns and/or charitable donations.

Contenders

Uni 5-in-1 hub ($29.99 USD via Amazon) vs Hootoo 6-in-1 HT-UC007 ($49.99 USD or less via eBay)

Features

[Characteristics]Uni 5-in-1HooToo 6-in-1Colordark Greygrey, silver, or brownChassissingle piece brushed aluminumbrushed aluminum top, rubberized plastic bottomSize114mm x 24mm x 15.5mm112mm x 46mm x 12.5mmCable length178mm (7″)148mm (5.8″)Cable styleflexible nylon sleevestandardWeight51g68g

[Functions]Uni 5-in-1HooToo 6-in-1Host Upstream connectorUSB-CUSB-C with ~100W* laptop chargingDownstream USB ports3x USB 3.1 @ 5Gb/s
up to 6W charging combined across ports
(4.5W max per port)3x USB 3.1 @ 5Gb/s
up to 10W charging combined across ports
(10W max per port)HDMI1x HDMI 1.4
1x 4K30 or 1440p60 or 1080p monitor1x HDMI 1.4 for
1x 4K30 or 1440p60 or 1080p monitorEthernet1Gb/s1Gb/sPower inputhost powered onlybus powered or USB-C PD (100W)Power Status LEDnowhite HooToo logo

For the extra money and size, the Hootoo 6-in-1 offers laptop charging (USB-C PD power supply not included) and more power to the USB 3.1 ports at ~10W compared to 6W on the Uni. Curiously, the HooToo has one port marked with a lighting-bolt icon indicating it should support more power, but all ports seem to support 10W each. If you frequently charge your smartphone from your laptop, The HooToo will probably charge twice as fast as the Uni. Uni: 4/5 HooToo: 5/5

• Uni 5-in-1 @ 5.83W
• HooToo HT-UC007 @ 9.5W

Price

The HooToo is $20 more expensive for its charging features: Uni: 5/5 HooToo: 3/5

Usability

The Uni cable sheath is a high quality flexible material and is slightly longer which helps to position the hub relative to a laptop. Typical in this class of device, both units have ports on 3 sides which means a messy bundle-o-cables when all ports are in use. However, if you’re only using HDMI and one USB port for a monitor and mouse, the Uni has these coming out the same side while the HooToo has all USB ports on one side and the HDMI on the other. Because of this, I found setup easier with the Uni.

The Ethernet jack on the Uni is a regular full-size port with LED indicators for link and connection speed. The Hootoo uses a compact clamping style Ethernet port which is more difficult to use since you have to press to open the clamp with one hand and plug in the cable with the other. This Ethernet port style lacks status LEDs. Uni: 5/5 HooToo: 4/5

Style

Both units feel “nice”. The rubberized bottom of the HooToo is decent quality and is 3mm thinner, potentially making it easier to slip into a pocket. But the overall compactness and fit and finish of the Uni is superior. My only qualm regarding Uni’s style choices is the black USB ports. USB 3.x ports are typically blue to indicate higher functionality compared to black USB 2.0 ports. But since the Uni doesn’t have 2.0 ports that need to be distinguished from 3.x ports, they are not violating any specs here. Uni: 5/5 HooToo: 4/5

Repairability

Repairability is related to style. In general, the more stylish the device, the more difficult it is to repair. This is the case with the Uni as its single piece aluminum chassis is impossible to open without without severely damaging it. The rubberized bottom of the HooToo can be pried open exposing the bare circuit board for diagnostics and repair with minimal damage to the aluminum housing and plastic clips. Uni: 0/5 HooToo: 4/5

Reliability

I had no reliability issues with either unit. Both worked flawlessly for months with multiple laptop computers, USB accessories, and monitors. Uni: 5/5 HooToo 5/5

Performance

Both hubs are based on a Via Labs USB-C hub chipset and Realtek Gigabit Ethernet so transfer speeds are similar. There are more expensive chipsets with better performance, but are not common in this class of device at these price points. Uni: 4/5 HooToo: 4/5

*USB PD Compliance

The HooToo hub has compliance issues with its USB-C power delivery implementation. My 90W PD power supply advertised 20V @ 4.5A to the HooToo hub. This same 20V @ 4.5A was advertised to the laptop PC. But the HooToo hub consumes power and also provides power to 3 USB ports! When I plugged in a few USB devices to the HooToo, I was able to overdrive my 90W USB-C power supply by 13 watts! This violates the USB-IF specification. What the HooToo firmware should do is “de-rate” based on how much power it should reserve for itself and the downstream USB ports. So in my example, The HooToo should have derated by at least 13 watts and thus advertise 20V @ 3.8A. Many inexpensive hubs leave this logic out to save costs. For most customers it is not an issue. But if you have a laptop that can charge at 100W, I do NOT recommend using a hub like this. If any USB devices are connected, there is a possibility of overdriving the power supply causing overheating issues, shutdowns, and permanent damage to the power supply. If you have a lower power laptop, this hub will be OK. But consider using a USB-C power supply that exceeds the OEM specification of the your laptop. For example, if your laptop came with a 60W power supply, use a 65W+ model or higher. Uni: N/A HooToo: 0/5

• Test rig with resistive load and 90W PSU
• Meter for resistive load
• Meter for PSU showing ~103W

Note: I’m using a purely resistive load I soldered up for test purposes. This is not the best way to test. A better way is a constant-current load with both resistive and inductive elements to better simulate real-world conditions.

Verdict

If you anticipate needing to charge a moderately sized laptop and all you have is hub and a USB-C power supply, or if you need to frequently charge your cellphone, the HooToo, even with its PD compliance issues, is probably the better choice especially if you can find it on sale for $30-$35. If you prefer a simple, stylish, and easy-to use hub at a low cost, the Uni is better. The Uni is my personal favorite between these two due to the flexible cable and the fact that I already have a desktop docking station and don’t the extra bulk of charging.

Addendum

Since receiving these hubs and writing the article, it has come to my attention that HooToo brand products (part of the SunValley group along with Vava, RavPower, U-Spicy, and TaoTronics) have been removed from Amazon presumably for farming bogus product reviews. This doesn’t necessarily mean they make poor products, but I do frown upon disingenuous marketing shenanigans.