This docking station charges and connects almost everything
For those who want to connect multiple devices to their laptop on their desk and charge them simultaneously, the new Anker Prime Ladedock might be a delight. It offers a total of 14 ports, data transfers up to 10 Gbit/s, and a total power output of 160 watts.
Anyone who works with a laptop in an office or at home knows how annoying the cable clutter on the desk can be, especially when connecting standard devices like a second monitor, webcam, or mouse. Additionally, many modern laptops have too few ports, and several connections are missing. In such cases, you need an additional docking station or hub. If you also want to charge devices while working, your desk can quickly become full. The new Anker Prime Ladedock A83B6 could be the ideal solution in such situations, as it has 14 ports in a sleek housing and charges devices with a total of 160 watts (W).
Sleek and compact
The station is not intended for travel, as it weighs 888 grams. On the desk, it takes up little space, as the 140 × 97 × 47 millimeter device stands upright on four non-slip rubber feet and does not have an external power supply. The housing has a metallic look, is made of plastic, but is of high quality and has a successful design.
The power cable is integrated, but at about 1.70 meters, it is long enough to reach a power outlet near the desk. The many cooling ribs on the housing are part of the "intelligent heat dissipation" system, which measures the temperature more than three million times a day and adjusts the output power to protect the station and connected devices.
Many ports
On the front, the dock has two USB-C ports that supply up to 100 W of charging power, and a USB-A port that supplies up to 12 W. The same selection of ports is available for data transfer at speeds up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s). Additionally, there is a headphone jack on the front.
On the back, there are three USB-A ports that are suitable for a mouse, keyboard, etc. at a maximum of 480 megabits per second (Mbit/s). Next to the power cable, there is the USB-C port that is used to connect to a laptop or another PC. It can also charge devices with up to 100 W.
Disadvantage for Mac users
Furthermore, there is a LAN port on the back that reaches up to 1 Gbit/s, as well as two HDMI 2.0 ports that can operate two 4K monitors at 60 Hertz (Hz). However, there is a restriction that could be problematic for some users. When the dock is operated on a Mac computer, two connected monitors will display the same image (mirrored). This is not the case with Windows computers.
It is important to note that a total of 160 W is available, so not all ports can provide full power simultaneously. However, it is not easy to push the Anker dock to its limits, even if a laptop draws 80 W or more.
Great management, informative display
Very sleek: A small, two-color display shows how much power the connected computer and the Ladedock have available in total. Pressing the button on the top shows the consumption per USB port and which ports are currently transferring data.
Normally, the dock distributes power "intelligently", which worked perfectly in all test scenarios. However, when using both USB-C ports on the front, you can also make individual settings. You can give one port "power priority", which will allocate a lower charging current to the other in "power-saving mode".
You cannot make these changes on the device itself; you need to install Anker's Dock Manager (Windows/macOS). Here, you'll also find a user manual and can update the firmware.
The Anker charging dock works efficiently. In the test, it passed through around 90% of the approximately 100 watts taken in. In standby, the device consumes little, measuring around 1 W.
Conclusion
The Anker Prime Charging Dock A83B6 costs 200 euros, which is a significant amount. However, for that price, you get a fairly unique and high-quality combo device that offers a lot. What's missing is a card reader, and Mac users might be bothered by the fact that only mirrored displays are possible on two connected monitors.
If you're searching for a docking station that can handle multiple devices while also providing ample charging power, the Anker Prime Ladedock could be an excellent choice, given its 14 ports and a total output of 160 watts.
When you need to adjust power allocation between USB-C ports on the front of the dock, the Anker Dock Manager software is an essential tool, allowing you to set power priority and make other customizations.
