Comparison XOKO AC-700m vs BASEUS Metal Gleam Series 11-in-1 Multifunctional Type-C Hub

— Card Reader. Devices designed primarily for reading various types of memory cards. They may have USB ports (see "USB inputs"), but usually less than one (very rarely two). There are both external and internal (see "Purpose").

— USB hub. He's a "splitter". A variety of peripheral devices designed to increase the number of working USB ports in the system. The hub has several own USB inputs (usually at least 4), and only one such port is used to connect it to a computer. Thus, by connecting, for example, a 4-port hub to a computer, you will get 4 instead of one USB port. Such devices can be useful for those who have to use many USB devices at the same time, as well as for owners of compact laptops where there are few standard connectors. However, keep in mind that the power of one port may not be enough to power all the peripherals connected through the hub, for more details see "Connecting the power supply". Models of this type are only external(see "Purpose").

— Card reader / USB hub. External (see "Purpose") devices that combine the functionality of the two types described above: they have both slots for memory cards and USB ports, which allows them to be used as both card readers and hubs. However, it is worth noting that USB ports in such models are usually fewer than in full-featured hubs, and some even have only 1 USB input.

— USB A. A classic, mainstream USB port that has recently been losing ground to the more advanced USB-C port.

— USB-C. This connector differs from the classic, full-sized USB in much smaller dimensions, as well as a two-sided design that allows you to insert the plug in either direction. This interface is rarely found in desktop PCs, but is becoming increasingly popular in laptops, tablets, and phones. Note that the Type C standard only describes the connector design; The USB version (interface) is described in the paragraph below.

— Lightning. Apple's proprietary interface used in its compact devices (iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch) since 2012. In terms of application features, it is completely similar to the microUSB described above, adjusted for the fact that it is found only in “apple” gadgets and is not used by other manufacturers.

— Internal USB. A variation of the USB standard used to connect internal card readers (see "Type", "Destination"). It differs from external USB in a connector; you can connect a card reader with such a connection only to the connectors on the motherboard; it is not compatible with external USB ports. Other characteristics are completely similar to the corresponding external USB standard (see above).

— microUSB. A reduced version of the external USB interface (see a...bove): the dimensions of such a connector are several times smaller than those of a full-sized one, which allows it to be used in portable equipment, in particular smartphones and tablets. Actually, card readers and hubs that use this interface to connect are usually designed for such equipment. Note that normal operation is possible only if the main device is capable of operating in USB host mode (this function is called USB On-the-Go).

— Wi-Fi. A wireless standard originally developed as a technology for building computer networks; later, Wi-Fi Direct technology appeared, which allows you to connect devices directly to each other. In card readers and hubs, this technology is found mainly among models designed for use with mobile devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) that have a built-in Wi-Fi module. At the same time, the advantage over wired interfaces is not only the absence of wires and the corresponding freedom of movement, but also the possibility of simultaneously connecting several devices and exchanging data with them. And some models with Wi-Fi can even be connected to computer networks as full-fledged network drives. Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting the need for its own power source — either connecting to the network, which accordingly limits freedom of movement, or a battery that has a limited battery life (within a few hours).

— ExpressCard. A standard for connecting compact peripherals, mainly used in laptops. ExpressCard devices are usually 75x34x5 mm in size and are installed in a special slot in the computer case. Depending on the features of the system, it can provide speeds up to 2.5 Gbps, but in general it is less versatile and convenient than USB, due to which it is much less common and continues to lose popularity. Found exclusively in card readers (see "Type").

— Corporate outlet. Connecting external card readers (see "Intended use") through the original connector, which is usually used in the technique of a single manufacturer and does not comply with common standards like USB (see above). The scope of such models is quite limited, most often they are produced as additional accessories for certain models of portable equipment (for example, tablets).

The number of USB inputs located on the case of the card reader or hub (see "Type"). The number of USB ports that you will have at your disposal after connecting the device depends on this parameter. "Pure" card readers and combined models, usually, have 1, 2 and even 3 USB inputs, while hubs have 4 or more ports.

This paragraph refers to the USB connector interface. The main difference between the interface versions is speed. It is worth noting that the speed of the input connector does not yet indicate the overall throughput, since the simultaneous connection of flash drives, phones, memory cards slows down data transfer, which anyway is limited by the interface for connecting the device itself to a PC or laptop(item "Connection interface").

- USB 2.0. The outdated version 2.0 provides data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps. Found only in USB A ports.

- USB 3.2 gen1. The previous names of the USB 3.1 gen1 and USB 3.0 standard (they know how to confuse). This version provides 10 times the maximum speed (4.8Gbps) as well as higher power supply, which allows you to connect power-hungry devices and large splitters.

- USB 3.2 gen2. Further improvement of the USB 3.2 gen1 standard (and, as is customary, the previous name USB 3.1 gen1 and simply USB 3.1, which was renamed more than once), made it possible to achieve a maximum speed of 10 Gbps and even higher power for external devices.

The number of USB Type C ports for connecting peripherals provided in the design of the hub (or card reader with the hub function — see "Type").

The port itself is small — only slightly larger than microUSB — and has a reversible design, thanks to which the plug can be inserted in either direction. That is why he has exacted respect and is actively replacing the classic USB port.

Despite its small size, USB Type C is used both in portable technology and in desktop PCs and peripherals for them. However, there are still few such devices available; because of this, hubs usually provide 1 USB-C port or 2 type C inputs.

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.

HDMI is the most popular of today's multimedia digital interfaces. It is specifically designed for HD content and delivers high-definition video and multi-channel audio over a single cable. HDMI outputs are found mainly in hubs connected via USB Type C and compatible with the Thunderbolt interface (see "Connection"). Actually, to use HDMI, you will need to connect the device to the Thunderbolt v3 connector — "pure" USB Type C does not provide video transmission. This feature can be useful if the external screen is designed for HDMI connection, but there are no such connectors in the PC or laptop itself, they are busy or unavailable for another reason. At the same time, HDMI can be a different version, which affects the throughput. So to transfer video in 4K at 60 fps, you must have HDMI v 2.0 or 2.1.

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.