This clever multiport hub is also an accessory case [Review] ★★★★☆

Nov 07, 2023

By Ed Hardy • 9:00 am, June 3, 2023

The JSAUX Omnicase 2 Pro is an 11-in-1 USB-C travel hub that offers USB and video ports plus SD card readers. And it sets itself apart from rival hubs with a built-in case for storing a cable, various adapters and SD cards. It's ready to connect a Mac or iPad to USB accessories, monitors, Ethernet, memory cards and more. And it includes adapters if you run into connection problems.

I tested the multiport hub out to see how well it works. Here's what I found.

When it comes to ports, Apple (generally) puts all its eggs in one basket. You won't find a USB-A port or one for Ethernet on any MacBook … though you will find situations where these ports come in handy.

Hence the popularity of the multiport adapter. Plug one of these into your computer and you can connect to faster networks, legacy accessories, removable memory cards, etc.

But sometimes you run into accessories that you have problems getting connected to. That's where adapters come in handy.

The JSAUX Omnicase 2 Pro is both a hub and a case for handy adapters. And it can store SD and microSD cards, too.

The hub/case is space gray and the corners and edges are rounded. The designers successfully made the product blend well with a MacBook.

At 5 inches by 3 inches by 1 inch, the JSAUX Omnicase 2 Pro is reasonably portable. It fits easily in a bag. The fact that the connecting USB-C cable goes inside the case adds to that.

Open the lid to expose the storage slots of the connecting cable and collection of adapters. The lid stays closed with magnets that are strong enough to do their job well.

The hub's dozen ports are spread around the four sides.

The list starts with three USB-C ports, one of which is used to connect the hub to your computer. You can also use one of these ports to connect your computer to power.

In addition, the USB-C ports offer reasonably quick data transfers: a 1GB test tile moved from my computer to a drive inserted into the port in about 3.5 seconds, and moved back in roughly 14.5 seconds. That's not Thunderbolt speeds but it's certainly fast enough to be useful.

There's a pair of USB-A ports that are not as quick. The 1GB test file moved from computer to drive in 28 seconds, and back in 31 seconds.

On the back of the Omnicase 2 Pro are a pair of HDMI ports. These have no problems driving my 4K monitor. There's also a full-size DisplayPort on the left side. Unfortunately, these are limited for Mac users. The three ports all have to display the same content, so using only one video port at a time is generally the best option.

On the same side is an Ethernet (RJ47) port, enabling your computer to connect to wired networks, which are often faster than Wi-Fi and always more secure.

On the front of the Omnicase 2 Pro are an SD card reader and a microSD card reader. These are handy for pulling pictures off drones and other cameras. And they’re fast enough to be useful. I copied the 1GB test file from the reader to my computer in 14 seconds, and back in 17.5 seconds.

The 3.5mm jack on the back of JSAUX's hub lets you connect a speaker or a pair of headphones to your computer.

Depending on the MacBook you have, your computer already has some of these ports. But the advantage of a hub is that you can connect your various accessories to it, then unplug all of them by disconnecting a single cable.

The 11.5-inch USB-C cable used to connect the Omnicase 2 Pro to your computer fits into a slot on the top of the hub, under the protective lid.

Around it are nestled an adapter that allows a USB-C accessory to plug into a USB-A port, plus one that allows a USB-C cable to plug into an iPhone. There's also a 90-degree angle USB-C adapter.

These come in handy when you find a gadget you can't otherwise plug into your computer.

Also under the lid are slots to hold three SD cards and four microSD cards. These are very convenient. As a bonus, there's a SIM card removal tool.

This hub offers a useful selection of ports that extends the capabilities of your Mac. But that is true of rival multiport hubs, too. JSAUX's idea of a built-in accessory case is an interesting addition that the competition can't match.

★★★★☆

The biggest strike against the hub is the three video ports that are only useful for adding one external monitor.

The JSAUX Omnicase 2 Pro is available now on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter. The pre-launch price is $79.99, a discount off the regular cost of $99.99. The delivery is expected in August.

Buy it from: Kickstarter

JSAUX provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.