PC

All-in-one charger and USB hub for mobile devices

The Prolink ProBrick+ comes with four USB 3.0 ports, nine interchangeable laptop charging tips and a car charging cable.
The Prolink ProBrick+ comes with four USB 3.0 ports, nine interchangeable laptop charging tips and a car charging cable. PHOTO: PROLINK

The Prolink ProBrick+ is a souped-up charger and USB hub for your mobile devices.

First, connect it to a power source, such as an electrical outlet (100V to 240V) or a PC's USB port. Then plug your smartphones and tablets to the four USB 3.0 ports to charge the devices.

The ProBrick+ also acts as a USB hub to transfer data between a connected PC and your mobile devices at speeds of up to 5Gbps.

On top of that, it is a universal notebook charger as well. It comes with nine interchangeable laptop charging tips that are suitable for a range of notebook models from popular manufacturers such as Acer, Dell and HP.

However, these charging tips were compatible with just two of the four laptops that I tested. I believe this feature will probably become less useful in the near future because laptop makers, such as Apple, are gradually switching to the USB Type-C port for charging.

  • TECH SPECS

  • PRICE: $158

    MAX OUTPUT POWER: 80W

    PORTS: 4 x USB 3.0

    USB TRANSFER RATE: 5Gbps

    WEIGHT: 169g

  • RATING

  • FEATURES: 4/5

    DESIGN: 3/5

    VALUE FOR MONEY: 2/5

    OVERALL: 3/5

The ProBrick+ is as heavy as a phablet. You can even use it in your car with the included car charging cable. In short, the ProBrick+ can replace all your other chargers, as long as your notebook is supported.

Prolink is confident enough about the ProBrick+ that it offers product liability coverage (from NTUC Income) of up to $1 million worldwide (excluding the United States and Canada).

However, the device is expensive for a USB hub-cum-charger, especially if you do not need its notebook charging feature.

• Carry the ProBrick+ on your travels instead of multiple chargers. Its USB hub feature is a nice bonus.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 16, 2016, with the headline All-in-one charger and USB hub for mobile devices. Subscribe