@@hittjett Exactly. Chaining ALWAYS means exponential entire control chip level slow down in that port stream. So I second the question: HOW MUCH DOES THE CHAINING SLOW FOR EACH ATTACHED?
@@nostalaudio5080 Yeah, I saw the keynote - I don't think I want the M1 Mini - it can't do 32 gigs of memory. My normal iMac (late 2015 i7) is regularly using anywhere from 17-20 gigs of RAM just from the software I regularly use. I don't think 16 is going to cut it if I intend to make this my primary machine...
I also chose the AGPTEK hub because I wanted the additional SSD inside, but I put my AGPTEK on top of the Mac Mini and it looks way better because the gap in between the two is smaller. Also, the rubber feet on the AGPTEK grip the Mac Mini well and it doesn't slide around like it did when the Mac Mini was on top. The overall look is more aesthetic and I like that.
No mention that the Satechi has many negative reviews about interference with WiFi and Bluetooth. I bought one; my WiFI dropped by over 60%. Satechi Customer Service sent me a replacement and admitted that several went out with a defective shield and the second one was just as bad, they have both gone back. Also, my M1 heated up when this was attached. I've replaced with a ANKER hub.
Satechi was my pick. I got it just before they came out with the silver but even in space gray it looks good with my silver mini. It had the ports I needed.
I agree with your recommendation Mark. I purchased the matching color Hagibis version of the USB-C hub and added a Samsung 2TB drive for an extra $200. 00 from Amazon. I had purchased the 16gig ram and 512gig Mac Mini and am very pleased with the set up. I also have 2 27” monitors so the ports on the Mac Mini were getting used up….I think it was a much better approach than buying a Mac Mini with a 1TB drive since for almost the same price, I have 2.5TB of storage plus ports on the front to handle assorted peripherals and flash drives.
Bob, are you connecting your Monitor 1 to Mac Mini HDMi and Monitor 2 to one of the MAc Mini TBs ? or Monitor 2 you connectd to the Hagib´s USB / DP POrt ( in the case if you picked the Hagibs MC 25PRO DP. I am almost purchasing one because one of my Mac MIni TB ports will be connected to Avid Audio interfaced. Thanks.
Hi Mark. Four small pieces of velcro-one in each corner and the AGPTEK does not movie. Does not damage the computer or docking station and completely solves the problem of movement. I have used mine like this since I purchased it 9 months ago (on your recommendation-thank you). Great docking station and even better now with four bits of velcro. Simple solution.
Fantastic video! 3 years later, Satechi's website for this hub now states that the 3 front USB 3.2 ports consist of 2x Type A @ 5Gbps and 1 Type A @ 10Gbps, and of course the Type C is also @ 10Gbps. The integrated NVME slot, also is capped at 10Gbps, so that makes it a USB 3.2 Gen 2. If you choose this hub in 2024 (like I did) you can save a few bucks by not getting a gen 4 and get a gen 3 nvme drive, or you can get a gen 4 drive to outlive the machine, when you upgrade to put somewhere else, just know the max bandwidth will be capped by the hub. Either way, it's still a solid and relevant piece of tech for the target audience of this device.
I have two USB 3.0 Hubs from Plugable -- each has 7 ports. I've plugged them into the two USB ports and this allows me to connect the many external drives I own. (I strongly favor local storage.) I didn't realize I'd be doing that when I bought the Mac mini but it's worked very well. The Mac mini serves my needs much better than a Apple laptop which does have significantly more ports. Don't ignore the importance of the dedicated electrical plug. I can't be more happy.
I bought the Satechi hub just before my M1 Mac mini arrived, and it looks great as a whole setup. Works nicely, and I’ve used all the ports, including for charging, except for the headphone lack (it will come in handy, I’m sure). As ever, great review.
I have the silver AGPTEK and it's great. I had the drive disconnect problem and when researching it I found people had said that switching from USB C to A to connect it resolves this problem. It does and the transfer speed was actually better for me. I can't speak as to why that is but in my tests having it on USB A I got better transfer speeds to the EVO 970 inside.
I purchased the Hagibis on my mac mini m2. I love it. I am able to provide power to it with the USB C power port which allows me to use the USB C port in the front which draws a lot of power and will fail with the added power supply. It also has an internal M.2 SSD port and a 2.5 inch SSD port. 3 USB 3 ports on the front, A micro SD and regular SD port and 1 USB C port on the front. I was having issues with it disconnecting and then I realized I could add external power to it on the 2nd USB C port in the back (the 1st one attaches to the MAC Mini M2). Works like a charm now.
Great review. Thanks. On the attachment/alignment issue on the AGPTEK I have one word for you .... Blutack! I use it in all sorts of places to seat equipment securely e.g. so that my network switch sits securely on its shelf in my equipment rack and doesn't move around if I plug or unplug a cable (I also use it on everything else in the equipment rack - various hubs and the multi-port USB power supply). There are all the old jokes about pretty much any DIY problem being solvable with either WD40 or duct tape. Personally I would add Blutack to that "does everything" toolkit because it's great at creating invisible, non-damaging, easily removable, but still surprisingly secure fixing between two objects.
Great video again. I personally got the satechi one. Reasons: my OCD and I can actually use the usb-c port on the front for my headphone amp. Fully agree with you on the awesomeness of the m1 mac mini though.
A couple of dabs of silicone, and the Mini stays perfectly aligned on the AGPTEK hub. And it rubs off without leaving a trace, if you ever want to revert the devices to "like new" condition.
@@MarkEllisReviews I pick up my brand-spanking new M1 Mac Mini this weekend, but I’ve already got the hub populated with a 500GB WD Blue SSD waiting for me to put Windows on that drive.
I thought I would have a need for one of these but I don’t. 1 USB A for wireless keyboard. 1 USB A connected to monitor which itself has an SD card reader and two USB As - one for graphics tablet. Thunderbolt to external disks which also has USB A for Time Machine. So I actually have a spare Thunderbolt on Mini. 😊
Regarding alignment of the two devices, you could use some of that silicone drawer liner stuff they sell in IKEA, hardware stores. It will keep things in place.
I just watched this after your iMAC 24" review. Now i think I need both! LOL I love your reviews. They tell you the stuff you need to know, not just the techie stuff and specs which are available everywhere. This is for users and you really nailed it IMHO
thank you so much for this video. I was getting frustrated from looking for a hub with both external storage and an usb-c port as im using both ports, one for a dongle for my keyboard and mouse and the other port for charging my phone. now that I know the agptek can use USB-A for power, this provided me with a clear choice. thanks!
I’ve had the Satechi since December and I really like it. I know it doesn’t have the internal storage space but I like it better than the other ones because it has a type C and a 3.5 mm as well versus the other Mini specific hubs on the market. And the way it fits is so seamless like Apple developed it specifically for the Mini. If Satechi ever designs a new hub with the internal storage slot (and maybe even figuring out a way to make the type C a thunderbolt) it’ll be a no brainer for everyone.
Honestly? The Satechi hub along with the Apple Studio Display is the perfect match. You lose 1 port in the back but gain 1 in the front. And the 4 in the back of the Apple Studio Display really kinda makes it not so overpriced considering USB C thunderbolts are ULTRA expensive because the data transfers are phenomenal. And it really helps with moving data on a Plex Media Server.
I just received my Elecife branded hub for my M1 Mac Mini today. It looked exactly like the AGPTEK and have exactly the same features set. Planning to install a 2TB SSD HDD for backup on the hub's SSD compartment.
I got the M2 Pro Mac mini, it's got 4 Thunderbolt ports around back. I have a Samsung T7 in 2TB attached, plus my 8TB external, so I'm good on storage. Thought I'd need a hub but I don't. Both A ports used, and I think I have a free Thunderbolt. Definitely going Satechi, the $99 one with the SSD slot. Black Friday/Cyber Monday here in the US, you can get 2TB for pretty close to $100.
Have 2 hubs in use. 1 with the black one where the bottom of the Mac mini m1 fits well and the other for ssd that is on top. That's another way to do it. Also works perfectly. Niels.
You might consider stacking the AGPTek hub on TOP of the Mac Mini. It's got those little feet that should help it say aligned, and it's a LOT easier to access the SD card slots.
The Satechi hub has one huge flaw - the usb-c port, which really isn't a usb-c port at all, except in physical shape. As it turns out, the Type-C port on this hub will only output a max of 2.5W (5V-0.5A) in order to power and read connected devices. This port will not provide enough power to read devices that require more power output in order to be read, such as an iPadPro, or the Samsung T7 external drive. Also the data transfer is no greater that the other ports. Altogether very disappointing as the things you might naturally want to connect via the usb-c port are not supported. The standard USB ports support 3.5W (5V-0.7A) and just about do support an iPad Pro.
I bought the AGPTEK dock, I wish it had a headphone jack. For the alignment issue, just put the AGPTEK on top, that also makes it easier to use the USB ports
Mark, I realize that you said you don’t delve too deeply into benchmarks, but please include a read/write speed test comparison b/c I have NOT been able to reach max speeds plugging directly into my Mac Mini. However, I’ve heard that the OWC hub fixes that problem. I am sure that it will be insightful to see you review the OWC dock. If you review the hub, that would be great. In any event, thank you for your consideration!
Everyone criticisms the M1 Mini for fewer ports, but they don't point out that the M1 Mini actually has more I/O *throughput* than the Intel Mini. For starters, the (optional) 10Gb Ethernet is ten times faster on the M1 than the 1GB Intel. Secondly, the WIFI 6 on the M1 Mini (9 Gb) is three times faster than the WIFI 5 on the Intel Mini (3 Gb). I confess that the USB 3.1 on the Intel Mini (10Gb) is twice as fast as the USB-A on the M1 Mini (5 Gb). But those four USB-C ports on the Intel Mini have the same total throughput as the M1 mini because two of those USB-C ports are split off the same USB-C bus as its pair. So if you add all these items up, the M1 Mini has (10+9+5+40*2)=104Gb/s throughput vs the Intel which has (1+3+10+40*2)=94Gb/s. That's 10% more data throughput on the M1 Mini than on the Intel Mini. (I admit I'm not sure if the USB A ports are throughput-shared or not, and that would reduce the M1's lead to 5%.) Fewer physical ports does not mean less I/O. *POSTSCRIPT* : The M1 Mini's Thunderbolt ports are also USB4, while the Intel's is not. This is important "future proofing" your I/O options.
Mark, thanks for your review. Question though: Is the M1 Mac Mini more or less identical to the M1 Macbook Air? Would this hub therefore work equally well on my M1 Macbook Air? Reviews don’t seem to cover any other model than the Mini. My plan is to buy a M2 Mac Mini when it comes out, and if I already have the Satechi, then I could just plug it over.
You helped me make my Satechi purchased. Bought used but good through Amazon. Works as expected. If I need anything more, I'll be purchasing a Thunderbolt Dock. Cheers!
