Rockin' Your Work and Gaming Life: The Anker TB5 Docking Station - A Powerhouse for Professionals and Gamers
By Klaus Wedekind
Docking station catering to the needs of professionals and gamers alike
Dive into the world of peak performance with the Anker Docking Station TB5, boasting Thunderbolt 5 and an astounding 14 connection options. Say goodbye to multiple chargers and hello to the fastest data transfer currently available via USB-C for your professional and gaming laptops!
Packed With Power
Weighing just under 1.1 kg and measuring a compact 1.6 x 11.6 x 7.5 cm, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is an engineering marvel. Its housing conceals the power supply unit to allow you to leave those bulky power adapters gathering dust.
Minimalistic Aesthetics
With an aluminum-plastic housing, the device presents a sleek, unpretentious appearance that's both high-quality and secure, standing steadily on four rubber feet. Fresh air is drawn in through finer ribs on the bottom, while hot air is exhausted through large ventilation grilles on the back.
Light It Up
The top cover is encircled by an LED strip, which illuminates when the device is in operation. This stylish yet potentially distracting feature can be easily shut off with a brief press of the power button. A thoughtful detail is the LED strip's double illumination when a compatible Thunderbolt 4 or 5 device is connected.
Front and Center
On the front, you'll find a power button, headphone output, and two weaker connections: two USB-C ports for data transfers of up to 10 Gbit/s and device charging of up to 45 W. On the left side, card readers allow for data transfers at up to 312 MB/s, with a 32 GB memory card from a camera being read in roughly two minutes under optimal conditions.
Multipurpose Hub on the Back
The action truly kicks off on the back, with additional USB-A ports offering data transfers of up to 10 Gbit/s and two Thunderbolt 5 ports. The upstream connection with Thunderbolt 5 is used to connect to your laptop and offers a charging power of up to 140 W and data transfer rates of up to 80 Gbit/s in both directions.
Choosing Your Display
Two more Thunderbolt 5 ports and an HDMI 2.1 port with support for up to 8K displays at 60 Hz (optional 4K displays at 240 Hz) can be found on the back, but you'll need to pick one of the two as they can't be used simultaneously. A monitor with a Thunderbolt output can also be connected to further expand your possibilities for connecting multiple screens,Usually, you'll have to choose one of the two major video connections.
Technology for the Future
With this dock, you can operate an 8K monitor with refresh rates of 60 Hz, or a 4K display with up to 240 Hz. The same combinations are available for two connected screens on a Windows computer [1][2]. On a MacBook, up to 6K/60 Hz and 4K/240 Hz are possible with a single external monitor. With two screens, up to 6K/60 Hz and 4K/144 Hz are achievable.
Thunderbolt 3 Isn't Enough
The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station only supports Thunderbolt 5 when connected to a Thunderbolt 5 computer. When used with a Thunderbolt 4 PC, it offers data transfer rates of up to 40 Gbit/s but lacks the bandwidth boost. Also, the maximum refresh rate on Macs is limited to only 2K resolution when using T4 [3].
The Right Cables Matter
Anker provides one compatible Thunderbolt 5 cable, but ideally, these should be marked with speeds of at least 80 Gbps (Gbit/s) and 240 W, as recommended by the USB Implementor Forum (USB-IF) [4].
Ready for Tomorrow, Today
Thunderbolt 5 may be scarce in many households, but as more devices adopt the technology, the compatibility will grow. If you already have a TB5 notebook or plan to get one soon, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is an excellent and high-quality addition to maximize its potential. However, its premium price might cause hesitation for some users.
Another Option - Wait and Save
If you don't yet have a TB5 laptop, you can still consider the dock as a future investment. While waiting for prices to drop or new Thunderbolt 6 ports to become common, your equipment will be ready and waiting for the upgrade.
The Bottom Line
If you're in need of extensive connectivity and high-speed data transfer, the Anker Prime TB5 dock is an outstanding choice for professionals and gamers. In the high-performance arena, it raises the bar with its unparalleled feature set and sleek design.
- Solid Performance: With Thunderbolt 5 and 14 connection options, the Anker Prime TB5 Dock offers substantial benefits for professionals and gamers but also has certain drawbacks:
- Pros: Extensive connectivity, high-speed data transfer capabilities, and support for 8K display output
- Cons: Higher price point, larger size, and some compatibility concerns when using devices without TB5 ports.
- In the home office, the Anker TB5 Docking Station serves as a hub for various gadgets, enabling seamless technical tests with multiple notebooks and various displays.
- When preparing for a day of gaming, the sleek design of the Anker TB5 Docking Station fits perfectly on a desk, allowing for quick and easy tech setup with its numerous connection options, including the ability to support 8K displays.
