Review: TwelveSouth’s compact USB-C hub not only brings your old Mac ports back, but also helps tidy up messy workspaces

Apple-exclusive premium accessory maker Twelve South today released StayGo, a compact in addition to lean USB-C hub featuring legacy Mac notebook ports that Apple took away from us. With StayGo, y'all tin connect upward to 8 accessories to your figurer or tablet, plus power.

Whether y'all exactly got a build novel Mac notebook or receive got upgraded your computer, you’ll belike desire to acquire your onetime ports back. And rather than purchase multiple pricey USB-C adapters, it’s exclusively natural that you’ll desire to invest your hard-earned cash into a multi-port hub.

Here’s Twelve South’s founder Andrew Green enthusing close what makes StayGo special.

In short, the novel Twelve South accessory helps connect peripherals to your Mac notebook or iPad Pro tablet whether you’re working at your desk or on the go. The charming compact device features minor footprint in addition to is no bigger than 2 decks of cards.

The nicely-crafted metallic enclosure feels assuringly sturdy in addition to durable.

Getting your onetime ports back

StayGo brings dorsum all the 8 ports that Apple has gradually removed from Mac notebooks over the years as they transitioned to the to a greater extent than flexible in addition to convenient USB-C standard.

Lined upward amongst StayGo’s nurture are the next ports:

• 1x HDMI: 4K x 2k @ 30Hz HDMI / total 1080p


• 1x USB-A 3.0: 7.5W fast-charge might (BC 1.2), USB SuperSpeed upward to v Gbps


• 2x USB-A: 900mA power, USB SuperSpeed upward to v Gbps


• 1x Gigabit Ethernet: 10/100/1000Mbps via RJ45 connection


• 1x USB-C: 85W USB Power Delivery charging (pass-through might to MacBook)

Your SD bill of fare in addition to Micro-SD bill of fare slots (up to 104 Mbps via Secure Digital v3.0 UHS-I) tin live on constitute on the accessory’s left side. These duals SD bill of fare slots back upward simultaneous information connexion capable of connecting in addition to downloading your high-resolution photos or 4K video for editing simultaneously, which is awesome. On the righthand side, you’ll detect approximately other USB-C port (40 Gbps information transfer in addition to upward to 100W input power) that is used for connecting the hub (and all of its ports) to your figurer through a unmarried USB-C cable.

Desktop + on-the-go

When using StayGo inwards conjunction with a MacBook, y'all volition but plug your notebook’s might adaptor into the hub’s USB-C port with pass-through power, in addition to then plug your figurer into the other USB-C port on your hub using i of the 2 provided cables (more on these a chip later). In such a setup, your hub is supplying upward to 85 watts of charging might to both the notebook in addition to whatsoever connected peripherals through the connected might source.

A unmarried USB-C cable brings dorsum all those ports + might to your Mac.

In desktop mode, however, y'all exclusively demand to connect the included cable to the USB-C port on the side of StayGo in addition to the other halt to your figurer — no additional might root is needed because the hub is getting juice fed to it from your desktop computer.

Thoughts on ports

At first, I idea having exclusively a unmarried powered USB-A port would seek problematic given the amount of iThings I demand to recharge on a daily footing before realizing that all 3 truly do provide might compliant with the total USB-A 3.0 specification. Additionally, the commencement USB-A port provides an additional 7.5-watt fast-charge power  In my typical daily usage of StayGo, I would receive got wages of the commencement might to fast-charge my iPhone in addition to usage the other USB-A ports to connect things similar mice, keyboards in addition to USB pollex drives.

StayHub ships with the included 1-meter USB-C cable.

I i time needed to access my external USB difficult drive on the go, but had unfortunately left its wall brick at home (I told y'all before I suck at carrying extra things on me). StayGo came to the rescue—I was able to connect my difficult drive to the hub without needing to plug the drive into power. The port matrix on StayGo is to a greater extent than or less what y'all acquire with similar USB-C accessories inwards that toll range. Aside from its practiced looks in addition to the plethora of ports, this hub sets itself apart with flexible pattern making it as impressive for desktop in addition to mobile use.

