Unleash Your Productivity: Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station - Top-tier Performance for Pros and Gamers
By: Klaus Wedekind | Editorial Team at TechShack
High-end docking station caters to both business and gaming enthusiasts
Dive into the world of high-performance for your laptop with the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station. This bad boy is optimized for the peak performance of Thunderbolt 5 technology, boasting a whopping 14 connection options to cater to professionals and hardcore gamers alike. Say goodbye to multiple chargers and excessive cables and let's get straight to the juice.
Sleek and Compact Design with Built-in Power Supply
Don't be fooled by its petite size - the TB5 measures 1.6 x 11.6 x 7.5 cm and weighs just under 1.1 kg. Yet, Anker manages to house the power supply within the unit, allowing you to forget about those pesky laptop chargers lurking in your drawer. The dock can power even power-hungry notebooks with up to 140 watts (W), leaving your chargers in the dust.
Premium Construction and Cooling
The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station boasts a stylish design that reminds one of several mini-PCs with aluminum-plastic housings. Its build quality is top-notch, and the docking station stands securely on four rubber feet. Hot air is exhausted via large ventilation grilles on the back, and fresh air is drawn in through finer ribs on the underside, ensuring it performs optimally even during heavy usage.
Plentiful Connection Options
Okay, here's where things get interesting. On the front, you'll find a power switch, a headphone output, two USB-C ports, and a USB-A input. Those USB-C ports let you transfer data at speeds up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) and can supply devices with a total of 45 W. The USB-A input offers up to 10 Gbps data transfer but doesn't provide power.
SD, MicroSD, HDMI, DisplayPort, and More!
Move over to the left side, and you'll find SD and microSD card readers that can transfer data at up to 312 megabytes per second (MB/s). On the back, there are two more USB-A ports offering 10 Gbps data transfer, the very useful USB-C upstream connection with Thunderbolt 5, an Ethernet port with up to 2.5 Gbps, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DisplayPort connection. The latter video outputs cannot be used simultaneously; instead, you must choose between the two. However, a monitor with a Thunderbolt output can be connected, providing various options for connecting different screens. The maximum refresh rate for Mac displays is only achievable at 2K resolution, though.
Fast Data Transfer Speeds and Bandwidth Boost
The TB5's USB-C upstream connection offers a charging power of up to 140 W and data transfers of up to 80 Gbps in both directions (bidirectional). With Thunderbolt 4, you'll top out at only 40 Gbps. This speed can even be increased to 120 Gbps in one direction via Bandwidth Boost. In the opposite direction, up to 40 Gbps is still possible. This happens automatically, as needed.
Simplified Monitor Management
You can operate an 8K monitor with refresh rates of 60 Hertz (Hz) or a 4K display with 240 Hz with a Windows computer. Connecting two monitors yields the same combinations, while the same resolution-specific combinations are available when connecting to a MacBook, with up to 6K/60 Hz and 4K/240 Hz with a single, external monitor or up to 6K/60 Hz and 4K/144 Hz when connecting two screens.
Limited Compatibility with Thunderbolt 3
The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station doesn't support Thunderbolt 3, leaving external displays black. Ideally, the cables used with the dock should be labeled with their maximum speeds, such as 80 Gbps and 240 W, as recommended by the USB Implementer Forum (USB-IF).
Future-Proof Investment
Thunderbolt 5 compatibility is still relatively rare; outside of Apple's latest MacBook Pro, few compatible notebooks are currently available. However, this is expected to change rapidly in the coming year.
Conclusion
If you're rockin' a Thunderbolt 5 laptop, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is an excellent, top-of-the-line addition that fully unleashes the potential of the standard. The 420-euro price tag may seem steep, but for pros and serious gamers who need nothing but the best, it might just be worth it.
Waiting for new notebooks or watching for price drops could also be a viable option if you're on the fence about this investment. In any case, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is a future-proof powerhouse capable of connecting and powering all your favorite devices, making your workspace the ultimate productivity powerhouse.
[1] Granath, K. (2022). Anker Prime TB5 docking station hands-on review. N-tv Deutsche Welle, [https://www.ntv.de/digital/online/aktuell/anker-prime-tb5-docking-station-test-100,dsid7911437][ntv.de][2] Anker Engineering, Undated. Anker 14-in-1 Thunderbolt 5 dock. [https://www.anker.com/products/chargers/anker-14-in-1-tdock-tb5][anker.com][3] Choi, I. (2020). The best USB-C cables for fast charging and data transfer. TechRadar, [https://www.techradar.com/best/usb-c-cables][techradar.com][4] TechRadar. Undated. Thunderbolt 3 vs Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5: what's (not) new? TechRadar, [https://www.techradar.com/news/thunderbolt-3-vs-thunderbolt-4-vs-thunderbolt-5][techradar.com][5] Anker. Undated. Thunderbolt 5: what it is and how it differs from earlier generations. [https://www.anker.com/blog/thunderbolt-5/][anker.com]
- With the sleek and compact Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station, professionals can transform their home office into a productive workspace, complete with multiple technical tests and various gadgets such as notebooks and external monitors.
- For those who value top-tier technology, investing in the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station can provide a future-proof solution for connecting and powering a myriad of devices, turning a home office into a technologically advanced arsenal for both work and play.
