With many newer laptops, lack of available ports is a serious issue, especially with ultrabooks. Our StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter review takes a look at one of the company’s latest adapters that not only adds ports to your computer but offers power delivery as well.
Specifications
The StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter has the following features and specifications:
- Provides both HDMI and VGA video outputs for more versatility in boardroom situations and monitor connections.
- Built-in SD plus microSD card reader slots
- Three USB 3.0 ports (3x USB-A) to connect multiple USB devices, such as keyboard and mouse
- Supports up to 100W Power Delivery 3.0 (85W for charging
laptop using USB-C power adapter) - Convenient wrap-around cable for travel
- USB-A ports support fast-charge (max 7.5W) of smartphone
- Gigabit Ethernet port for network connection
- Dimensions: 4.8 x 2.76 x 0.55 inches
- Weight: 3.2 ounces
- Warranty: 3 years
What’s in the box
- USB-C Multiport Adapter (DKT30CHVSCPD)
- User guide
Design
As far as USB-C adapters go, the StarTech DKT30CHVSCPD has a pretty basic design. The outer shell is black and constructed of plastic which does have a little give to the device when you squeeze it. The StarTech.com logo is printed fairly small on the top of the adapter.
On the front side are three USB-A ports, an SD Card slot and a microSD card slot. On the back side are the HDMI, VGA, RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet, and USB-C (Power Delivery Charging) ports.
Attached to the right side of the top is a flat cable which wraps around the right edge and rests inside a channel on the underside of the multiport adapter. On the end of this cable is the USB-C host connector which connects to the USB-C port on your laptop or other device.
The StarTech DKT30CHVSCPD USB-C Multiport Adapter has a simple design that works, even though it does feel a bit flimsy compared to some other offerings on the market. The channeled USB-C connector is definitely a nice feature and keeps it safely tucked away while transporting the adapter.
Ease of Use
The StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter is super simple to use — simply plug it into your laptop or smartphone (we also tested this with a Pixel 3) and you should be good to go. If your device doesn’t detect it, make sure it is equipped with a USB-C Thunderbolt port. If you are sure it is a Thunderbolt port, there is a driver you can download from StarTech’s website. In our case, the adapter worked as is with the three laptops we tried it with.
Performance
During our testing, the USB-C Multiport Adapter worked well for the most part. When used with the Razer Blade Stealth, the Power Delivery feature worked swimmingly and had no issues powering both the adapter and the laptop. The adapter takes up 15W to power the ports on the adapter, but supports up to 85W for the laptop. Likewise with the Pixel 3, charging the phone while using the extra ports worked with no issues either.
The one issue I found was that I couldn’t use a 4K display with the Razer Blade Stealth and the multiport adapter, yet I had no issues when using the adapter and a 4K display with a Lenovo Y920 laptop. On that note, the Y920 just has a USB-C Thunderbolt port and not a power delivery port so that could well be the reason why.
As for the other ports — USB-A, SD card slots, RJ45, and VGA worked as expected. Peripherals like mice, keyboards, and headphones all worked when connected to the adapter for use on the laptop. Transfer speeds from SD cards or USB drives was acceptable as well. One thing to note, however, is that the 4K output only offers 30Hz while 1200p offers 60Hz over the VGA port. In addition, only one of the video output ports can be used at a time, if both are connected the HDMI port will take precedence.
One thing you’ll want to watch out for is the output of your power adapter and the power requirements of your laptop if using the power delivery feature. As the multiport adapter uses 15W, you may need to upgrade your power adapter to provide more juice to the adapter for your laptop and any peripherals you have attached to it.
Price/Value
At an MSRP of $127.99USD, the DKT30CHVSPCD USB-C Multiport Adapter is pretty pricey compared to some of the other alternatives out there. However, it does support PD 3.0 as well as 85W of charging for your laptop which is hard to tell with some of the alternatives. It is currently listed on Amazon for $92.99 (on sale for $84.99 at the time of the review), so it does bring the price down a little closer to the competition.
Wrap-up
While the StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter works great for the most part, it was hit and miss in the 4K video department. Power delivery works as advertised for both laptops and smartphones that support it. However, the price given the build quality is well above its competitors making this a tough buy at full retail price.
*We were sent a sample of the StarTech USB-C Multiport Adapter (DKT30CHVSPCD) for the purposes of this review.
Last Updated on February 3, 2021.
