Wonky USB hubs be gone! Raspberry Pi now has an official hub

Thursday November 14, 2024. 03:36 PM , from PC World

Raspberry Pi has just released another affordable accessory for its single-board computer lineup — an Official Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub that only costs $12.

The official Raspberry Pi USB 3 Hub features four USB-A 3.0 ports, which are backwards compatible with USB 2.0, plus an extra USB-C port that can power the hub if required. The new hub is compatible with all Raspberry Pi models and connects via a USB-A 3.0 connector on an integrated 8cm cable. It’s also small enough to fit in your pocket.

Raspberry Pi boards come with a number of USB ports already, but some users have demanded more connectivity. With the new USB hub you can go to town by connecting up to four extra devices – everything from cameras and sensors to IoT devices if you wish.

The hub’s USB-A 3.0 ports run at a speed of 5 Gbit/s (gigabits per second), which is the same speed you can expect from any USB-A 3.0 port on a PC desktop or laptop, so uploading and downloading your files should be very quick.

Meanwhile, the optional USB-C socket will allow you to hook up an external 5V 3A power supply (sold separately) in case the power from the USB isn’t sufficient to power all of your peripherals – for example, if you connect a smartphone that starts charging.

The hub comes after recent accessorizing by the company, which has resulted in the release of SD card, SSD storage, and AI HAT products. The growing list of accessories is music to the ears of Pi enthusiasts who benefit from extra functionality and more Raspberry Pi projects to work on.

In a statement on its website Raspberry Pi said nonofficial USB hubs that work well and are affordable are extremely hard to come by, with many being “unreliable,” “ugly,” or requiring you to “spend a lot of money,” hence the decision to release an official version.

“The resulting product works perfectly with all models of Raspberry Pi computer, and it bears our logo because we’re proud of it: we believe it’s the best USB 3.0 hub on the market today,” it said.