Pros and Cons of the Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub

It is common to hear Raspberry Pi owners want more USB ports. GetUSB.info just read about them introducing an official 4 port USB hub. Sweet. To note, most Raspberry Pi single-board computers, except for the Raspberry Pi Zero and A+ models, include a built-in USB hub that splits one USB connection into several USB Type-A ports. Just recently they launched the official Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub, a high-quality USB 3.0 hub that offers four additional USB ports.

This hub includes a single upstream USB 3.0 Type-A connector with an 3 inches (8 cm) built-in cable. The “upstream” port is the socket used to communicate with the host device, which in this case is the Raspberry Pi. It also has four downstream USB 3.0 Type-A ports and can reach data transfer speeds up to 5 Gbps. There’s a USB-C socket for an optional external 3A power supply but that isn’t included with the $12 purchase. Quick note, the downstream port is are the sockets used to communicate with the devices, like a USB flash drive, hard drive, mouse, keyboard, printer, etc.

One driving force on why Raspberry Pi wanted to sponsor their own USB hub is the fact most ‘other’ hubs are just too expensive. One fundamental goal of Raspberry Pi is to provide an unparalleled offering for computer code development and the lowest possible price. Usually, you either pay a high price for a reliable, well-designed product, or you buy a cheaper option that’s unreliable, doesn’t work with various devices, or simply looks bad.

With this hub, there is no “race to the bottom,” where cheap, poor-quality products pushed out better options, and online marketplaces like Amazon became filled with low-quality hubs. To offer a better solution the Raspberry team got together with with Infineon to source a quality hub chip called the CYUSB3304.

Based on user beta testers and user comments here are the pros and cons of the Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub:

Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub Pros:

• High Quality and Reliable – Many users appreciated the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s commitment to quality, noting that this hub stands out compared to unreliable third-party options.
• Designed with User Needs in Mind – Users like the attention to detail, such as compatibility with a wide range of peripherals, and careful power distribution considerations.
• 4 Independent Transaction Translators – This feature allows each port to support full-speed USB 2.0 connections without sacrificing speed, which is a plus for those using multiple peripherals.
• Compatibility and Robust Testing – Engineers and beta testers have confirmed reliable performance with various devices, including high-power peripherals like flash drives.
• Affordable Alternative – Users were pleased to see an affordable, high-quality USB 3 hub without the issues associated with cheaper, unreliable hubs.
• Supports Battery Charging – The hub supports BC 1.2 battery charging, potentially allowing each port to draw up to 1.5A in specific configurations.

Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub Cons:

• Lacks Per-Port Power Switching (PPPS) – Some users were disappointed by the lack of individual power control for each port, a feature they feel distinguishes a truly high-end hub.
• Limited Power Supply – With only a 3A power supply, the hub may struggle to power all ports simultaneously at full current (900mA each), falling short of some users’ expectations.
• No USB 2.0 to USB 3.0 Conversion – Users looking for USB 2.0 traffic translation to USB 3.0 (as seen in the Valve Index) found this hub lacks this feature.
• No Physical Mounting Options – Some users expressed a desire for clips or other mounting options to secure the hub alongside their Raspberry Pi boards.
• No Power LED Indicator – Users mentioned the lack of a power LED to indicate when the external power supply is active, which would help with monitoring hub status.

Source
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/raspberry-pi-usb-3-hub-on-sale-now-at-12/