The Anker 555 is a multi-function USB hub — it has two USB-A 3.2 ports, one 1 USB-C 3.2 port, one HDMI output (4K60Hz), a gigabit (1Gbps) Ethernet port, SD and microSD slots, and a USB-C PD (Power Delivery) port that passes up to 85W of power to a connected computer (laptop, tablet, or mini PC).

I bought the Anker 555 to replace a slowly-failing and much cheaper USB hub I’ve had for a few years, to be used primarily with my MacBook Air 15. The truth about these hubs, to my experience, is that most of the cheap ones simply die after a while. Whether due to excessive and repeated heat exposure (they tend to get toasty), kinking of the main USB cable, or failure of individual ports.

Anker 555 specs

• 2x USB-A 10Gbps (USB 3.2)
• 1x USB-C 10Gps (USB 3.2)
• 1x USB-C PD (power passthrough only, 100W input into 85W output delivered)
• 1x HDMI (4K60)
• 1x Ethernet (1Gbps)
• 1x SD, 1x microSD slots
• Dimensions: 4.76 x 2.17 x 0.6 inches (120.9 x 55.2 x 15.2mm)
• Weight: 4.5 oz (127.6g)
• Price: $50 retail

Anker 555 pros

• High-speed 10Gbps data on all three USB ports
• Gigabit Ethernet port is a nice bonus
• 4K60 HDMI output (vs typical 4K30)
• Individual SD + microSD card slots
• Enough power passthrough for most laptops

Anker 555 cons

• No display over USB ports (not that any USB hub offers this)
• No power over USB ports (again, no USB hub does this; you’d need a docking station)
• Power passthrough (85W) won’t be enough for some workstation class and gaming laptops
• Relatively bulky design compared to slimmer USB hubs

My thoughts on the Anker 555

The Anker 555 is a lot bulkier than my old slim USB hub (I have to assume because of that Ethernet port). It’s not “big” exactly — about the size of a MagSafe power bank for an iPhone — but it is kind of awkward to dangle off the side of my MacBooK Air. I’m thinking of buying some Velcro tape or adhesive magnets to hold it in place on my laptop stand when I’m using it at my desk.

My typical use case is connecting a wireless mouse and wired USB keyboard over the USB-A ports, and my external monitor over HDMI. For this, it works as expected, and delivers 60Hz to the monitor with my MacBook Air. The SD card reader works and transfers as quickly as I’d expect. I’m thinking of picking up an external SSD to back up my photos, and so that would occupy the third USB port (the USB-C).

My old slim USB hub did not have a USB-C data port at all and only supported 4K30 display output. So, this new hub is a pretty significant upgrade, even if it is more than twice the size! To be fair, the extra bulk might mean better heat dissipation performance, and I suspect heat is what killed my old USB hub in the end (that thing got seriously hot). I’d happily pay the same $50 for a version of the Anker 555 that was a bit smaller and ditched the Ethernet port, but nothing in Anker’s lineup really fits the bill there.

The reason I went with Anker? I have a lot of trust in the brand — their 737 power bank is one of my favorite products and I also really like their Nano line of USB GaN chargers.

Why buy a $50 USB hub?

The Anker 555 costs about $50 retail, but it’s available on discount regularly, and open box deals for $40 on Amazon are easy to find (I bought mine as an open box and it was in perfect condition). The Anker 555 is consistently a high-rated pick among the larger crop of USB hubs on the market, but how is it that much better than, say, the much cheaper Anker 332 (which can frequently be had for $20-25)?

The biggest advantages of the Anker 555 over cheaper USB hubs are as follows:

• The Anker 555 supports 4K60Hz display out HDMI, many other cheaper hubs only support 4K30Hz. That means a higher frame rate (smoother motion) on your external monitor.
• The Anker 555 supports the full 10Gbps USB 3.2 transfer rate on all three USB ports — many other hubs support only 5Gbps, or even less on USB-A (480Mpbs if they’re USB 2.0, for example).
• The Anker 555 has an ethernet port rated for gigabit speeds (I’ve not tested how fast it is in practice; I find most external hubs are optimistic about this, though).
• The Anker 555 has both an SD card and microSD card slot.

