Quick verdict
The Anker 555 is a compact 8-in-1 hub with a coherent port mix: three 10Gbps-class USB data ports, HDMI up to 4K60, Gigabit Ethernet, SD/microSD and USB-C power input.
Its strongest use case is a laptop that already supports USB-C video and Power Delivery and needs one portable accessory for a monitor, wired network, card access and a few peripherals.
The main limitation is exactly what makes it portable: it is still a hub, not a powered desktop dock with multiple displays and a large independent power budget.
Best for
- one-monitor laptop desks;
- travelers who need Ethernet and card readers;
- users with external SSDs that can benefit from 10Gbps USB ports;
- people who already own a suitable USB-C charger.
Skip it if
- you need two or more external displays;
- your laptop’s USB-C port does not support video;
- you want UHS-II card-reader performance;
- you need the dock itself to provide its own wall power supply;
- your laptop needs more than the hub’s published host-charging output.
The port mix is the reason to consider it
Anker currently lists:
- 2 × USB-A 10Gbps data ports;
- 1 × USB-C 10Gbps data port;
- 1 × HDMI output up to 4K60;
- 1 × Gigabit Ethernet;
- 1 × SD UHS-I reader;
- 1 × microSD UHS-I reader;
- 1 × USB-C PD input up to 100W.
That mix avoids a common cheap-hub problem: lots of low-speed USB ports that inflate the port count without helping external storage.
For a laptop user with one SSD, keyboard, mouse, monitor and Ethernet cable, the layout is practical.
10Gbps data is useful—but shared-system limits remain
A 10Gbps downstream port is appropriate for many portable SSDs and fast card readers.
But three 10Gbps-labeled ports do not mean the hub can deliver 30Gbps of simultaneous traffic to the laptop.
The host connection is shared.
Actual transfer speed depends on:
- laptop host port;
- hub controller;
- peripheral;
- cable;
- filesystem;
- simultaneous display/data traffic.
The 10Gbps labels tell you the class of each data port, not guaranteed aggregate throughput.
HDMI up to 4K60 is a meaningful target
Anker lists HDMI 2.0 with output up to 4K at 60Hz for the cited model.
That is a useful ceiling for a normal 4K office monitor.
But the host laptop still must support the required DisplayPort-over-USB-C path.
A USB-C port that handles only charging and USB data cannot be turned into a native display output by this hub.
Before buying, verify the laptop manufacturer documentation.
One display is the key expectation
The 555 is a good fit when one external monitor is enough.
If your plan is dual 4K displays, a dedicated desktop dock is the better comparison category.
That matters because product listings can make a hub look like a universal desktop replacement when the video architecture is much more limited.
Power input and host output are different numbers
Anker lists up to 100W USB-C PD input and up to 85W delivered to the laptop.
The difference is important.
The hub uses some of the incoming power for itself and attached devices. A “100W PD” headline therefore does not mean the laptop receives 100W.
If your notebook normally uses a 65W charger, 85W host capability leaves useful headroom. If your notebook expects 100W or more, the hub may not provide its full original charging experience.
Also remember that the charger is a separate part of the system unless included in the specific package you buy.
UHS-I readers are useful, not high-end
The SD and microSD slots are listed as UHS-I.
That is enough for many everyday camera and media workflows.
Photographers using UHS-II cards should understand that the card can fall back to the reader’s slower interface. The card’s own maximum does not override the hub’s reader capability.
For frequent large media ingest, a dedicated UHS-II reader may be worth carrying separately.
Gigabit Ethernet is still practical
1Gbps Ethernet is enough for most home internet plans and office networks.
It is also useful when Wi-Fi is congested or when a stable wired link matters for video calls, large downloads or remote sessions.
Users with 2.5GbE or faster local networks should not expect the hub to use that full wired capacity.
Portable design versus desk permanence
A hub like this is easiest to justify when it moves with the laptop.
For a fixed workstation, a larger powered dock can provide:
- a longer host cable;
- cleaner cable management;
- more display options;
- higher host power;
- more downstream ports.
The 555 earns its place when portability is part of the requirement.
What we could not verify
PickDecoded has not independently measured:
- sustained SSD throughput;
- hub temperature;
- display stability;
- Ethernet throughput;
- SD/microSD speed;
- 85W host charging under full peripheral load.
Those are performance questions that require hardware testing.
Bottom line
The Anker 555 is well specified for a portable one-monitor workstation.
Its strengths are not the total number of ports but the useful combination of 10Gbps USB, 4K60 HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, card readers and high-power PD pass-through.
Buy it when that exact mix fits your laptop. Move to a powered dock when the desk requires multiple displays, more power or more permanent cable management.
Alternatives to consider
If you do not need card readers or Ethernet, a smaller USB-C hub can reduce bulk. If you need two displays, more than 85W host charging or a cleaner permanent cable layout, compare a powered USB4/Thunderbolt-style desk dock instead.
The useful comparison is not “Anker versus another brand” but “portable hub versus permanent dock.” The 555 belongs firmly in the portable-hub category.
Questions before checkout
- Does the laptop’s exact USB-C port support display output?
- Is 85W maximum host delivery enough for the laptop?
- Is one 4K60 external display enough?
- Are UHS-I card readers sufficient?
- Do your fastest peripherals actually need 10Gbps?
- Are you supplying an appropriate USB-C charger separately?
If all six answers line up, the port mix is unusually coherent for a compact hub.