Comparison BASEUS Metal Gleam Series 11-in-1 Multifunctional Type-C Hub vs BASEUS Metal Gleam Series 8-in-1 Multifunctional Type-C Hub

Number of USB Type C ports for connecting peripheral devices provided in the hub design (or a card reader with hub functionality — see "Type"). The port itself is small — only slightly larger than microUSB — with a reversible design that allows the plug to be inserted in either direction. This is why it has gained respect and is actively replacing the classic USB port. Despite its small size, USB Type C is used in both portable devices and desktop PCs and their peripherals. However, few such devices have been released so far; as a result, hubs typically include 1 USB C port or 2 type C inputs. The USB connector interface (version) primarily determines speed. — 2.0. The outdated 2.0 version provides data transfer speeds up to 480 Mbps. Found only in USB A ports. — 3.2 gen1. Previously named standards 3.1 gen1 and 3.0. This version ensures a tenfold increase in maximum speed (4.8 Gbps) and higher power capacity, allowing for the connection of energy-intensive devices and extensive splitters. — 3.2 gen2. A further improvement of the 3.2 gen1 standard (and typically, with several renamings from the previous 3.1 gen1 and simply 3.1), achieving a maximum speed of 10 Gbps and even higher power capacity for external devices. However, the final speed depends not so much on the input port as on the USB version of the hub (card reader) connection to the PC.

HDMI is the most popular of modern multimedia digital interfaces. It is specifically designed for HD content and provides the transmission of high-resolution video and multi-channel audio through a single cable. HDMI outputs are mainly found in hubs connected via USB Type C and compatible with the Thunderbolt interface (see "Connection"). Essentially, to use HDMI, you will need to connect the device to a Thunderbolt v3 port — a "pure" USB Type C does not support video transmission. This capability may be useful if an external screen is intended for HDMI connection, but your PC or laptop lacks such ports, or they are occupied or unavailable for other reasons. HDMI can have different versions, which affects its bandwidth. For instance, to transmit 4K video at 60 fps, you need HDMI v 2.0 or 2.1. And multiple ports will allow you to connect more than one monitor.

The presence of a VGA output in the design of the device.

VGA is an analogue interface originally designed for CRT monitors; it supports resolutions up to 1280 by 1024 and does not include audio. Today, this standard is considered obsolete; nevertheless, it is still found both in some monitors and in various specialized video equipment (in particular, projectors). The presence of a VGA output allows you to use the hub as an adapter for connecting a VGA device to a computer or laptop that does not initially have such an output. However, such a need arises infrequently, and hubs with a VGA output are not widely used.

The presence of a classic 3.5 mm Aux line port for audio transmission allows you to connect headphones or a speaker to the device.

External USB devices require power to work, which is supplied to them through the same USB port. However, the power of such power supply is relatively low (especially in version 2.0 ports, see "Connection"), and if several external devices are connected to one port of the computer through a hub, a situation may arise when the power is not enough for their operation. Connecting an external power supply to the hub allows you to avoid such situations: the hub receives additional power from the network and supplies power of the appropriate power to each of its inputs.

Another option for using devices with this function is charging portable equipment via USB: some models can work as stand-alone chargers that do not require connection to a computer.

A special compartment on the case of the card reader or hub (see "Type"), in which the USB cable is placed during non-working hours. Such models are compact and easy to transport due to the fact that the wire, which tends to get confused and interfere, is hidden inside the device. For objective reasons, only devices with an external connection can have a cable compartment(see "Intended use").

Light indicator, indicating that data is currently being exchanged between the memory card and the computer to which the card reader is connected. This allows you to avoid disconnecting the card reader during operation, which is fraught not only with data loss, but even damage to the device.