12 Fun USB-C Gadgets for a More Useful Desk
USB-C can do more than charge a laptop. SlashGear’s desk-gadget roundup includes a hub with a built-in display and programmable Stream Deck keys, alongside…
SlashGear’s roundup of 12 fun USB-C gadgets for the home office desk includes a hub that shows port activity and a Stream Deck with laptop-style keys. The selection also features a camera that clips to keys, a crank-powered handheld game and a small speaker with a pixel screen, though the source notes that some picks have real flaws.
USB-C can carry power, data and video through one cable. On a laptop, a single port can connect a monitor, charge a phone and feed a speaker. That versatility helps explain why desk accessories built around the connector range from practical hubs to novelty gadgets.
The list comes from SlashGear, which says its picks include a professional review or a user rating. The publisher also discloses that it may receive a commission from purchases made through links. Its article cautions that a gadget’s performance can depend on the cable: a faulty connection or a speaker that keeps disconnecting may point to the cable rather than the device.
A USB-C hub that shows what it is doing
The Dockcase Smart 10-in-1 USB-C Hub Explorer Edition is listed at $89.99. Its transparent body exposes the components, while a small screen shows which ports are in use and the speed each one is running. That can help users check whether a slow file transfer reflects a slower connection instead of guessing.
The hub offers two video outputs, Ethernet, SD and microSD card slots, three USB-A ports and a USB-C data port. A 100W power input can keep a laptop charged through the hub. SlashGear’s review gave it 7 out of 10 and said it handled two 4K monitors without trouble.
There are trade-offs. The included cable measures 30 cm, which the reviewers found short. They also said the hub gets a little hot during use and that scrolling through its screen menu can become annoying. For people whose monitor already has spare USB ports, the display itself may offer another way to connect accessories without buying a separate hub.
Programmable keys for calls and daily tasks
The USB-C Elgato Stream Deck Scissor Keys replaces the softer, squishier buttons found on older Stream Decks with scissor switches. One reviewer described the press as shorter and crisper, with a tactile feel missing from the original. The device has 15 programmable keys, which can mute a microphone, open an app or trigger a longer sequence of actions with one press.
That setup has a practical use during busy stretches of video calls: users can assign separate keys to mute, camera controls and screen sharing, reducing the need to hunt through menus or click around. Elgato’s app also lets owners create several pages and profiles, so work and personal tasks can use different layouts.
The change is about how the keys feel, not a fundamental redesign of how a Stream Deck works. SlashGear says 32-key and 6-key versions are also available, with either scissor or classic keys. It lists the reviewed 15-key model at $132 and notes that cheaper alternatives exist.
Source: slashgear.com
