I have MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015).
My macbook has only Two USB 3 ports and
I need to attach a keyboard, a mouse and a printer.
What is better to use unpowered or powered USB hub?
When it is better to buy powered USB hub and when it is better to buy unpowered?
MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.1)
Depends on the devices you want to use on the hub. The printer probably has it's own power supply and will not need more than 500mA of the USB port. Keyboard and mouse either.
If some device requires more power >500mA / >1000mA (depends on the USB port) it would mostly require a powered hub. I personally don't use unpowered hubs anymore since I don't know if I plugin a 2.5" USB hard drive next week which often needs >500mA or even more.
If your usb devices do not have their own power supply then get a powered usb hub. Your computer provides only limited power through the usb ports and unpowered devices consume that power at a rate the computer can not supply.
Add my vote to Bob's--get a powered hub.
A number of printer makers have recommended that their devices be connected only to a USB port on the computer's logic board, not one on a keyboard or a hub. This seems to apply in spite of 99+ percent of printers having independent power supplies. I have helped two local users work through USB printing problems by getting them to connect printers to the computer or at least a powered hub.
USB printing can be dicey enough anyway; I now buy only networkable printers and connect then via ethernet cabling.
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Hi,
Another vote for powered hub. Aside from the benefits which have been mentioned, the only drawback is it has to be plugged in to a wall outlet. The only benefit I can think of for a non-powered hub is that it's portable, that if it does work with what you need to plug into it, you can take it with you in the field and still not need to plug it in.
unpowered versus powered USB hub
