Anker 555 USB-C Hub Review
Transform your laptop into a multitasking marvel with the Anker 555 USB-C Hub. This 8-in-1 gadget is your portable tech wizard for high-speed, seamless connections.
One HDMI at 4K@60Hz, 10 Gbps USB on every data port, Gigabit Ethernet, card readers, and 85W laptop charging. The Anker 555 is the 8-port hub that sits between Anker’s minimal 7-in-1 travel hub and the full 11-in-1 desk dock. It adds Ethernet and card readers that the 7-in-1 lacks, while staying lighter and simpler than the 565. For the user who needs one sharp 4K monitor, wired network, fast USB, and card reading without carrying a full dock, the 555 covers that sweet spot at 3.2 ounces with a built-in 7.48-inch USB-C cable.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Ports | 8 |
| HDMI | 1 (4K@60Hz with DP 1.4 laptop, 4K@30Hz with DP 1.2) |
| USB-C Data | 1 (10 Gbps, data only, no video) |
| USB-A Data | 2 (10 Gbps) |
| USB-C PD | 1 (100W input, 85W to laptop, 15W for hub) |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 1 |
| SD Card Reader | 1 |
| MicroSD Card Reader | 1 |
| Built-in Cable | 7.48″ USB-C |
| Data Transfer | 10 Gbps |
| Enclosure | Aluminum |
| Compatible OS | macOS 12+, Windows 10/11, ChromeOS, iPadOS |
| NOT Compatible | Linux |
| Weight | 3.2 oz |
| Dimensions | 4.76″ L x 2.17″ W x 0.6″ H |
| Model | A83830A1 |
| Warranty | 18 months (Anker) |
4K@60Hz or 4K@30Hz: Your Laptop Decides
The HDMI output reaches 4K@60Hz if your laptop has a DP 1.4 USB-C port. If your laptop has DP 1.2, the output caps at 4K@30Hz. This is the same bandwidth-dependent behavior as the Anker 565 11-in-1. The difference between 60Hz and 30Hz on an external monitor is noticeable in scrolling, cursor movement, and window dragging. If your laptop supports DP 1.4, the 555 delivers the smoothest single-monitor output available from an Anker hub.
Only the HDMI port outputs video. The USB-C data port does not support video output. If you connect a USB-C monitor to the data port expecting a picture, nothing will display. HDMI for video. USB-C for data. For USB-C display requirements, see our USB-C portable monitor guide.
85W to the Laptop, Not 100W
The title says 100W Power Delivery. The bullet says 85W pass-through. The hub consumes 15W for its own operations. You need a 100W charger and cable plugged into the PD port to deliver the full 85W to the laptop. A 65W charger delivers approximately 50W to the laptop (65W minus 15W hub overhead). Anker explicitly states: “The hub requires 15W for operation. Please use a 100W Power Delivery charger and cable to ensure adequate power.”
At 85W, the hub charges MacBook Air (30-45W), most Windows ultrabooks (45-65W), and MacBook Pro 14″ (70-96W) at adequate speed. MacBook Pro 16″ (140W) charges well below full speed.
10 Gbps on Every Data Port
The USB-C data port and both USB-A data ports run at 10 Gbps. That matches the ACASIS 6-in-1 and the Lenovo Travel Dock for USB speed. The 555 adds Ethernet and card readers that the ACASIS does not have, while keeping the same 10 Gbps data speed. For external SSDs, fast peripherals, and large file transfers, 10 Gbps means the hub is not the bottleneck.
Ethernet: The Port That Justifies the 8th Slot
The Anker 7-in-1 has no Ethernet. The 555 adds it. For anyone who works from locations where WiFi is unreliable (hotels, conference rooms, shared offices), Gigabit Ethernet through the hub provides the wired stability that WiFi cannot guarantee. For video calls, VPN connections, and cloud sync, wired network eliminates the latency spikes and packet loss that wireless introduces.
How the 555 Fits in Anker’s Lineup
Anker makes four hubs reviewed on this site. The 7-in-1 (dual 1080p HDMI, no Ethernet, 96g) is the dual-monitor travel hub. The 555 8-in-1 (single 4K@60Hz HDMI, Ethernet, card readers, 3.2 oz) is the single-monitor travel hub with more features. The 565 11-in-1 (HDMI + DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio, 136g) is the desk hub. The 778 Thunderbolt 4 is the premium dock.
Choose the 7-in-1 if you need two monitors and nothing else. Choose the 555 if you need one sharp 4K monitor plus Ethernet, card readers, and 10 Gbps USB. Choose the 565 if you need dual monitors plus everything. Choose the 778 if you need Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth. For the Anker 7-in-1 review, see the Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub review. For the 565, see the Anker 565 USB-C Hub 11-in-1 review.
What’s in the Box
| Item | Included |
|---|---|
| Anker 555 USB-C Hub (8-in-1) | 1 |
| Welcome Guide | 1 |
No charger included. 100W charger required for full 85W pass-through. No HDMI cable. No Ethernet cable.
Drawbacks
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| 85W, Not 100W | Hub keeps 15W. 100W charger required for full laptop charging. |
| Single Monitor Only | One HDMI. No dual display. |
| USB-C: Data Only | No video through USB-C data port. |
| Linux Not Supported | Excluded. |
| No Audio Jack | No 3.5mm output. |
| 4K@30Hz on DP 1.2 | 60Hz requires DP 1.4 laptop. |
Who This Hub Is For
Users who need one 4K monitor, Ethernet, card readers, and 10 Gbps USB from Anker in a travel-weight package: The 555 provides the core productivity ports (HDMI, Ethernet, USB, card readers, PD) at 3.2 ounces with 10 Gbps speed and Anker’s 18-month warranty. If you need more than the 7-in-1 but less than the 565, the 555 is the middle option in Anker’s lineup. For docks with dual display or audio, see our docking stations hub page.
Final Verdict
The Anker 555 fills the gap in Anker’s hub lineup between the minimal 7-in-1 and the comprehensive 565. Eight ports with 4K@60Hz HDMI, 10 Gbps USB, Gigabit Ethernet, SD/microSD readers, and 85W laptop charging in an aluminum body at 3.2 ounces. The built-in 7.48-inch cable keeps everything tidy. The 15W hub overhead means a 100W charger is recommended rather than optional. For the single-monitor professional who needs Ethernet and card readers on the road, the 555 provides Anker reliability in the most portable form that includes those features.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does it need a 100W charger if it only delivers 85W?
The hub uses 15W for its own operations. A 100W charger supplies 85W to the laptop and 15W to the hub. A lower-wattage charger reduces what reaches the laptop proportionally.
Can the USB-C data port output video?
No. Only the HDMI port supports video output. The USB-C data port handles data transfer at 10 Gbps only.
How does this compare to the Anker 7-in-1?
The 7-in-1 has dual 1080p HDMI, no Ethernet, no card readers, 85W charging, 96g. The 555 has single 4K@60Hz HDMI, Ethernet, SD/microSD readers, 85W charging, 3.2 oz. The 7-in-1 gives you two screens at lower resolution. The 555 gives you one screen at higher resolution with more connectivity.
Does it work with iPads?
The OS field lists iPadOS. iPads with USB-C should provide basic hub functionality for USB peripherals, charging, and HDMI output depending on the iPad model.
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: