Plugable has announced a new multi-port USB-C hub that can power or charge up to 10 connected devices using intelligent power distribution and an easy-to-understand priority-based charging system.
The company is bringing its new PS-10CC hub to consumers through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. The earliest backers can get one for $59, while the hub’s full MSRP will be closer to $99, with delivery expected as early as January 2025. There’s always a level of risk when backing a crowdfunded product, but Plugable has successfully delivered three devices through previous Kickstarters and says it already has functional prototypes of its new PS-10CC.
Plugable’s new hub can deliver up to 100W of power to all 10 ports, so you won’t have to guess which ones will be powerful enough to charge larger devices like laptops. However, the hub can’t deliver 100W to every port simultaneously or even two at a time. Its power input is capped at 100W, that can be shared across all 10 ports.
So while the hub can potentially power 10 devices at once if their combined power draw doesn’t exceed what the connected power adapter can deliver (you’ll need to supply your own with a minimum power delivery of 18W), it’s instead designed to triage and prioritize which connected devices need power most. Using a combination of “real-time current sensing technology” and a system that prioritizes connected devices from left to right, the PS-10CC will redistribute power across its ports as higher-priority devices reach full battery.
The hub puts the onus on users to decide which devices they need charged first, but eventually, everything connected will be powered up. Its limited power capacity may mean it’s not the perfect solution for a desk full of gadgets that includes multiple computers, but if your bedside table is piled with phones, smartwatches, tablets, headphones, and e-readers, the PS-10CC could help streamline your overnight power needs.