How long do usb hubs last

Our Fact-Checking Process. Article fact-checked on May 23, Tweet Share Email. The Rundown. Best Overall:. This hub from Anker features ten ports total and all of them are USB 3. Most Compact:. This ultra-slim, four-port USB hub from uni is perfect to toss in a backpack, handbag, or luggage. Best Design:. Most Versatile:. This model can be upgraded to seven- and ten-port variants.

Best Budget:. Best High Capacity:. Best for Apple:. There's no doubt the TS3 Plus is a tool built for professionals, and its space grey color is designed to match your Apple hardware. Our Picks. About Our Trusted Experts. View On Amazon. What We Like Supports fast data transfers Easy to use and hot-swappable Dedicated power supply Built-in surge protection.

Anker USB 3. What We Like Sleek and durable aluminum chassis Supports fast data and simultaneous transfers Nylon braided USB cable built-in Safety chip for hub and connected devices. What we like Wide range of ports Professional grade build quality Designed to fit the apple aesthetic.

What we don't like Expensive. Will fast charging damage your devices? What happens if you plug a USB 3. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Tell us why! More from Lifewire. USB-C vs. Lightning: What's the Difference? By being able to slip it into my laptop case easily I was able to take it away with me on work for a recent conference.

In short, these guys were a great help. I focused on the data rate speeds, but they were able to explain everything nice and clear. Nothing was too much trouble for them, and they absolutely left a lasting impression.

Well done! The technology behind the data speeds definitely deserves a well-earned pat on the back in my opinion. I noticed no lag or dropouts which made my overall experience better than I could have hoped for. The metal body is precision engineered and built to last which was great on the eye. If you love your tech to look good as well as perform, then this could be exactly what you need to add to your office to finish things off nicely.

I know I did! Unitek was a new name for me, so I was curious to take a look. I liked that the fourth port was situated at the end while the other three were on the top of the case. That allowed me to charge my phone nice and comfortably which in the age of the iPhone is something we all need to do several times a day! No drivers was a real plus point for me because it enabled me to plug it in and get it working straight out of the box. I hate clicking around trying to find drivers and all the compatibility issues that come with them, so it was terrific to get to skip that stage entirely.

The two-year warranty is a great show of confidence in their products in my opinion. I place customer service above all else because it should be such an easy thing to get right. I found their support courteous and knowledgeable at all stages which were willing to help. There are no rankings here so take a look for yourself and see if this looks like your next inspired tech choice! The length of the extension cable is more than adequate.

That way you can keep things nice and tidy. The protection that this thing gives your external devices is certainly noteworthy in my opinion. That is ideal for those of you who want the peace of mind that everything is taken care of. The final thing I would like to say is regarding the warranty. By offering a lifetime warranty, these guys are getting behind their product like no one else.

This is great to see from a consumer standpoint because it allows you to get help whenever you need it. These folks have made a significant impact in the last few months, so I was excited to put their lat-est bit of kit through its paces…. The slim design is so tight that it is a veritable space saver in my opinion. If you want a new piece of tech that you can slip right into your laptop case as you jump on a plane, then this is a great option to consider.

With a lightweight design and an easy on the eye appearance, it certainly looked the part in my home office! I totally appreciated the Aluminum body. That ensures that it not only looks the part, but it is also going to last you years and years. I was able to plug this thing in and have everything up and running in a couple of minutes. That was like a breath of fresh air for me because it avoided hours of potential driver-based annoyance.

Highly recommended for those of you that want to be able to trust their tech from the moment it arrives. A great piece of design folks! If you want to be able to connect your devices without sacrificing your data transfer speeds, then USB 3. If you want to be able to use your tech for years to come then opting for 3.

Also, if you want to be able to power through your work, then these are the little things that can make all the difference to how fast you work. Follow us LinkedIn Twitter. Powered USB hubs. Generate their own power Can power high-voltage devices Can power several devices at once. Usually more expensive than unpowered USB hubs Need access to a mains socket. Unpowered USB hubs. Need portability? Very limited budget?

A deeper look at whether a USB hub can damage a computer Knowing a bit more about the USB Hub and how it is constructed will help shed some light on the question at hand. The most common being the 4 ports. An unpowered USB hub is a passive device. Main concern of connecting a USB Hub to a computer The main concern when connecting a USB Hub to a computer is whether it will damage the USB ports of the computer or other internal parts of the computer like the motherboard.

This could be due to voltage or current being sent back from the USB Hub to the port. When it comes to powered USB hubs however, there might be a bit more of an issue. This is due to the USB hub having its own power supply which gets connected to the mains. This helps protect the USB hub as well as the computer. This is due to the way they are constructed.

One stand out drawback is the lack of a protection circuit. This is where a USB hub could potentially damage your computer. Other factors to consider when using a USB hub with a computer So, if you really want to protect your computer from potential damage against a USB hub, invest in a good quality hub. But, there are some other factors to take into consideration when using a USB with a computer. Power distribution Peripheral devices come in all shapes and sizes each having their own power requirements.

For example, a printer will require more power compared to a mouse. A better option is to use a powered USB hub. Also, using a powered USB hub with devices that do not require much power is overkill. Transfer speed is how much data is able to be transfered. Below are the other cable transfer speeds with the last one being the latest ; USB 1.