Anker USB C Hub Review
Effortlessly connect devices with Anker's 5-in-1 USB C Hub. Sleek design, rapid data transfer, 4K display, and pass-through charging make tangled cables a memory!
Five ports at 1.44 ounces. One HDMI at 4K@30Hz, one USB-C data at 5 Gbps, two USB-A 3.0 at 5 Gbps, and one USB-C PD that passes 85W to the laptop from a charger you supply. The Anker 332 is the hub you forget you are carrying until you need it — 0.09 lbs in aluminum, thinner than a pen, and small enough to disappear into a laptop sleeve pocket. It does not try to replace a desk dock. It adds one monitor, two USB-A, one USB-C, and pass-through charging to a laptop that has one USB-C port and nothing else. For the MacBook Air owner who needs to present on an external monitor while keeping a flash drive and a mouse connected, the 332 handles exactly that without carrying anything heavier than a cable.
One HDMI (4K@30Hz). One USB-C data (5 Gbps, no video). Two USB-A 3.0 (5 Gbps). One USB-C PD (100W in / 85W to laptop, charging only). Aluminum. 1.44 oz. 4.78″ x 1.59″ x 0.45″. macOS 12+, Windows 10/11, ChromeOS. No Linux. No charger included. 18-month Anker warranty.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Ports | 5 |
| HDMI | 1 (4K@30Hz) |
| USB-C Data | 1 (5 Gbps, no video output) |
| USB-A 3.0 | 2 (5 Gbps) |
| USB-C PD | 100W input / 85W to laptop (charging only, no data) |
| Enclosure | Aluminum |
| Weight | 0.09 lbs / 1.44 oz / 41g |
| Dimensions | 4.78″ L x 1.59″ W x 0.45″ H |
| Compatible OS | macOS 12+, Windows 10/11, ChromeOS |
| Not Compatible | Linux |
| Charger Included | No |
| Manufacturer | Anker |
| Model | A8355 (Anker 332) |
| Warranty | 18 months |
Anker USB C Hub, 5-in-1 USBC to HDMI Splitter with 4K Display, 1 x Powered USB-C 5Gbps & 2×Powered USB-A 3.0 5Gbps Data Ports for MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Dell and More
4K at 30Hz, Not 60Hz
The HDMI output runs at 4K@30Hz. Text is sharp but cursor movement and scrolling show visible stutter compared to 60Hz. For presentations, photo review, and static content, 4K@30Hz looks great on a large monitor. For everyday desktop use where you scroll documents and switch windows constantly, the 30Hz refresh is noticeable. At this hub’s weight and price class, 30Hz is the trade-off for keeping the hub at five ports and 1.44 ounces.
85W Pass-Through Charging
The PD port accepts up to 100W from your charger and passes 85W to the laptop. The hub keeps 15W. MacBook Air charges at full speed. MacBook Pro 13″ charges at full speed. MacBook Pro 14″ charges at near full speed. The PD port handles charging only — it does not transfer data. Headphones, speakers, and USB-C audio devices will not work through this port. No charger is included. For iPad, Anker recommends a 45W charger for full power.
USB-C Data Port: No Video
The USB-C data port runs at 5 Gbps for file transfers. It does not output video to a monitor. Only the HDMI port handles display output. If you connect a USB-C monitor to the data port expecting video, nothing will display. This is a common confusion with multi-port hubs — the USB-C data port and the USB-C PD port serve different functions, and neither outputs video.
1.44 Ounces in Aluminum
Under an ounce and a half. Lighter than a deck of cards. The aluminum body dissipates heat better than plastic at this size. For a hub that lives permanently in a laptop bag and comes out at coffee shops, conference rooms, and hotel desks, the weight adds nothing to the carry. The 4.78-inch length matches the width of most laptop screens.
Drawbacks
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| 4K@30Hz Only | Visible stutter on cursor and scrolling compared to 60Hz. |
| No Charger Included | Supply your own USB-C PD charger. |
| PD Port: Charging Only | No data or audio through PD port. |
| USB-C Data: No Video | Only HDMI outputs display. |
| No Ethernet | Wi-Fi only. |
| No Card Reader | No SD or MicroSD. |
| No Linux | Not compatible. |
| Single Display Only | One HDMI. No dual monitor. |
Anker Lineup Position
The Anker 332 is the entry point in Anker’s hub range. The lineup from smallest to largest: the 332 5-in-1 (this unit, single HDMI, 85W, 1.44 oz), the 6-in-1 (adds Ethernet, 65W), the 7-in-1 (dual 1080p HDMI), the 555 8-in-1 (single 4K, card readers), the 14-in-1 (triple display, five USB-A, 80W), the 565 13-in-1 (own 135W adapter, triple 1080p, 85W), the PowerExpand 9-in-1 (dual 4K@30Hz, own 100W adapter), the 577 TB3, the 778 TB4. For the Anker 555, see the Anker 555 review. For the Anker 6-in-1 with Ethernet, see the Anker 6-in-1 review.
Who This Hub Is For
Travelers who need one HDMI monitor, two USB-A, one USB-C, and 85W charging from Anker at under 1.5 ounces: The 332 does five things at a weight that does not register in a bag. Presentations on an external monitor. Flash drive. Mouse. Laptop charging. Aluminum body. 18-month Anker warranty.
