USB-C version
The USB connector interface (version) primarily characterizes the speed.
- 2.0. The outdated version 2.0 provides data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps. Found only in USB A ports.
— 3.2 gen1. Previous standard names are 3.1 gen1 and 3.0. This version provides up to 10 times the maximum speed (4.8Gbps) as well as higher power capacity, which allows you to connect power-hungry devices and large splitters.
- 3.2 gen2. Further improvement of the 3.2 gen1 standard (and, as is customary, the previous name more than once renamed 3.1 gen1 and simply 3.1), which made it possible to achieve a maximum speed of 10 Gbps and even higher power for external devices.
However, the final speed depends not so much on the input connector, but on the USB version of the hub (card reader) connection to the PC.
microUSB
The presence
of a micro USB port for connecting peripheral devices in the design of the hub (or a card reader with a hub function — see "Type").
The main scope of microUSB is portable equipment — smartphones, tablets, etc. Accordingly, it makes sense to purchase a hub with such a connector if you want to connect peripherals that were originally designed for mobile gadgets to a PC — for example, flash drives for smartphones with USB OTG function. Usually there is only one microUSB connector — more is simply not required.
VGA
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.
mini-Jack (3.5 mm)
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.
UHS-II card
The ability of the card reader to process high-speed memory cards up to 312 MB / s. However, this ability may not apply to all types of memory cards, but only to some.
Power Delivery
The technology allows you to work at higher voltage, thereby increasing the transmitted power.
USB hubs with Power Dlivery can not only charge smartphones faster, but also power more power-hungry devices, such as laptops.
USB cable compartment
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").
Removable USB cable
The ability to disconnect the cable from the device through which it is connected to the USB port of the computer (see "Connection"). This gives a certain convenience during transportation — a
removable cable is somewhat easier to lay than a non-removable cable, you can carry it separately, etc. In addition, it becomes possible to replace the cable — for example, if the regular cable is not long enough, or if it is damaged.
Activity indicator
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.
