Anker 568 USB-C Docking Station (11-in-1, USB4) review

The Anker 568 is an 11-in-1 dock that connects to the host over a single USB4 port at 40Gbps. It suits Windows laptops that need several monitors, laptop charging and a spread of USB ports from one cable. Anker lists Windows 10 or later as supported.

The dock has one HDMI 2.0 port and two DisplayPort outputs. HDMI handles 4K at 60Hz. Each DisplayPort handles 4K at 60Hz or 8K at 30Hz. Connect all three monitors and the maximum drops to 4K at 30Hz. With one or two screens, the 4K@60Hz figure is the one that matters. A three-screen desk gets a lower refresh rate.

Video runs natively over DisplayPort and HDMI, and Anker's FAQ says no driver is needed. That keeps setup simple on Windows. One reviewer said dual monitors on the Thunderbolt 4 port caused no problem.

Macs are a different case. Anker says the dock is not advised for MacBooks, and its NZ page lists it as not compatible with MacBook. Anker's FAQ says dual or triple extended displays do not work on macOS, and the monitors show the same screen. Mac owners who want separate screens should look elsewhere.

Owner reports include display trouble. One reviewer said the screen turns off for a second or two. Another said monitors flicker periodically. MiniPCReviewer reports monitor recognition issues. These reports concern the dock's main job, so they count for more than a missing extra.

The dock has its own external 180W DC adapter, so it does not run only on what the laptop supplies. It sends up to 100W to the laptop through the USB4 port. The dock draws 15W itself, which leaves 85W for the laptop. Check your laptop's charger rating against that 85W figure before buying.

MiniPCReviewer says some laptops detected only 60W. That is a single source, but it is a reason to confirm compatibility with your own machine.

Two USB-C ports on the front give 30W each and carry no video. A reviewer found these front ports convenient. Anker's FAQ says the dock may increase in temperature when charging or transferring at high speed.

The front has two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports at 10Gbps. The rest of the USB set is two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports at 5Gbps and two USB-A 2.0 ports at 480Mbps. With 480Mbps on those last two, they suit keyboards and mice better than external drives.

There is no 3.5mm headphone jack and no SD card reader, according to a Walmart reviewer and Basic-tutorials. Anyone who moves photos from cards or plugs in wired headphones will need a separate solution.

Ethernet is a single gigabit RJ45 port, not 2.5GbE. MiniPCReviewer reports Ethernet disconnections and reduced performance. JudgifyMe reports intermittent connection issues. Those reports matter if the dock is your only network link.

Basic-tutorials calls the build quality very high. Anker says firmware is updated remotely through Anker Dock Manager, so fixes can reach the dock after purchase.

One Walmart reviewer said the dock stopped their ThinkPad's Thunderbolt port working until a hardware reset. That is a single serious report with no second independent account, so treat it as a caution rather than a pattern. The repeated themes are the display dropouts and connection drops above.

With native video, an 85W laptop allowance and a 40Gbps USB4 link, it fits a Windows desk with one or two 4K monitors and a few USB peripherals. The gigabit port, the missing card reader and the reported flicker and Ethernet drops make it less appealing for buyers who need a dependable all-day connection. MacBook owners should read Anker's own compatibility warnings first.