Buyers who need Ethernet, card readers, dual display, 4K@60Hz, or Linux support: The 332 has none of those. For more ports, see the Anker 555 or 14-in-1. For the full range, see the docking stations hub page.
Final Verdict
The Anker 332 does five things and weighs 1.44 ounces. One HDMI at 4K@30Hz for a presentation monitor. One USB-C and two USB-A for peripherals and file transfer. 85W pass-through for laptop charging. No Ethernet, no card reader, no dual display, no 60Hz — and that is the point. The 332 is not a desk dock trying to replace six cables. It is the hub that stays in the bag for the moments when you need one monitor, one or two peripherals, and charging from a laptop with one USB-C port. Anker’s name and 18-month warranty behind five ports at the weight of a couple of coins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this 4K at 60Hz?
No. 4K@30Hz. Cursor and scrolling show visible stutter compared to 60Hz.
Can I connect a monitor to the USB-C data port?
No. The USB-C data port handles file transfer only. Only the HDMI port outputs video.
Does the PD port transfer data?
No. Charging only. Headphones, speakers, and audio devices will not work through the PD port.
How heavy is this?
0.09 lbs / 1.44 oz / 41 grams. Lighter than a deck of cards.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Docking Station Intelligence
The standards are confusing by design. These three panels decode what manufacturers won’t explain clearly. Applicable to every docking station.
The USB-C Confusion Matrix
The USB-C connector is the single greatest source of buyer confusion in docking stations. The physical plug looks identical whether it carries USB 2.0 at 480 Mbps or Thunderbolt 5 at 120 Gbps — a 250x difference in capability hidden behind the same shape. Manufacturers exploit this by labeling everything "USB-C compatible" without specifying which protocol runs through it. Two docks can look identical on the outside and behave completely differently once you plug them in.
The hierarchy matters because it determines everything: how many monitors your dock can drive, how fast files transfer, whether your laptop charges while docked, and whether you need third-party drivers. Here is the real capability ladder, from slowest to fastest:
The practical takeaway: if your laptop has Thunderbolt 4, buy a Thunderbolt dock. If it only has generic USB-C, verify whether it supports DisplayPort Alt Mode before buying anything with multi-monitor claims. Our buying guide walks through verification steps for every major laptop brand.
Power Delivery: What the Watts Mean
Power Delivery (PD) determines whether your docking station can charge your laptop while you work, or whether you need a separate charger cluttering your desk. The math is simple but rarely explained: your laptop draws a specific wattage under load, and the dock must match or exceed it. If the dock delivers less than your laptop needs, the battery slowly drains even while plugged in — defeating the purpose of a docking station entirely.
Most ultrabooks need 45–65W. Standard business laptops need 65–100W. Gaming and workstation laptops can demand 100–140W or more. The dock’s advertised PD wattage is the maximum it can deliver to your laptop — but this drops if you charge other devices (phones, tablets) through the dock simultaneously. Always leave a 15–20W margin above your laptop’s requirement.
Check your laptop’s original charger wattage — that’s your baseline. Our FAQ covers how to find this for every major brand.
Native Display vs DisplayLink: The Hidden Factor
This is the decision most buyers don’t know they’re making. When a docking station outputs video to your monitors, it uses one of two fundamentally different methods: native (the dock passes your laptop’s GPU signal directly to the monitor) or DisplayLink (the dock compresses video over USB and a software driver renders it). The difference is invisible in marketing materials but profoundly affects your daily experience.
Native output through DisplayPort Alt Mode or Thunderbolt uses your laptop’s actual graphics hardware. There is zero added latency, full DRM support for streaming services, no CPU overhead, and no driver to install. DisplayLink, by contrast, adds 5–15ms of latency (noticeable in video calls and cursor movement), blocks DRM content on connected monitors (Netflix, Disney+ show black screens), consumes 3–8% of your CPU constantly, and requires a driver that Apple’s macOS security updates occasionally break.
DisplayLink exists for one reason: Apple Silicon base chips (M1, M2, M3) can only drive one external display natively. If you need two or more monitors on a base MacBook Air or 13” MacBook Pro, DisplayLink is your only option. For everyone else — Windows users, Mac Pro/Max chip users, Intel/AMD laptops — native is always the better choice.
Native (Alt Mode / Thunderbolt)
DisplayLink (USB compression)
The bottom line: if your laptop supports native multi-display output, always choose a native dock. DisplayLink is a workaround, not an upgrade. See our glossary for detailed definitions.
COMMAND CENTERCOMMAND CENTER
Six tools that decode the confusion manufacturers create. Port protocols, power budgets, display configurations, compatibility, desk planning, and future-proofing. Full buying guide →
Port Protocol DecoderWhat does your connection type actually support? Glossary
Power Delivery CalculatorCan this dock keep your laptop charged?
Display Configuration PlannerCan your dock push enough pixels?
Laptop-to-Dock CompatibilityWill this dock work with YOUR laptop?
Desk Setup ArchitectWhat ports do you actually need?
Select everything you need to connect: