Professional’s Score
Professionals
Highly effective charging portsFast knowledge portsUp to 2 4K at 60HzCompact and light-weight
Cons
No card readerMac limitations
Our Verdict
Anker’s Prime 160W Charging Docking Station 14-in-1 USB-C Dock is a good mixture of dual-display 10Gbps dock and desktop charging station.
Value When Reviewed
$249.99
Finest Costs As we speak: Anker Prime Charging Docking Station (14-in-1, Twin Show, 160W)
$249.99
Anker is legendary for its wide selection of charging merchandise, and this laptop computer docking station is essentially the most highly effective we’ve seen for USB charging ports, in addition to the usual show choices and Gigabit Ethernet.
In case you want an additional show or two and in addition a bunch of top-end system charging ports, and may do with out storage card readers, this 14-in-1 dock is a nine-USB energy home.
Home windows customers can run two prolonged 4K shows off the dock at 60Hz, whereas Mac customers can mirror on two or simply go for one further show.
Ports of energy
Docking stations provide help to create a full desktop setup out of your laptop computer, which is linked to the dock utilizing only one USB-C cable.
This Anker USB-C dock additionally works with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 laptops in case your laptop computer has the quick connection normal however can be pegged again at its personal 10Gbps most data-transfer velocity fairly than Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps.
The Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station has a powerful 13 ports—plus the upstream USB-C port to connect with the host (seemingly your laptop computer). It’s loaded with USB knowledge and charging ports but additionally has a lot of the fundamentals you’d anticipate on a dock.
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
100W PD 3.0 charging through upstream USB-C port
As much as two exterior shows (2x 4K at 60Hz)
Two HDMI 2.0 ports
Two USB-C (10Gbps) ports
Two USB-C (100W) ports
One USB-A (10Gbps) port
One USB-A (12W) port
Three USB-A (480Mbps) ports
Gigabit Ethernet port
Hybrid 3.5mm audio port
160W complete energy output
This compact and handsome vertical-standing dock leans to its charging prowess, however the three front-mounted10Gbps knowledge ports (two USB-C, one USB-A) must also be ample for many setups.
The accessible energy beats all different docks into submission. Alongside the 10Gbops knowledge ports are two USB-C ports, every of which might pump out 100W, and there’s one other 12W accessible through one of many USB-A ports. Be aware that complete energy output is 160W, so you’ve gotten that quantity of energy when utilizing a number of ports concurrently.
The dock doesn’t have a separate energy provide. As a substitute it has an built-in GaN AC-DC energy module. This space-saving design makes it doubtlessly transportable.
Its dimensions are 5.5 x 3.8 x 1.9 inches ( 14 x 9.7 x 4.7cm) and it weighs 1.96lb (888g).
It connects to an influence supply through its built-in 5.5ft (1.7m) energy cable. In case you want extra attain to an influence socket, you’ll want an extender.
There’s a Good Mode that mechanically allocates optimum charging energy to every port primarily based on the linked gadgets’ necessities; plus a Customized Mode so you’ll be able to prioritize particular person ports as you please. Ports may be set to “Energy Precedence” for greater energy, “Energy Saving” for decreased energy, or “Balanced” for equal energy distribution amongst ports.
There’s no SD or MicroSD card reader slot on this Anker dock, whereas some docks have each. In case you don’t want it, you received’t miss it—however these playing cards can supply reasonably priced and extremely transportable entry to exterior storage. In case you resolve on one later, you should buy an SD Card Reader adapter that may expend one of many dock’s USB ports.
If you’re searching for a dock with a wider roster of ports, take a look at our really helpful greatest USB-C laptop computer docking stations. In order for you a strong desktop charger fairly than a dock, then take a look at what our checks reveal as the very best laptop computer PD chargers.
In case you want each a docking station and a desktop charger, preserve studying as this Anker dock is a good mixture of each.
Many latest docking stations supply super-fast wired community entry with a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection, however most networks are nonetheless 1Gb so the Gigabit Ethernet port can be nice for many. Once more, you may improve later with a 2.5Gb Ethernet adapter linked to one of many USB-C knowledge ports.
The dock’s small good show provides visible suggestions on energy ranges and port connection standing. This function is turning into widespread on chargers and energy banks. Most individuals won’t ever trouble it, but it surely’s there in case you wish to monitor energy output.
It doesn’t present data-transfer charges between gadgets.
The Anker has an easy-to-reach on-off change on prime, which is a useful energy-saving contact, and stops a laptop computer from having its battery regularly topped up, which may degrade it if left unplugged.
It ships with a 3.3ft (1m) 100W 10Gbps USB-C cable.
Twin show potential (restricted for Macs)
The Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station can connect with as much as two exterior shows. For Home windows laptop computer that assist DisplayPort Alt Mode, the docks can run two 4K shows at 60Hz refresh charge in prolonged mode through the 2 HDMI 2.0 ports.
Not one of the USB-C ports on the dock assist video output, so that they can’t be used to attach a monitor.
As macOS doesn’t assist MST (Multi-Stream Transport) Macs can work with the dock with one or two exterior shows however the two could be mirrored—that’s each exhibiting the identical display screen picture, though that may be totally different to the laptop computer’s personal display screen. For extra Mac choices, take a look at Macworld’s checklist of greatest docking stations for Mac.
Value
The Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station prices $249.99 / £199.99, which is an inexpensive worth for what’s each a laptop computer dock and a desktop USB charging station.
Verdict
Anker’s Prime 160W Charging Docking Station 14-in-1 USB-C Dock is a good mixture of dual-display 10Gbps dock and desktop charging station. There are USB-C docks with a greater variety of ports, however none that match it for top-end charging ports alongside a set of 10Gbps USB.
