Anker Laptop Docking Station, 13-in-1 USB-C Docking Station Review
Discover the 13-in-1 USB-C Docking Station! Transform your chaotic workspace into an organized tech haven—sleek design, robust features, and serene connectivity.
The Anker 565 comes with its own 135W power adapter, charges the laptop at 85W and a phone at 18W simultaneously, and drives three monitors through dual HDMI and DisplayPort. Plug the USB-C cable into the laptop, and the dock handles charging, displays, USB, Ethernet, card readers, and audio from its own power source. The laptop charger stays in the bag. That single-cable experience with dedicated power is what separates the 565 from Anker’s pass-through hubs like the 555 and the 14-in-1, where the laptop’s own charger does the work. Here, the 135W adapter feeds both the dock and the laptop without sharing.
Thirteen ports. Two HDMI. One DisplayPort. USB-C 85W charging. USB-C 18W PD. USB-C data (10 Gbps). Three USB-A (5 Gbps). Gigabit Ethernet. SD/MicroSD. 3.5mm audio. 135W adapter included. Triple display at 1080p@60Hz. macOS shows identical content on all monitors. No Linux. 13.12 oz. 3.5″ x 1.6″ x 4.9″. 18-month warranty.
Key Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Ports | 13 |
| HDMI | 2 |
| DisplayPort | 1 |
| USB-C Charging (laptop) | 85W |
| USB-C PD (phone/tablet) | 18W |
| USB-C Data | 1 (10 Gbps) |
| USB-A | 3 (5 Gbps) |
| Gigabit Ethernet | 1 |
| SD Card Reader | 1 |
| MicroSD Card Reader | 1 |
| 3.5mm Audio | 1 |
| DC Input | 1 (135W adapter) |
| Triple Display | 1080p@60Hz on all three monitors |
| macOS/iPadOS | SST only. All monitors show identical content. |
| Not Compatible | Linux |
| Power Adapter | 135W included |
| Weight | 13.12 oz |
| Dimensions | 3.5″ L x 1.6″ W x 4.9″ H |
| Manufacturer | Anker |
| Warranty | 18 months |
Anker Laptop Docking Station, 13-in-1 USB-C Docking Station, Triple Display with 2xHDMI and 1xDP, 10 Gbps USB-C and 5 Gbps USB-A Data, Ethernet, Audio, SD, 85W Charging for Dell, HP, Lenovo and More
Triple Display at 1080p, Not 4K
The title says “4K HDMI” but the product specs say triple display runs at 1080p@60Hz. Each of the three monitors — two HDMI and one DisplayPort — outputs at 1080p when all three are connected simultaneously. A single HDMI connection may reach 4K, but when running triple display, bandwidth splits across three streams and everything drops to 1080p. For three monitors showing email, a document, and a browser, 1080p at 60Hz is functional and readable. For workflows that need 4K detail across multiple screens, a dock with higher bandwidth handles that.
85W Laptop + 18W Phone: Dual Charging from One Adapter
The 135W adapter powers the dock and charges the laptop at 85W through one USB-C port while charging a phone at 18W through a separate USB-C PD port. Two devices from one adapter. 85W charges MacBook Air (30-45W) at full speed. MacBook Pro 13″ (61W) at full speed. MacBook Pro 14″ (70-96W) at near full speed. Most Windows ultrabooks (45-65W) at full speed. The 18W phone port matches iPhone fast charging speed.
10 Gbps USB-C Data Port
One USB-C data port at 10 Gbps (Gen 2). Three USB-A ports at 5 Gbps (Gen 1). The 10 Gbps port handles an external SSD at full speed. The USB-A ports handle keyboards, mice, webcams, and standard peripherals. Four USB data connections total — enough for a full desk without a separate hub.
Vertical Form Factor
At 3.5″ x 1.6″ x 4.9″, the dock stands vertically. The footprint takes 3.5″ x 1.6″ of desk surface — smaller than a can of soda. The vertical orientation places ports along the front and back rather than on a flat top panel. For tight desks, the vertical design trades height for surface area.
macOS: All Monitors Show the Same Content
macOS and iPadOS support SST (Single-Stream Transport) only. All external monitors connected through this dock display identical content. You cannot put email on one screen and a document on another on a Mac through this dock. The laptop screen shows one thing, and all external monitors show the same second thing. For Mac independent multi-display, a DisplayLink dock handles that with driver installation.
What Comes in the Box
| Item | Included |
|---|---|
| PowerExpand 13-in-1 USB-C Dock | 1 |
| 135W Power Adapter | 1 |
| USB-C to USB-C Cable | 1m / 3ft |
| Welcome Guide | 1 |
Drawbacks
| Consideration | Detail |
|---|---|
| Triple Display: 1080p Only | Not 4K when three monitors are connected. |
| Mac: Identical Content | All external monitors show the same content on macOS/iPadOS. |
| No Linux | Not compatible. |
| 85W, Not 100W | High-power laptops charge below full speed. |
| USB-A at 5 Gbps Only | No 10 Gbps USB-A. Only USB-C data runs at 10 Gbps. |
Anker Lineup Position
Anker’s range: the 6-in-1 (Ethernet travel, 65W pass-through), the 7-in-1 (dual 1080p HDMI), the 555 8-in-1 (single 4K, card readers), the 565/PowerExpand 13-in-1 (this unit, own 135W adapter, triple 1080p, 85W), the 14-in-1 (triple display, five USB-A, 80W pass-through), the PowerExpand 9-in-1 (dual 4K@30Hz, own 100W adapter), the 577 TB3 (dual 4K, 85W), the 778 TB4. The 565 is Anker’s powered desk dock with triple display — own adapter, dual charging, vertical design. For the Anker 555, see the Anker 555 review. For the Anker 778 TB4, see the Anker 778 review.
Who This Dock Is For
Windows users who want a powered Anker desk dock with its own 135W adapter, triple display, 85W laptop charging plus 18W phone charging, 10 Gbps USB-C, Ethernet, card readers, and audio: The 565 provides dedicated power, dual charging, and triple 1080p display in a vertical dock. 18-month Anker warranty. 135W adapter, USB-C cable, and welcome guide in the box.
Mac users who need independent extended displays, Linux users, or buyers who need 4K on three monitors: Mac shows identical content on all monitors. No Linux. Triple display is 1080p, not 4K. For those needs, see the docking stations hub page.
Final Verdict
The Anker 565 is the powered desk dock in Anker’s lineup. The 135W adapter means one cable at the desk charges the laptop at 85W, charges a phone at 18W, drives three 1080p monitors, connects four USB devices, provides Ethernet, reads cards, and outputs audio. Triple display at 1080p handles productivity multitasking across three screens. The 10 Gbps USB-C data port handles fast storage. The vertical body takes less desk surface than a flat hub. The Mac limitation (identical content on all monitors) and 1080p triple cap are the trade-offs. For the Windows user who wants Anker’s brand behind a desk dock that powers and connects everything from one adapter, the 565 delivers that at 13.12 ounces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this come with its own power adapter?
Yes. A 135W adapter is included. It powers the dock and charges the laptop at 85W and a phone at 18W simultaneously.
Can I get 4K on three monitors?
No. Triple display runs at 1080p@60Hz. A single HDMI connection may reach 4K, but three simultaneous monitors output at 1080p.
Does this extend displays on Mac?
No. macOS and iPadOS show identical content on all external monitors through this dock. The laptop screen shows different content from the externals, but all externals match each other.
How is this different from the Anker PowerExpand 9-in-1?
The 565 has 13 ports with triple display and a 135W adapter (85W to laptop). The PowerExpand 9-in-1 has 9 ports with dual 4K@30Hz and a 100W adapter (60W to laptop). The 565 has more ports and more laptop power. The PowerExpand has higher display resolution on fewer screens.
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: