Kensington SD1650P review: A versatile, portable USB-C hub that costs more than it should
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Half dozen portsKensington SD1650P review: A versatile, portable USB-C hub that costs more than than it should
The Kensington SD1650P is a meaty USB-C hub made for the road. Tin its features justify the price? 
Source: Windows Central
Kensington'due south SD1650P docking station connects with USB-C and opens up an extra six ports for your laptop, tablet, or phone. Its compact blueprint makes it platonic for travel, plus it can charge your laptop thanks to USB-C power passthrough. It seems like a well-made little hub, just does information technology justify its $110 price tag in a market filled with far cheaper options? I've been using it for the past week to find out.
Kensington SD1650P
Lesser line: The Kensington SD1650P works out of the box beyond platforms without outcome, expanding device connectivity without taking up much space on the desk or in a travel bag. However, you lot tin can spend way less money and still get a slap-up hub if you expect elsewhere.
Pros
- Three-yr warranty
- Material topping, braided cable
- Works across devices and platforms
- 4K brandish support
- Plug it in and it works
Cons
- Expensive for what information technology offers
- Non-removable host cable
- All plastic
- No SD card reader
- 4K capped at 30Hz
Kensington SD1650P: Price, availability, and specs
Kensington supplied Windows Cardinal with a review unit of its SD1650P portable docking station. Information technology generally costs around $110 and can be purchased from virtually major online retailers.
Despite the docking station proper name, this is more a compact USB-C hub that is meant for travel or work in the field. It volition piece of work with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt four host ports, just go on in mind that it will be capped at the dock's 5Gbps limit. The hub is uniform with Windows 10, Windows xi, Android, macOS, Chrome OS, Android, iOS, and iPadOS.
Here's a look at the specifications that make up this compact dock.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Host connection | USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) eleven-inch cablevision |
| Ports | USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (PD) Ii USB-A iii.2 Gen 1 RJ45 Ethernet HDMI 1.4 (30Hz) VGA |
| Max display resolution | 4K @ 30Hz (HDMI) FHD @ 60Hz (VGA) |
| Power delivery | Up to 100W |
| Dimensions | 5 x two.1 x 0.half dozen inches (127mm x 54mm ten 16mm) |
| Weight | 0.17 pounds (80g) |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Kensington SD1650P: What I like
Source: Windows Key
Kensington'due south SD1650P comes from its "Road Warrior" docking station family unit, and indeed this is an accessory that excels when you're on the move. It's meaty, information technology's lightweight, and it offers up vi extra ports for your connectivity-challenged tablet, telephone, or laptop. Kensington has gone with a textile topping for the dock, with a safe logo stamped on superlative. Information technology gives the plastic body a scrap of flair and no doubt helps to prevent some scratches and scuffs that would otherwise be visible during utilize.
The SD1650P uses USB-C 3.two (Gen 1), topping out at 5Gbps. The xi-inch host cablevision is plenty long for easier setup, and it'southward fairly thick with a braided exterior for extra protection. At that place'south no aqueduct to hide the cable when information technology's not in use, but at that place are two included clips that allow information technology to double back to take up less space. The downside here is that that cablevision is not removable. If it is damaged, the entire dock volition likely need to exist replaced. Kensington does offer a three-year warranty, which is rather generous for this type of accessory.
Source: Windows Central
I connected the SD1650P to my daily-commuter XPS xiii for testing. I added a keyboard and mouse to take upward the two USB-A ports, a 4K monitor for the HDMI port, and an Ethernet cable for the RJ45 port. Everything worked without issue, and in that location was no demand to download any actress drivers. The 4K screen tops out at a 30Hz refresh rate through this dock, then if you're coming from something a bit faster it volition seem a tad janky for the first little while. A crash-land upwardly to 60Hz would help keep the dock in line with the competition. There is also a VGA port, topping out at a 1080p resolution at 60Hz. If you're still working with older screens or projectors this can come in handy, but for most people it's likely just going to take upwardly infinite.
The Kensington SD1650P dock works flawlessly out of the box across multiple platforms.
The USB-C port on the hub tin can exist used for data (5Gbps) or for power delivery to your host device. Kensington suggests on the product page that a 60W Ac adapter is required for this feature to function, but I was still able to charge my XPS 13 with the native 45W adapter. The Windows "wearisome charge" alert popped up, but I was still able to accuse the battery while going well-nigh my usual work with accessories connected to the hub. I tested the USB-C port's speed with an external SSD, getting back 462MB/due south read and 439MB/south write speeds.
The USB-A ports, if continued to a device with a battery, can evangelize up to four.5W (5V at 0.9A) of power. These are USB-A 3.2 Gen ane ports, and then their speed is as well capped at 5Gbps. During testing, the hub got warm but never close to hot, even with the laptop's Air-conditioning adapter plugged in. The plastic chassis doesn't conduct and dissipate heat also as aluminum, but it doesn't seem like that's an result.
