Dive into Unbridled Connectivity with the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station: A Steamroller for Pros and Gamers
High-performance docking station caters to the needs of proficient experts and avid gamers alike.
By Cyberghost255 (Aliases: Phoenix Rising, DangerDynamo)
The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station welcomes you to the wild world of high-definition, lightning-fast connectivity. This device, tailored for professionals and gamers, unchains you from the lifeless bonds of limited ports and charging worries.
Armed with Thunderbolt 5, this badass beast grips a jaw-dropping 14 connection options, catering to every desire for power, speed, and versatility. The TB5 ushers in the fastest data transfer rates achievable over USB-C, rendering obsolete the need for additional charging devices for your power-hungry media leviathans.
Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station: A All-Rounder, Rock-Steady
Measuring a mere 1.6 x 11.6 x 7.5 cm and weighing under 1.1 kg, the Anker Prime TB5 dipstick may not seem like much initially, but the DESIGN team at Anker goes way beyond the call of duty by embedding the power supply within the case. This means the docking station can serve as a whale-slayer for particularly power-guzzling laptops, whose laptops' often bulky chargers can vanish without a trace in your desk drawer.
The high-quality manufacturing akin to countless mini-PCs with strong aluminum-plastic casings testifies to the robustness and durability of this device. Four trusty rubber feet ensure a stable stance and keep the docking station in its place, while heat is wicked away by large ventilation grilles on the back and fresh air is sucked in through finer ribs on the underside.
When the Fancy Light's Italian Riviera
The exquisite LED strip surrounding the top cover will enthrall you at the sight, but worry not, fellow users, an immeasurable toilsome trek of a single press of the power button ensures you can turn the effect off anytime the display becomes too much of a distraction. A thoughtful touch, indeed: the LED strip illuminates twice when a compatible Thunderbolt 4 or 5 device is hooked up.
On the front of the station, you'll appreciate a headphone output blooming beside the power button and a couple of weaker connections. Two USB-C ports allow for transfer speeds of 10Gbps and can fuel devices with a combined power of 45W. A USB-A input, too, offers the same transfer speeds but won't offer electrical rejuvenation to connected devices.
Air Your Connections
SD and microSD card readers ignite and transfer data at mind-boggling speeds of up to 312MB/s on the left side of the dock. In the best-case scenario, you can take roughly two minutes to read a 32GB camera memory card with this puppy.
Matters become truly intriguing on the backside. Two additional USB-A ports with 10Gbps speeds lurk beneath the Thunderbolt 5 upstream connection with Thunderbolt 5, meant to link up with your laptop. With a charging capacity of up to 140W and data transfer speeds of 80Gbps in both directions, life is sweeter than ever! The same jaw-dropping transfer speeds are achievable with Thunderbolt 4, albeit offering a more modest 40Gbps in both directions.
Thunderbolt 5's speed can even hit the roof—120Gbps in one direction—via the so-called Bandwidth Boost, while maintaining transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps in the other direction. Clever tech, wouldn't you agree?
A Tug-of-War for Monitors
The TB5 provides you with the freedom to choose one–thanks to two more Thunderbolt 5 ports on the back, an Ethernet port with 2.5Gbps, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a DisplayPort connection. While you're champing at the bit to connect two monitors, note that you can't enjoy both an HDMI and a DisplayPort connection simultaneously. You have to play the hand you're dealt, cowboy. Fancy a monitor with a Thunderbolt output? You're in luck, partner; this means you have a wealth of options to explore!
Like a Raging Hurricane, Powerful and Relentless
This docking station charges and connects almost everything within its reach. When connected to a Windows computer, you can operate an 8K monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz or a 4K display with 240Hz without breaking a sweat. The same combinations are available when linking two monitors. With a MacBook, you can kick up your boots and enjoy 6K/60Hz and 4K/240Hz with a single external monitor, or 6K/60Hz and 4K/144Hz when you're connecting two screens.
What if Your Laptop is Spewing Thunderbolt 4 Airs? Worry Not, We Got You Covered!
The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station dazzles as long as you waltz with a Thunderbolt 5 laptop; however, lobbyists of the Thunderbolt 4 brigade won't necessarily get relegated to the sidelines. Instead, data transfers will be confined to a maximum of 40Gbps, and the Bandwidth Boost won't be in play. Oh, and connect two monitors? Your dreams may meet a cruel reality: achieving the maximum refresh rate on Macs only at 2K resolution.
It deserves a mention that the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station does not extend a warm welcome to Thunderbolt 3. When confronted with displays yelling "Thunderbolt 3!", prepare for a love-hate relationship, as the dock's external displays will turn black. Fortuitously, Anker only hands you one compatible cable in its gift box. The icing on the cake: ideally, these cables should be graced with a label highlighting their maximum speeds and power—such as 80Gbps and 240W, as recommended by the USB Implementor Forum (USB-IF).
The Future Ain't All that Far: Embrace the TB5 Revolution
From the stables of MacBook Pro to an army of compatible notebooks in the near future, the landscape will remain in a perpetual state of flux, with more and more devices stepping up to the plate and embracing Thunderbolt 5. Live in the present, look to the future.
The Verdict: Thunderbolt 5 Overkill or Stylish Game Changer? You Decide!
If your baby laptop has a Thunderbolt 5 heartbeat, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is the ideal, top-notch addition to your digital arsenal, leaving no Thunderbolt 5 stone unturned. It's particularly appealing to developers, designers, and gamers who may be willing to shell out a cool €420 for the ultimate performance experience.
Don't know whether to join the Anker TB5 gang just yet? Hang tight and keep your eyes peeled for the day when you upgrade to a Thunderbolt 5 beast, munching on the tasty discounts that are sure to follow. After all, Thunderbolt 6 ain't expected to make its dramatic debut anytime soon.
P.S. Ah, we forgot to mention a little Easter egg: triggering the power button initiates a built-in game of Tetris on the LED strip around the top cover, so go ahead, play, relax, and let the good times (and connections) roll!
- In the home office, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station can serve as a gaming gadget, powering and connecting various devices like laptops, monitors, and media leviathans, thanks to its Thunderbolt 5 technology andmultiple connection options.
- For notebook users, the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station can double as a technical test arena, with its ability to transfer data at mind-boggling speeds and support four Thunderbolt 5 ports, making it compatible with numerous gadgets and even playing a game of Tetris on its LED strip when powered on.
