I wanted to make my life a little bit easier by removing the need of constantly getting to the back of my computer when I need to plug something in a USB port of the computer, so I started looking for a good USB 3.0 hub. I had just a couple of simple in my opinion requirements for the device and I thought that it should not be that hard to find a solution. Unfortunately it seems that finding the right product did not turn up as easy as I initially though. In fact it has turned into a real quest and in the end I still could not find the perfect solution for my needs that meets my requirements. I did manage to find and get two products that come as close as possible to what I require from a USB 3.0 hub, if only they were combined together into a single product...
What Are My Requirements from a USB 3.0 HUB
My simple, or so I thought, requirements for a USB 3.0 hub when I started looking for one were the following: solid and well built, preferably heavier metal construction, 4 USB 3.0 ports with enough space in between, detachable longer USB connection cable for the computer, optional external power (could be supported even without power adapter included initially). There are so many companies making accessories, so one should be making what I need/want, right? Well... it turns out that I'm yet to find that one, or maybe there isn't. It seems that for now I should do with what is closest to what my requirements are, so I will tell you a bit about that options that I got while I'm still looking for others.
Orico Mini USB 3.0 4-Port HUB
Initially this USB 3.0 HUB seemed to cover almost everything that I needed. Four USB 3.0 ports - 2 in front and one on each side... detachable 1 meter long USB cable for connecting to the computer. There is an option to even connect external 5V power adapter providing extra power to the HUB if I need it (no power adapter included). Good build quality, even though the whole thing is apparently entirely made from plastic.
Unfortunately there are some drawbacks as well. The whole body of the USB 3.0 HUB is made from glossy black plastics, the kind that looks nice when new, but acts like a magnet for dust and is easily scratched even by toughing it, so it can quickly start looking ugly. The base of the HUB is just like the top and there are no rubber feet to hold it on your desk and this means that it will move around a lot on your desk unless when you plug and unplug devices.
The two front USB connectors are a bit close to each other, though that should not be that much of a problem. The not so convenient thing is that all USB ports are straightly pointing horizontally from the body of the HUB, it would've been better if they were angled a bit. I'm thinking that with a simple addon base that I can quickly draw and 3D print from a rubbery filament I can get to fix some of these drawbacks, but it would've been nice if I did not have to do that.
AUKEY Super Speed 4-port USB 3.0 HUB
This USB 3.0 HUB seemed to cover some of the issues that the Orico model had, though it still does come with some things that I do not like. The device comes with a good quality build and mostly made from aluminum body that is heavier and just feels solid, there are rubber feet below to assure it stays stable on its place. The HUB comes with 4 USB 3.0 ports that are placed on top and are angled for really easy use and there is a detachable USB cable available for connecting to the computer.
Now for the not so good things... The four USB ports are still closely spaced to each other and that can be an issue with some larger devices. There is no optional 5V power, so not good for multiple devices that require more power to be used at the same time such as external USB hard drives, though still one should be just fine. The USB cable connector for PC connection is located on the right side of the device, the back is the best option in my opinion. The USB cable provided for connection to the computer is also a bit shorter at just 50 centimeters, so I will have to get a longer one (see why I want detachable cables).
So unfortunately the perfect solution for my needs is an elusive one and I need to continue my quest to find it and meanwhile I will have to do with those two as a solution even if it is not perfect. At least these two aren't much of an expense, about $11 USD for the Orico and about $13 USD for the AUKEY one. The more I look at them, the more I lean towards the AUKEY one as the glossy surface of the Orico really annoys me... though I'm still not out of alternative options.
Other Alternatives I Have Found So Far
Pretty much the only better alternative to the two I already have seems to be the Sabrent 4 Port Aluminum USB 3.0 Hub, or at least from what I have found out for the moment. This USB HUB seems to be very similar to the AUKEY one, but fixes some of the drawbacks that the AUKEY has... I need to get one of these to try out next, but I already have a good feeling about it. It doesn't seem to be much more expensive either at about $15 USD on Amazon (it is significantly more on the official website).
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