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Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub vs OWC Thunderbolt Dock: Comparison
What is the difference between Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub and OWC Thunderbolt Dock?
The gap that matters here is host power delivery: Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub 85 W against OWC Thunderbolt Dock 96 W, which puts OWC Thunderbolt Dock 11% ahead. OWC Thunderbolt Dock also leads on total ports, 8 on the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub versus 11 on the OWC Thunderbolt Dock.
Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub vs OWC Thunderbolt Dock: which one fits your build
The Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub suits buyers on a budget who specifically want proven daily-use reliability. It also earns its place with anyone needing a versatile, portable hub for travel or a simple desk setup with one external monitor. It is not the one for multi-monitor setups or power users needing Thunderbolt-tier bandwidth, a Thunderbolt dock is the right choice for those needs. Buy the OWC Thunderbolt Dock for photographers and videographers who import from SD cards daily, though it is the wrong buy for buyers who need microSD or built-in HDMI or DisplayPort outputs and setups requiring more than dual external displays. The same goes for Mac creative workstations needing dual 4K output and fast storage links. 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 OWC Thunderbolt Dock?
Cost splits them too. Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub sits at $40.00, OWC Thunderbolt Dock at $300, 650% more.
Where the two are identical
Where they agree, they agree completely, ethernet, ethernet speed, displaylink driver required, max single display refresh and displayport port count included, so the decision does not turn on any of those. They match on 2 further specifications as well.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub and OWC Thunderbolt Dock differ on connection type?
Yes. Connection Type reads USB-C on the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub versus Thunderbolt 4 on the OWC Thunderbolt Dock.
Is the DisplayPort Version the same on the Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub and OWC Thunderbolt Dock?
It is. Both are listed at None, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- Anker
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- OWC
Connection Type
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- USB-C
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- Thunderbolt 4
Model Number
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 555 8-in-1
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- Thunderbolt Dock (11-Port, OWCTB4DOCK)
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
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 4x TB4 (1 host, 3 downstream, 15W), 2x USB-A 10Gbps, 1x USB-A 2.0, SD UHS-II, GbE, 3.5mm combo audio
Max Display Support
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- Single external monitor
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- Dual 4K
Max Display Resolution
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 4K@60Hz
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- Dual 4K@60Hz or single 8K@60Hz
Total Ports
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 8-27%
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 11Best
Host Power Delivery
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 85 W-11%
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 96 W
Ethernet
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- Yes
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- Yes
Video Path
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- DisplayPort Alt Mode
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- Thunderbolt Native
DisplayLink Driver Required
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- No
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- No
Max Displays Windows
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 1
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 2
Max Single Display Resolution
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 4K
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 8K
Max Single Display Refresh
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 60 Hz
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 60 Hz
HDMI Port Count
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 1
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 0
HDMI Version
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 2.0
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- None
DisplayPort Port Count
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 0
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 0
DisplayPort Version
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- None
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- None
Downstream Thunderbolt Port Count
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 0
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 3
USB-A Port Count
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 2
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 3
Max USB Data Rate
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 10Gbps
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 10Gbps
Ethernet Speed
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- 1GbE
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- 1GbE
SD Card Slot
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- UHS-I
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- UHS-II
microSD Card Slot
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- UHS-I
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- None
Price
- Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub
- Under $40
- OWC Thunderbolt Dock
- ~$300
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 OWC Thunderbolt Dock if you want the higher total ports (11 vs 8) and the higher host power delivery (96 W vs 85 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Anker 555 8-in-1 Hub | OWC Thunderbolt Dock |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $40.00 View on Amazon | |
| Consumercarts listing | $300.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
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.
OWC Thunderbolt Dock
8 / 10 Expert Rating
A strong Thunderbolt 4 dock for creative professionals who need built-in card readers.