Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 assessment: Fashionable docking station & stand combo – Insta News Hub

The Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 Docking Station and Monitor Stand solves a number of of your laptop computer’s limitations in a single user-friendly, trendy, pleasant and useful product.

A laptop computer is an excellent system however it comes up missing in just a few areas due to its portability.

First, the display screen is small and cramped for opening a number of recordsdata and functions. You possibly can find yourself squinting at tiny textual content and having to maintain open a number of tabs and layers of paperwork.

Second, utilizing a laptop computer isn’t nice to your posture, neck, again, shoulders, eyes… mainly, it’s not good to your physique. Stooping over that small display screen with hunched shoulders isn’t nice to your neck, again or arms.

Thirdly, many laptops lack connections and extension ports to connect different units, corresponding to storage, shows, and wired web entry.

You possibly can resolve the primary limitation with a number of bigger exterior shows in a extra conventional desktop setup that may make work and play a lot extra snug. The second might be solved by elevating the laptop computer with an adjustable stand, or by putting the bigger monitor on a stand, in order that the display screen you’re looking at is on the identical degree as your eyes. That can assist your posture, neck, shoulders and again.

To resolve the third subject it’s good to join your laptop computer to a hub or docking station so as to add further ports: from a number of USB ports to Gigabit Ethernet, storage card readers, and show ports for including the additional displays. Apple’s MacBooks rely primarily on Thunderbolt ports for attaching units, however the Professional fashions do function HDMI for including an exterior show.

The Anker 675 is a mix laptop computer or monitor stand and docking station that solves all of those points: it might probably increase your display screen viewing angle into one thing extra snug and ergonomic, and add the ports that rework the laptop computer right into a functioning desktop workstation.

Design

Whereas it seems to be like a easy aluminum alloy bench—21.26 inches lengthy, 8.66 inches deep and three.54 inches excessive—shut up it wows with a trendy curved edge design and a financial institution of quick ports at one finish, plus built-in cable administration tucked on the underside that may preserve messy cables out of the best way and out of sight.

When you find yourself completed working, the stand leaves you area to tidily retailer your keyboard and mouse below the bench.

Whereas it’s excessive sufficient as a monitor stand, if you happen to simply need a laptop computer stand you’ll discover extra adjustable choices in our roundup of the best laptop stand for MacBook.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Ports

• 1x USB-C to host (100W PD)
• 2x USB-C ports (10Gbps, with shared 45W charging)
• 3x USB-A ports (10Gbps; one with 7.5W charging, one with 4.5W)
• HDMI (4K at 60Hz)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• SD card reader (104MBps)
• MicroSD card reader (104MBps)
• Qi wi-fi charging pad on prime (10W max, 7.5W iPhone)
• 3.5mm Audio jack
• 180W energy provide

The Anker 675 comes with a meaty 180W energy provide that may cost your laptop computer at as much as 100W when related by way of the underside upstream USB-C to host port. That is appropriate with Thunderbolt 3 and 4 laptops in addition to straight USB-C.

The remaining energy can cost related peripherals, with the 2 downstream USB-C ports providing a complete 45W. Two of the three USB-A ports may also cost units: one at 7.5W and one other at a slower 4.5W.

All 5 USB ports are rated at 10Gbps, which is as quick as they get outdoors of Thunderbolt.

We’d have most well-liked extra Sort C to Sort A USB ports however the scale of USB-A units on the market signifies that dock producers are nonetheless interested in them.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

A neat function is the Qi wi-fi charging pad on the highest that may cost any appropriate system at as much as 10W. It’s not magnetic so isn’t MagSafe appropriate however it might probably wirelessly cost an iPhone at a good 7.5W. Take a look at our roundup of the best MagSafe wireless chargers.

If you wish to cost your telephone quicker, use one of many USB-C ports and a charging cable.

The SD and MicroSD card readers provide the prospect so as to add reasonably priced moveable storage to your laptop computer setup, with even 512GB playing cards costing below $50/£40.

The cardboard readers are UHS-I, rated at 104MBps. Some hubs provide quicker 312MBps UHHS-II speeds however the ones on the Anker 675 can be quick sufficient for many of us.

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Worth

The Anker 675 isn’t low cost, costing $249.99/£249.99.

You would purchase a less expensive laptop computer or monitor stand—Amazon has very fundamental plastic stands for below $20. For all kinds of choices, take a look at our best monitor stands roundup.

Twelve South’s metallic Curve Riser is extra trendy than a fundamental stand, however lacks the hub performance of the Anker 675.

You’d want so as to add a good hub that matches the 675 on velocity and show help, such because the $80 EZQuest USB-C 10-in-1 Hub Docking Station or Ugreen’s equally priced Revodok Pro 109 9-in-1 USB C Hub, or a correct docking station just like the HyperDrive 12-in-1 USB-C Docking Station.

Take a look at our suggestions for best USB-C hubs for Mac and best USB-C docking stations.

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Verdict

Including a hub or dock with equal ports goes to push you near the worth of Anker’s 675 Docking Station and Monitor Stand, and having it multi function trendy and clutter-free bundle is a compelling choice.

That cable administration system beneath will visually enhance your workspace and preserve all the things a lot tidier.

You would assemble one thing cheaper and certain uglier, however with the Anker 675 USB-C 12-in-1 Docking Station and Monitor Stand you get a top-end hub with wired and wi-fi charging plus 4K at 60Hz show help as a part of a handsome ergonomic display screen stand.