When comparing AmazonBasics 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub vs Sabrent 7-Port USB 3.0 Hub, the Slant community recommends Sabrent 7-Port USB 3.0 Hub for most people. In the question“What are the best USB 3.0 hubs?” Sabrent 7-Port USB 3.0 Hub is ranked 4th while AmazonBasics 4 Port USB 3.0 Hub is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Sabrent 7-Port USB 3.0 Hub is:
This USB hub has 7 ports and the external power is optional, making it a great choice for both home and on-the-go usage. Plugging in the power adapter can turn it into a more powerful hub for charging or power-hungry devices, and if power isn't a requirement, you can just leave it to be powered by the connected computer.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Lightweight and portable
This USB 3.0 hub is ideal for on-the-go usage because of its small form factor.
Pro Can automatically switch between power sources
This USB hub can auto-switch between its power source: if you plug in the power adapter while the hub is already connected, it will automatically switch to using the external power source instead of drawing power from the connected computer. This is a huge convenience win when compared to other similar hubs where switching power source requires you to unplug all connected USB devices.
Pro All ports can be used for data transfer or charging
All four ports on this USB hub can function as either data ports or charging ports.
Pro External power is optional
This USB hub is capable of drawing power from the upstream device (i.e. the connected computer), which is mostly sufficient for charging phones and small devices. It also provides an external 5V / 2.5A Power Adapter for when you need more power than your computer’s USB port can provide.
Pro Great for both home and portable usage
This USB hub has 7 ports and the external power is optional, making it a great choice for both home and on-the-go usage. Plugging in the power adapter can turn it into a more powerful hub for charging or power-hungry devices, and if power isn't a requirement, you can just leave it to be powered by the connected computer.
Pro External power is optional
This USB hub is capable of drawing power from the upstream device (i.e. the connected computer), which is mostly sufficient for charging phones and small devices. It also provides an external 12V / 4A Power Adapter for when you need more power than your computer’s USB port can provide.
Pro All ports can be used for data transfer or charging
All seven ports on this USB hub can function as either data ports or charging ports.
Pro Practical, compact 7-port design
This USB hub is practical for both home/desktop and on-the-go usage — the design is compact enough for bringing this around with you, and it is also sturdy enough for desktop usage.
Pro Ports can be individually switched on or off
The ports on this USB hub can be individually switched on or off — this makes it suitable for leaving devices connected to it. You can switch it on when you need to use it, and off when you don’t (e.g. leaving a phone charging cable plugged in and switching the port on only when you need to use it).
Cons
Con Not meant for power-hungry devices
This USB hub works great when all you need is more USB 3.0 ports for data transfer and charging small devices (phones, etc.), but doesn't work that well for more power-hungry devices such as external hard disks with higher power requirements, or charging iPad/tablets.
Con Not really suitable for desktop use
Due to the lightweight build of this USB hub, it’s not as stationary as other hubs that are heavier. If this hub is not properly secured on a desk (with an object on top, or taped to something), it can be wobbly and wiggle around when a cable connected to it is pulled hard enough (e.g. a USB mouse).
Con Not reliable for wireless keyboard/mouse
There are some issues with using the ports for wireless keyboard/mouse dongles, or any wireless device dongle that operates at 2.4Ghz.
Con Build quality is not consistent
The build quality on this hub does not seem very consistent — there have been some user reports about defects out of the box, mostly to do with USB devices being disconnected when the hub is moved.
Con Not reliable for wireless keyboard/mouse
There are some issues with using the ports for wireless keyboard/mouse dongles, or any wireless device dongle that operates at 2.4Ghz.
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