Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3) vs Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against docking stations at a similar price

The Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock scores 5.8/10 overall, ahead of the Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3) at 5.1/10.

The Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock leads on displays, ports and bandwidth and ethernet and value.

They score the same on charging and power and compatibility and reliability.

Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3)

5.1/10verdict: good, not the best

The Anker Nano 13-in-1 suits Windows laptop owners who want a compact dock with a detachable travel hub. It handles up to three external displays and 100W charging from its own power supply. It is a weaker fit for Mac users who want extended desktops or anyone running Linux.

Typically about £99.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock

5.8/10verdict: good, not the best

This dock suits someone who wants one USB-C cable to run two 4K monitors, wired network and a batch of USB devices from a laptop. It fits desk setups, especially managed ones that use PXE boot, Wake-on-LAN or MAC pass-through. It is less suited to anyone who needs rock-solid video or 2.5GbE-class networking.

Typically about £118.99 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK

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Scores, criterion by criterion

Criterion	Weight	Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3)	Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock
Displays	25%	5/10	6/10
Charging and power	20%	6/10	6/10
Ports and bandwidth	20%	6/10	7/10
Compatibility and reliability	20%	4/10	4/10
Ethernet and value	15%	4/10	6/10
Overall		5.1/10	5.8/10

Specifications

Spec	Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3)	Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock
Connects with	USB-C upstream port rated 10Gbps; laptop needs DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery; Windows 10/11 and macOS 13.5 or later	One USB-C upstream port to laptop (10 Gbps, 5V/3A) with USB-C to USB-A dongle; supports USB-C, USB4, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4 and USB-A laptops
External displays	Up to three external displays: 2× HDMI (4K@60Hz) and 1× DisplayPort (4K@60Hz); dual 4K@60Hz requires DSC; removable hub adds one HDMI	Up to two UHD displays via DisplayPort or HDMI; 3840x2160 @ 60 Hz per port, 5120x2880 @ 60 Hz when DP1 and DP2 drive one monitor
Laptop charging	100W max to laptop	not listed
Ports	1× USB-C 100W PD, 1× USB-C upstream, 1× USB-C 10Gbps, 2× USB-A 480Mbps, 2× HDMI, 1× DisplayPort, 1× Gigabit Ethernet, 1× 3.5mm audio in/out; SD and TF/microSD slots; hub adds USB-C PD-in, USB-C 5Gbps, USB-A	USB-C (10 Gbps, 5V/3A); USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 x3 at 10 Gbps (one always-on); USB-A 2.0 x2; DP 1.4 (4K @ 60 Hz); HDMI 2.0 (4K @ 60 Hz); RJ45; DC power-in; 3.5 mm combo audio
Ethernet	not listed	Gigabit Ethernet
Display tech	Native video through HDMI and DisplayPort only; no DisplayLink or Thunderbolt	DisplayLink video connection, per owner review; datasheet footnote lists DisplayLink among supported laptop video modes
Power supply	Own supply; 140W DC-IN adapter included	Separate ThinkPad Slim-tip 135 W AC power adapter shipped with the dock

Strengths and weaknesses

Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3)

+ Detachable hub doubles as a travel hub
+ Own 140W adapter and 100W power to the laptop
+ Three external displays at 4K@60Hz
− macOS mirrors displays rather than extending them
− Anker's US page says Linux is not compatible
− Gigabit Ethernet and 480Mbps USB-A ports only

Skip it if:

Mac users who need extended desktops across external screens
Linux laptop users, given Anker's stated incompatibility
Buyers who need Thunderbolt, multi-gigabit Ethernet or fast USB-A ports

Read the full Anker Nano 13-in-1 Laptop Docking Station (A83C3) review ›

Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock

+ Two 4K 60 Hz outputs, with a 5K option
+ Five USB-A ports, three at 10 Gbps
+ Ships with its own 135 W power adapter
− Owners report display dropouts and black screens
− Reports of random disconnects and wake failures
− Gigabit Ethernet only, and no card reader

Skip it if:

Buyers who need rock-solid multi-monitor video with no driver fuss
Anyone who wants an SD card reader built into the dock
Users who need Ethernet faster than gigabit

Read the full Lenovo ThinkPad Hybrid USB-C with USB-A Dock review ›

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