Hiearcool 7-in-1 USB-C Hub with 4K HDMI and 100W Pass-Through

Description

The Hiearcool USB C hub is a 7-in-1 adapter for MacBooks and other USB-C laptops, adding 4K HDMI, 100W pass-through charging, USB 3.0 ports and SD and microSD card readers. It is for laptop owners short on ports.

Getting to know the Hiearcool hub

Hiearcool lists a 4K HDMI output, 100W power delivery pass-through, USB 3.0 5Gbps ports, SD and TF card slots, and a compact aluminium body that plugs into a single USB-C port.

Typical jobs for the Hiearcool hub

Connect a monitor at the office, import photos from a camera card, plug in a keyboard and mouse, or charge a laptop while using all ports.

HDMI 4K output is typically at 30Hz on hubs of this type, which is fine for documents but less smooth for gaming or fast scrolling; check the listing for refresh rate. Base M1 and M2 MacBooks support only one external display natively, so a hub will not add a second screen. Some of the 100W pass-through is used by the hub itself, so the laptop receives slightly less. Hubs get warm with heavy use, which is normal. If you need Ethernet, more displays or Thunderbolt speeds, you will need a larger dock instead. Keep it plugged into the laptop’s port directly rather than through extension cables.

Before you buy: 4K likely 30Hz

Check HDMI refresh rate and your laptop’s display support.

Competitors to the Hiearcool hub

Anker and UGREEN make similar hubs, and CalDigit sells docks.

The Hiearcool hub trade-offs

Best thing: many ports

• Many ports
• Card readers
• Compact

Where the Hiearcool hub falls short

• 4K likely 30Hz
• Runs warm

Who the Hiearcool hub suits

Great for MacBook users and more

• MacBook users
• Photographers
• Hot-desk workers

The Hiearcool hub is wrong for dual-monitor users

• Dual-monitor users
• Gamers wanting high refresh

The bottom line on the Hiearcool hub

A simple fix for port-limited laptops.