Belkin Debuts New Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub Made From Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics

[MacRumors]

Popular Apple accessory maker Belkin recently introduced the Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub, which is the company's first U.S. product made from post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR). Belkin in January announced plans to transition to more environmentally friendly material for its products, and the launch of the hub is part of that effort.

The Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub is made from 72 percent PCR in its product housing, a transition that was made without impacting the quality or the safety of the accessory. Made to be compact, the hub includes four USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and it supports pass-through charging of up to 100W. USB-C headphones and speakers are supported, and it works with Apple's Macs and iPads.

Belkin says that its new USB-C hub is the only hub on the market able to deliver a maximum of 10Gb/s, which is 2x faster than other available hubs. It's also using Fast Role Swap (FRS) in an effort to prevent data loss and interruption of device connections when adding or removing a power source from the hub.

Belkin's Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub is priced at $52 and it can be purchased from Amazon. Belkin also sells it directly for $45, but it is out of stock at the current time.

Article Link: Belkin Debuts New Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub Made From Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics

 

[k1121j]

Popular Apple accessory maker Belkin recently introduced the Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub, which is the company's first U.S. product made from post-consumer recycled plastics (PCR). Belkin in January announced plans to transition to more environmentally friendly material for its products, and the launch of the hub is part of that effort.

The Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub is made from 72 percent PCR in its product housing, a transition that was made without impacting the quality or the safety of the accessory. Made to be compact, the hub includes four USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and it supports pass-through charging of up to 100W. USB-C headphones and speakers are supported, and it works with Apple's Macs and iPads.

Belkin says that its new USB-C hub is the only hub on the market able to deliver a maximum of 10Gb/s, which is 2x faster than other available hubs. It's also using Fast Role Swap (FRS) in an effort to prevent data loss and interruption of device connections when adding or removing a power source from the hub.

Belkin's Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub is priced at $52 and it can be purchased from Amazon. Belkin also sells it directly for $45, but it is out of stock at the current time.

Article Link: Belkin Debuts New Connect 4-Port USB-C Hub Main From Post-Consumer Recycled Plastics

Well at least the price isn't that bad

 

[Morod]

It looks great for those of us with a 2 port laptop.

 

[Radeon85]

Good god, a very reasonably priced product from Belkin, I honestly expected it to be $129

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

Belkin invents product to fix (to try to) lacking laptop design.

 

[mielie]

Once again, marketing department choose the touchbar enabled MacBook Pro and not the uglier 'notchBookPro'. Well done Ives, a great design! Maybe Apple will get the hint at some point?

 

[theluggage]

Good god, a very reasonably priced product from Belkin, I honestly expected it to be $129

...and a bit of a breakthrough if you just want the USB-C/10 Gbps equivalent of an old school USB-A hub without the extra cost of TB/USB4 (which often doesn't buy you any advantage for USB 3 devices).

 

[RevTEG]

I see this hub will run headphones, what USB-C mics that don’t require external power?

 

[Clonetrooper]

So for four times the cost what does the cal digit elements hub get me apart from probably nicer materials?

 

[randolorian]

I don't care what kind of plastic it is made of. I just care that it is reliable and the price is fair.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

So for four times the cost what does the cal digit elements hub get me apart from probably nicer materials?

A less heavy wallet to carry around? 😉

 

[Clonetrooper]

A less heavy wallet to carry around? 😉

Is that it? No loss of speed in comparison? If that's the case I will just wait on some reviews

 

[alexjholland]

Worthless - because of that horrible fixed cable.

Why do manufacturers think this is helpful?

I cannot place the hub inside a drawer or box - and it dies when the connector dies.

 

[alexjholland]

So for four times the cost what does the cal digit elements hub get me apart from probably nicer materials?

The Caldigit Elements hub is Thunderbolt 4 - so it's significantly faster.

Whether that's necessary for your accessories is your decision.

 

[falkon-engine]

Too bad it doesn’t tunnel pcie data.

 

[TVreporter]

Good god, a very reasonably priced product from Belkin, I honestly expected it to be $129

Probably a typo.. wait for the updated $245

 

[indiekiduk]

Only hub on the market? This 3.2 Gen 2 was added to Amazon Dec 2022:

PULWTOP USB C HUB (Not Support Monitor), 5in 1 USB C Adapter with 100W PD Charging, 4*USB C 10Gbps, Powered USB HUB for MacBook Air/iPad Pro/iPhone 15

PULWTOP USB C HUB (Not Support Monitor), 5in 1 USB C Adapter with 100W PD Charging, 4*USB C 10Gbps, Powered USB HUB for MacBook Air/iPad Pro/iPhone 15

www.amazon.co.uk

But it seems that one doesn't use the external power to power devices so says 2 drives max.

 

[RalfTheDog]

So for four times the cost what does the cal digit elements hub get me apart from probably nicer materials?

Thunderbolt 4 speeds verses USB C.

 

[compwiz1202]

Well at least the price isn't that bad

That's why it's out of stock

 

[anshuvorty]

It looks great for those of us with a 2 port laptop.

Note that the 2 ports on the MacBooks are both Thunderbolt 4 ports, whereas this hub only duplicates USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (which doesn't include Thunderbolt capability). In other words, you are losing some capability if you decide to plug this hub into one of the 2 ports on your MacBook.

 

[compwiz1202]

Uhhhhh the Belkin Site shows In Stock but then a button "E-Mail me when in Stock" Guess that should say out of stock then since there is no add to cart?

 

[rpmurray]

Up to 10Gbps transfer speed. I wonder what it is when there are four 10Gbps capable devices attached.

Tried asking this question on their site but it requires me to turn off my ad-blocker, so I said no.

 

[doboy]

Up to 10Gbps transfer speed. I wonder what it is when there are four 10Gbps capable devices attached.

I mean this is a USB-C hub so if you have all the devices sharing that 10 Gbps bandwidth at the same time then it won't be pretty, but usually you wouldn't access all the devices at once.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

does it have scuzzy?

 

[ipedro]

Are there any docks that work with Thunderbolt with the DisplayPort plug? I have a bunch of Thunderbolt hard drives that I keep an old iMac around to network with.