Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Anker ’s PowerExpand Elite 13 - in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a peachy docking post for T3 and USB - C laptops . It is a serious competitor to the jacket crown of best Thunderbolt 3 dock , currently held by Caldigit ’s TS3 Plus .
Best Prices Today: Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock
Anker is well - known for its low-cost quality add-on , and has an impressive pro - plane Thunderbolt 3 docking station , the PowerExpand Elite 13 - in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock , that is also compatible with USB - snow laptop computer .
Docking stations help you produce a full background setup with your laptop , which you’re able to link to and unplug from using just one cable – in this case USB - C or Thunderbolt 3 cable television if your laptop has this fast connection standard .
As most modern laptop computer have just a few USB - C or Thunderbolt 3 ( TB3 ) ports , you need either a few dongle / adapter or a larboard - cloggy dock to connect to all your required devices and services , such as heavy drive and other storage , Ethernet , screens and audio recording .
This Anker docking station is among thebest Thunderbolt 3 dockswe’ve tested , and it ’s even compatible with USB - C laptop , which many T3 dock are not .
As its long name suggests , the PowerExpand Elite dock has an impressive 13 port – 2nd only to theCaldigit TS3 Plus dock .
This is a heavyweight set of port , and in some scene stronger than the TS3 Plus , Later , we ’ll compare the two pier in more item .
Triple display potential (not for Macs)
The PowerExpand Elite can connect up to three outside displays , but for Windows only as that operating system of rules supports MST ( Multi - Stream Transport ) unlike macOS . Macs can work with the PowerExpand Elite with one or two extraneous displays but not three ( insert sad smiley here , Mac users ) .
One showing would apply the HDMI port . Another connects via USB - C or TB3 – although you ’ll need an adapter ( not included ) using this connexion unless your exhibit has a USB - C connection itself . This is the apparatus pictured above .
And a possible third display ( Windows only ) can be accommodate if you use a USB - C - to - dual - HDMI splitter ( not include ) .
The bobtail can deal one 5 K display at 60Hz or two 4 K at 60Hz . Using a splitter to tot up a third display will likely subdue the 4 grand timber to 30Hz , which might not be good enough for more dynamic video recording such as in sports , action and play .
Titan Ridge chipset means USB-C too
USB - C laptop computer , such as the old 12 in MacBook , ca n’t connect to a Thunderbolt 3 tying up station unless the dockage uses the Titan Ridge chipset , which this Anker dock does .
( thunderclap 3 laptop computer will work with USB - C dock , but usually not the other way round . )
This expand the dockage ’s market of compatible laptops , and also think of you could swap between laptop computer if they have a different connector type .
Anker PowerExpand Elite vs Caldigit TS3 Plus
The PowerExpand Elite reminds us a lot of one of our favourite tying up stations for Thunderbolt 3 laptop , the Caldigit TS3 Plus .
The two spirit remarkably alike , with stubby , heavyset perpendicular designs and a plurality of ports . The Anker is slightly scant , and , I think , a little cuter – although at 470 g , it ’s 20 g heavier .
Caldigit ’s bobtail has 15 port to Anker ’s 13 , with a high - quality digital optical audio ( S / PDAF ) port and an extra USB - A larboard . Audio buffs will treasure the straight digital audio port , but if you just require to play some tune or total a verbaliser for group discussion yell , the combo analogue sound recording in / out port wine will do just ticket .
Both have two USB - atomic number 6 port , but each of Anker ’s is 3.1 Gen 2 so 10Gbps – while Caldigit offers one at 10Gbps and one at 5Gbps .
This might not be a trade - breaker but there ’s no denying that the PowerExpand Elite wins on USB - C focal ratio .
And remember that the PowerExpand sorrel is compatible with USB - C laptops , while the TS3 Plus is not .
Anker ’s sorrel has both an SD and MicroSD visiting card reader , while the TS3 Plus has just an Coyote State , although most MicroSD card come with an transcriber anyway . Both loading dock ’ Mount Rushmore State poster readers support Mount Rushmore State 4.0 and UHS - II speeds , so boast a maximum theoretical throughput of 312MBps .
Caldigit favor a DisplayPort , while Anker has chosen HDMI . Depending on your international display ’s connection option , this might have a heading on your decision .
The TS3 Plus can bear down at up to 87W , while the Anker is close behind at 85W. It ’s not a huge col , but the Caldigit power spec does exactly match that of the Apple ’s 15 in MacBook Pro , although is below the 16 in MacBook Pro ’s preferred 96W.
The Anker has an easy - to - reach on - off substitution , which is a neat get-up-and-go - saving touch , and stops a laptop from have its barrage continually crown up , which could disgrace it after a while .
An pass indicator Inner Light glows green when the docking facility in on and blue when the Thunderbolt connection is active .
Price
Both the PowerExpand Elite and TS3 Plus are similarly price , although Apple and sometimes Amazon tender the TS3 Plus at a reduced cost via its computer memory .
If the Anker dock was a piddling cheaper , we recommend it over the TS3 Plus – but if you want to spend the additional anyway , we would say it may well be deserving it .
If you do n’t demand as many ports or maybe just a twosome of specific non - one hundred - type port , take a look at our roundup of thebest USB - C transcriber and hubs .
Verdict
Anker ’s PowerExpand Elite 13 - in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a great tying up post for TB3 and USB - hundred laptops . It is a serious contender to the crown of best Thunderbolt 3 bob , presently hold by Caldigit ’s TS3 Plus . It miss the digital sound output , but not many citizenry would use this anyway , and four USB - A ports should be enough for most of us .
All the Power Expand Elite ’s port are top - end : both USB - C porthole , for representative , are Gen. 2 at 10Gbps , where some dockage vaunt just 5Gbps C - type ports .
This is a cracking option for perfecting your TB3 or USB - degree Celsius laptop to a desktop setup .
