Anker Prime Docking Station 14-Port with 160W Max Output 10Gbps Fast Data Transfer Real-Time Smart Interface Audio and

I’m a huge Anker fan and when my Dell docking station for my work laptop died, I decided to look at what Anker had to offer. I found this docking station and it seemed to fit everything I was looking for in a replacement. I’m using it with a Microsoft Surface Laptop 6 for Business. Outputting to 2 screens via the two HDMI ports and 3 USB A devices (web camera, keyboard/mouse, Plantroincs headset). So far I’ve had zero issues after weeks of use with anything working as expected. The docking station has also left me a little room to grow with a USB A port and 2 USB C ports still available. The icing on the cake with this docking station is the additional USB A & C ports for charging on the front of the device. I’m using the USB A port to charge my wireless headset and one of the USB C ports to keep my iPad Pro charged. Charging these additional devices and my laptop is only around 30W of usage, so plenty of room to charge my phone and other devices as needed. What do I like about this docking station? It’s very compact on my desk, taking up a tiny footprint of space. The screen is a nice addition to know what’s being charged and at how many watts. For my work setup, I also think it has the perfect number of each type of port, allowing me to connect everything I need. I was also expecting from a temperature perspective it could get hot, but overall it’s been cool to the touch. What could be improved? Very little. I wish the screen would stay set on the mode you set it to. I’ve noticed if I toggle to the screen to show the watts output, after awhile it toggles itself back to what it’s providing per port. Another nice to have from a screen standpoint would be the devices temperature. Some of Anker’s newer chargers show this. The only other thing that would be nice is if it shipped with a larger USB C to C cable to connect to your laptop. I setup my docking station originally too far away from my laptop and had to move it closer. So plan on keeping it around 3ft away. Overall it’s a fantastic little dock. Read more

Everything a modern Docking Station SHOULD be. Other brands should key off this build. --Small form factor but POWERFUL and feature-rich --Very hefty and solid build (--->keeps the unit from moving around or being pulled over by weight of cables plugged into it) --No front-port Connectivity required- everything goes in back --Front ports are for Charging modern devices. One is even PD. Other Front ports are both Data & Power- all are clearly marked >Why would I want Charge-Only? Answer: If you have a device connected to the Dock via another method-- think a Jabra Speak2 speakerphone, connected by its Bluetooth adapter, but you also want to operate it while plugged into Power, unless your Dock has available Power-Only ports, you cannot- and plugging in its USB cable to "keep it charged", results in 2 instances of that Speakerphone appearing in the computer. --2 HDMI ports-- not 1 DisplayPort and 1 HDMI, as many Dock manufacturers have done. >Makes it much easier to connect 2 monitors. Also available are USB-C video if needed --Power Button enables "Power On your Laptop While Its Lid is Closed" functionality >Simply enable "Power On with AC" in your laptop's BIOS. Then Save/Exit BIOS. Press Power button for 5 seconds (must be 5, see the instructions)- Now, everything is Off (Ensure the laptop is also Off). Now press Power Button. "ANKER" logo appears on the LCD screen and that Power-On signal is sent to the laptop, and turns it On. At end of day to turn off, simply press Power Button for 5 seconds. Proof that you don't "have" to have a Dell Docking Station for your Dell, in oder to leverage it's Power Button to start up each day. Read more

After switching to a USB-C-based setup, I initially tried to save money by going with cheaper hubs from Best Buy. I quickly learned that was a mistake. The first hub I tried, around $70, couldn't even reliably handle MS Teams calls. I could join meetings, but video wouldn't load, audio was choppy, and no one could hear me on the other end. Hoping it was just a low-end issue, I upgraded to a $120 hub. Unfortunately, that one wasn't much better. Teams calls would lag or drop entirely, and it even caused noticeable lag with my Logitech MX mouse and keyboard, which was incredibly frustrating for daily work. That experience finally led me to the Anker hub, and the difference has been night and day. The functionality is rock-solid for my type of work (video calls and extensive work in the MS suite). It also doesn't require a bulky external power brick, which makes cable routing cleaner and simpler. Of course, it also looks sleek and feels solid on my desk. My setup is straightforward: an HDMI-connected monitor, Logitech MX-series peripherals connected via a Bolt USB receiver, and a wired ethernet connection (my Wi-Fi router doesn't reach my office well enough). The Anker hub handles it all flawlessly. If you prioritize reliability and can justify the cost, it is well worth it. Read more