Expand Connectivity—Expand your USB functionality by connecting up to 4 USB 3.0, 2.0, or 1.1 devices to any USB 2.0 or 3.0 capable computer. Silver aluminum finish with three front facing ports and one side port
180 Degree Rotation—Compact design and a rotating USB connection to the host system can help to accommodate tight spaces and keep other ports unobstructed using a variety of orientations
USB Powered—Power is provided by the host computer's USB port and shared by all USB devices connected to the hub. (900mA total when attached to USB 3.0 systems, 500mA total on USB 2.0)
Compatibility—Compatible with Windows 11, 8.x, 7, Vista, and XP, macOS, and Linux. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi adapters, may not work in close proximity to USB 3.0 devices or hubs
2-Year Coverage, Lifetime Support—Every Plugable product, including this USB hub, is covered against defects for 2 years and comes with lifetime support. If you ever have questions, contact our North American-based team - even before purchase
The Plugable Bus-Powered 4-Port Rotating USB 3.0 Hub (USB3-HUB4R) is a portable USB 3.0 travel hub that enables connecting four low-power USB 3.0 devices on a single USB 3.0 port. The hub features a unique 180 degree rotating USB connector to allow convenient placement on a variety of host computers like laptops, tablets, or 2-in-1s. As a bus-powered hub, it's great for USB devices with low power draw like wired keyboards and mice, flash drives, and card readers.
USB devices which have higher power draw such as bus-powered hard drives and CD/DVD drives are not recommended for use with this hub. 2.4GHz wireless devices, such as wireless keyboard/mouse receivers, Bluetooth adapters, and WiFi adapters, may not work in close proximity to USB 3.0 devices or hubs. Connecting wireless devices to a USB 2.0 port is recommended for best results.
Rotating USB Connector for Flexible Placement
The unique rotating design allows the hub to be positioned in numerous ways and is able to work with a large number of laptops and tablets that may have their built-in USB ports in inconvenient locations. With 180 degrees of rotation the hub can fit just about any situation.
Features
Requires no driver installation (although individual devices may require drivers)
This hub is USB bus-powered, drawing its power from the USB port on the host computer. No external power supply or AC adapter is required)
Full forward and backward compatibility between USB 3.0, 2.0, and 1.1 hosts and devices. Newer USB standards will be limited to USB 3.0 5Gbps throughput
Featuring the VIA VL813 USB 3.0 hub chipset updated to firmware version 9011 for maximum compatibility with almost all USB 3.0 hosts
Compatibility
Supports Microsoft Windows XP through 11, macOS, and Linux kernels 3.0 and later
Not recommended for use with older Texas Instruments, Fresco Logic, Etron, or Wistron USB 3.0 host controllers
Apple SuperDrive is not compatible. Older MacBook Pros with USB 3.0 PCI Express add-on cards may not work with this or any USB 3.0 hub
2.4GHz wireless devices such as wireless keyboard/mouse receivers, Bluetooth and WiFi adapters, may not work in close proximity to USB 3.0 devices or hubs. Connecting wireless devices to a USB 2.0 port is recommended for best results
As a bus-powered hub, the power is provided by the host computer's USB port and shared by all USB devices connected to the hub. (900mA total when attached to USB 3.0 systems, 500mA total on USB 2.0). The hub functions as a USB hub only and there is no special functionality for charging an iPad, iPhone, tablet, or smartphone devices
In The Box
USB3-HUB4R 4-Port Hub
Quick Install Guide
In The Box
Item and Quantity
Item Notes
1x Plugable Bus-Powered 4-Port Rotating USB 3.0 Hub
1x Quick Start Guide
Included Cables
Port Type (Side 1)
Cable Specification
Port Type (Side 2)
Cable Length
External Power for Cable
Male USB-A
USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
No
USB To Devices
Port
Placement
Version and Link Rate
Features
Voltage
Amperage
Wattage
3x USB-A
Front
USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
5V
900mA
4.5W
1x USB-A
Side
USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
5V
900mA
4.5W
Connection To Host
Port
Placement
Version and Link Rate
Features
1x USB-A
Side
USB 3.0 (5Gbps)
Physical Stats
Item
Size (H x W x D) or Length
Weight
SKU or Part Number
USB 3.0 4-Port Hub
1 x 8 x 5.25 centimeters 0.4 x 3.1 x 2.1 inches
32 grams 1.1 ounces
USB3-HUB4R
Get Started
1. Connect the Plugable 4-Port Hub to a USB 3.0 port on your system
2. Connect USB devices to available ports on the hubSupport
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This is the standard USB connection that most computers offered prior to the introduction of USB Type-C (USB-C). Even after the introduction of USB Type-C, this is still quite common.
It can provide data transfer rates up to the USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 gbps) specification depending on the host and device, but does not directly support video in the way that USB-C Alternate Mode does. This limitation makes DisplayLink USB graphics adapters and docking stations ideal on systems that do not have USB-C, or in instances where more displays are needed beyond available video outputs of a PC.
This type of connection comes in a couple different styles depending on whether USB 3.0 and higher transfer rates are supported (bottom graphic). Usually this type of connection is used to plug into USB devices that do not have a fixed cable connected, such as USB docking stations, USB hubs, printers, and others.