I'd really like someone to come out with a thunderbolt version of these. You'd get much better transfer speeds on the drives and the ability to have displayport etc. Some of these do exist on aliexpress but they're still USB-C 3.1 and thus, to get a drive, display port and your USB ports all working, you have to use both USB-C ports. I have a thunderbolt dock but it's fugly....
I’m thinking of just going with the OWC thunderbolt 3 dock Pro. It’s far more expensive and no internal SSD option.. but high end fast throughput to external SSD’s. Just hide all of them. One could go with the newer OWC thunderbolt 4 dock. But I’ll probably go with the older thunderbolt 3 Pro dock. Both same speed a more ports for pro users.. not much more.. but a little.
Fingers crossed for me in music producton. Just ditched my 10 year old PC for a Mac Mini and this hub having understood Devs are not quite up to date on *some* of the software I use. I'll report back.
Satechi have 'just' released a new one, this one has an NVMe drive bay, it also has 2 10Gbps ports (one USB A and one USB C) . I just snagged one from Amazon.
Hi Mark, I so far own a MacBook Pro M1, which is my main editing and streaming machine. This is connected to a Calldigit TS3+ dock and it works like a charm and allows me to attach an external TB-case with a high speed m.2-SSD. The TB3-port at the Calldigit is as fast as the internal port and the R/W-speeds are fast enough to edit 4k video on the external m.2. Highly recommended. In addition I'm going to add another USB-C hub, like you suggest, which includes a 2.5" SSD as well, as I want that extra storage for the SSD in the bottom. Thanks for confirming my buying decision 😉
Great video. I'm going to give the Satechi another try with my M1. On the Intel Mini, not such a great experience, more often than not I could fry an egg on the top of the Mini 😂 it soon ended up in my circular filing cabinet ...
I can completely understand most everyone's concerns over the lack of connectivity on the newer M1 Macs. Change is a scary thing and I believe this is another move by Apple that is way ahead of every one else. Apple is subtlety pushing everyone towards using the "cloud" for everything. It is fast, reliable, and can be limitless in its storage capacity. Like you, I think the average user is not all that concerned with apparent lack of connectivity however, professionals are very concerned. USB has come a long way from when it was first introduced and I am impressed by both of these hubs. The solution I envision professionals is NAS. If you use a network attached storage device somewhere on your network, I think the lack of connectivity on the Mac mini isn't that big of a deal. Of course, there are many things to consider going this route and I am by no means an expert but it is an option. My rambling aside, thank you for another great review!
Great Video. I went for the Satechi which works nicely for me. I mostly do dev work in Xcode, using RemoteDesktop to connect to my company dev machine (Windows) and played some games - the system never got hot so far (using it for one week now ;) I went for it because it has a USB C in the front, fits nicely under the mini, perfect color match - I do not need the SSD slot. The transfer rates are OK for me. As you said: the hub is great for plugging in USB sticks for data transfer and so on. As a "data grave" I'm actually using a DIY network drive (Raspberry Pi with traditional spinning HDD) - which is, of course, waayyy slower than the SSD in your hub. A combination of those two hubs in a single product would be so damn perfect...
I bought a newer version of the Satechi hub that has a slot in the base to take an M.2 SSD. The front USB-C port is capable of charging my M1 iPad Air 5.
I purchased the AGPTEK and had a problem with the internal SSD randomly disconnecting. I had to play a bit. Seems as though I solved the issue with swapping out the internal SSD (which still works well in another drive enclosures) and I swapped out the small jumper Type C cable and have not had a problem since. I mount my drive on the top of my mini. I find that gives me better access to the front ports.
So if I have a Studio 1TB Computer with which Satechi claims is compatible with this dock and I put in a 2TB SSD will I know have a 3TB capacity computer? Thanks for the great review it’s nice to know you like it. I just ordered one today.
I got a hub when I got the new Mini last year, but mine is branded 'HAGiBiS'. Looks the same as the AGPTEK. I had a drop out problem occasionally when I was using it plugged into a USB C but it works fine when plugged into the USB A with a suitable cable (not all will work!) not had to run any software to avoid dropouts.
i personaly have now both because next drive is good ... satechi is main dock on bottom and agptek with 8TB EVO ssd sitting on top of baby mac fixed with little thin double-side tape .... a make my own iBURGER 😀 back USBA is for LogiBolt dongle for keyboard and mouse, both USB C for docks, and 2nd USBA is for little USB FAN for cooling for coffe, so all front USB's and reader's are free to use
I really wish someone would come out with a hub in this footprint that has more USB ports in the back. I don’t need more ports in the front but I need a ton more in the back for various connected devices. The only thing I know of out there currently is the OWC Ministack STX, but its only 4 USB C ports and I’d still rather have USB A options. 😕
How about the bluetooth and wifi connections?! Do they get interference by placing the mac mini on top of the hub vs placing the hub on top of the mac mini?! I heard that placing it on top of the hub, that it could possibly interfere with the BT and Wifi signals and hence making your wifi/bluetooth accessories skip a beat sort of speak? What are your thoughts? Did I get wrong information?
Quick question…have you tried a Mac Mini hub that has an SSD storage area built inside? Looks like a really good idea. The SSD sits in the hub and the Mac mini sits on top of both. That way you have a dedicated external drive that you don’t have to connect and disconnect. Thoughts?
I don’t really want a Mac mini, but with apple not coming forward with a replacement to the 27” iMac, I’ve been forced to look into it. Next thing for me to look into is if I can use my old 27” iMac as a monitor for a new Mac mini. If it allows then I may buy one. If not, it might be time to cross over into windows territory.
Pretty sure the AGPTEK was meant to be used on the top of the Mac Mini and not the bottom. Solves the fan issue and the slippery problem. The colour is a personal choice.
Thanks Mark for your thoughtful reviews. I just bought the Mac Mini M1 and have serious speed issues with external SSD drives. My Samsung t7 2Tb advertised at 1000Mb/s peaks at 650MB/s when connected directly to the thunderbolt port of the MacMini M1. I have read that many people are getting the same problem. I know that you're not a benchmark guy, but as you've extensively reviewed the M1 Mac Mini I'd love you to some speed test using Black Magic Speed Test so we could have objective numbers to compare... Would love to see these numbers with the drive connected directly to the computer and using a HUB. Together I have also bought the new OWC Thunderbolt Hub, also announced by many reviewers on UA-cam as THE best hub out there that actually enhances connections speed of your peripherals .. but again.. same disappointing performance here as I couldnt reproduce the data transfer rates announced by the reviewers. I really think there is an problem with the Mac Mini M1 and external drives transfer speeds and would love to have a specialist like you maybe investigate this issue. Thanks again for your great content.
The usb hubs on the new M1 macs are different, they work via 2 lanes now (instead of 1 lane) so we only get half of the performance unless we buy a newer SSD which transfer the data through 2 lanes, my T5 peaks at ~350mb/s instead of +500mb/s
Hello Mark. Did you tried to attach another monitor to your Mac Mini ( via thunderbolt 4 port ) or you tested could those thunderbolt 4 ( 3 ) ports can really output 4K@60Hz. I've tried this on mine m1 mac mini, but i cant get more than 4k@30Hz when connected via one of the USB-C to DisplayPort adapters ( not Apple's adapters but some 3rd party, which works fine when used on my older MacBook Pro and 4K monitor ). Keep with good content man!
The Mac mini's port problems solved? Or is there a better option?
How well does daisy-chaining these devices work or does it even?
Great. Thank you.
Thanks for the review, Mark! Update... the Satechi now comes with the hidden internal SSD. What a great value to add on to the Mac Mini.
Very helpful
@@hittjett Exactly. Chaining ALWAYS means exponential entire control chip level slow down in that port stream.
So I second the question: HOW MUCH DOES THE CHAINING SLOW FOR EACH ATTACHED?
Slight change up - Satechi now has an upgraded version with an SSD enclosure. Tips the scales a bit, IMO 🙂
unfortunately it only comes in light gray and not in space grey.
which SSD did you choose?!
Sweet, added to shopping list on Amazon. Waiting for the M1X Mac Mini :)
@@bryansproles2879 may as well get the mac mini now - how annoying is it no new mac mini pro
@@nostalaudio5080 Yeah, I saw the keynote - I don't think I want the M1 Mini - it can't do 32 gigs of memory. My normal iMac (late 2015 i7) is regularly using anywhere from 17-20 gigs of RAM just from the software I regularly use. I don't think 16 is going to cut it if I intend to make this my primary machine...
The Satechi now offers a M2 SSD port internally ... great time machine option.
I also chose the AGPTEK hub because I wanted the additional SSD inside, but I put my AGPTEK on top of the Mac Mini and it looks way better because the gap in between the two is smaller. Also, the rubber feet on the AGPTEK grip the Mac Mini well and it doesn't slide around like it did when the Mac Mini was on top. The overall look is more aesthetic and I like that.
What SSD card are you using for the internal slot on it? Trying to figure out what to get as an external storage for Time Machine
No mention that the Satechi has many negative reviews about interference with WiFi and Bluetooth. I bought one; my WiFI dropped by over 60%. Satechi Customer Service sent me a replacement and admitted that several went out with a defective shield and the second one was just as bad, they have both gone back. Also, my M1 heated up when this was attached. I've replaced with a ANKER hub.
dont place it UNDERNEATH . put it on top
Satechi was my pick. I got it just before they came out with the silver but even in space gray it looks good with my silver mini. It had the ports I needed.
I agree with your recommendation Mark. I purchased the matching color Hagibis version of the USB-C hub and added a Samsung 2TB drive for an extra $200. 00 from Amazon. I had purchased the 16gig ram and 512gig Mac Mini and am very pleased with the set up. I also have 2 27” monitors so the ports on the Mac Mini were getting used up….I think it was a much better approach than buying a Mac Mini with a 1TB drive since for almost the same price, I have 2.5TB of storage plus ports on the front to handle assorted peripherals and flash drives.
You got the 16gb ram or 8gb ram?
Bob, are you connecting your Monitor 1 to Mac Mini HDMi and Monitor 2 to one of the MAc Mini TBs ? or Monitor 2 you connectd to the Hagib´s USB / DP POrt ( in the case if you picked the Hagibs MC 25PRO DP. I am almost purchasing one because one of my Mac MIni TB ports will be connected to Avid Audio interfaced. Thanks.
Hi Mark. Four small pieces of velcro-one in each corner and the AGPTEK does not movie. Does not damage the computer or docking station and completely solves the problem of movement. I have used mine like this since I purchased it 9 months ago (on your recommendation-thank you). Great docking station and even better now with four bits of velcro. Simple solution.
