Best Multi-Port USB Hubs

Many computers and laptops today are designed to accept just a few inputs from peripherals, whether's it's a wireless mouse, keyboard, printer or USB headsets. After all, the universal serial bus, or USB, can take up valuable space, and adding connections on a computer motherboard costs a manufacturer money. These days, however, we might plug an iPad, Android tablet or smartphone into a USB port for charging. A USB flash drive or USB wireless dongle might go into another available port, crowding out other devices that we need daily.

USB was designed to standardize the connection of multiple peripherals, including keyboards, pointing devices, digital cameras, printers, portable media players, disk-based storage drives and network adapters that the two to four ports typically included on a desktop pc, Mac or laptop simply won't cut it. Since a USB port also is designed for delivery of electric power to an iPhone or other device even during sync, there's typically no room to spare. If multiple devices must be plugged into the computer at one time, a multi-port USB hub can help provide additional ports. This enables users to run multiple devices at once without needing to unplug cables and dongles connected to any other peripherals.

Multi-port USB hubs come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and styles. Some hubs contain their own power sources while others draw power from the computer itself. In some cases, hubs can be connected to additional hubs to create a long chain of available ports. Be careful before doing this, as not every hub has enough power to sustain this sort of linking.

Best Multi-Port USB Hubs

Below is a collection of six of the best multi-port USB hubs. These cover a range of styles and sizes to meet the needs of any home computer, office cubicle, or gaming setup.

1True Smart High-Speed USB 2.0 4-Port Hub Splitter Cable Adapter For PC

The True Smart 4-Port Hub Splitterprovides four USB ports from a single outlet. The four additional ports are anchored with a flexible cable, making this hub portable and easy to access without taking up much desk space. This hub is small enough to carry in any laptop case, and the long port cables make it easy to reach the hub from the rear of a computer tower. Simultaneous device operation is enabled through all four ports with a transfer rate of 480Mbps, and the plug-and-play installation allows instant access to the ports without any need to install additional software. The True Smart gets its current from the computer USB port, meaning it won't charge an iPad, iPhone, digital camera or other device plugged into it.

210 Port USB 2.0 Hub Multi Outlet Power Strip Type

A 10 Port USB 2.0 hub provides a substantial amount of space for plugging in all of a computer's many accessories. Designed like a power strip, this model features 10 USB ports set in a long plastic casing. The strip can be placed behind or on top of the computer tower for easy access. No extra power adapter is necessary to run this strip, which draws its own power from the primary USB connection offered by the computer, though to charge through the strip needed to connect an AC adapter. Simultaneous device usage is available with a 480Mbps transmission rate.

3Four Port USB 2.0 Multi-Hub Expansion Splitter Heart

This heart-shaped four-port splitter is a fun and functional accessory for any desktop or laptop computer. The colorful, durable design makes this splitter equally at home on an adult or child's desk. The hub's smooth plastic casing is shaped like a heart, and the four ports are tucked away on the heart's sides. The splitter includes its own built-in 3.3 voltage regulator to reduce the drain on the system's power, and the plug-and-play installation allows for easy use on any device. The hearts are available in several bright colors including red, blue, and green.

4Multi Color Flower Rotatab 4 Port USB 2.0 High Speed Slot Hub

A  Multi Color Flower Rotatab USB hub is fun, colorful, and flexible. Each of the four ports is mounted on a colorful plastic casing, and these casings can be linked together in a variety of ways to create new three-dimensional shapes. This helps the hub fit into any tight space and doubles as a puzzle and desk decoration. The ports can also be separated from each other for easy storage or portability, making this device excellent for laptop users. The Rotatab USB hub has a 480Mbps interface and built-in voltage overload protection.

5Four Port USB High Speed Doll Design Hub For PC

The Doll Design Four-Port Hub is a creative way to link together a keyboard and three other devices. The housing is shaped like a man, with his hands and feet serving as the USB ports. The device plugs into a computer's USB port from the doll's head area. An LED light in the doll's torso indicates whether the hub has enough power. The hub is available in both white and black. The doll can be posed in different ways to create an attractive desk decoration for an office or home workstation.

6D-LINK USB 2.0 Hub

The D-Link USB 2.0 Hub is a high-powered solution for people requiring multiple USB ports, or work IT offices that need to charge multiple tablets like the iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab. The simple rectangular casing houses seven ports, providing ample room for all peripheral devices. It also comes with a built-in power source with a 5V 3A output that can act as a charging station for iPads and other mobile devices. This allows users to run multiple devices without drawing any power from the computer itself. By cascading this USB hub with other USB splitters, a maximum of 127 devices can be operated simultaneously with minimal power loss to the primary machine.

Buying Multi-Port USB Hubs on eBay

If a specific type of USB hub is desired, the easiest way to purchase it is to search for it by name in the search bar at the top of any eBay page. If a specific brand of style is not required, a general search for " multi-port USB hubs" brings up a wide variety of choices.

These results can be further narrowed down by sale type and price. The specific type of adapter can also be chosen from the left-hand menu to provide the best results. Users can search for a USB charger that offers powered charging, high-speed USB, or superspeed USB that includes the newer 3.0 data throughput, or even combination devices that might include a MultiPort adapter for USB-C standard used in some Mac laptops. Search for a specific brand, such as "Sabrent 7-Port USB 3.0 hub," or "Belkin powered desktop USB hub." Checking the Hub/Splitter Box option narrows the results down purely to USB hubs.

Conclusion

With so many accessories connecting to a computer,it creates a game of musical devices to connect and remove as needed, making it time to invest in a type of USB hub. The USB is so common that they are even in game consoles or portable media players. After purchasing a USB hub, users can keep a cable connected to a hard drive storage device, plug in a USB dongle for a mouse or keyboard, charge iPads, sent copies to a printer and much more. Using a multi-port USB hub splitter can maximize the amount of peripheral devices available to a computer and ease any issues with port access.

USB hubs vary in price and performance, with a 60-watt charging station and hub delivering power to every device connected to it. Even at the high end of features, hubs are quite affordable.
Choosing one with a fun design can help add a bit of personality to a computer workstation, though some of the more simple designs come with increased functionality. Determining the intended purpose of a USB hub can help when deciding on the appropriate model and price range. In any case, shopping on eBay provides a wide variety of choices at good prices, which can help any shopper find the perfect fit for his or her needs