Moshi has updated their Symbus Q, a USB-C hub with wireless charging, with a new version 2.0. The overall design is the same but the new Symbus Q 2.0 features minor improvements in their display and wireless charging department.
Unboxing
- Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 USB-C hub
- Power adapter
- UK power cord
- EU power cord
- Quick start guide
Design and build quality
Moshi’s design of their products are always appealing to me. Their Q lineup of products feature the similar fabric covering on the wireless charging surface, much like their Lounge Q. There is a stylish rubber pattern that overlays the fabric which helps prevents your phone from sliding off.
The rest of the Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 is made from aluminium which has a nice brushed finish. There is decent amount of weight and heft to it to keep it planted well on your desk. Build quality of the Symbus Q 2.0 is solid and definitely feels like a premium priced product. The undetachable USB-C cable is about 50cm in length, so it provides enough distance to place it from your laptop.
What’s new in the 2.0
There aren’t much new features in the updated Symbus Q 2.0. What you get are improvements, which are:
- Support 4K @ 60Hz, HDR (vs 4K @ 30Hz on ver 1.0)
- Support for Google 11W fast charging (5W on Google phones on ver 1.0)
To identify that you bought the newer Symbus Q 2.0, you can check the HDMI port of the hub and see if there is the ‘4K HDR’ label printed on it. If there is the ‘4K HDR’ label, then your Symbus Q is the version 2.0.
Features
Here are the list of features that Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 offers:
- Wireless charging through cases up to 5mm thick due to Moshi’s Q-coil module
- Supports fast wireless charging for Apple 7.5W, Samsung 9W, and Google 7.5W
- HDMI port supports up to 4K @ 60Hz HDR display
- Gigabit Ethernet port with speeds up to 1000Mbps
- 2 USB 3.1 USB-A ports with 5Gbps data transfer speeds (21.A *1, 0.5A *2)
- USB-C PD for charging laptops up to 60W
Fast wireless charging
As the updated Symbus Q 2.0 supports fast charging for Google, if you’re a Google Pixel user then this is definitely a plus. The surface of the wireless charging pad is surely big enough for all phone sizes. My iPhone 11 sits comfortably on the top of the Symbus Q 2.0.
Also, even if you’re rocking a thick protective bumper case the Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 can still wireless charge your phone. Even after placing a thick folded cloth over the wireless charging pad, my iPhone 11 was still able to charge.
4K @ 60Hz HDMI & HDR support
This is the biggest improvement in my opinion. If you ever used a 30Hz display you’ll know how sluggish it feels, such that I’d rather step down to 1440p just to use it at 60Hz. So, it’s great that the updated Symbus Q 2.0 now provides support for 4K at 60Hz and there is even HDR support if your monitor has such capabilities.
Gigabit Ethernet
The Ethernet port supports speeds up to 1000Mbps. And if you’re using a MacBook, it is a simple plug-and-play setup. You do not need to install third-party network drivers (ie. AX88179) which other brands such as UGreen hubs which require you to do so.
USB-C PD 60W
The amount of power still remains at 60W, which is sufficient to power up most USB-C powered laptops. This feature means that you no longer need to charge your laptop using the original laptop charger, allowing you to save one USB-C port on your laptop. Simply connect the Symbus Q 2.0 to your laptop PD USB-C port and it will charge your laptop and provide you a hub with all the listed features above.
Smart LED indicator
The LED indicator on the left of the Symbus Q changes colour depending of the state of the charge.
| Off | Not charging |
| Green breathing light | Charging |
| Green steady on | Fully charged |
| Red flashing | Foreign object detected |
Functionality and user experience
Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 is a great concept – one USB-C hub that does it all. Power, display, network and data. Well… almost. What I really wanted to see in the updated Symbus Q 2.0 was the addition of the SD card slot. The SD card is something that most creative professionals and even regular folks use. If Moshi had added an SD card slot, it would have made the Symbus Q 2.0 a complete package for a USB-C hub.
The PD of the Symbus Q 2.0 is capped at 60W. This means that if you have a beefier laptop like a 15/16-inch MacBook Pro, or the Dell XPS 15, then your laptop would be underpowered. However, if you’re using a MacBook Air or a Dell XPS 13, then the provided 60W power would be sufficient.
Another thing to take note is that you cannot use the Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 without powering it through the barrel plug at the back. If you want to use the Symbus Q 2.0 with as a typical USB-C hub to connect your hard disk or connect to an external display, you cannot simply plug the Symbus Q 2.0 to your laptop’s USB-C port. It won’t work. You have to power the Symbus Q 2.0 for all the features to work.
If you intend to bring the Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 on the go, you’d also have to bring along the power adapter which is a little cumbersome. But having said that, it might not be an extra weight as choosing to bring the Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 means you do not need to carry your laptop charger with you anymore. So, it might end up being more convenient for you.
If you intend to leave Symbus Q 2.0 on your desk as part of your workstation setup, it works great as well. The USB-A ports at the front are handy to have, and having the Ethernet and HDMI port at the back allows for neater cable management. Also, you get to free up one USB-C port on your laptop.
Conclusion
Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 is meant for individuals who currently use a USB-C PD capable laptop that requires less than 60W. If that is you, and you’re looking for a single USB-C dock that is able to provide power, network through Ethernet, external display support, and data via USB-A ports then the Symbus Q 2.0 is a device that can fulfil those needs. Another bonus is that the hub itself can wirelessly charge your smartphone too.
But if you frequently use an SD card or tend travel around with your laptop without a charger then the Symbus Q 2.0 can be limited in its functionality for your usage. So, do take note of that. As always, Moshi products are covered by an amazingly long a 10-year global warranty which is bound to sweeten up your purchase. Moshi Symbus Q 2.0 seems to be retailing at the same price as its predecessor which will be S$259.