LAS VEGAS, NV — Notebook manufacturers, Apple in particular, were heavily criticized in 2016/2017 for introducing notebooks that feature only USB Type-C connectors. For end-users, such a transition meant making an additional investment into new peripherals, or docks. However, for hardware manufacturers, the transition to USB-C opens up new opportunities. At CES, Kingston demonstrated its first USB Type-C dock that supports seven ports as well as power pass-through.

The Kingston Nucleum is a rather compact sleek device made of aluminum and plastic to match design of Apple’s MacBook/MacBook Pro and other silver/metallic consumer laptops with USB Type-C ports. The dock has two USB 3.0 Type-A ports (one supports charging), one USB Type-C header, an HDMI 1.4 display output (max resolution is 3840×2160 at 30 Hz), an SD card reader, a microSD card reader as well as a USB Type-C power input.

The Nucleum supports power delivery pass through of up to 60 W, which is enough to power and charge a 13” laptop (such as a modern MacBook Pro). Larger and more power-hungry machines demand more power and their charging will take longer time using the dock from Kingston.

Kingston's Nucleum 7-in-1 USB-C Dock
  C-HUBC1-SR-EN
Main Connection USB 3.0 Type-C at 5 Gbps with power delivery
Display Outputs HDMI 1.4 (max resolution is 3840×2160 at 30 Hz)
USB 1 × USB 3.0 Type-A (5V 1500mA)
1 × USB 3.0 Type-A
1 × USB 3.0 Type- C
Power Input up to 60 W
Dimensions 127 × 45 × 14.2 mm
5 × 1.77 × 0.56 inches
Weight 142 grams
5 ounces

Kingston’s Nucleum USB-C dock is already available at Amazon.com for $79.99. In the coming months Kingston will expand availability of the device to markets outside the U.S.

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  • mmrezaie - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    I cannot find it anywhere, is the sd card reader UHS-II compatible?
  • lurker22 - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    So close. Shame they cheaped out and maxed output of 4k @30hz using HDMI v1.4.
  • lmcd - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    I think they're already using most of the bandwidth available.
  • jordanclock - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    Correct, there is only 5Gbps of bandwidth and 4K@30Hz uses more than that for uncompressed streams. Compression gets it a bit under, but unless they went to USB3.1 Gen2, there just isn't enough bandwidth for higher resolution or refresh rates.
  • HStewart - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    Power delivery can be tricky with these devices. I try multiple devices on multiple computers and I found best to go with brand of computer

    IE

    Dell XPS 13 2in1 use Dell Docking station
    Samsung TabPro S using Samsung dock
    I have an Atom based Windows 10 device - with USB-C - forget it.
  • JanW1 - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    No ethernet? Useless to me.
  • Lord of the Bored - Thursday, January 18, 2018 - link

    USB-C? Useless to me.
  • Valantar - Wednesday, January 17, 2018 - link

    Does it do HDMI through DP alt mode and a converter, or some software-requiring USB-to-HDMI adapter shenanigans? I suppose the resolution support would point to the latter. A shame, really.
  • CharonPDX - Thursday, January 18, 2018 - link

    Why, oh why, is it only 5 Gb/s 3.0? Why not 10 Gb/s 3.1rev2? That would then give the alternate-stream bandwidth for full 4K/60. Plus, you know, current standard.

    I *AM* impressed that this appears to be the first USB-C dock that actually has a *data* USB-C port on it, not just a power-input port. Every other frickin' USB-C dock has just the computer connection and the power port, no other USB-C ports. I understand the usefulness of adding USB-A ports to MacBook/MacBook Pro computers, but having a future-oriented USB-C port would be nice, too, for people who actually have started getting USB-C cables. (Like a USB-C Lightning cable for connecting iPhone or Magic Trackpad to recharge,
  • timecop1818 - Sunday, January 21, 2018 - link

    Lol wat, related items on amazon are all < $50, most around $20-30 why the fuck would anyone buy this shit from Kingston. It doesn't offer anything that all the other shit doesn't already do.

    And for those whining about 4K/60, just use the second USB-C/DP Altmode port for video and one for USB/ethernet hub.

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