“Should I Stay or should I Go?””

Many USB hubs either receive got real curt cables or plug direct into a Mac’s USB-C port, inwards plough creating a messy workspace due to a tangle of cables in addition to cords hanging off the side. StayGo ships with a 1-meter cable that plugs direct into your notebook so you tin bask legacy ports in addition to connect your onetime accessories without using adapters. I’ve constitute the cable long plenty to continue the wires tucked away, resulting inwards a clean, tidied-up workspace.

StayGo non exclusively brings your onetime Mac ports back, but also helps tidy upward messy workspaces.

But when you’re ready to hitting the route in addition to go remote, StayGo has y'all covered with an additional locomote cable, stowed neatly within the hub. Simply slide the integrated locomote cable out of its slot on the side of the Twelve South hub in addition to connect i halt of the cable to the USB-C port of the hub itself in addition to its other halt to your computer.

The locomote cable stays protected within the metallic hub—much amend that a fixed cable from a durability betoken of view.

I can’t tell y'all how happy I am that Twelve South has integrated this cable into the enclosure. As someone who cannot live on perchance bothered to deport whatsoever additional cables than absolutely necessary, such a pattern consideration on Twelve South’s purpose is greatly appreciated.

Wrapping it all up

Build character is non bad in addition to the device feels reassuringly durable in addition to strong, almost as if belongings a slice of professional person networking gear inwards your hand. The holes on the enclosure’s top in addition to bottom provide cooling for the components within the housing.

The aluminum outside musical rhythm out dissipates heat. Like with most other metal-clad hubs, I’ve constitute StayGo to go pretty warm to impact when used nether direct sunlight (so does my metallic MacBook Pro so there’s that). Aside from that, I’ve had no mayor complaints inwards my almost month-long hands-on fourth dimension with StayGo.

Move those cables upward to 1 meter away from your Mac.

Small footprint – the hub’s close the size of a 4.7-inch iPhone — lets y'all receive got your StayGo anywhere y'all go as it takes upward real niggling room inwards your typical figurer bag, backpack or carrying bags similar Twelve South’s ain CaddySack. And because USB-C is an manufacture standard, y'all don’t demand whatsoever drivers to usage StayGo. In fact, the accessory volition “just work” with whatsoever USB-C host device, live on it a Mac or Windows PC, a Linux machine, your iPad Pro, an Android device etc.

Needless to say, in that place are plenty of alternatives out there.

StayGo inwards “Go” mode, connected to a Mac notebook via its integrated locomote cable.

Satechi’s aluminum USB-C hub costs a chip less than StayGo because it skimps on approximately ports, but Satechi also has a pricier variant, costing $100, that is comparable to Twelve South’s gizmo. If you’re the type of mortal whose workflow requires presence of the 3.5mm headphone jack, I’d consider Hyper’s accessory that integrates the headphone jack.

Hastily-designed hubs contribute to workspace clutter, non dissimilar this generic accessory.

Are y'all someone who exclusively needs to access USB-A ports for charging in addition to nix else? If so, in addition to then Mophie’s novel 6,100mAh Powerstation Hub battery pack which tin accuse iv devices in addition to also comes with Qi wireless charging back upward could live on correct what y'all need.

To larn to a greater extent than close StayGo, visit the official website.

Pros in addition to cons

Here’s what nosotros liked in addition to disliked close StayGo

Pros

• Slim, compact in addition to portable design


• Integrated locomote cable safely stowed within the hub


• 1-meter desktop cable keeps connections out of sight

Cons

• Black metallic enclosure in addition to summertime rut don’t go good together (go figure!)

Pricing in addition to availability

StayGo retails for $100 in addition to is available at TwelveSouth.com, Amazon.com in addition to other retail partners.

What do y'all intend of this charming niggling hub? And spell we’re at it, what’s your preferred USB-C hub for desktop in addition to mobile use?

Do percentage your thoughts in addition to observations with boyfriend readers inwards the comments downwards below.

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