A docking station that offers a multitude of ports and also provides Thunderbolt 5 inputs could only come from Anker, which raced to the market and hit the ground running with its Prime TB5, which is currently going for $399.99 on Amazon. While we can agree that the price is on the steeper side of things, once we go through the 14-port configuration, you might change your mind about this potential purchase.
For Apple’s newest Mac lineup, including the exceptionally affordable M4 Mac mini, the Anker Prime TB5 sports a single Thunderbolt 5 upstream port, along with two downstream ports flaunting the same underlying technology. You also get two USB-C ports, three USB-A ports, an SD and TF card reader, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, a 3.5mm audio jack, HDMI 2.1, and DisplayPort 2.1 for the ultimate hardware expansion. Keeping the docking station from catching fire is an advanced active cooling solution that prevents overheating, even when all the ports are populated.
Anker claims that using the Thunderbolt 5 port, users can transfer a massive 150GB file in just 25 seconds, and if you need a multi-monitor setup, that is possible too. Up to a single 8K 60Hz display can be attached while using a Mac with a Thunderbolt 5 port, and up to two 8K 60Hz monitors when hooked up to a Windows laptop with the exact same port. Keep in mind that the older Thunderbolt 4 port will be compatible with the Anker Prime TB5, but not Thunderbolt 3.
Also, for macOS and Windows laptops that support charging through USB-C, the docking station’s Thunderbolt 5 port can deliver 140W, while the front-facing USB-C ports can deliver up to 45W. Included in the packaging is a 3.3-foot Thunderbolt 5 cable, a 6-foot AC power cable, and a warranty card that is valid for 24 months. If you already own a macOS or Windows setup and want to expand your productivity with something that does not take up a lot of space, what better way to get started than the Anker Prime TB5? Considering the ample number of ports, that $399.99 price we mentioned above is about to get a whole lot enticing.
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