I know when first time I wanted to connect my HDD, I was already exhausted with all USB ports already !! So I first ever thought of buying an extension USB hub !!
That’s true for most of us when you buy a new wireless mouse or a portable HDD or a printer or a camera or cell phone / iPod or a thumb drive and so on and you discover that you are out of USB ports.
So USB hubs you will find in all shapes, sizes and types ! Most important is portability & durability 🙂 So here is I have found Five Best USB Hubs in 2017, based on my own research with expert comments against each one.
Five Best USB Hubs in 2017
Sabrent HB-UMLS Hub | AmazonBasics | Sabrent Premium | Anker Ultra Slim | UNITEK High Speed Hub | |
Ports | 4-Port | 4-Port | 4-Port | 4-Port | 4-Port |
Supports USB | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
Transfer rates | up to 480 Mbps | up to 480 Mbps | 5120 Mbps (5 Gbps) | 5120 Mbps (5 Gbps) | 5120 Mbps (5 Gbps) |
Backwards compatible | USB 1.1 | USB 1.1 | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 |
System requirements | * Mac OS 9.1 & higher * Windows 98SE /ME /2000 /XP /Vista /7/8 * Linux 2.4 or above | Windows 2000/Win XP/Vista/Windows 7 & Mac 10.1 up | Mac OS 9.1 & higher Windows 98SE /ME /2000 /XP /Vista /7/8/8.1/10 Linux 2.4 or above | * Windows 8 / 7 / Vista / XP, Mac OS X 10.2 (and above) * Mac OS X Lion 10.7.4 users should upgrade to Mountain Lion 10.8.2 or later to avoid unstable connections. | Windows XP /Vista/7 / 8 /8.1 (32/64-bit) /Windows 10; Mac OS 10.10 or higher; Chrome OS; Linux OS |
Power adaptor to use | Sabrent 5V 4A 100V-240V to DC Power Adapter | No external power | Sabrent 5V 4A 100V-240V to DC Power Adapter | No external power | external power supply can be added via Micro USB female port |
Warranty | 3 years | 30 days return ? | 1 year | 1.5 years | 2 years |
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Size | 0.5 x 1.25 x 3.25 in | 1.92 x 2.48 x 0.63 in | 1.18 x 3.54 x 1.97 in | 1.18 x 4.21 x 0.39 in | 4.5 x 7 x 1.5 in |
Weight | 0.3 ounces | 1.9 ounces | 2.6 ounces | 1.3 ounces | 3.2 ounces |
ASIN | B00BWF5U0M | B003M0NURK | B00N38TQJC | B00XMD7KPU | B00MHIVYZ8 |
Blue LED to indicate power status for each port | LED light power indicator | Aluminium case & rubber base | Some devices may not be supported since no external power | Built in Overvoltage/Overcurrent/Leakage & Short-Circuit protection unit | |
All 4 ports on one side to minimize cable clutter | Ridiculously short USB cable | Port too tight issues faced | |||
Not suitable to charge iPhones (user feedbacks) | Burning issues faced | ||||
OFFERS in Jan 2017 | Sabrent Hub | AmazonBasics | Sabrent Premium | Anker Ultra Slim | UNITEK Hub |
Questions Answers about USB Hub 2.0 & USB 3.0
How many USB devices I can connect at a time using USB hubs?
- Daisy chain multiple hubs to a maximum of 127 devices
Why I need the external power adapter for USB device?
- Many times your external 2.5″ HD’s are not able to get enough power from the USB port itself, a powered hub resolves this issue.
- An un-powered hub divides the power among ports which create problems for some devices
How do I know if I need a 2.0 or a 3.0 USB Hub?
- Firstly your computer/parent device must be compatible to USB 3.0
- USB 3.0 provides higher speeds than a 2.0
Notes USB 2.0
For a stable connection, the devices connected to the 4 Port Hub must not exceed a combined current of 5 volts 500mAh. External hard-drives should be connected to an external power source. This 4 Port hub will not charge an iPad (it will only sync)
Notes USB 3.0
- 2.4 Ghz wireless devices, such as wireless keyboard and mouse adapters, may not work in close proximity to USB 3.0 devices or hubs. Connecting to a USB 2.0 port is recommended.
- For a stable connection, the devices connected to the 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub must not exceed a combined current of 5 volts 900 mAh. External hard-drives should be connected to an external power source. This 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub will not charge an iPad (it will only sync).
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