The trouble with wireless phone chargers is that they take up valuable room on your desk even when they’re not being used. But the Aukey CB-C70 is also a multiport USB-C hub, so it packs plenty of functionality into a small package.
I thoroughly tested this accessory in my home office. Here’s how it stood up to daily use.
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Aukey CB-C70 review: Multiport hub and wireless charger in one
Wireless phone charging is convenient, but the charger is something that has to sit on your desk. And a multiport hub expands the capabilities of your Mac by connecting the USB-C port to legacy accessories like HDMI monitors and thumbdrives. But, again, the hub takes up space.
The Aukey CB-C70 can be a real space saver. It’s both a wireless charger and a 4-port hub. Combining two accessories into one doesn’t always work — no one wants a combination vacuum cleaner/toothbrush — but Aukey is on to something here.
Hardware
The CB-C70 looks quite professional. The top is a plastic matte black square that’s 3.7 inches on a side. But the corners are very rounded and the top is slightly convex.
Just place a compatible iPhone or Android on this charger to start power flowing. Apple handsets since the iPhone 8 support this feature. Many Samsung models do too, as well as phones from other makers.
The sides and bottom of the Aukey CB-C70 are a single piece of medium-grey Zinc alloy. This casing houses all the ports and the connecting cable. The top has a signifcant overhang, so the ports aren’t out in plain sight. This thoughtful design makes the accessory more attractive.
Despite all the features, the whole device is just 0.6 inches thick. It won’t take up too much room on your desk.
Overall build quality is excellent. I’ve tested several Aukey accessories over the years, and all have been high quality.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Ports
On one edge of the Aukey CB-C70 is a pair of USB 3.0 Type-A ports. Plug a removable drive to these and they’ll transfer data at up to 5 Gbps. Or use them to connect your Mac to legacy accessories like printers, keyboards, etc.
On the opposite edge of Aukey’s hub is an HDMI port. This supports 4K video and 30 Hz — not a particularly fast refresh rate. It’s fine for work. but you might want a better adapter for high-speed gaming.
Next to this is a USB-C port. Connect this to a wall socket to power all the functions of the CB-C70, including wireless charging. It’ll recharge your Mac too. It can handle up to 100W to quickly replenish your computer. But it’s only for power. It won‘t acknowledge any USB-C peripherals.
The multiport adapter connects to your Mac through a USB-C connector on the end of a 6.2-inch cable. This can handle up to 100W.
Don’t get confused because there are two ways to power the Aukey CB-C70. If the accessory is only plugged into your Mac with its built-in cable, the computer will power the ports but not the wireless phone charger. Only if a cable with an external power supply is connected to the CB-C70’s USB-C port will power go to the wireless phone charger.
The idea is that you should be able to use the ports in this hub without draining your MacBook’s battery running the wireless charger.
Aukey CB-C70 performance
This accessory’s wireless charger can transmit up to 10W of current, but Apple’s handsets top out at 7.5W. To test the CB-C70, I had it recharge an iPhone 11. Over multiple runs, it raised the battery level of the handset approximately 15% over 30 minutes. That’s consistent with other 7.5W wireless chargers I’ve tested.
How quickly Aukey’s accessory recharges a MacBook or iPad depends on how much current you provide it. The hub can handle up to 100W, though most USB-C wall chargers provide less than that.
As for the other ports, I was able to hook the Aukey CB-C70 to a TV and watch a video stored on a USB drive with no issues. Every thumbdrive I tested with this accessory performed as expected.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Aukey CB-C70 final thoughts
The ideal setup for the Aukey CB-C70 multiport hub with wireless charger is to sit permanently on your desk, connected to a large external monitor and perhaps a keyboard and mouse. When it’s time to recharge your iPhone, just drop it on top of this accessory.
It helps that this product is well designed and solidly constructed.
Pricing
The Aukey CB-C70 costs $49.99. That would be a reasonable price to pay for a well-made multiport hub and a separate wireless charger. In one convenient unit, it’s a good deal.
Buy from: Amazon
Comparable products
There are plenty of decent wireless chargers on the market. A nice, simple option is the Satechi Wireless Charger V2. Or the Belkin Boost Up Charge Wireless Charging Stand holds your iPhone up either horizontally or vertically.
The range of hubs goes from the Satechi Slim Aluminum Type-C Multi-Port Adapter V2 with just a handful of ports up to the Aukey CB-C78 with a dozen ports.
As for products that combine these features, the Aukey CB-C70 stands just about alone. I‘m unaware of a direct competitor.
Aukey provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
