Why Choose a Docking Station Instead of a Hub?

If you're torn between buying a USB-C hub or a docking station, or if you already have a hub and it's not living up to your expectations, then it could be time to move up to the pro leagues and get yourself a docking station.

Find out what's so great about docking stations below:

1. More Screens, Higher Resolution

Compared to a USB-C hub, docking stations are far superior when it comes to display options. Take Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station  for example. It's equipped with 2 HDMI ports plus a Thunderbolt 4 port to support 4K@60Hz to 3 screens simultaneously. And it can even display in 8K@30Hz to a single screen.

You won't find this level of display functionality in a USB-C hub.

2. Fast Charging

Docking stations also have a huge edge when it comes to power. Unlike USB-C hubs, Docking stations come with their own power adapter. This means you can connect your laptop to the dock to get a powerful charge, and you can even connect other devices like phones and tablets to the downstream ports.

3. Speedy File Transfer

USB-C hubs usually support file transfer speeds of 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps. That's enough for most people, but if you're someone that needs to do some heavy-duty file transferring, then a docking station can give you a noticeable speed boost. With up to 40 Gbps speeds, you'll never be left twiddling your thumbs as you watch a file slowly trickle from your thumb drive to your laptop.

Docking Stations vs USB-C Hub: The Stats

If you have high requirements for media display, data transfer, and charging, then opting for a docking station is a no brainer.

With a USB-C hub with Power Delivery pass-through charging, you can just plug your laptop's charging cable into the hub's PD input port. This not only allows you to do everything with one port.

	Anker PowerHouse 535	Anker PowerHouse 555	Anker PowerHouse 757	Anker PowerHouse 767
Battery Capacity	512Wh	1024Wh	1229Wh	2048Wh (4096Wh with Expansion Battery)
Number of Ports	4× AC Ports 3× USB-A 1× USB-C 1× Car Outlet	6× AC Ports 2× USB-A 3× USB-C 1× Car Outlet	6× AC Ports 4× USB-A 2× USB-C 1× Car Outlet	4× AC Ports 2× USB-A 3× USB-C 1× TT-30 RV Plug 2× Car Outlets
CPAP Runtime (60Wh)	8hrs	15.5hrs	18.5hrs	33hrs (66hrs with Expansion Battery)

With a USB-C hub with Power Delivery pass-through charging, you can just plug your laptop's charging cable into the hub's PD input port. This not only allows you to do everything with one port.