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Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub vs CalDigit TS5 Plus: Comparison

Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub vs CalDigit TS5 Plus: the host power delivery difference

On host power delivery the spread is 39%, Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub 85 W against CalDigit TS5 Plus 140 W, so CalDigit TS5 Plus takes it. Total ports runs the same way, 8 on the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub versus 20 on the CalDigit TS5 Plus, another win for CalDigit TS5 Plus.

Who each one is for

Buy the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub for buyers on a budget who specifically want proven daily-use reliability. It is equally the pick for anyone needing a versatile, portable hub for travel or a simple desk setup with one external monitor. It is the wrong buy for multi-monitor setups or power users needing Thunderbolt-tier bandwidth, a Thunderbolt dock is the right choice for those needs. Take the CalDigit TS5 Plus for power users who refuse to compromise on port count or bandwidth. It also earns its place with buyers wanting a dock they can keep for five-plus years without needing to upgrade. Avoid it for buyers on a budget or without a Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptop, the price premium doesn't pay back unless running extreme displays or workloads that need the extra bandwidth today. Our rating of the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub (8/10): best value hub, proven daily-use reliability, 8 ports, and Ethernet for under $40.

Which is cheaper, Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub or CalDigit TS5 Plus?

Cost splits them too. Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub sits at $40.00, CalDigit TS5 Plus at $500, 1150% more.

Frequently asked questions

Do the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub and CalDigit TS5 Plus differ on ethernet speed?

Yes. Ethernet Speed reads 1GbE on the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub versus 10GbE on the CalDigit TS5 Plus.

Is the DisplayLink Driver Required the same on the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub and CalDigit TS5 Plus?

It is. Both are listed at No, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.

Specs and benchmarks

  • Brand

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    Anker
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    CalDigit
  • Connection Type

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    USB-C
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    Thunderbolt 5
  • Model Number

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    555 8-in-1
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    TS5 Plus
  • Port Configuration

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    1x USB-C PD input, 1x USB-C 10Gbps data, 2x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1GbE, SD + microSD UHS-I
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    1x TB5 host, 2x TB5 downstream (80Gbps), 5x USB-C 10Gbps, 5x USB-A 10Gbps, DisplayPort 2.1, 10GbE, SD/microSD UHS-II, front/rear 3.5mm audio
  • Max Display Support

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    Single external monitor
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    Quad 4K
  • Max Display Resolution

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    4K@60Hz
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    Single 8K (DSC); dual 6K@120Hz; quad 4K@144Hz
  • Total Ports

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    8-60%
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    20Best
  • Host Power Delivery

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    85 W-39%
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    140 W
  • Ethernet

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    Yes
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    Yes
  • Video Path

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    DisplayPort Alt Mode
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    Thunderbolt Native
  • DisplayLink Driver Required

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    No
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    No
  • Max Displays Windows

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    1
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    3
  • Max Single Display Resolution

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    4K
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    8K
  • HDMI Port Count

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    1
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    0
  • HDMI Version

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    2.0
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    None
  • DisplayPort Port Count

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    0
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    1
  • DisplayPort Version

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    None
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    2.1
  • Downstream Thunderbolt Port Count

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    0
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    2
  • USB-A Port Count

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    2
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    5
  • USB-C Data Port Count

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    1
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    5
  • Max USB Data Rate

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    10Gbps
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    10Gbps
  • Ethernet Speed

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    1GbE
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    10GbEBest
  • SD Card Slot

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    UHS-I
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    UHS-II
  • microSD Card Slot

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    UHS-I
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    UHS-II
  • Weight

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    128 gBest
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    900 g
  • Price

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
    Under $40
    CalDigit TS5 Plus
    ~$500

    Which one should you pick?

    Choose Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.

    Choose CalDigit TS5 Plus if you want the higher total ports (20 vs 8) and the higher host power delivery (140 W vs 85 W).

    Price comparison

    RetailerAnker 555 8-in-1 HubCalDigit TS5 Plus
    Amazon

    $40.00

    View on Amazon

    $500.00

    View on Amazon

    Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.

    Verdict

    Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub

    8 / 10 Expert Rating

    Best value hub, proven daily-use reliability, 8 ports, and Ethernet for under $40.

    CalDigit TS5 Plus

    10 / 10 Expert Rating

    Best overall Thunderbolt 5 dock, most ports, best charging, dual 8K@60Hz, and 10GbE for buyers who refuse to compromise.

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