At a look

Expert’s Rating

Pros

• Two ports for fast-charging smartphones
• Solid worth
• Eighteen-month guarantee

Cons

• Occasional instability on a second show or related gadgets

Our Verdict

Anker’s 568 USB-C Dock falls into the USB4 camp, which might be a bit complicated for newcomers. But that is an in any other case strong docking station whose two highly effective ports for charging smartphones are an actual plus.

Price When Reviewed

$299.99

Best Prices Today: Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station

$263.98

The Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station is barely uncommon in that it’s one of many few docking stations marketed as a USB4 docking station, moderately than a “true” Thunderbolt dock. Don’t let that dissuade you, nevertheless, as Anker’s well-designed dock works simply tremendous with Thunderbolt ports, and affords a number of nifty options as well.

This 11-in-1 docking station favors DisplayPort, with two DisplayPort 1.4 ports, and a single HDMI 2.0 video port. The Anker 568’s distinguishing function, nevertheless, is the pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports on the entrance, with every supplying 30W of energy in addition to a separate 100W connection to the laptop computer. That’s fairly uncommon, and the 2 ports ought to fast-charge a smartphone and presumably even a pill.

(Most fashionable screens have each DisplayPort and HDMI ports. If you personal two HDMI-only shows, you’ll need to spend a further $20 or so on a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter cable.)

USB4 is usually thought of to be the industry-standard model of Thunderbolt, and is commonly related to AMD Ryzen notebooks due to licensing points. USB4 and Thunderbolt, nevertheless, are primarily the identical factor. USB4 products debuted in 2021, and Microsoft is constructing in a devoted USB4 settings page as part of an upcoming update for Windows 11. (For extra on this, plus any variations between Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB4, seek the advice of our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks, particularly the part that’s linked.) We additionally examined the dock on an Intel-based laptop computer with Thunderbolt ports, and it labored nicely.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station options and design

In common, the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station is nicely designed, with a prolonged 38.5-inch USB4 cable snaking out one aspect of the black plastic dock, and a Kensington lock on the opposite. The Anker 568’s entrance sports activities the pair of USB-C charging ports, together with a small white energy LED in addition to an influence button for manually turning the dock on and off.

On the again, there are two 5Gbps USB 2.0 ports (marked with a small keyboard and mouse icon) in addition to two 10Gbps USB 3.0 ports for exterior arduous drives and USB keys. Anker additionally consists of a typical gigabit ethernet port, the facility connection, and the 2 DisplayPort and HDMI connections.

Anker’s dock seems to be ahead to a day when 8K shows are ubiquitous, as both of the DisplayPort connections helps 8K resolutions at 30Hz. You’re in all probability contemplating this dock for a 4K show, nevertheless, and you may join two 4K shows at a extra comfy 60Hz decision to any two of the dock’s video ports. You may even join a 4K show to every of the three ports, although solely 30Hz refresh charges can be found beneath that state of affairs.

Anker asks you to obtain a dock supervisor software that routinely updates it with the most recent firmware. A USB4 product ought to work out of the field, nevertheless, and our evaluation unit usually did. We detected a little bit of flicker in a single space of considered one of our 4K take a look at screens, nevertheless, and that show briefly misplaced connection a number of occasions over the course of two days. We additionally observed that Windows gave us the occasional “ping” indicating {that a} gadget had indifferent from the PC, with out it being instantly apparent which gadget it was.

Mark Hachman / IDG

Our charging exams revealed that the Anker 568 pushes about 26.5W through the entrance 30W charging ports, fast-charging our take a look at smartphones. Our USB-C energy meter recorded a excessive of 86W consumed by the laptop computer and transferred through Anker’s dock.

The dock’s streaming efficiency throughout the ethernet port to the exterior shows was a bit jittery earlier than a reboot cleared up the difficulty. Playing again 4K video throughout the dock’s ports and transferring knowledge have been regular. The plasticky exterior of the dock was heat to the contact, however not overly so.

Is the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station value it?

Anker’s worth places it someplace in the course of our roundup of the best Thunderbolt docks, and, on the whole, its function set doesn’t set it aside. The one exception, although, are its two highly effective front-mounted charging ports, which is a compelling promoting level when you regularly cost a cellphone, laptop computer, and pill. Anker has made a strong docking station, appropriate for both your laptop computer’s Thunderbolt or USB4 ports.