I’m sure most of you have come across Anker by now. Whether you’ve been in the market for an iPhone or Android cable, or a reliable battery pack, chances are you’ve stumbled upon products from this company. But did you know that they also offer more advanced options, such as the impressive Anker 568 USB4 docking station?
I’ve had the opportunity to test out this new USB-C dock, which comes packed with features and retails for around $200. However, there is one downside that’s worth considering. Join me as I take a closer look at the pros and cons of this product in the full review.
Design
The Anker 568 shares a huge amount of DNA from the slightly larger, and slightly more premium, Anker 578 Thunderbolt 4 dock. The Anker 568 has a single USB4 downstream type-C connection to plug into your laptop or capable desktop for all outputs and 100W of charging. This is on the side of the device and has a decent 3 foot-long cable, which is an improvement over the seriously short 2.3ft lead of the Anker 578 Thunderbolt Dock.
Around the back is where most of the business is done with outputs. Here you’ll find 4 USB-A ports, two DisplayPorts, and an HDMI out. This allows for up to three monitor outputs from a single connection to the upstream computer via this Anker 568 docking station.
Around the front, you have two USB-C ports capable of 30W of charging or 40Gbps of file transfers. This creates a well-rounded setup that should get you most of your monitors, peripherals, and charging needs down to a single device.
Daily Usage
Using the Anker 568 USB4 Dock has been fantastic with one caveat. It’s taken anything I’ve thrown at it while using Chrome OS, Windows, or Linux. All the outputs and ports function as they should and switching between them by simply unpluggging the single USB-C port has been the workflow I’ve been missing in my home office.
But if you are a Mac user, I might skip this dock and look at the true Thunderbolt 4 version Anker 578. And especially if you have DisplayPort monitors. This is due to a limitation of Mac OS not supporting multi-stream transport. This is when you daisy chain dual displays over DisplayPort from a single upstream connection.
Mac will only see this combination as a single monitor and will not extend to the second display. You will only get a mirrored output. I didn’t have a second type of monitor and both of mine are identical, but even using an HDMI to DisplayPort cable had the same results.
For Mac users, you should either stay away from dual DisplayPorts or do like I did and use the Anker 578. This allowed me to circumvent the single channel that runs the dual DisplayPort and HDMI with the additional Thunderbolt4 out exclusive to the 578. I was able to extend to my second display with a TB to DP cable off Amazon.
Conclusion
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Products earning this distinction exemplify excellence across the board, delivering an experience that truly rises above the rest.
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Unleash the Power of Connectivity with Anker 568 USB4 Docking Station
Anker has solidified its reputation for high-quality mobile accessories and is now making waves in the realm of desktop computing. The Anker 568 USB4 Docking Station is a testament to this commitment, boasting robust construction, an impressive selection of 11 ports, and the capability to deliver up to 100W of power through a single dongle.
What’s more, the price is incredibly enticing, priced at just $130. This positions the Anker 568 as a standout contender in the USB-C docking landscape. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience seamless connectivity – secure yours directly from Anker or via our exclusive Amazon links.
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Purchase the Anker 568 USB4 Docking Station from Anker.com
Purchase the Anker 568 USB4 Docking Station from Amazon.com
