Satechi Type-C Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure Review: Upgraded Hub Now Supports an M.2 SATA SSD

Satechi Type-C Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure Review

We reviewed the original Satechi Type-C Stand & Hub for the Mac Mini back in 2021. This $100 follow-on unit, the Satechi Type-C Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure, leverages the same basic design, but includes an M.2 SATA SSD bay. We wish it had also included power so the ports could offer more versatility.

What we like

Pros

• Perfectly designed to complement the Mac Mini and Studio
• USB-A, USB-C, SD Cards, and audio jack

Same size and general design as Satechi’s previous $84 model, but this version comes with a storage bay for an M.2 SATA SSD (not included). Other than that, it is exactly the same as the previous model. It offers three USB-A ports, a USB-C port, SD card readers and a headphone jack, all available via one USB-C connector into the host Mac.

Satechi Stand and Hub for Mac Mini Review: The One Peripheral All Mac Mini Owners Should Own

It would be an ideal USB-C hub if it just had power (keep reading).

The cardboard packaging is fine, but the plastic wrap needs to be replaced.

The hub comes with a one-year warranty.

What could be improved

Cons

• Does not support NVMe SSD
• Needs to be powered

As with the previous version, the single USB-C connector leaves this hub low on power. Satechi suggests only attaching one bus-powered device at a time. With a mouse transmitter and a wired keyboard attached, the SSD card reader failed to keep a card mounted during a copy routine. I placed the same card into a USB-A port on another peripheral via an adapter and it worked without an issue. If the company is going to put on the ports, they should be able to power peripherals and charge devices without reading the small print.

I understand Satechi is designing for simplicity, but simplicity without functionality isn’t a good answer either. Just let people plug it in, perhaps as an option, as with older USB-A hubs that increased the devices they could support when the owner applied an optional power block.

And they also need some small print so people walking up to this in the wild can see the USB-C port is not for charging.

Satechi Type-C Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure: The bottom line

Satechi creates lovely designs. This Type-C Stand & Hub with SSD proves an absolutely perfect companion for Mac Mini and Studio in style, and in most cases, complementary features. Those who need more power or want to charge devices must keep Mac ports free or pair the Type-C Stand & Hub with a powered hub (like the OWC miniStack STX) to drive peripherals. Adding power and support for NVMe SSDs would make it an even more appealing hub.

Satechi provided the Satechi Type-C Stand & Hub with SSD Enclosure for review. Images courtesy of Satechi unless otherwise noted.

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