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Satechi Type-C Pass-through USB Hub review: All the ports you need (almost)

This little hub adds a SD card slot, a miniSD card slot and two USB 3.0 ports to a USB-C port.

Dong Ngo SF Labs Manager, Editor / Reviews
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
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Dong Ngo

There's no SD card slot in the new MacBook Pros or the 12-inch MacBook. I hate this. I really do. I'm transferring files from my camera to my computer all the time. Without this slot, it's incredibly difficult to get my work done.

Satechi Type-C Pass-through USB Hub

The Good

Conveniently adds an SD card slot, a miniSD slot and two USB 3.0 ports to your MacBook's USB-C port.

The Bad

The drive doesn't fit securely enough and could easily fall out if you're not careful. The pass-through USB-C port can only be used for charging, not data transfers. And there's no HDMI.

The Bottom Line

Far from perfect, this is nonetheless an essential accessory for any new MacBook owner.

The Satechi Type-C USB Pass-through Hub is my savior. It can be plugged into your MacBook's USB-C port -- just like you would a thumb drive -- adding two USB 3.0 ports, one SD card slot and one miniSD card slot to the computer. There's also an embedded USB-C slot that lets you charge your computer or other devices, but not transfer data.

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One thing, though: The device runs along the side of your MacBook while connected, but only connects through the USB-C port. And since there's nothing other than the lone port to keep it connected, if you attach a large enough device, like an external hard drive and then move the laptop around too much, it can detach quite easily.

Also if you happen to lift the laptop up with the hub plugged in, as well as a few devices plugged into the hub, you risk bending the hub in a way that may make it snap off from the port. So be careful. With the amount of ports it supports already, the lack of an HDMI port is disappointing. But if you can be mindful of its fragility, the convenience it brings, especially if you use a dSLR camera, is totally worth its sub-$40 price.