UGREEN CM498 9-in-1 Docking Station is now available at Mascom International for KSh 4,500, located at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. The hub adds three USB-A 3.0 ports at 5Gbps, one 4K HDMI output, one 1080p VGA output, an RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port, SD and microSD card readers up to 104MB/s, and a USB-C Power Delivery passthrough port rated for 100W input. Housed in a grey aluminium shell that doubles as a heat sink, the UGREEN CM498 connects to MacBooks, Windows ultrabooks, iPads, and Android tablets through a single 15-centimetre captive USB-C cable.
Built for Kenya's accountants, lawyers, NGO field staff, university lecturers, sales executives, and IT support technicians who rotate between client offices, lecture halls, and home setups, the UGREEN CM498 handles the daily reality of slim laptops with two ports trying to drive a projector, a wired LAN drop, a printer, and a phone charger at the same time. The hub addresses three common Kenyan workspace problems: older boardroom projectors that still only accept VGA, hotel and co-working desks where Wi-Fi drops during video calls, and SD cards full of field photos that need fast offload to a laptop. One cable solves the lot.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya who stock unbranded hubs that overheat after thirty minutes, Mascom International carries genuine UGREEN CM498 units backed by a verified 12-month UGREEN regional warranty plus a 6-month Mascom International warranty backstop. Buyers across Kenya tell us the CM498 is the reason their MacBook Air or Dell XPS finally works with the office monitor, the LAN cable, and the company badge printer at once. Visit our Nairobi CBD store to test the UGREEN CM498 on your own laptop before paying, or order for pay-on-arrival delivery to any of Kenya's 47 counties.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UGREEN CM498
What can I actually plug into the UGREEN CM498 at once?
All nine ports work simultaneously. You can run a 4K external monitor through HDMI, a second 1080p projector through VGA in mirror mode, three USB-A peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, and external SSD, a wired Ethernet cable for stable internet, both SD and microSD cards reading at the same time, and a 100W USB-C charger keeping your laptop powered. The UGREEN CM498 handles all of this through a single USB-C connection to your laptop without dropping any single port's performance.
Does the UGREEN CM498 work with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro?
Yes, the UGREEN CM498 supports MacBook Air M1, M2, M3, and M4 models, all MacBook Pro USB-C and Thunderbolt generations from 2016 onward, iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch with USB-C, and iPad Air models with Type-C ports. It also covers Dell XPS 13 and 15, HP EliteBook and Spectre, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, ASUS Zenbook, Microsoft Surface with USB-C, and Android tablets supporting DisplayPort Alternate Mode. Plug-and-play works on macOS, Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux, iPadOS, and most Android tablets.
How much power passes through to my laptop while the hub is connected?
The USB-C Power Delivery port accepts up to 100W input from your laptop's original charger, with roughly 85W reaching the laptop and 15W reserved for the hub's internal chipsets and connected peripherals. This means a 96W MacBook Pro charger or a 100W Dell USB-C charger keeps your laptop charging at near-full speed while the CM498 simultaneously drives a monitor, network cable, and USB devices. You need to supply your own USB-C PD charger, sold separately at Mascom International.
Can the UGREEN CM498 drive two monitors at the same time?
The HDMI and VGA outputs work simultaneously in mirror mode, displaying the same image on both screens at once. Extended-desktop dual-monitor mode where each screen shows different content is supported on Windows but is restricted by macOS for single-chipset USB-C hubs, so MacBook users see mirror mode only. For full extended dual displays on a Mac, you need a DisplayLink-based docking station, which is a higher-priced category. Most Kenyan boardroom presentation setups only need mirror mode anyway.
Does the Ethernet port really hit gigabit speeds in Kenya?
The RJ45 port supports full 10/100/1000Mbps connections through the AX88179A chipset. Real-world Ethernet performance depends on your fibre or LAN provider. Safaricom Home Fibre at 500Mbps, Zuku Fibre, JTL Faiba, and Liquid Telecom enterprise lines all benefit from the wired connection, which removes the Wi-Fi variability that plagues video calls on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. The wired LAN drop also helps during large file transfers to office NAS units and SharePoint sites.
What separates the UGREEN CM498 from cheaper KSh 1,500 USB-C hubs sold elsewhere in Nairobi?
Three things: the aluminium chassis dissipates heat rather than throttling under load, the certified chipsets (VL815 for USB, AX88179A for LAN, GL3224 for card reader) hold sustained throughput without dropping connections, and UGREEN backs every CM498 with a verified manufacturer warranty processed locally through Mascom International. Cheap unbranded hubs typically overheat within thirty minutes of full-load use, drop the Ethernet link during file transfers, and offer no after-sales recourse when they fail. The CM498 is the sensible middle ground.
Will the UGREEN CM498 work with my older laptop that only has USB-A ports?
No, the UGREEN CM498 requires a USB-C port supporting DisplayPort Alternate Mode and Power Delivery. Older laptops with only USB-A 3.0 ports cannot use this hub. If your machine is a pre-2016 MacBook, an older Dell Latitude, or a budget HP with no Type-C output, you need a different solution. Mascom International stocks USB-A based docking stations and converters separately. Bring your laptop to our CBD store and we will confirm port compatibility before you commit to a purchase.
Does the UGREEN CM498 support audio output through a headphone jack?