Source: Windows Cardinal
Next I moved on to test how well the SD1650P works with an Android tablet. The connected mouse and keyboard worked immediately; due to limits with the tablet itself, I couldn't test display connectivity. The hub should work fine with Samsung DeX for brandish and accessory support, plus it'southward compatible with macOS, iPadOS, and iOS. Altogether the SD1650P works every bit advertised. I had no problems connecting it to devices, all without whatever required drivers. The 4K brandish support checks out, and I was able to keep my laptop charged while working.
Kensington SD1650P: What I don't like
Source: Windows Primal
The Kensington SD1650P is made of ABS plastic. It feels fairly durable, but it also seems cheap when because the asking price. At about $110, it's far more expensive than many of the most popular USB-C hubs, and it even costs more than the awesome CalDigit SOHO (which I explain in the next section). Ane other matter I'd appreciate is the placement of a few rubber feet on the lesser to keep the hub from slipping effectually on a desk.
Port selection is another area where Kensington could take fabricated some improvements. There are a lot of similar hubs available, albeit with SD and microSD card readers, actress USB-C ports (the SD1650P's merely USB-C is taken up by an Advertising adapter most of the time), actress USB-A ports, or 4K support up to 60Hz. The SD1650P'southward Ethernet port is a great addition, but I don't think well-nigh regular users will become much apply out of VGA.
Kensington SD1650P: Competition
Source: Windows Key
If you have the upkeep to consider something similar the Kensington SD1650P, yous might want to as well check out the CalDigit SOHO. It'south non quite as sleek as the SD1650P, but information technology's fabricated from a solid chunk of aluminum and still weighs in at just 0.19 pounds (90g). The host connection is USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 with 10Gbps speeds, doubling what the SD1650P is capable of. It has a host USB-C port — the host cable is removable — and another two USB-C ports for power passthrough (100W) and information. Information technology as well has DisplayPort 1.four, HDMI two.0, USB-A, and SD with microSD carte readers. A single 4K monitor connected tin hit 60Hz, while dual 4K monitors will be 30Hz each when extended. If you don't demand Ethernet or VGA, this is a improve choice that costs about $eighty. It is compatible with Windows and MacOS.
The OWC USB-C Travel Dock E is another portable accessory I've tested. It's chunkier and is also made mostly of plastic, just its port option might be ameliorate for you lot. It has two USB-A 3.2 (Gen one) ports, a USB-C port for power passthrough (100W), HDMI 2.0 capable of 4K at a 60Hz refresh charge per unit, UHS-II SD carte du jour reader, and an Ethernet port. It costs near $65 and is uniform with Windows, MacOS, Chrome Bone, Android, and iPadOS.
If yous're looking to spend as little as possible and still get a quality USB-C hub, something like Anker'southward 7-in-one pick might exist right. It has SD and microSD card readers, two USB-A iii.0 ports, a USB-C data port, USB-C power passthrough (100W), and an HDMI port capable of 4K at a 30Hz refresh rate. Best part? It merely costs about $30 and it is compatible with Windows, MacOS, iPadOS, and Chrome OS. Our list of the best USB-C hubs and adapters has more options.
If you're working with a more modern device, be sure to accept a await at our drove of the best Thunderbolt 4 hubs and docks that can take advantage of your laptop's full capabilities. And if you lot're just looking for a standard dock, nosotros've rounded up the overall best laptop docking stations out in that location.
Kensington SD1650P: Should you buy information technology?
Source: Windows Central
You should buy this if ...
- You absolutely need a VGA hookup
- You lot want something that works without fuss
- You have more than $100 to spend on a USB-C hub
- Yous have multiple devices and but want 1 hub
You shouldn't buy this if ...
- You don't need VGA
- You need SD and microSD card readers
- You want more than a 30Hz refresh charge per unit for a 4K monitor
- You don't desire to overpay for your hub
The Kensington SD1650P is a well-fabricated hub that costs way more than information technology should. I appreciate the cross-platform plug-and-play back up, the braided host cable and fabric top, and the generous three-year warranty, just the sheer corporeality of cheaper options out there with similar (or even better) port selection and functioning makes the SD1650P harder to recommend. I imagine this hub is aimed more at corporate bulk buys, which would explicate the price and legacy VGA port.
If you often work with older monitors or projectors, this hub makes sense. Similarly, anyone with multiple devices can skid the SD1650P into a travel purse and not worry most compatibility. Information technology worked in my testing without issue on a Windows laptop and an Android tablet. But if yous're looking for a USB-C hub to use primarily with a Windows laptop, there are plenty of cheaper alternatives with improve performance and port selection.
Kensington SD1650P
Lesser line: The Kensington SD1650P tin can help those who need a VGA hookup, and it works without issue right out of the box across multiple platforms. However, you can discover other great hubs — often with better features and port selection — for a fraction of the price.
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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/kensington-sd1650p-review
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