Lemorele TC38L Eight-in-One USB-C Hub review

The Lemorele TC38L is worth considering for a laptop that needs one occasional HDMI display, several USB-A accessories and access to either SD or microSD cards. Its most useful limitation is explicit: the card slots work one at a time. Its other important qualification is compatibility. The current maker page flags partial Apple M1 compatibility and data issues with some drives, so this is a model to choose around a known accessory set rather than a broad promise that every USB-C device will work.

Check the physical version first

This assessment follows Lemorele's current official TC38L port map: three USB-A 3.0 ports, a USB-C data port, HDMI, a separate USB-C PD charging port and two card slots. Earlier listing material described a different mixture of USB-A speeds. That difference matters when shopping: confirm the exact port labels and configuration supplied, instead of assuming every older TC38L listing describes the present manufacturer specification.

The host connection is USB-C. For display use, the computer must supply video over that connection; a data-only socket is insufficient. Lemorele identifies the AG9311 conversion chipset, whose own manufacturer documents a DisplayPort Alternate Mode to HDMI video route. That supports treating the HDMI connection as native computer video, while leaving the specific computer's capabilities and operating-system compatibility to be checked. We do not treat a USB-C charging input or a downstream USB-C data socket as a second display output.

One 4K30 screen is the practical target

The HDMI 1.4 output is advertised for up to 4K at 30Hz, with mirrored and extended modes. That is a useful arrangement for slides, a larger reading screen or an occasional television connection. A buyer who needs a 4K60 working desktop should choose another hub. The TC38L has one documented HDMI connection and no second independent external desktop arrangement.

The maker's broad computer support names Windows and macOS, but its same-page warning about Apple M1 partial compatibility prevents a blanket M1 recommendation. It also does not establish support for each later M-series chip. For a work computer where installing extra software is prohibited, obtain the relevant model-specific setup instructions before selecting a strict no-extra-software requirement; the materials inspected do not explicitly settle the complete hub's driver requirements.

Useful USB expansion, with a shared connection

The current specification gives all three USB-A ports a maximum advertised rate of 5Gbps. That is more useful for connecting several ordinary data peripherals than a layout where only one socket has SuperSpeed capability. It does not mean three drives can each transfer at 5Gbps simultaneously. They share the connection to the computer, and real performance also depends on the drives and workload.

The downstream USB-C port is explicitly for data. It cannot pass HDMI to a USB-C display and is separate from the charging-only input. That distinction allows a USB-C data accessory to remain connected while the PD input is occupied by a suitable charger. The maker's compatibility section warns of data issues involving devices including the Samsung T7. If that is the drive you intend to use, choose a hub with clearer exact-device support or obtain confirmation before making this the center of your storage workflow.

Peripheral charging also has limits. Lemorele lists a combined 5V/3A output allocation and up to 1.2A per USB-A port, with an additional warning about USB 2.0 device charging in some PD-only connection conditions. That makes the USB-A sockets useful primarily as data connections; this hub should not be chosen as a dedicated multi-device charging station.

Cards and laptop power

The two slots support SD and microSD formats, including SDHC, SDXC and MMC within the maker's listed capacity limits, up to 2TB for SDXC. The reader is described at USB 2.0 capability. Most importantly, Lemorele states that SD and microSD cannot be read simultaneously. It suits a photographer who imports from one card at a time. It fails an essential requirement to access both card formats together, regardless of the presence of two physical slots.

The PD socket is advertised up to 100W and is charging-only. The manufacturer does not separate that input headline into a clear net wattage available to the laptop, so a specific minimum charging-power requirement remains unconfirmed here. The package lists the hub and user manual; a suitable wall charger is an additional requirement. There is no Ethernet socket in the current port map.

Choose the TC38L for a verified Windows or supported Mac configuration needing one 4K30 screen, three USB-A data ports and occasional one-card access. Choose a different dock for 4K60, simultaneous cards, wired networking, a confirmed high-power laptop supply or a storage accessory caught by the maker's own compatibility warnings.