Professional’s Score
Execs
- Two ports for fast-charging smartphones
- Strong worth
- Eighteen-month guarantee
Cons
- Occasional instability on a second show or linked gadgets
Our Verdict
Anker’s 568 USB-C Dock falls into the USB4 camp, which could possibly be a bit complicated for newcomers. However that is an in any other case stable docking station whose two highly effective ports for charging smartphones are an actual plus.
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, relatively than a “true” Thunderbolt dock. Don’t let that dissuade you, nonetheless, as Anker’s well-designed dock works simply high quality with Thunderbolt ports, and provides just a few nifty options besides.
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, nonetheless, 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 displays have each DisplayPort and HDMI ports. When you personal two HDMI-only shows, you’ll need to spend a further $20/£20 or so on a DisplayPort to HDMI adapter cable.)
USB4 is usually thought-about to be the industry-standard model of Thunderbolt, and is commonly related to AMD Ryzen notebooks due to licensing points. USB4 and Thunderbolt, nonetheless, are basically the identical factor. We additionally examined the dock on an Intel-based laptop computer with Thunderbolt ports, and it labored effectively.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station options and design
On the whole, the Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station is effectively designed, with a prolonged 38.5in 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 exhausting drives and USB keys. Anker additionally contains a normal gigabit ethernet port, the facility connection, and the 2 DisplayPort and HDMI connections.
Anker’s dock appears ahead to a day when 8K shows are ubiquitous, as both of the DisplayPort connections helps 8K resolutions at 30Hz. You’re most likely contemplating this dock for a 4K show, nonetheless, and you’ll join two 4K shows at a extra comfy 60Hz decision to any two of the dock’s video ports. You possibly can even join a 4K show to every of the three ports, although solely 30Hz refresh charges can be found underneath that state of affairs.
The Anker 568’s distinguishing function is a pair of 10Gbps USB-C ports on the entrance, every supplying 30W of energy for charging smartphones and even tablets
Anker asks you to obtain a dock supervisor software that robotically updates it with the newest firmware. A USB4 product ought to work out of the field, nonetheless, and our evaluate unit typically did. We detected a little bit of flicker in a single space of one in every of our 4K take a look at displays, nonetheless, and that show briefly misplaced connection just a few instances over the course of two days. We additionally observed that Home 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 assessments revealed that the Anker 568 pushes about 26.5W by way of 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 by way of 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. Enjoying again 4K video throughout the dock’s ports and transferring knowledge had 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 price it?
Anker’s worth places it someplace in the midst of our roundup of the most effective Thunderbolt docks, and, generally, 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 in the event you incessantly cost a telephone, laptop computer, and pill. Anker has made a stable docking station, appropriate for both your laptop computer’s Thunderbolt or USB4 ports.