USB-C hubs have traditionally been functional but forgettable devices with little to no innovation or evolution in their design or utility over the years. UGREEN, however, has found a way to make the mundane USB accessory more interesting by adding a touch of personality and a cheerful face. Its new Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub — just like the other accessories in its Uno series — offers a playful plugging experience with an LED panel that lights up with a smile when in use. I’ve been using the Uno 6-in-1 as my main hub over the last few weeks and I can finally report on whether this cheap and cheerful gadget is worth the cash.
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Hands-on with the UGREEN Uno 6-in-1 USB-C Hub
UGREEN’s Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub debuted just a few weeks back alongside other gear in the Uno series. This USB hub carries a regular price tag of $20 on the brand’s official Amazon storefront, but you can score it down at $15.99 Prime shipped at the time of writing this. This is the lowest price we have tracked for this USB-C hub, and you can continue reading to learn more about it.
Features at a glance
- Groovy Robot Design: 6-in-1 Uno usb c hub features four smart status emojis.
- Transfer files, movies and photos at speeds up to 10 Gbps via the USB-C data port and dual USB-A ports.
- Simply connect to an external monitor via the 4K HDMI port of the USB C hub multiport adapter.
- Supports up to 85W USB C pass-through charging via USB-C PD port, reserves 15W for other interface operation.
- Comes with a built-in USB-C cable, offering plug and play for multiple operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, and Linux.
gadgetnewsonline’ Take
The new Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub is a part of UGREEN’s Uno series, which is a collection of accessories that are made to look like friendly little robots. They all have an LED that lights up when in use, displaying different robot-like emoji faces. This Uno USB-C hub greets you with a robot that has its eyes closed, almost as if it is waiting to wake up when you plug some connectors in. It then changes the expression as you connect more devices to it, essentially making it feel like your devices are coming to life. My favorite expression is the one that shows up when you plug in both an external display and PD charger to the hub while it is connected to a source device.
A display like this featuring smart status emojis makes more sense in case of, say, a wireless charger or even a MagSafe power bank in my opinion, as it allows you to quickly glance and tell things like the charging status, remaining battery percentage, and more. In the case of a hub, however, you can think of these expressions on the display as an LED status indicator telling you what’s connected to the device and whether it is working. It helps you ensure the charger or the HDMI cable you plugged into the hub is working, but it’s not as useful as it is on a charger.
That being said, I still love how this hub looks when it lights up with a smile. There’s something satisfying about watching it change the expression and smile as you plug your devices into it. I absolutely love how it makes a mundane accessory like a USB hub stand out with a touch of personality. Unlike other USB hubs I’ve used in the past which I either dread carrying or putting on the desk next to my other accessories, I genuinely love featuring this front and center on my workspace because of how it looks.
As far as the actual connection goes, the Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub takes a single USB-C port on your machine in exchange for one 4K-ready HDMI 2.0 port, two 10 Gbps USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port, two 10 Gbps USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, and one PD 100W USB-C port. It may not be the most versatile hub out there, adding a ton of ports to expand your laptop’s I/O, but it gets you all the essentials to ensure you can use all your peripherals without any issues.
I replaced my UGREEN 12-in-1 docking station with this particular hub on the desk for testing, and it worked just as advertised without any issues. I may not fully replace my docking station with this considering my existing unit has more ports, but I definitely see myself adding this to my everyday carry. It’s compact enough to fit in my backpack, and the attached USB-C cable means I don’t have to worry about carrying an additional cable separately. Notably, this also works with Android and iPhones, and I was able to confirm this by using it to connect a thumb drive to my OnePlus Open and iPhone 15 Plus. While I don’t see myself using this to power anything for my phones, the added support is nice to have when you are in a pinch.
All things considered, it is safe to say that UGREEN’s Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub is a solid option to consider if you’re looking to buy a USB hub for your setup or everyday carry and want something different than the same old hubs that have been in rotation for years. It would’ve been nice to have a version with some additional ports, but the current selection isn’t necessarily bad and should be enough for most users. I definitely see myself using the Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub when I’m out and about and need a hub to quickly extend the selection of ports available to me. I like what UGREEN is doing with its Uno series, and I’m looking forward to seeing what shows up next in the lineup.
Buy the UGREEN Uno 6-in-1 USB-C hub now
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