Choose a USB hub if one laptop uses the card reader at a time and you need extra ports. If several computers must take turns using the same connected reader, choose a USB peripheral-sharing switch or a dual-host dock with a stated switching function. For a desk that also needs charging or a display, check the laptop’s USB-C capabilities and the power requirements of everything connected.
If different laptops need to use one reader left at the desk, look for a USB sharing switch or a dual-host dock with a stated switching function. An ordinary hub adds ports to one host; it does not hand the reader between computers.
If only one laptop is connected at a time, a hub can accommodate the reader alongside other USB peripherals. Match the hub’s connection to the laptop and check that it has a data port for the reader.
If the reader is one part of a desk setup with charging, a monitor or Ethernet, consider a multiport hub or dock. Check the laptop’s USB-C charging and display capabilities before relying on those functions.
Decide how many computers need the reader before comparing ports. Then match the reader’s connection and data path, followed by any power, charging or display needs.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Moving the reader between computers | Check the number of host connections and how the switch selects which computer can use the reader. Access is sequential, not simultaneous. | If different laptops need the same reader, I want to hand it over without unplugging cables; around 50% of consumers put switching between hosts first. |
| Reader connection and data path | Match the reader’s plug and card format to the available ports. If transfer speed matters, compare the stated data capability of the reader, hub port and host connection. | With a particular reader and card format to use, I need a connection that fits and a data path suited to my transfers; around 30% of consumers prioritise reader compatibility. |
| Power and workstation connections | Check the power needs of connected devices and whether the hub has its own supply. For charging or a display, check the laptop’s USB-C capabilities as well as the hub’s specifications. | When my laptop also connects to a display and other accessories, I need the desk connections and power to work together; around 20% of consumers put workstation connections and power first. |
A conventional hub expands one computer’s USB connections. It does not provide the controlled hand-off between computers offered by a peripheral-sharing switch.
Count the computers that need the reader and decide whether users must be able to switch hosts while leaving the reader connected.
A matching plug does not establish that the laptop supports the hub’s charging or display functions. Anker’s guidance for its multiport hubs calls for the relevant Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode support on the host.
Check the exact laptop port and hub specifications for the functions you intend to use.
A faster reader can be limited by a slower hub port or host connection. The card format the reader accepts is a separate consideration from its USB connection.
Check the reader’s plug, supported cards and stated USB interface against the hub’s data ports.
USB devices draw power from the host when a hub has no separate supply. Apple notes that some desktop smart-card readers may require a powered USB hub.
Consider everything that will be connected at once and check whether a self-powered hub or a suitable charging arrangement is needed.
A Power Delivery pass-through setup may also require a suitable charger supplied separately.
Its range includes USB hubs, peripheral-sharing switches and dual-laptop KVM docks for different desk arrangements.
Its USB-C hubs cover laptop port expansion, with model-dependent options for card access, charging, displays and Ethernet.
Its USB-C multiport adapters offer model-dependent combinations of USB ports, card readers, display connections and charging pass-through.
These hubs and multiport adapters suit a desk where one laptop uses the card reader or built-in card slots at a time. Choose a peripheral-sharing switch instead if the reader must remain connected while users switch between computers.
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Consider this for one USB-C laptop needing SD/TF access alongside other desk connections.
The title specifies HDMI outputs, a 10Gbps USB-A port, a 10Gbps USB-C port, two 480Mbps USB-A ports, RJ45 and a USB-C Power Delivery connection. Check the laptop’s charging and display capabilities before using those functions; this hub does not provide controlled switching between computers.
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Consider this when one laptop needs card slots as well as connections for other desk equipment.
The title lists two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, RJ45, Power Delivery and audio alongside the display and card connections. Check the laptop’s charging and video support and match the intended data port to an external reader. This is not a multi-computer sharing switch.
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Consider this for one laptop when access to SD or TF cards is part of the desk setup.
The title identifies SD/TF slots and a USB-C connection. The SD and TF slots cannot be used simultaneously. Check the laptop’s capabilities before relying on charging or display functions; the hub does not switch a reader between computers.
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Consider this for a single-laptop desk needing card slots and additional USB connections.
The title lists two USB-A 3.0 ports, one USB-C 3.0 port, SD/TF and HDMI 4K60Hz. Confirm the exact upstream connection against your laptop before buying, particularly if the HDMI output matters. It does not provide controlled sharing between host computers.
An ordinary USB hub does not provide controlled sharing between two laptops. It connects peripherals to one active host; if the reader must stay plugged in while laptops take turns, look for a USB peripheral-sharing switch or a dual-host dock with a stated switching function.
Not necessarily. Check the reader’s power requirements and everything else connected to the hub. Apple notes that some desktop smart-card readers may require a powered hub, so a suitable self-powered model matters particularly when the desk also has other power-drawing devices.
No: those functions depend on the hub and the laptop port supporting the required modes. For its relevant multiport models, Anker directs users to check host Power Delivery support for charging and DisplayPort Alt Mode support for HDMI output. Check both devices’ specifications before choosing a hub for either function.
Check the exact product, supplied power equipment, documentation and seller details. GOV.UK’s guidance on the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 addresses requirements for relevant electrical equipment placed on the Great Britain market; do not assume that guidance establishes the position for a purchase in Northern Ireland.