StarTech.com 4-Port USB-A Hub, 5Gbps, Bus Powered, USB-A to 4x USB-A Hub with USB-C Auxiliary Power Input, 1ft/30cm Host Cable, Portable Desktop/Laptop USB Hub

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £25.99 ex-VAT, this StarTech 4‑port USB-A hub is a sensible “get-it-done” option if you just need a little extra connectivity for everyday kit on a laptop or desktop—think flash drives, older peripherals, small dongles, and low-power accessories. StarTech tends to be reliable with the basics, and the bus-powered design keeps it simple (no extra power bricks cluttering your bag). In a typical office setup, it’s exactly the sort of utility hub you’ll keep around for times when you’re one port short.

That said, I wouldn’t buy it for anything that’s power-hungry or picky. If you’re planning to run multiple devices that draw more current (some external drives, certain USB devices with higher spin-up power, etc.), the bus power limit is where things start to feel flaky—devices may not be detected consistently or you may see disconnects under load. Also, the “flash memory readers” category feels a bit misaligned: this is fundamentally a general-purpose USB hub, not a dedicated card reader solution. If you need stable performance for storage, or you expect to use it with external drives regularly, you’ll be happier spending a bit more on a hub with stronger power provisioning (or a properly powered hub).

**Verdict:** buy it if you want cheap, dependable extra USB-A ports for low-power gear in an office/travel scenario. Skip it if your use case is external storage that you expect to behave flawlessly every time.