REVIEWED: Kingston Technology Nucleum Hub

A useful little 7-in-1 USB-C hub for ultra-lite laptops that’s ideal for trips with a laptop

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USB-C is everywhere, and if you have a USB-C laptop, you’ll be adjusting to life with the new standard tech connector. Now on new phones, tablets, earphones and more, it means more bandwidth and increased power, but it comes with two drawbacks when it’s used on laptops. Not only does it mean that it’s tricky to connect-up old peripheries and gadgets, but ultra-lite laptops mostly now have a USB-C port and little else. Cue the Nucleum Hub, which adds seven ports to any USB-C laptop.

Kingston Technology Nucleum Hub: design and features

Weighing 136g and measuring 127x45x14mm, this is as lightweight and as pocket-sized a hub as you’ll find. That’s despite it containing seven ports; two USB-C, two USB-A, an HDMI port capable of supporting 4K video, an SD card slot, and a micro SD card slot. For photographers, and anyone traveling for work, it’s job done.

Kingston Technology Nucleum Hub: performance

The Nucleum also features power pass-through to charge connected devices, so you can hook-up a phone or even a camera to any of its USB slots. That proved really useful on a recent business trip, and effectively means you only have to take one adaptor for your laptop. As well as attaching a mouse easily, that 4K HDMI output also meant it was possible to deliver a presentation on a projector (it could also be used in the home to attach a MacBook Pro to a monitor). Photographers will also benefit from the Nucleum since the SD card and micro SD card slots mean it’s easy to transfer files from cameras and, crucially, action cameras. Best of all, you can do these things simultaneously.

Kingston Technology Nucleum Hub: conclusion 

Styled to look like an Apple accessory, the Nucleum proves its worth on travel where a laptop is going to be taken, such as business and photography trips. It’s only going to be of use to those who have USB-C laptops, but if that’s you, the Nucleum helps to avoid any nasty connection problems without adding any weight to luggage.

Price as reviewed: US $$49.99 / UK £36.59