At a look
Knowledgeable’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 superb mixture of dual-display 10Gbps dock and desktop charging station.
Worth When Reviewed
$249.99
Finest Costs In the present day: Anker Prime Charging Docking Station (14-in-1, Twin Show, 160W)
$249.99
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.
If you happen to want an additional show or two and in addition a bunch of top-end gadget 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 additional show.
Ports of energy
Docking stations allow you to create a full desktop setup out of your laptop computer, which is related 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 commonplace however will probably be pegged again at its personal 10Gbps most data-transfer pace relatively 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 in addition has many of the fundamentals you’d count on 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 whole 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 may pump out 100W, and there’s one other 12W accessible through one of many USB-A ports. Notice that whole energy output is 160W, so you might 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 probably 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. If you happen to want extra attain to an influence socket, you’ll want an extender.
There’s a Sensible Mode that routinely allocates optimum charging energy to every port based mostly on the related units’ necessities; plus a Customized Mode so you’ll be able to prioritize particular person ports as you please. Ports will 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. If you happen to don’t want it, you received’t miss it—however these playing cards can provide inexpensive and extremely moveable entry to exterior storage. If you happen to resolve on one later, you should buy an SD Card Reader adapter that can burn up one of many dock’s USB ports.
If you’re in search of a dock with a wider roster of ports, take a look at our really useful greatest USB-C laptop computer docking stations. If you would like a robust desktop charger relatively than a dock, then take a look at what our checks reveal as the very best laptop computer PD chargers.
If you happen to want each a docking station and a desktop charger, preserve studying as this Anker dock is a superb mixture of each.
Many latest 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 will probably be effective for many. Once more, you might improve later with a 2.5Gb Ethernet adapter related to one of many USB-C information ports.
The dock’s small good show provides visible suggestions on energy ranges and port connection standing. This function is changing into well-liked on chargers and energy banks. Most individuals won’t ever hassle it, however it’s there in case you need to monitor energy output.
It doesn’t present data-transfer charges between units.
The Anker has an easy-to-reach on-off swap 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 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 greatest docking stations for Mac.
Worth
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 superb 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.