If none of the above features matter to you, I’d strongly suggest buying a cheaper USB hub, like the previously-mentioned Anker 332. It’s a very good product, but no SD card slot meant it was a non-starter for me. There’s also the Anker 341 (typically $25-35), which is essentially the Anker 555 minus Ethernet and with downgraded HDMI (4K30).

For me, the 4K60 display output and SD card slot were reasons to pay more for a more premium product like the Anker 555. I transfer a lot of photos from my camera and frequently use my USB hub to connect to my external monitor — and the difference between 30FPS and 60FPS is very noticeable to me. I don’t think I’ll ever use the ethernet, but I guess it’s a “nice to have.”

Anker 555 vs. Thunderbolt Dock

This is where I think most people looking for a powerful USB hub are actually cross-shopping: Should I buy a really powerful USB hub, or a relatively basic Thunderbolt docking station? What does a Thunderbolt dock have that a USB hub like the Anker 555 doesn’t? Actually, in most situations, the answer is “not much.”

Thunderbolt docks are very expensive — you can find a few models around $100 these days, but most begin at around $150-200 and go to $300 and beyond depending on how many ports you need. Thunderbolt docks do have a few advantages over a device like the Anker 555, but most fall firmly in the power user category.

• Thunderbolt docks usually support display over Thunderbolt (USB-C), meaning no HDMI or DisplayPort cables are necessary (provided your connected devices supports display over USB). USB hubs almost never support display over USB.
• Thunderbolt docks can supply power over multiple USB ports to charge or power accessories (phones, headphones, external batteries, etc.); USB hubs just provide passthrough power to the connected laptop or PC. External devices must supply their own power on a USB hub.
• Thunderbolt docks can provide even faster USB data transfer speeds (e.g., 40Gbps).
• Some Thunderbolt docks can support even higher display resolutions (6K, 8K).

Again, most of the above advantages tend to be important to workstation power users. A Thunderbolt dock is not going to be very portable, and will need to be plugged in to an external (and often bulky) power supply. For the vast majority of users, a powerful USB hub is a lot cheaper, much more portable, and not discernibly less capable.

Anker 555 FAQs

What’s the difference between the Anker 555 and the Anker 553?

The Anker 553 has two HDMI 4K60 ports instead of one. It sacrifices the USB-C data port from the 555 to add that second display output, but is otherwise identical. If you need dual external monitors, buy the 553!

What’s the difference between the Anker 555 and the Anker 341?

The Anker 341 has 4K30 HDMI (instead of 4K60), 5Gbps USB ports (instead of 10Gbps), and no Ethernet port.

What’s the difference between the Anker 555 and the Anker 556?

The Anker 556 is a new USB hub that uses the USB 4.0 protocol, which is not supported by many devices on the market yet. It offers higher total data throughput, supports up to 8K30 external displays, and adds a DisplayPort connector, but has no SD card slots. The 556 is also twice as expensive as the 555. If you don’t need 8K display output, there’s no reason to get this.

Can the Anker 555 charge my laptop, phone, headphones etc. at the same time?

No. The Anker 555 is only designed to provide USB power to one connected device (via the USB-C PD port, which must be connected to an external charger). The USB data ports only supply enough power to transfer data. You must connect smartphones, headphones, tablets, and other devices to another source of USB power to charge them.

Can the Anker 555 do display over USB (i.e. display over Thunderbolt)?

No. The Anker 555 can only output display over HDMI on the HDMI port, at up to 4K60.

Is the Anker 555 compatible with Mac and PC?

Yes, so long as your laptop, tablet, or desktop computer has a USB-C data port, the Anker 555 should work with it.

Does the Anker 555 need external power?

No. The power supplied by your connected laptop, tablet, or desktop PC should be sufficient for transferring data and the display out functionality. I use the Anker 555 without external power and have no issues.

Can the Anker 555 be used for USB audio or microphone over USB?

Theoretically, yes — though I tend to trust dedicated audio interfaces (like a USB sound card) a lot more for things like this. USB hubs can have problems with isolation (static, interference), especially if they’re connected to external power.