The UGREEN CM498 variant (model 15600) sold at Mascom International is the 9-in-1 configuration without a 3.5mm audio jack. Audio output runs through the HDMI port to your monitor's speakers, through your laptop's own jack, or through USB-A connected audio devices. Some sellers list a separate 10-in-1 variant (model 15375) that adds a 3.5mm port for the same chassis, but our stocked unit is the 9-in-1 spec matching the listing title. Confirm the configuration when you visit the store.
Technical Specifications
Core Connectivity and Port Layout
- Input port is a single USB-C male connector on a 15-centimetre captive cable that plugs into the laptop's Type-C port
- Three USB-A 3.0 female ports support 5Gbps data transfer, ten times faster than USB 2.0 for external SSDs and printers
- One HDMI 2.0 output handles 4K resolution at 30Hz or full 1080p at 60Hz for monitors, TVs, and boardroom projectors
- One VGA output supports 1920x1080 at 60Hz for older Kenyan boardroom projectors that lack HDMI inputs
- HDMI and VGA work simultaneously in duplicate-screen mode for presentations across two display devices at once
- One USB-C female port handles Power Delivery passthrough up to 100W input from your laptop's original charger
Network and Card Reader Performance
- RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet port supports 10/100/1000Mbps wired internet through the certified AX88179A chipset
- Wired LAN connection removes Wi-Fi instability during Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet video calls
- SD card slot reads standard cards at up to 104MB/s, useful for photographers offloading shoots from DSLRs and mirrorless cameras
- MicroSD slot operates independently at 104MB/s, allowing simultaneous card use without swapping
- GL3224 card reader chipset handles SDXC and microSDXC formats up to 2TB capacity per slot
- VL815 USB controller chipset manages the three USB-A 3.0 ports for sustained transfer rates without throttling
Power Delivery and Charging Passthrough
- USB-C PD input port accepts up to 100W from a compatible USB-C PD wall charger sold separately
- Approximately 85W reaches the connected laptop while 15W stays reserved for hub chipsets and peripherals
- Pass-through charging works with MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13 and 14-inch, Dell XPS 13 and 15, HP Spectre, Lenovo ThinkPad
- Automatic voltage and current adjustment matches the connected laptop's required charging profile
- No internal battery means the hub draws zero power when the laptop is unplugged from a charger
- Mascom International stocks compatible 65W, 90W, and 100W UGREEN Nexode chargers separately for buyers needing power
Build Quality and Thermal Design
- Grey aluminium alloy shell acts as a heat sink, drawing thermal load away from internal chipsets during sustained use
- Compact body measures roughly the size of a debit card, fitting in laptop bag accessory pockets and shirt pockets
- 15-centimetre captive USB-C cable stays flexible without kinking after repeated insertion cycles into laptop ports
- Lightweight construction at around 60 grams adds no meaningful weight to a daily commute laptop bag
- Plug-and-play operation requires no driver installation on macOS, Windows 10, Windows 11, Linux, iPadOS, or Android
- Status of all nine ports active simultaneously without overheating under typical office and presentation loads
Device Compatibility and Operating System Support
- MacBook Air M1, M2, M3, M4 and all USB-C MacBook Pro models from 2016 to current generations work plug-and-play
- Windows laptops with USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode: Dell XPS, HP EliteBook, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, ASUS Zenbook
- iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch with USB-C, iPad Air 4th generation and later, Samsung Galaxy Tab S series
- Android phones with DisplayPort Alt Mode including Samsung Galaxy S series, Note series, and Z Fold series
- Microsoft Surface Pro with USB-C, Surface Laptop with USB-C, and Surface Go tablet generations
- Linux distributions including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Pop OS support all nine ports through native USB-C hub drivers
Package Contents
The UGREEN CM498 9-in-1 Docking Station retail box from Mascom International includes the docking station itself with the captive USB-C cable in grey aluminium finish, a printed user manual covering port layout and operating system compatibility, the UGREEN warranty card, and the Mascom International receipt. No external USB-C PD wall charger ships in the box. Mascom International stocks compatible 65W, 90W, and 100W UGREEN Nexode USB-C PD chargers separately for buyers who need passthrough laptop charging through the hub.
Warranty
The UGREEN CM498 carries a 12-month UGREEN manufacturer warranty against defects, plus a 6-month Mascom International warranty backstop covering manufacturing faults under normal use. Our Nairobi CBD service desk processes warranty claims directly without requiring courier returns. Physical damage from drops, liquid exposure, and use with non-compliant chargers fall outside warranty coverage.
Where to Buy the UGREEN CM498 9-in-1 Docking Station in Kenya
UGREEN CM498 9-in-1 Docking Station is in stock now at Mascom International, located at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk into the store Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to test the hub on your own laptop, verify all nine ports work with your peripherals, and confirm HDMI output on our reference monitor before committing. Available colour: grey aluminium finish.
Three ways to order:
- Call +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret receive the UGREEN CM498 within 1 business day. Remote counties including Turkana, Marsabit, Garissa, and Tana River receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You inspect the sealed retail box, verify the ports work on your laptop, and pay only when the package arrives at your address.
The UGREEN CM498 carries a 12-month UGREEN manufacturer warranty plus a 6-month Mascom International warranty backstop, with after-sales support handled directly from our Nairobi CBD service desk. Buyers across Kenya rely on Mascom International for accurate specifications, current Kenyan market pricing, and direct warranty backing on every USB-C accessory we stock.
