UtechSmart USB C Hub, USB C Ethernet Multiport Adapter, 6 In 1 USB C to HDMI Dock Compatible for Macbook Pro/Air, Chromebook, Dell XPS, HP and Type C Devices (Gigabit Ethernet 100W PD 4K HDMI USB 3.0)

I gave this 5 stars because even though it isn't perfect, I think any issues I've encountered are more likely a result of the hardware, software, and drivers I'm using.TL;DR: It basically works as expected and I can confirm that it doesn't use DisplayLink.I contacted UTechSmart before purchase to confirm if this device used USB-C HDMI Alt-mode instead of a DisplayLink chip. They confirmed it uses the former and said that though they had not tested it with a Pocket 2, if it didn't work I could return it no questions asked. Bonus points to them for that.For reference, I'm using it with a GPD Pocket 2 (late 2018 product refresh using an Intel m3-8100Y CPU), running Windows 10 LTSC 2019 and a mixture of GPD and first-party drivers (mostly direct from Intel and Realtek). This is not how it comes from GPD, and is most definitely NOT a supported configuration by either GPD or Microsoft. I'm using the latest Intel drivers available (26.20.100.7000) from the Intel site.The only persistent issue is that on my device, if second-screen mode default (Win+P) is set to duplicate or extend then neither screen will display when the hub is first plugged in. After a few seconds one of the screens will start working again. If the default is second screen only then it will work immediately. Once external display is working, using the Win+P shortcut to switch to duplicate or extend works correctly. This is most likely a Windows or driver issue.For reference the Pocket 2 has a 1920x1200 screen that I use at 150% scaling and I mostly used 1920x1080 @100% scale monitors for testing. No HDMI adapters were used and I tested with two different known-good cables. Monitors tested were two Dell S2240L, one LG IPS234, and a Panasonic TCP50GT25. I also tested on a 4k Samsung UN50NU6950 and it reported output 4k@30fps, which is close enough to the Intel UHD 615 spec for HDMI 1.4.This hub can function without external power, but if you have problems, try connecting power before you connect it to your computer. When I used it for the first time, it wouldn't appear to work without external power, but after some unrelated software and driver updates, now it does. For me, this issue was definitely on the host side, not the hub side.The network chip is a Realtek RTL8153 USB 3 to gigabit Ethernet adapter. I own several devices that use this chip and it is serviceable, but tends to reset or drop out under sustained gigabit traffic. This is a characteristic of either the chip or Realtek's drivers, and there isn't really anything UTechSmart can do about it. (The other common providers of low cost USB->Ethernet chips (e.g. the ASIX AX88179) often have the same problems.) Below max speed, the 8153 works without any problems. As an aside, if you have one of these chips in a standalone usb adapter, you can plug it into a USB 2 port to get a trouble-free 250-350 Mb/s without having to babysit it.I haven't tried stress-testing how much power you can get from the USB 3.0 ports, nor have I tried to saturate the USB-C link with simultaneous video, network, and USB SSD file transfer traffic. It doesn't really fit my use case for the device, and if doing so didn't work or caused the hub to drop connection it wouldn't necessarily be the hub's fault anyway.One feature of the GPD Pocket 2 is that it can charge from any 5V source, not just from a USB-C PD charger. So I tried to power the hub with a regular USB power bank that can output 5V@1.8A (Soshine E3S). When charging directly, the Pocket 2 increases current draw until the voltage begins to sag below 5V. This is normal behavior and prevents the device from pulling too much current from the charger. But when I power the hub and indirectly charge the device, the power bank's over-current protection immediately trips. For whatever reason, the hub prevents the Pocket 2 from noticing the voltage drop in time to prevent a fault. A higher output 5V source, or a proper USB-C PD power bank would probably work just fine. It's just too much for a smaller power bank.So in summary it works well, the price ($40 at time of purchase) is competitive with other similar products, and if I needed another I would start looking at UTechSmart first.

I'm experimenting with replacing my Windows PC with a higher end tablet. so I wanted a docking station (let's call it the DS) to connect it to a mouse, keyboard, and most i importantly, my 28 inch display screen. So Far, So Good! This review is going through the docking station, the S9, and DEX, then displayed on a nice big screen! I REALLY like using a REAL keyboard!Once it was delivered, I rushed to my workstation to see how it worked. And it didn't! Nothing, NOTHING would work. It kept telling me to check the cables. So out of frustration, I had lunch.It turned out that the case I bought for the S9 fooled me into thinking I had the DS plugged into the tablet, but it was not. Once I had figured THAT out, the docking station, and the tablet worked well together.I like that I'm using two different RF Dongles for the keyboard and mouse plugged into the DS. I don't have to use battery power to use Bluetooth for those accessories. Plus, I still have one USB 3.0 port free. The Keyboard and Mouse don't appear to lag, at all. If it does, it is so minor that I am unable to percieve it.I like that I can power the Tablet from the DS. I'm using a 20 watt Amazon charger, and it seems to work just fine. The tablet doesn't give me any messages that I'm on a slow charge and it seems to charge as it does without the DS.The only real negative is that the cable from the DS to the Tab S9 is a bit too short for the tablet to be propped upright. The tablet display remains on, and the S Pen can be used with it. I'm thinking that I might want to use the tablet itself as a sort of touchpad sometimes. I might find applications where I would want the tablet display to remain upright. I don't know, but it MIGHT be a problem, maybe.Build quality seems good. I think the DS case is metal, at least it looks and feels like aluminum. And the cord going to the Tablet seems quite robust. I can't comment yet on reliabiy, It will take some time for that info to appear. But functionally, it is everything the seller claims it is. I am satisfied.Edit: I bought one for my wife.

I absolutely love the UtechSmart USB C Hub! It's incredibly versatile and has made my connectivity so much easier. The Gigabit Ethernet, 100W PD, 4K HDMI, and USB 3.0 ports all work seamlessly, making it a must-have for my MacBook Pro.

The best works as descripted

Works as described

The construction feels a little cheap but it has held up much better than similar devices that I've paid 3x as much for. I do a lot of video work so having an Ethernet port really speeds up my work, and the USB-C power pass-through means that I'm not sacrificing one of the USB ports on my MacBook in order to have it.