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Best ports hub for the mini

Cham2000

Cham2000

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 11, 2022
426
217
I was interested in the mini hub from Satechi that adds a base under the mini with several ports to the front. Thread here:


Unfortunately, this hub doesn't allow to charge the BT keyboard and mouse (it's not recommended by Satechi), and the ports are relatively slow (I believe that this hub isn't Thunderbolt 4, while it's using one TB port on the mini). Also, the option to add an SSD inside the hub is limited to slow SSDs (faster ones aren't supported). And I'm a bit worried about the BlueTooth issue that may be aggravated with this hub, or the cooling of the mini.

I would like to add more USB-A and USB-C ports to the base mini M2 (which has only two USB-A and two USB-C/Thunderbolt4 ports), with the ability to recharge peripherals (mostly the Apple keyboard and the Magic Mouse). These ports should be fast.

So what are the best hubs for the mini M2/M2 Pro, which allow to recharge peripherals?

The option to add some fast SSD inside an hub would be ideal, but not necessary. Satechi should update their hub to Thunderbolt 4!
 
Last edited:
Cham2000 said:
I was interested in the mini hub from Satechi that adds a base under the mini with several ports to the front. Thread here:


Unfortunately, this hub doesn't allow to charge the BT keyboard and mouse (it's not recommended by Satechi), and the ports are relatively slow (I believe that this hub isn't Thunderbolt 4). Also, the option to add an SSD inside the hub is limited to slow SSDs (faster ones aren't supported). And I'm a bit worried about the BlueTooth issue that may be aggravated with this hub, or the cooling of the mini.

I would like to add more USB-A and USB-C ports to the base mini M2 (which has only two USB-A and two USB-C/Thunderbolt4 ports), with the ability to recharge peripherals (mostly the Apple keyboard and the Magic Mouse). These ports should be fast.

So what are the best hubs for the mini M2/M2 Pro, which allow to recharge peripherals?

The option to add some fast SSD inside an hub would be ideal, but not necessary. Satechi should update their hub to Thunderbolt 4!
Click to expand...
I own a MacMini M1, 512GB, 16GB Ram & have been using the Satechi hub for over two years. I installed a Samsung Eco 860 1 TB and it works flawlessly. Have had zero issues with Bluetooth using the Logitech MX Keyboard for Mac along with the MX3 Mouse & I'm 110% happy with it. However I agree with you on the lack of the ports on the Satechi hub for charging. I am limited to using the USB-A ports on the back for charging as both TB ports are occupied one for the connection of the Hub and the other for a monitor. I use either a HDMI to USB-C, Display port to USB-C or HDMI cable for connection of a second monitor. I have little or no use for USB Type A or B ports other than for charging the Logitech Keyboard and mouse. The mouse and Keyboard come with USB-C to USB cables for charging or you can use a USB-C to USB-C cable and having a USB-C port on the front of the Satechi Hub would be much more convenient.
As I see it my only alternative is to upgrade my Mac mini to the Mac Studio which is more computer than I need. Apples newly released M2 Mac mini Max Pro gives me another choice but the extra TB ports are on the rear. In addition the SD card slot on the Satechi Hub and the Mac Studio is of no use to me as I use Compact Flash Type B cards only, so message to Satechi, convert to a Type C charging port on the front and you have a new customer.
 
kodabear said:
I own a MacMini M1, 512GB, 16GB Ram & have been using the Satechi hub for over two years. I installed a Samsung Eco 860 1 TB and it works flawlessly. Have had zero issues with Bluetooth using the Logitech MX Keyboard for Mac along with the MX3 Mouse & I'm 110% happy with it. However I agree with you on the lack of the ports on the Satechi hub for charging. I am limited to using the USB-A ports on the back for charging as both TB ports are occupied one for the connection of the Hub and the other for a monitor. I use either a HDMI to USB-C, Display port to USB-C or HDMI cable for connection of a second monitor. I have little or no use for USB Type A or B ports other than for charging the Logitech Keyboard and mouse. The mouse and Keyboard come with USB-C to USB cables for charging or you can use a USB-C to USB-C cable and having a USB-C port on the front of the Satechi Hub would be much more convenient.
As I see it my only alternative is to upgrade my Mac mini to the Mac Studio which is more computer than I need. Apples newly released M2 Mac mini Max Pro gives me another choice but the extra TB ports are on the rear. In addition the SD card slot on the Satechi Hub and the Mac Studio is of no use to me as I use Compact Flash Type B cards only, so message to Satechi, convert to a Type C charging port on the front and you have a new customer.
Click to expand...


Trebleet makes this dock. Looks interesting but $$$$.
 
I'm looking fairly hard at a Hagibis MC25 Pro DP. It's not a pressing issue for me, so I won't be pulling the trigger anytime soon. I like the idea that it has a DisplayPort built in. However, some reviews imply strongly that you either get access to the internal storage or the DisplayPort, not both simultaneously. If so, that would be a dealbreaker.

I would really like to start seeing dongles and hubs with more usb c ports though. My wife and kids are hard on lightning cables, and my stash of cables with usb a is dwindling. It reached a point last week that I bought usb c to usb an adapters so I can convert a cable or two in my stash as needed. The tipping point was when I had to take the usb a to lightning cable from my car to be able to use my iPad with my display dongle/hub for a remote lecture.
 
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Been looking at quite a few of these as of late. I have an external 4TB Ssd and an old nVME hanging around, should love a dock for both of them, and a few extra ports as well. struggling to find one that fits the bill though.

I like the OWC one but it's a bit pricey, as well as that Trebleet one. At this point it's more for my OCD and hiding wires and keeping my desk clean :)
 
If you get a hub, get a POWERED hub.
One with its own power supply block that connects "to the mains".

Otherwise, you're going to be limited by the amount of "bus power" the Mini can provide.
And it isn't all that much...
 
I have one paired with my M2 Mini. I like it but I am having minor bluetooth interference with my new Magic Trackpad, strangely my old one worked fine (same model with the old style corner rounding) Also I get failure to eject disk errors if I shut down or restart with out ejecting the disk.
 
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