Comparison BASEUS Lite Series 5-in-1 vs Borofone DH1

— External. Card readers and USB hubs connected to a computer as external peripherals, usually via a USB interface. This category also includes compact devices with an ExpressCard interface. Most external models are large enough to accommodate slots for several different types of cards (in the case of card readers) or for several USB ports (in the case of hubs).

— External adapter (connector on the case). Adapters that are connected to the external USB port of the computer. Usually have a compact form factor and are the most convenient to transport, but due to their small size, such card readers are usually designed at best for 2-3 different types of cards of similar sizes - there is simply no room to place more slots there. Among hubs, this type is rare - in most cases, it is more convenient to use classic external models with a wire. Nevertheless, full-fledged hubs with a connector built into the case do exist.

— Built-in. Devices installed in a PC case in such a way that their set of connectors is displayed on the front panel of the case. They are designed for use exclusively with desktop computers as a permanent component of the system and do not provide for frequent reconnections. Although technically possible, this is difficult and not justified, and it is generally impossible to use them with laptops. Usually, built-in solutions support a fairly wi...de range of cards. There are internal devices that are installed in a 3.5" slot (for a floppy/disk drive), and models for a 5.25” slot — a regular “landing place” for optical disc drives (for example, DVD).

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 The outdated version 2.0 provides data transfer rates up to 480 Mbps.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 switch that allows you to turn off the power supply to the USB ports. This function can be implemented either by one common switch for all ports at once, or by personal buttons for each port.

The technology allows you to work at higher voltage, thereby increasing the transmitted power. USB hubs with Power Dlivery can not only charge smartphones faster, but also power more power-hungry devices, such as laptops.

A special compartment on the case of the card reader or hub (see "Type"), in which the USB cable is placed during non-working hours. Such models are compact and easy to transport due to the fact that the wire, which tends to get confused and interfere, is hidden inside the device. For objective reasons, only devices with an external connection can have a cable compartment(see "Intended use").

Light indicator, indicating that data is currently being exchanged between the memory card and the computer to which the card reader is connected. This allows you to avoid disconnecting the card reader during operation, which is fraught not only with data loss, but even damage to the device.