Product Review: Inateck 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Magic Port

The Inateck 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub has a magical feature included, aptly named the Magic Port.

The hub itself does pretty much what you'd expect – it serves up USB 3.0 connections. This means you can both connect your USB 3.0 (5Gbps transfer) devices and also use the ports to charge devices. As just a USB hub, it's solidly built and the ports are bolstered by a gold metallic finish, ensuring you can connect and reconnect USB devices again and again without worrying about material fatigue.

But, the real value for this hub is the cross-platform file transfer and KVM functions – or the Magic Port.

The Magic Port allows you to connect a Windows 7 or Windows 8.x computer to another computer running Mac OS or Android. Using the connection you can drag-and-drop files between two Windows and Mac computers using the same mouse and keyboard (they need to be connected to the hub so it's shared across computers). Additionally, anything copied to the clipboard is also available for sharing. Since this is KVM technology, you basically use the connected mouse across both connected PCs, almost like a multi-monitor setup except that one display is Windows and the other is Mac (or Mac to Mac, or Windows to Windows).

An OTG adapter is included, which means you can also connect devices that use a smaller USB connection including smartphones. You can effectively plug in your smartphone and make the files there available across the connected PCs.

A driver is required, but that comes installed on the hub itself. When you connect the hub for the first time, you are prompted to perform the installation.

The package comes complete with the Inateck HB4009 USB 3.0 3-port hub, 120cm USB 2.0 cable, OTG adapter, and instruction manual.

You can find the hub on Amazon for around $25: Inateck 3-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Magic Port