Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub
The EZQuest Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub is a great way to connect multiple devices to your computer. The hub provides two HDMI ports, two USB-C ports, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. With this hub, users can connect to up to three external monitor (with the aid of the Silicon Motion driver).
- DESIGN
- EASE OF USE
- PRICE
Hub provides a solid docking station with lots of connectivity options.
Ever since I got a MacBook Pro in 2016, I’ve been plagued by the lack of ports included on the machine. With this latest release of MacBook Pros, users are finally getting back some of those pro-level ports, but there are still plenty of reasons to use multimedia hubs like Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub from EZQuest.
About the Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub
The Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub is designed for M1 and Intel-based Macs as well as Windows computers. It allows users to connect to up to three external monitors. With the hub, users can operate dual HDMI 4K (one at 60Hz) external displays. The hub features one USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 port with pass-through charging (up to 100W).
In addition to the aforementioned ports, the Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub also has four USB 3.0 ports, a high-speed Gigabit Ethernet port, a VGA port, a 3.5mm Audio Jack, and dual card readers. A nylon braided USB-C cable (1 meter in length) is included with the hub.
Specs
- Output:1X HDMI 4K 60Hz ( DP 1.4)1X HDMI 4KVGA 1080P 60Hz(see the resolution chart for different setups)
- 100 watts USB-C with Power Delivery 3.0
- 1X RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet with LED indicator
- 1X SDHC Card Reader and 1X Micro SDHC Card Reader
- 4X 5Gbs USB 3.0 with 5V – 0.9A (4.5 Watts) charging output for each port
- 3.5mm Audio Jack with Microphone 2 in 1
- 1X Black Nylon Braided 1 Meter Cable
- Thunderbolt 3/4 Compatible
- Dimension: D: 53mm X W:53mm X H: 29mm
- One (1) year limited warranty
Pricing & Availability
The hub has a list price of $219.99 but is currently priced at $169.99 (as of publishing this article) at ezq.com. The hub is also sold on Amazon.com.
User Experience
The Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub comes in a square-shaped box with lots of graphics on it. The front shows the device in use with many cables attached to it while the back features the specs of the hub in many different languages. One of the unique features of the box is the side panels. Each side panel shows one side view of the device. This is actually a nice touch because it lets you know exactly what ports are included.
I’ve used a lot of different hubs in the past several years since I’ve been using MacBooks with only USB-C/Thunderbolt ports included. Many of the hubs I’ve used have been much more portable than this one. I would say that the EZQuest Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub can be transported when you travel, but it takes up a lot more room than some other docks would. I’ve not had a handheld hub that provides the same type of connectivity that this hub does but I am surprised at its size and form factor since many other docking stations are slimmer and more compact.
As far as function goes, the Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub does a good job of providing easy access ports with the card reader and USB ports located on the front of the hub and the display, power, and Ethernet ports located on the back. I would consider those to be more ‘permanent’ ports as they connect to devices that would be more permanently installed.
The greatest standout feature of this dock is that it allows users to connect to three external monitors using an M1 Mac. I found this to be an interesting claim since Apple Support states that an M1 Mac machine cannot connect to more than one single external display (the M1 MacMini is an exception).
For Mac computers with the Apple M1 Chip: You can connect a single external display to your Mac. Docks don’t increase the number of displays you can connect. On a Mac mini with M1 chip, you can connect a second display to the HDMI port.
This hub is not incorrect in its claim to work with 3 external monitors, but it does require a specific driver that is included on the hub itself. When you plug your host computer into the hub, an external hard drive will appear on the desktop of your computer entitled INSTANTVIEW. You will select the driver that is compatible with your system and install it. I thought it was a nice touch for EZQuest to include this with the device rather than have users fumble online trying to find it.
All of the ports work without any issues. They deliver solid speeds and provide an easy, one-cable connection solution for users who need a well-rounded working environment with multiple displays and connection to several peripherals.
Conclusion
Hubs like the EZQuest Ultimate Plus Dual HDMI USB-C Multimedia Hub are a valuable resource for power users. I do see this hub as more of a semi-permanent desktop hub rather than a travel dock. For the most part, this hub has plug-and-play functionality, but if you want to take advantage of the multiple displays with a macOS machine with an M1 chip, you will need to install the required driver for that function. It does seem as though the price is a big high for what you get in this product but it’s a solid piece of equipment that seems to do a good job of connecting M1 Macs with external devices.