Fantastic video! 3 years later, Satechi's website for this hub now states that the 3 front USB 3.2 ports consist of 2x Type A @ 5Gbps and 1 Type A @ 10Gbps, and of course the Type C is also @ 10Gbps. The integrated NVME slot, also is capped at 10Gbps, so that makes it a USB 3.2 Gen 2. If you choose this hub in 2024 (like I did) you can save a few bucks by not getting a gen 4 and get a gen 3 nvme drive, or you can get a gen 4 drive to outlive the machine, when you upgrade to put somewhere else, just know the max bandwidth will be capped by the hub. Either way, it's still a solid and relevant piece of tech for the target audience of this device.
I have two USB 3.0 Hubs from Plugable -- each has 7 ports. I've plugged them into the two USB ports and this allows me to connect the many external drives I own. (I strongly favor local storage.) I didn't realize I'd be doing that when I bought the Mac mini but it's worked very well. The Mac mini serves my needs much better than a Apple laptop which does have significantly more ports. Don't ignore the importance of the dedicated electrical plug. I can't be more happy.
I can live with a little double sided tape to help with alignment issues. The extra storage from the SSD is well worth that.
Consider to put the Agptec thing above the Mac Mini. Less space between both, better ventilation and surface of Mac Mini protected from scratches etc.
I bought the Satechi hub just before my M1 Mac mini arrived, and it looks great as a whole setup. Works nicely, and I’ve used all the ports, including for charging, except for the headphone lack (it will come in handy, I’m sure). As ever, great review.
I have the silver AGPTEK and it's great. I had the drive disconnect problem and when researching it I found people had said that switching from USB C to A to connect it resolves this problem. It does and the transfer speed was actually better for me. I can't speak as to why that is but in my tests having it on USB A I got better transfer speeds to the EVO 970 inside.
You can install an SSD directly inside the hub. It works well for editing video. I installed a 2TB SSD inside my hub.
Do you have problems with the ssd disconnecting? If so, what was the fix?
I purchased the Hagibis on my mac mini m2. I love it. I am able to provide power to it with the USB C power port which allows me to use the USB C port in the front which draws a lot of power and will fail with the added power supply. It also has an internal M.2 SSD port and a 2.5 inch SSD port. 3 USB 3 ports on the front, A micro SD and regular SD port and 1 USB C port on the front. I was having issues with it disconnecting and then I realized I could add external power to it on the 2nd USB C port in the back (the 1st one attaches to the MAC Mini M2). Works like a charm now.
Great review. Thanks. On the attachment/alignment issue on the AGPTEK I have one word for you .... Blutack! I use it in all sorts of places to seat equipment securely e.g. so that my network switch sits securely on its shelf in my equipment rack and doesn't move around if I plug or unplug a cable (I also use it on everything else in the equipment rack - various hubs and the multi-port USB power supply).
There are all the old jokes about pretty much any DIY problem being solvable with either WD40 or duct tape. Personally I would add Blutack to that "does everything" toolkit because it's great at creating invisible, non-damaging, easily removable, but still surprisingly secure fixing between two objects.
Great video again. I personally got the satechi one. Reasons: my OCD and I can actually use the usb-c port on the front for my headphone amp. Fully agree with you on the awesomeness of the m1 mac mini though.
Thank you! And a great choice. It can't be beaten in terms of fit and finish.
A couple of dabs of silicone, and the Mini stays perfectly aligned on the AGPTEK hub. And it rubs off without leaving a trace, if you ever want to revert the devices to "like new" condition.
I have the Satechi and have really enjoyed it. The click on the SD slot is super satisfying.
FYI, Satechi now has a dock/hub that has a SSD bay. I own one, and I think it is great!! It’s totally ballin’!
Yes, so I see - looks nice!
@@MarkEllisReviews I pick up my brand-spanking new M1 Mac Mini this weekend, but I’ve already got the hub populated with a 500GB WD Blue SSD waiting for me to put Windows on that drive.
They now have a version with M.2 SSD too.
@@geraldbalzer2429 Yes, I know. I own one, and it is great!
I thought I would have a need for one of these but I don’t. 1 USB A for wireless keyboard. 1 USB A connected to monitor which itself has an SD card reader and two USB As - one for graphics tablet. Thunderbolt to external disks which also has USB A for Time Machine. So I actually have a spare Thunderbolt on Mini. 😊
I just ordered the Satechi that now sports an SSD enclosure underneath! An extra 1 Terabyte for $75!
Regarding alignment of the two devices, you could use some of that silicone drawer liner stuff they sell in IKEA, hardware stores. It will keep things in place.
Great Video. No silly intro and to the point. Wish all videos were as good as this. Thanks
Means a lot - thanks!
I just watched this after your iMAC 24" review. Now i think I need both! LOL
I love your reviews. They tell you the stuff you need to know, not just the techie stuff and specs which are available everywhere. This is for users and you really nailed it IMHO
Thanks so much!
thank you so much for this video. I was getting frustrated from looking for a hub with both external storage and an usb-c port as im using both ports, one for a dongle for my keyboard and mouse and the other port for charging my phone. now that I know the agptek can use USB-A for power, this provided me with a clear choice. thanks!
Ah, that’s great to hear - thanks for letting me know!
I’ve had the Satechi since December and I really like it. I know it doesn’t have the internal storage space but I like it better than the other ones because it has a type C and a 3.5 mm as well versus the other Mini specific hubs on the market. And the way it fits is so seamless like Apple developed it specifically for the Mini. If Satechi ever designs a new hub with the internal storage slot (and maybe even figuring out a way to make the type C a thunderbolt) it’ll be a no brainer for everyone.
