IOGEAR GUH304P: the powered met(AL) four-port USB-A hub review

The P suffix changes the package

The IOGEAR GUH304P is a four-port USB-A data hub for a computer that already has a USB-A host socket. Its useful distinction is an included external power adapter. The closely named GUH304 appears in the same manual but treats that adapter as optional; the P model includes it. For an existing peripheral desk, that package difference can matter more than the shared aluminum appearance.

IOGEAR now marks GUH304P as end of life and says it is no longer being sold. This review therefore serves as an earlier-model reference, including for owners checking a complete used or stored unit. A surviving product page does not verify the accessories or condition of an individual seller's package.

Four ordinary USB data connections

The four downstream ports are USB3.0, with an advertised maximum 5Gbps data rate. IOGEAR explicitly permits older USB2.0 and 1.1 equipment, while the quick-start guide explains that SuperSpeed operation needs both a USB3.0 computer connection and a USB3.0 peripheral. An older host or accessory keeps its corresponding speed limit.

The ports share the same upstream computer connection. Attaching four storage devices does not create four independent 5Gbps links back to the notebook. For normal peripheral expansion, that shared layout is expected; for several simultaneous large transfers, it is a reason to consider the workload as well as the socket count. The speed figure is the maker's interface specification, not a measured result from this review.

What the included adapter does

The manual instructs the owner to connect the hub to the computer, check the power indicator, attach USB devices and connect the AC adapter to the hub's power jack. The separate supply is intended to support attached peripherals instead of relying solely on the computer's USB power. It is particularly relevant when the connected equipment requires more power than a small bus-powered hub arrangement can comfortably provide.

This is not a USB-C charging dock. The external adapter does not send notebook Power Delivery through the built-in USB-A host lead. The official page's power fields use inconsistent input/output labels, so they do not establish a clear aggregate power promise for every port. Plan demanding equipment around its actual supply requirements instead of multiplying a guessed per-port figure.

A fixed cable and a small metal body

The upstream USB cable is built into the hub. That avoids a separate host lead in the bag, but cable reach and condition are part of the complete unit. It is not the detachable-cable arrangement used by some desktop hubs. A blue indicator shows that the hub has power; it is not evidence that a particular drive is receiving its maximum desired wattage.

The aluminum enclosure suits a small desk accessory or a hub carried between workspaces. For powered operation, remember to carry the external adapter too. The package list identifies the GUH304P, power adapter, quick guide and warranty card. Check all of those pieces when comparing an earlier unit against another four-port model.

Compatibility and the better alternative

IOGEAR explicitly describes plug-and-play operation without extra driver or software installation. The original guide names Windows Vista through 8.1 and MacOSX10.7 or later; the surviving product page also lists Windows 10 and 11, Linux and Chromebook support. The old general Mac line does not identify every subsequent Apple silicon model.

Choose GUH304P when the documented four USB-A ports, existing USB-A host and complete external-supply package fit the job. Choose a native USB-C host hub for a USB-C-only computer, or a suitable multiport dock when the missing features are screens, networking or laptop power. Those tasks require different hardware functions, even when the enclosures look similarly compact.