Juiced Systems CruzHUB adapter review: A must-have for all Surface Laptop users

Windows Central Recommended Award

Despite being quite expensive and rocking last year's Intel processors the Surface Laptop is still arguably the most beautiful, most pleasant Windows 10 laptop experience you can get.

But its lack of modern ports is less than ideal. The CruzHUB ($75 on Amazon) is the solution to that problem, and I consider this a must-have accessory for Surface Laptop.

What is the CruzHUB?

Juiced Systems CruzHUB

CruzHUB from Juiced Systems is a custom-tailored port expander for the Surface Laptop. Featuring a bevy of modern ports, the CruzHUB should make the Surface Laptop significantly more useful when traveling. Here is what you get:

  • Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000).
  • 4K HDMI (4K @ 30Hz).
  • Two USB 3.0 Ports (5Gbps).
  • SD memory slot.
  • microSD slot.
  • AUX input (headphones).
  • LED power light.

All of this comes in a tapered-metal black body that plugs into the existing USB port, mini DisplayPort, and headphone jack.

It's an intelligent design and because it uses three ports to connect, it's very stable with no wiggle or looseness. The Ethernet port on the back is positioned at the thickest point of the hub, and it makes having this device so much more useful for situations where you need a wired connection. I find HDMI much more useful than a DisplayPort so having that converter here is fantastic. But the real winner here is the inclusion of a microSD and full SD card reader. For those who want to use Surface Laptop to edit photos or transfer data from an external card, such a feature is outstanding to have in addition to the rest of those ports.

Snapping the CruzHUB onto the Surface Laptop is easy, and you don't need to leave this on when you travel or put it in a bag. It also comes with a small travel bag.

CruzHUB makes Surface Laptop more useful

Juiced Systems CruzHUB

If you need more ports on your Surface Laptop, grab the CruzHUB from Juiced Systems. The custom design is excellent, the port selection is solid, and the price is fair. (Amazon has a $6 coupon that brings the hub down to $69; you can apply it when you add the product to your cart.)

There are some improvements I wouldn't mind seeing, though. While custom matching colors may be too niche for this product, a CruzHUB in burgundy, cobalt or even just Surface gray would have been killer. And instead of a second USB-A port, a Type-C would have been great.

Overall, I'm excited to see a personalized accessory like CruzHUB come to Surface Laptop. A premium laptop demands matching accessories, and the Juiced Systems CruzHUB is precisely that.

See at Amazon (opens in new tab)

Hubs for Surface Pro and Surface 3

Surface Pro Gigabit adapter with 2x USB 3.0 for Surface Pro.

Surface Pro Gigabit adapter with 2x USB 3.0 for Surface Pro.

Juiced Systems also sent over its multi-function Gigabit adapter ($30 on Amazon (opens in new tab)), which is custom made for the Surface Pro (Surface Pro 4 and Surface Pro 2017).

The mini adapter takes over the single USB A port on the Surface Pro and adds two USB 3.0 ports (5Gbps), and one Gigabit Ethernet Port (10/100/1000).

The adapter sits flush with the Surface Pro's body, making it feel like a proper extension versus a generic port-expander. It would have been great to get an SD card reader in there as well the Ethernet port, but two USB 3.0 ports are very helpful.

Juiced Systems also has a Surface 3 5-in-1 adapter ($24 on Amazon (opens in new tab)) that adds two USB 3.0 ports, a microSD reader, an SD card reader, and micro USB charging and pass-through.

Daniel Rubino
Editor-in-chief

Daniel Rubino is the Editor-in-chief of Windows Central, head reviewer, podcast co-host, and analyst. He has been covering Microsoft since 2007 when this site was called WMExperts (and later Windows Phone Central). His interests include Windows, laptops, next-gen computing, and for some reason, watches. Before all this tech stuff, he worked on a Ph.D. in linguistics, watched people sleep (for medical purposes!), and ran the projectors at movie theaters because it was fun.

16 Comments
  • @Daniel, please stop making me spend money on gadgets I clearly don't need 😜
  • ;) It's such a cool little device. Last one you'll need!
  • Ha Ha. That's what you get for not buying a laptop with the ports you want in the first place.
    Improved thin crust pizza with new thicker crust. Ha Ha
  • Spot on about Microsoft utterly failing to keep up with the curve as far as ports are concerned. The Surface Go at least has USB C but then wastes space with a proprietary power port that nobody in their right mind would want. Moral of story : don't buy dysfunctional kit. Get a ThinkPad or something from another company that is in touch with modern needs.
  • I have an X1 Carbon. No Ethernet, no SD card slot, only one Type-A port. You do realize even Lenovo sells hubs and docks for its ThinkPads for a reason, right? Or you can buy from them a $35 Ethernet adapter.
  • Oh, come on. You can charge over the USB-C if you need to, so why bag on the Surface Connect port, which allows for compatibility with the Surface Dock? People in their right minds definitely want that.
  • If you think Microsoft Surface is not doing a great job when it comes to ports, then you should try Apple MacBooks and iPad. You will regret it.
  • Yes, yes. I really do wish 14" Ultrabooks came with Ethernet ports, micro SD and SD card slots. Did you really think before you commented?
  • Did they seriously name it CHUB?
  • CruzHUB. Not sure where you lost the other three letters. Also, you now have detention and have to remain after school. The crime? A super lame joke.
  • I live in the cloud ages this far don't need it with my Surface laptop. I got the i5 256 8GB version and I'm loving it. Even though it comes with a free upgrade to W10 Pro, I'm still running it in W10 Pro in S-mode and doing well.
  • S-mode 4 lyfe. Anyone who uses Laptop gets why Laptop is such a thing. It's one of the nicest laptops made, period.
  • hm... tempting. It's one of those things you don't need all the time, but it sure would come in handy every once in a while.
  • Yeah, the flexibility is impressive even just as an ethernet adapter.
  • Wow. I'm impressed that the adapter for the Pro manages to sit in between the DisplayPort and the Surface Connect ports without blocking either. It's too bad that it doesn't include the HDMI conversion of the Laptop hub, though.
  • Hey Daniel What a great device for the Surface Pro's. Just a shame its only available in the US and not the UK (Rest of the World) also! Oh well...