Computing device makers are often leaving users short on ports—especially USB4 and HDMI bandwidth. OWC’s latest hub aims to fix that. Priced at $129.99 and arriving in late October, the company’s new USB4 Hub boosts connectivity with a mix of high-speed ports, HDMI 2.1 output, and charging in a single, sleek aluminum body.
What the hub offers
The hub delivers four main ports beyond the one USB-C input used to connect to the host computer. Two of these are full USB4 ports designed for high-bandwidth peripherals like fast storage. The remaining two are traditional USB-C ports operating at up to 10 Gbps for everyday accessories. Thanks to HDMI 2.1, display setup gets a major boost: the hub supports 4K output at 120 Hz and can push up to 240 Hz when using Display Stream Compression (DSC). It goes even higher in resolution, supporting 8K at 60 Hz, depending on what both the display and host system can handle.
Compatibility, charging & extras
On the power front, the hub ships with a dedicated adapter that offers up to 81 W power delivery. That energy is dynamically shared across the hub’s functions and whatever device it’s plugged into. Whether your host has USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or even Thunderbolt 5, the hub is designed to work. That includes Macs, PCs running Windows or Linux, and compatible iPad Pro models.
Built with a fanless aluminum shell, the hub aims for quiet thermals, relying on passive cooling only. Alongside the hub, OWC is also introducing active optical USB4 cables in 3-meter and 5-meter lengths, rated for 40 Gbps. These fiber-optic cables help maintain signal strength—and power delivery—across distances where regular passive cables would struggle. They’re expected to arrive in mid-October, priced at $98.99 for the 3-meter and $129.99 for the 5-meter variant.
The hub is particularly relevant for anyone using ultraportable laptops—especially MacBooks—that often offer just a couple of USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. It combines the features of multiple adapters into a single solution, cutting down on the number of separate dongles needed.
What to watch: real-world performance under load, the quality of the HDMI output (how well it maintains resolution and refresh under DSC), and whether passive cooling holds up during heavy use. For now, OWC’s hub looks to be a promising all-in-one answer for users craving more from their ports without clutter or compromise.
— Editorial Note: OWC’s new USB4 Hub delivers HDMI 2.1 output, 81 W passthrough charging, four versatile ports, and support for Macs, PCs, and iPads. The inclusion of optical cables and fan-free enclosure show OWC pushing toward minimalist, high-bandwidth setups. What matters is how stable those specs stay when put to the test.
