StarTech.com 4-Port Self-Powered USB-C Hub with Individual On/Off Switches, USB 3.0 5Gbps Expansion Hub w/Power Supply, Desktop/Laptop USB-C to USB-A Hub, USB Type C Hub w/BC 1.2

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

This is a pretty sensible little “office solves the problem” hub. The big win for me is the individual on/off switches on each port and the fact it’s self-powered (so you’re not relying on your laptop’s USB-C to do the heavy lifting). In day-to-day UK office life that means fewer flaky moments with power-hungry USB-A devices and less frustration when one peripheral misbehaves—you can just cut that port instead of unplugging the whole setup. At £42.53 ex-VAT, it’s good value if you’ve got a few straightforward USB-A needs: dongles, keyboards/mice, scanners, card readers, or general peripherals where you want stability more than flashy throughput.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it if your goal is high-performance storage work or anything that’s especially sensitive to bandwidth. It’s a USB 3.0 hub, so it’ll be fine for typical peripherals, but it’s not the right choice for moving lots of data between fast drives all day. Also worth sanity-checking the mix of devices you’ll plug in—if you’re mainly using bus-powered gear (like some external SSDs), even “powered” hubs can still depend on how demanding the devices are. If you want a reliable, staff-friendly hub that reduces downtime and cabling hassle, this one fits. If you’re chasing maximum speed or powering very thirsty devices, look elsewhere.