MOSHI SYMBUS MINI

7-IN-1 PORTABLE USB-C HUB

- MARIBELLE ALBA

As a portable USB-C hub, the Moshi Symbus Mini offers a connectivity solution for laptop users. Speaking on behalf of MacBook users, one of the limitations we have had to live with is the limited number of ports – and only USB-C at that – which means that a USB hub/adaptor is an essential accessory.

DESIGN

As far as hubs go, the Moshi Symbus Mini is not the most compact, being the size of a small cellphone. Its two-tone finish, consisting of a black plastic body with a titanium gray metal overlay on top gives it a sleek, premium look.

On the left edge is the Gigabit Ethernet port, while on the bottom edge are the six other ports consisting of two USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, the SD and microSD slots, an HDMI port, and a USB-PD port.

The connector cable is neatly tucked underneath the metal overlay, kept in place by its SnapTo cable management system, avoiding snags and tangles when the hub is stowed away with other devices.

HARDWARE

Not all hubs are created equal. The ports on the Moshi Symbus Mini meet the latest connectivity standards to ensure optimal performance. The USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports support transfer speeds up to 5Gbps. The USB-PD 3.0 port allows pass-through power of up to 70W. Its HDMI 2.0 port supports ultra-high definition (UHD) high dynamic range (HDR) video with a refresh rate of up to 60Hz. The same HDMI cable can also transmit 7.1 channel surround-sound audio.

For quick downloads, the SD and microSD card readers are capable of 104Mbps speeds and support high-capacity SD/SDHC/SDXC cards. The Gigabit Ethernet port allows wired data transfer of up to 1000Mbps for high-speed wired network access.