The HyperDrive GEN2 has nearly everything you could want in a USB-C hub
There are 6-, 12-, and 18-port versions of it.
Image Source: Hyper
Hyper has launched a new Kickstarter campaign for its latest USB-C hub, the HyperDrive GEN2. The company is no stranger to various USB-C device, having released a USB-C hub for the iPad Pro just last year, and others for the 12-inch MacBook and the MacBook Pro.
It's billing the HyperDrive GEN2 as part of the next generation of USB-C hubs, which explains the name. This includes higher speed ports and twice the power of many competing solutions, with the GEN2 hub featuring support for 4K60 HDMI HDR, a 300MB/s UHS-II microSD or SD card slot, USB 3.1 (Gen 2), and 100W USB-C Power Delivery. They each also come with at least one Thunderbolt 3 port.
It'll work with the iPad Pro and any other USB-C device, featuring a cable that's long enough to let the device rest securely on the table when you need to plug it into a port on your tablet.
Image Source: Hyper
The HyperDrive GEN2 will be available in three different variants, and you can pick between a 6-, 12-, or 18-port version to suit your needs. Here's an overview of the ports they each come with:
Image Source: Hyper
The rigged metallic exterior of the devices kind of reminds me of some of Caldigit's docks, and Hyper says the design helps to better dissipate heat as well. More commonly accessed ports, such as the memory card slots, USB connectors, and audio jacks, are also located at the front so you can reach them more easily.
Image Source: Hyper
However, the cable appears to extend from the front of the device for the 6- and 12-port models, and it doesn't appear to be removable. That's a little odd, since you'll be left with a non-functioning hub if the cable somehow breaks down. On top of that, it makes it harder to pack and store the hub, and you also don't get to buy a cable of a different length to better suit your desk layout.
The larger 18-port hub has a 180W DC connector at the back for power, so you can also charge your laptop with it when you connect it to one of the two Thunderbolt 3 ports at the back.
There's a 50 per cent early bird special ongoing right now at the follow prices:
- 6-port GEN2 USB-C Hub - US$49
- 12-port GEN2 USB-C Hub - US$75
- 18-port GEN2 USB-C Hub - US$99
The expected retail price is currently set at US$99, US$149, and US$199 respectively. The campaign will wrap up a month from now on 2 March, with shipping expected to begin in March for the 6-port version. The 12- and 18-port models will ship later in April and May.
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