I went with the Mac Mini, cannot wait to receive it.
You won't regret it!
Honestly? The Satechi hub along with the Apple Studio Display is the perfect match. You lose 1 port in the back but gain 1 in the front. And the 4 in the back of the Apple Studio Display really kinda makes it not so overpriced considering USB C thunderbolts are ULTRA expensive because the data transfers are phenomenal. And it really helps with moving data on a Plex Media Server.
I just received my Elecife branded hub for my M1 Mac Mini today. It looked exactly like the AGPTEK and have exactly the same features set. Planning to install a 2TB SSD HDD for backup on the hub's SSD compartment.
I don' t even own a MacMini, but stayed in this video to listen to your voice! Very beautiful! 😊 Haha
man I got the m1 Mac mini and the satechi, they work great. Love the speed! subbed
Thanks for the sub!
How is the speed? What kind of work are you doing? I'm thinking of getting one. Thanks.
@@timetravelvictim really well, I mainly use mine to sync my phone but I also use it with my external audio interface with no lag or issues
The agptek hub is rebranded and dropshipped and originally from colorii and is called the mc25, colorii also released the mc25 pro now.
It's worth mentioning that the Satechi new version now comes with an m.2 ssd enclosure on the bottom, it's $20 more though.
I got the M2 Pro Mac mini, it's got 4 Thunderbolt ports around back. I have a Samsung T7 in 2TB attached, plus my 8TB external, so I'm good on storage. Thought I'd need a hub but I don't. Both A ports used, and I think I have a free Thunderbolt. Definitely going Satechi, the $99 one with the SSD slot. Black Friday/Cyber Monday here in the US, you can get 2TB for pretty close to $100.
Have 2 hubs in use. 1 with the black one where the bottom of the Mac mini m1 fits well and the other for ssd that is on top. That's another way to do it. Also works perfectly. Niels.
You might consider stacking the AGPTek hub on TOP of the Mac Mini. It's got those little feet that should help it say aligned, and it's a LOT easier to access the SD card slots.
The Satechi hub has one huge flaw - the usb-c port, which really isn't a usb-c port at all, except in physical shape. As it turns out, the Type-C port on this hub will only output a max of 2.5W (5V-0.5A) in order to power and read connected devices. This port will not provide enough power to read devices that require more power output in order to be read, such as an iPadPro, or the Samsung T7 external drive. Also the data transfer is no greater that the other ports. Altogether very disappointing as the things you might naturally want to connect via the usb-c port are not supported. The standard USB ports support 3.5W (5V-0.7A) and just about do support an iPad Pro.
I bought the AGPTEK dock, I wish it had a headphone jack. For the alignment issue, just put the AGPTEK on top, that also makes it easier to use the USB ports
Nice job, Mark! I’d like to see you do a review on a Thunderbolt 4 hub like the Caldigit or OWC. Thanks!
Thank you! And I will certainly check them out.
Mark, I realize that you said you don’t delve too deeply into benchmarks, but please include a read/write speed test comparison b/c I have NOT been able to reach max speeds plugging directly into my Mac Mini. However, I’ve heard that the OWC hub fixes that problem.
I am sure that it will be insightful to see you review the OWC dock. If you review the hub, that would be great.
In any event, thank you for your consideration!
Everyone criticisms the M1 Mini for fewer ports, but they don't point out that the M1 Mini actually has more I/O *throughput* than the Intel Mini. For starters, the (optional) 10Gb Ethernet is ten times faster on the M1 than the 1GB Intel. Secondly, the WIFI 6 on the M1 Mini (9 Gb) is three times faster than the WIFI 5 on the Intel Mini (3 Gb). I confess that the USB 3.1 on the Intel Mini (10Gb) is twice as fast as the USB-A on the M1 Mini (5 Gb). But those four USB-C ports on the Intel Mini have the same total throughput as the M1 mini because two of those USB-C ports are split off the same USB-C bus as its pair. So if you add all these items up, the M1 Mini has (10+9+5+40*2)=104Gb/s throughput vs the Intel which has (1+3+10+40*2)=94Gb/s. That's 10% more data throughput on the M1 Mini than on the Intel Mini. (I admit I'm not sure if the USB A ports are throughput-shared or not, and that would reduce the M1's lead to 5%.) Fewer physical ports does not mean less I/O. *POSTSCRIPT* : The M1 Mini's Thunderbolt ports are also USB4, while the Intel's is not. This is important "future proofing" your I/O options.
This comparison was what I was needing! Thank you!
Thanks for watching, Jeff!
Mark, thanks for your review. Question though: Is the M1 Mac Mini more or less identical to the M1 Macbook Air? Would this hub therefore work equally well on my M1 Macbook Air? Reviews don’t seem to cover any other model than the Mini.
My plan is to buy a M2 Mac Mini when it comes out, and if I already have the Satechi, then I could just plug it over.
You helped me make my Satechi purchased. Bought used but good through Amazon. Works as expected. If I need anything more, I'll be purchasing a Thunderbolt Dock. Cheers!
Glad to be of service :)
I'd really like someone to come out with a thunderbolt version of these.
You'd get much better transfer speeds on the drives and the ability to have displayport etc. Some of these do exist on aliexpress but they're still USB-C 3.1 and thus, to get a drive, display port and your USB ports all working, you have to use both USB-C ports.
I have a thunderbolt dock but it's fugly....
The airflow is at the back? no issue. I hold my hand over the hole and I feel the slight breeze
Addapp and the the internal ssd hub: two excellent advices. Thx!
