At a lookProfessional’s Score
Professionals
- Highly effective charging ports
- Quick information ports
- As much as two 4K at 60Hz
- Compact and light-weight
Cons
- No card reader
- Mac 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.
Anker is known 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.
When you want an additional show or two and likewise a bunch of top-end gadget charging ports, and might 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 additional show.
Ports of energy
Docking stations make it easier 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 pace fairly than Thunderbolt’s 40Gbps.
The Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station has a formidable 13 ports—plus the upstream USB-C port to hook up with the host (probably your laptop computer). It’s loaded with USB information and charging ports but additionally has many 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 information ports (two USB-C, one USB-A) also needs to be ample for many setups.
The accessible energy beats all different docks into submission. Alongside the 10Gbops information 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 may have 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 moveable.
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. When you want extra attain to an influence socket, you’ll want an extender.
There’s a Sensible Mode that robotically allocates optimum charging energy to every port based mostly on the linked gadgets’ necessities; plus a Customized Mode so you’ll be able to prioritize particular person ports as you please. Ports might be set to “Energy Precedence” for increased 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. When you don’t want it, you gained’t miss it—however these playing cards can provide reasonably priced and extremely moveable entry to exterior storage. When you resolve on one later, you should buy an SD Card Reader adapter that may dissipate one of many dock’s USB ports.
If you’re on the lookout for a dock with a wider roster of ports, take a look at our really useful greatest USB-C laptop computer docking stations. If you need a strong desktop charger fairly than a dock, then have a look at what our exams reveal as the most effective laptop computer PD chargers.
When you want each a docking station and a desktop charger, hold studying as this Anker dock is a good mixture of each.
Many current docking stations provide super-fast wired community entry with a 2.5Gb Ethernet connection, however most networks are nonetheless 1Gb so the Gigabit Ethernet port can be high quality for many. Once more, you might improve later with a 2.5Gb Ethernet adapter linked to one of many USB-C information ports.
The dock’s small good show offers visible suggestions on energy ranges and port connection standing. This characteristic is turning into fashionable on chargers and energy banks. Most individuals won’t ever trouble taking a look at 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 frequently topped up, which might 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 hook up with as much as two exterior shows. For Home windows laptop computer that help 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 help video output, so that they can’t be used to attach a monitor.
As macOS doesn’t help 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 displaying the identical display picture, though that may be completely different to the laptop computer’s personal display. For extra Mac choices, take a look at Macworld’s listing of best docking stations for Mac.
Value
The Anker Prime 160W Charging Docking Station prices $249.99 / £199.99, which is an inexpensive value 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 diversity of ports, however none that match it for top-end charging ports alongside a set of 10Gbps USB.