One of the first connectors for charging a smartphone, wireless game controller (such as the Sixaxis and DualShock 3), and other small devices such as external hard drives. Not commonly used today, but is still used in some cases. Most devices using USB Mini B are using USB 2.0, though a USB 3.0 variant does exist. This specification also added USB On-The-Go (OTG) functionality, though it is more commonly implemented with Micro USB.
A smaller connector that serves many of the same uses as the Mini B connector, with added optional features such as Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) to allow devices like smartphones to output video to larger displays without requiring a dedicated port for video output.
The larger variant of USB-B is most commonly used for external hard drives for higher 5Gbps transfer rates.
The most recent USB connection, USB Type-C (USB-C), represents a major change in what USB can do. The connector is smaller, can be connected in two orientations, is able to carry substantially more power and data, and can directly carry video signals of multiple types (HDMI, DisplayPort, etc.) Intel has also adapted the USB-C connector for use with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
It is important to note that while all Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 connections are USB-C, not all USB-C connections can be used with Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 devices.
While all USB ports provide some amount of power for attached devices, the available power may not be enough for certain high-current devices such as USB hubs or external hard drives. High-current devices usually come with their own power adapter, making them self-powered, in contrast to a bus-powered device that draws all of its power from the host computer's USB interface. Bus-powered devices can cause issues if they need more power than is available from the host machine.
Many of our devices that include power adapters, especially USB hubs, will function in either self-powered or bus-powered mode. However, even though the device may function, each additional device attached to the host computer reduces the total available bus power. If the power runs out, any USB device attached to the computer may suddenly disconnect. If this were to happen to a USB storage device, such an event could result in permanent data loss.
If a device comes with a power adapter, we recommend that the adapter stay connected at all times, otherwise the device may not function as designed.
Self-powered USB device - A device that takes all of its power from an external power supply
Bus-powered USB device - A device that takes all of its power from the host computer's USB interface.
Because the Raspberry Pi is a USB 2.0 device and can’t take advantage of USB 3.0 functionality as well as mixed results from users, we do not recommend this hub for use with the Raspberry Pi. The hub we do recommend is our 7 port USB 2.0 hub.
Most USB receivers for wireless mice and keyboards operate in the 2.4Ghz band. When connecting the receiver to any USB 3.0 port there is potential for interference that can affect the devices performance. The most effective method is to add a short USB 2.0 extension cable between the hub and the receiver to mitigate the effect, and many wireless keyboards and mice come with such a cable for this reason.
Unfortunately Plugable products do not support the Apple SuperDrive.
The Apple SuperDrive has stringent power requirements that can only be met by directly connecting the SuperDrive to your host laptop. As a result at this time Apple recommends only using their USB-C adapter cables. You can find more information on that here → How to connect the Apple USB SuperDrive
If you have purchased a Plugable product to use with your Apple SuperDrive, and would like some additional assistance please do not hesitate to reach out. You can do so by emailing support@plugable.com, or going to Plugable.com/Support.
It's not uncommon for users to notice a certain level of heat generation from electronics and by extension, Plugable products during operation. In this knowledge base article, we'll explore the reasons behind this heat generation and why it is considered a normal experience within reasonable limits.
Electronics, by their nature, generate heat during operation. This is primarily a result of the electrical current flowing through various components, such as integrated circuits, transistors, and other electronic elements. As Plugable products are designed to efficiently process and transfer data (among other functionality), some level of heat generation is inherent.
Factors Influencing Heat Generation:
Power Consumption: The power consumption of a device directly influences the amount of heat it generates. Higher power usage, especially during data transfer or charging processes, can lead to increased heat.
Enclosure Design: The design of the product's enclosure and its ability to dissipate heat play a crucial role. Adequate ventilation and heat sinks are often incorporated to manage and disperse generated heat effectively. This is evident in our TBT3-UDZ and TBT4-UDZ designs. The metal case in these docks are designed to function as a heatsink with thermal pads placed throughout the enclosure. This allows heat dissipation from inside to the outside, but will also make it feel as if the device is “too hot”.
Ambient Temperature: The external environment may also play a role. Higher ambient temperatures can contribute to increased perceived heat from the product. This means that summer temperatures may increase the heat generation of not just Plugable products, but many other electronic devices.
Normal Heat Levels: While it is normal for electronic devices to generate heat, Plugable products are engineered to operate within safe temperature ranges. We conduct rigorous testing to ensure that the heat generated during normal operation falls within industry-standard safety parameters. While not all products are or need to be UL certified, we try to go by UL guidelines for thermal readings. The UL threshold is 77C/170.6F, and we aim for around 71C/160F.
Tips for Users:
Ventilation: Ensure that Plugable products have sufficient ventilation around them. Avoid placing them in enclosed spaces where heat dissipation may be impeded.
Usage Patterns: Intensive tasks such as high-speed data transfer or charging multiple devices simultaneously may result in increased heat generation. This is generally normal but may be more noticeable in such scenarios.
Accessories: A number of our devices will allow for the connection of USB accessories and as such, these will require power. If too many “power-hungry” devices are connected, this will cause the device to run much hotter than expected. Be sure to keep in mind the power limits of your dock/device.
In conclusion, experiencing heat from Plugable products is a normal aspect of their operation. Users can rest assured that we prioritize the safety and efficiency of our devices. By understanding the factors influencing heat generation and following simple usage guidelines, users can make the most of their Plugable products while ensuring a reliable and efficient user experience.