Thank you for this comprehensive review. Today I ordered a Satechi with a compartment for an M2 SSD, so that advantage of the AGPTEK is gone. ;-)
Enjoy!
I’m thinking of just going with the OWC thunderbolt 3 dock Pro. It’s far more expensive and no internal SSD option.. but high end fast throughput to external SSD’s. Just hide all of them. One could go with the newer OWC thunderbolt 4 dock. But I’ll probably go with the older thunderbolt 3 Pro dock. Both same speed a more ports for pro users.. not much more.. but a little.
Would they work on my 2012 Mac Mini?
I like the look of this badboy but at some point, given the extra cost and the larger 'height' per se, do you just need to get the Mac Studio instead?
as its been ove half a year i suggest reviewing the Quizzlab and Hagibis hubs as well! Also do they require a 4 amp external power charger?
Fingers crossed for me in music producton. Just ditched my 10 year old PC for a Mac Mini and this hub having understood Devs are not quite up to date on *some* of the software I use. I'll report back.
Can I use both of them???
Satechi have 'just' released a new one, this one has an NVMe drive bay, it also has 2 10Gbps ports (one USB A and one USB C) . I just snagged one from Amazon.
Hi Mark,
I so far own a MacBook Pro M1, which is my main editing and streaming machine. This is connected to a Calldigit TS3+ dock and it works like a charm and allows me to attach an external TB-case with a high speed m.2-SSD. The TB3-port at the Calldigit is as fast as the internal port and the R/W-speeds are fast enough to edit 4k video on the external m.2. Highly recommended.
In addition I'm going to add another USB-C hub, like you suggest, which includes a 2.5" SSD as well, as I want that extra storage for the SSD in the bottom. Thanks for confirming my buying decision 😉
Pleasure 😉
Great video. I'm going to give the Satechi another try with my M1. On the Intel Mini, not such a great experience, more often than not I could fry an egg on the top of the Mini 😂 it soon ended up in my circular filing cabinet ...
The blame for that lies entirely with Intel. Hot chips and terrible thermal paste.
I can completely understand most everyone's concerns over the lack of connectivity on the newer M1 Macs. Change is a scary thing and I believe this is another move by Apple that is way ahead of every one else. Apple is subtlety pushing everyone towards using the "cloud" for everything. It is fast, reliable, and can be limitless in its storage capacity. Like you, I think the average user is not all that concerned with apparent lack of connectivity however, professionals are very concerned. USB has come a long way from when it was first introduced and I am impressed by both of these hubs. The solution I envision professionals is NAS. If you use a network attached storage device somewhere on your network, I think the lack of connectivity on the Mac mini isn't that big of a deal. Of course, there are many things to consider going this route and I am by no means an expert but it is an option. My rambling aside, thank you for another great review!
cloud its not good for porn storage
@@oviandre ??? Really? Why? Inappropriate....
Im confused. I thought Satechi had a SSD port in it as well? Or did they add that in later?
Why don't you sit the APGTEK on top of the Mac mini ?easier alignment and get the ventilation from exposed bottom of Mac mini?
Not a bad idea, Peter, but it's an aesthetics thing for me (daft, I know).
That's what I did
Great Video. I went for the Satechi which works nicely for me. I mostly do dev work in Xcode, using RemoteDesktop to connect to my company dev machine (Windows) and played some games - the system never got hot so far (using it for one week now ;) I went for it because it has a USB C in the front, fits nicely under the mini, perfect color match - I do not need the SSD slot. The transfer rates are OK for me. As you said: the hub is great for plugging in USB sticks for data transfer and so on.
As a "data grave" I'm actually using a DIY network drive (Raspberry Pi with traditional spinning HDD) - which is, of course, waayyy slower than the SSD in your hub.
A combination of those two hubs in a single product would be so damn perfect...
did AGPTEK just a rebranded version of hagibis? and how do you connect APTEK with usb-A to mini?
Really good info. Going with a Satechi - the model that has an internal spot for an SSD. Great and thanks!
youe videos are great! do you have a video of what screens would work best with the mac mini for programmers and video editors?! thanks! 😄
The satechi actually has another benefit in reducing dust intake from the bottom of mac mini. It's like another guard layer to dust I think.
late question..can we make a tower of these ? like two or three of them on top of each other ?
I bought a newer version of the Satechi hub that has a slot in the base to take an M.2 SSD. The front USB-C port is capable of charging my M1 iPad Air 5.
I purchased the AGPTEK and had a problem with the internal SSD randomly disconnecting. I had to play a bit. Seems as though I solved the issue with swapping out the internal SSD (which still works well in another drive enclosures) and I swapped out the small jumper Type C cable and have not had a problem since. I mount my drive on the top of my mini. I find that gives me better access to the front ports.
Have you tried the Satechi hub which supports an internal SSD card? If so, how is the transfer rate?
So if I have a Studio 1TB Computer with which Satechi claims is compatible with this dock and I put in a 2TB SSD will I know have a 3TB capacity computer? Thanks for the great review it’s nice to know you like it. I just ordered one today.
