How to Decide if You Should Get a USB Hub or a Power Bank

by iCentral Mobile Pte Ltd
aukey power bank usb hub

Everyone probably owns a power bank, a portable charger which enables one to charge devices on the go. 

But what distinguishes the power bank from its lesser-known cousin, the USB Hub? 

Let’s take a look at their differences and which of the two you should be getting.


  1. What is a USB Hub?

A USB hub is a device that expands a single Universal Serial Bus (USB) port into several so that there are more ports available to connect devices to a host system, which is similar to a power strip. 

USB hubs usually come in two types: 1) powered and 2) unpowered USB hubs. 

The difference between the two is that the former draws its power from an electrical outlet (e.g. a power socket) while the latter draws its power from the computer connection (laptop battery).


  1. What is a Power Bank?

aukey power bank

The power bank is a portable charger designed to charge your electronic devices when you're on the move via wired USB-C connection. Some of the newer power banks also allow for wireless charging. 

Power banks come in all shapes and sizes, from slim, pocket-sized devices up to larger, higher-capacity ones – they can be used to charge smartphones, tablets etc.


  1. What's the Difference Between a USB Hub and a Power Bank? 


The biggest difference between a USB Hub and a power bank is that a USB Hub needs to draw power from a source (an electrical outlet or laptop battery) whereas a power bank draws power from its internal batteries (which need to be recharged). 

The other major difference is that a USB Hub usually has a greater number of ports compared to a power bank so it can charge more devices simultaneously.


  1. How Do I Decide if I Should Get a USB Hub or a Power Bank? 


A USB Hub draws its power from either a power socket or a computer connection.

As a rule of thumb, you should get a USB Hub only if you are certain that you will be able to connect it to a power source (e.g. an electrical outlet or a laptop).

Whether you have several devices that need to be charged simultaneously is also another key factor for consideration. 

This is because some power banks come with only one or two ports.

 

  1. Where Can I Get a USB Hub or a Power Bank From? 


AUKEY has both USB Hubs and Power Banks for sale. 

AUKEY has USB Hubs for all USB-A and USB-C ports.

These work with MacBook, Windows, and all laptops. 

You can power your laptop with 100W pass-through charging, compatible with thunderbolt and USB 3.0.

Our USB Hubs also support ethernet, 4K HDMI, Micro SD, and more. 

AUKEY also has power banks that come in three different battery capacities: 5,000mAh, 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh. 

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