Anker 778 Thunderbolt Docking Station Review

Best Prices Today: Anker 778 Thunderbolt Docking Station (12-in-1, Thunderbolt 4)

$379.99

Anker’s latest laptop dock isn’t expressly called “Thunderbolt 4” because it’s also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 devices (and even USB-C laptops). But rest assured that the Anker 778 Thunderbolt Dock is a fully certified 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 docking station.

A rugged, almost eerie design shows that this docking station means business. All black, with an almost brutalist server-rack aesthetic, it stands out from the competition.

This Thunderbolt 4 docking station is for the Windows user looking to connect multiple external displays. It offers a single Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) 40 Gbps downstream port but three display ports (one HDMI and two DisplayPort).

Specifications and Features

The Anker 778 Thunderbolt Docking Station has 12 ports, one of which (the upstream Thunderbolt 4 40Gbps port) is used for the single-cable connection to the computer.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40 Gbps, 100 W)
• One downstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 15W)
• Two DisplayPort 1.4 video ports
• One HDMI 2.1 port
• Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 30W)
• Two USB-A ports (5Gb/s, 4.5W)
• Two USB-A ports (480Mbps, 2.5W)
• Gigabit-Ethernet
• 180W power supply

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The inclusion of three display ports shows who this docking station is for: users who want to add multiple external displays to their computer.

Windows users can connect up to four 4K displays at 60Hz. If you want fewer displays but with higher resolution, you should use this single TB4 downstream port which supports a 6K display at 60Hz.

Mac users should avoid the Anker 778 though. Regular M1 and M2 Macs are simply not supported and MacBook M1/M2 Pro or higher Max can only have two external displays in mirror mode rather than in extended mode using this docking station. Instead, we recommend Mac users look to the Caldigit TS4 or Kensington SD5700T docking stations.

Mac or Windows, if you want to connect a lot of Thunderbolt devices, you might prefer a docking station with three downstream TB4 ports, such as the Kensington SD5700T or Alogic Thunderbolt 4 Blaze. Or consider a Thunderbolt 4 hub that will lack most other connectors to focus only on 40 Gbps ports. Check out our reviews of the best Thunderbolt 4 docks and hubs.

As it stands, you can daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices to the Anker 778’s single Thunderbolt 4 port.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

USB mixed bag

There are a total of six USB ports: two fast 10Gbps USB-C ports that each offer a very generous 30W of charging power; two 5Gb/s USB-A ports; and two other USB-A ports that are rated at the slow 480Mbps USB 2.0 standard.

Anker expects people to use USB 2.0 ports to connect a keyboard and mouse (there are even icons above them to suggest this), although they’re mostly wireless these days .

None of the USB-A ports offer any real device charging capability (either 4.5W or 2.5W), which seems like a missed opportunity and isn’t as useful as some of the other docks Thunderbolt 4 we reviewed.

That said, kudos for the 30W charging capacity of the USB-C slots, which is seriously impressive and beats every other dock we’ve tested.

The upstream TB4 port can charge a connected computer up to 100W, enough for most large laptops.

Wired Internet access is via Gigabit Ethernet. Some newer docks have 2.5GB Ethernet, but most of us live on 1GB networks, so the Anker 778 fits in well with standard, even incredible network speeds. .

What is missing ? Despite the 11 downstream ports, a lot, although the lack of some ports may not bother you.

There are no card reader slots, where most docking stations include either an SD card reader or a MicroSD card reader or both. These small, portable boards can be a great way to add inexpensive, swappable storage to your system. If you never use them, don’t worry.

There’s also no 3.5mm audio port for headphones or mics, which you’ll find on most competing docking stations. You can add and output audio devices through one of the USB ports and use wireless headphones instead.

IDG

Design

The Anker 778 Thunderbolt Horizontal Docking Station has an unmistakable, all-black, industrial look.

We like that Anker positioned the Thunderbolt 4 port upstream on one of the sides rather than in the front like most manufacturers do. This hides the trailing cable away from your desk space and keeps the front uncluttered for those two fast and powerful USB-C ports.

The power button on the front is also appreciated, as it means you can rest assured that your laptop battery isn’t constantly kept at 100% charge while you’re away. With most other docking stations, you have to disconnect the upstream cable for peace of mind of not harming the laptop battery in the long run.

On the side opposite the upstream TB4 port is a Kensington security lock.

Price

The Anker 778 Thunderbolt Dock is priced at $379.99 / £379.99, which is at the higher end of the price scale for Thunderbolt 4 docks.

The $299 Plugable Thunderbolt 4 & USB4 Quad Display Dock also supports four 4K 60Hz displays and four other ports; although it does not offer any downstream TB4 ports.

Verdict

The industrial look screams power, and the Anker 778 Thunderbolt Docking Stations live up to that with its 12 ports that include two front-facing 10Gbps USB-C ports that can each charge devices up to 30W .

If you want to add multiple external displays, the docking station will support up to four 4K monitors at 60Hz, which is really impressive but expensive compared to docking stations with similar specs.

The dock lacks card readers or USB-A charging ports, which might put some people off, but if you can live without them, the 778 is a great dock for adding more screens than anyone really has. need.

Although compatible with macOS, we do not recommend the Anker 778 docking station for Mac users due to its lack of extensive display support for Macs.