I got a hub when I got the new Mini last year, but mine is branded 'HAGiBiS'. Looks the same as the AGPTEK. I had a drop out problem occasionally when I was using it plugged into a USB C but it works fine when plugged into the USB A with a suitable cable (not all will work!) not had to run any software to avoid dropouts.
i personaly have now both because next drive is good ... satechi is main dock on bottom and agptek with 8TB EVO ssd sitting on top of baby mac fixed with little thin double-side tape .... a make my own iBURGER 😀 back USBA is for LogiBolt dongle for keyboard and mouse, both USB C for docks, and 2nd USBA is for little USB FAN for cooling for coffe, so all front USB's and reader's are free to use
I really wish someone would come out with a hub in this footprint that has more USB ports in the back. I don’t need more ports in the front but I need a ton more in the back for various connected devices.
The only thing I know of out there currently is the OWC Ministack STX, but its only 4 USB C ports and I’d still rather have USB A options. 😕
How about the bluetooth and wifi connections?! Do they get interference by placing the mac mini on top of the hub vs placing the hub on top of the mac mini?! I heard that placing it on top of the hub, that it could possibly interfere with the BT and Wifi signals and hence making your wifi/bluetooth accessories skip a beat sort of speak? What are your thoughts? Did I get wrong information?
I use some silicon feet on my setup. Stays in place almost like is was glued and the gap aids ventilation.
I think the OWC miniStack STX is a better device because it is Thunderbolt and by my understanding the ones you mention are only USB hubs.
Okay Mark you know i like to wind you up, But from a serious point can you recommend a fast external SSD drive to connect to my MacMini M2,
Good Lad,
Quick question…have you tried a Mac Mini hub that has an SSD storage area built inside? Looks like a really good idea. The SSD sits in the hub and the Mac mini sits on top of both. That way you have a dedicated external drive that you don’t have to connect and disconnect. Thoughts?
Why are there no direct Qwiizlab vs Sateshi reviews anywhere on the internet/youtube?
These can be used on an iMac right ???????????
Hey bro! Got my Mac mini. What one would u say it the best for me?
I don’t really want a Mac mini, but with apple not coming forward with a replacement to the 27” iMac, I’ve been forced to look into it. Next thing for me to look into is if I can use my old 27” iMac as a monitor for a new Mac mini. If it allows then I may buy one. If not, it might be time to cross over into windows territory.
I know I came a little bit late, but Satechi does have M.2 port underneath it ( I have it ), I think it's two different versions.
Any issues with the Wi-Fi?
Pretty sure the AGPTEK was meant to be used on the top of the Mac Mini and not the bottom. Solves the fan issue and the slippery problem. The colour is a personal choice.
Thanks Mark for your thoughtful reviews. I just bought the Mac Mini M1 and have serious speed issues with external SSD drives. My Samsung t7 2Tb advertised at 1000Mb/s peaks at 650MB/s when connected directly to the thunderbolt port of the MacMini M1. I have read that many people are getting the same problem. I know that you're not a benchmark guy, but as you've extensively reviewed the M1 Mac Mini I'd love you to some speed test using Black Magic Speed Test so we could have objective numbers to compare... Would love to see these numbers with the drive connected directly to the computer and using a HUB.
Together I have also bought the new OWC Thunderbolt Hub, also announced by many reviewers on UA-cam as THE best hub out there that actually enhances connections speed of your peripherals .. but again.. same disappointing performance here as I couldnt reproduce the data transfer rates announced by the reviewers.
I really think there is an problem with the Mac Mini M1 and external drives transfer speeds and would love to have a specialist like you maybe investigate this issue.
Thanks again for your great content.
Thank you - that means a lot.
The usb hubs on the new M1 macs are different, they work via 2 lanes now (instead of 1 lane) so we only get half of the performance unless we buy a newer SSD which transfer the data through 2 lanes, my T5 peaks at ~350mb/s instead of +500mb/s
@@MarkEllisReviews Hopefully that means you're going to make a video about this issue, with numbers.. ;)
@@sonervisuals I also have a 500mb/s Sandisk Extreme that peaks at only 370Mbs... even connected directly to the M1 Mac Mini
@@Superjeanmarc I hope there will be a software fix in the future (if it is even possible?)
I wonder if these hubs can handle usb intefaces and or usb midi controllers. I am a musician and am struggling with the lack of ports . Thank you
@Mark, i have now the Satechi with place for a SSD inside. Now is this de beter Choice
Agreed - that’s a great upgrade for a great little product.
You do know you can get the Satechi with internal harddrive capabilities, right?
Yup, but they didn't at the time this video was made ;)
@@MarkEllisReviews Thats weird. Cause I had one at that time.
Hello Mark. Did you tried to attach another monitor to your Mac Mini ( via thunderbolt 4 port ) or you tested could those thunderbolt 4 ( 3 ) ports can really output 4K@60Hz. I've tried this on mine m1 mac mini, but i cant get more than 4k@30Hz when connected via one of the USB-C to DisplayPort adapters ( not Apple's adapters but some 3rd party, which works fine when used on my older MacBook Pro and 4K monitor ). Keep with good content man!
If you plug in a Bluetooth mouse in the hub, will it have delay?
Satechi also comes with additional SSD slot now, but with only M2 SSD.
Is the AGPTECK discontinued or just out of stock and coming back on Amazon?
Could you please talk about your keyboard? Is it a one alternative apple magic keyboard? (That means you can type pass to login MacOS)
great review. bought the satechi and two matte black wraps.
Nice! Were the wraps for the hub?
Nice concise review, thanks. I like that I wouldn’t have to tie up the USB C with Agptek, so keeping free for second monitor.
Thank you!
Can you daisy chain those hubs to the mini?
Satechi does now make a mini hub that has a m.2 ssd connector (Not NVME) though its 99.99 usd on amazon-us
Holding out for the new mac mini