Anker 565 USB-C Hub Review: This Compact Hub Has 11

Price at the time of review

89.99 euros

Eleven ports on a hub sounds like a lot, and it’s a number more commonly associated with a full Mac dock. The Anker 565 is a smaller, more portable solution than a dock, measuring 5.4 x 2.2 x 0.6 inches (13.7 x 5.7 x 1.4 centimeters). The 565’s ports are spread out on three edges of the boxy design.

On one side, there are two USB-A 2.0 ports for devices such as a keyboard and mouse; one USB-A 3.2 port and one USB-C 3.2 port, each with 10 Gbps throughput, suitable for data storage and other devices requiring higher speeds. The USB 3.2 ports provide impressive performance, with data transfer rates of 827 MBps (write) and 864 MBps (read) with the LaCie Rugged Mini SSD.

It’s important to note that the USB-A and USB-C ports don’t charge devices, but that brings us to the ports on the opposite side of the 565. You’ll find a USB-C PD input port where you can plug in a 100-watt power adapter, which will then charge your connected MacBook at 85 watts — you’ll need to provide your own USB-C power adapter. Next to the USB-C PD input port are an SD (UHS-I) card reader and a microSD card reader, a DisplayPort, and an HDMI port.

Both the DisplayPort and HDMI ports support 4K displays at 60Hz, but you can only use one display at a time to hit those specs. The hub worked when I tested it with the BenQ SW272U and SW321C 4K displays. The card reader stays within the UHS-I spec, with maximum speeds of 79MBps (write) and 91MBps (read) measured with the Kingston Canvas Go Plus.

The third side of the 565 has a 3.5mm audio jack and a gigabit Ethernet connection with two activity LEDs. The gigabit Ethernet port achieved data transfer rates of 62MBps (write) and 63MBs (read) when tested with a network-attached storage device.

The 565 has an attractive plastic casing with an included braided nylon USB-C cable. The ports are labeled, but the choice of color labels makes them difficult to read on the dark silver casing.

Is the Anker 565 USB-C Hub Worth Buying?

The Anker 565 USB-C Hub is a good solution for when you need more than what your MacBook Pro or Air offers. You can’t use the USB ports for charging, but that’s fine if your devices don’t require charging or have their own power supplies.

The alternative Anker 555 PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C hub is a bit cheaper (around $15) but has fewer ports. We think the 565 offers better value for money.

If you need USB charging ports, need more USB-C ports, or want Thunderbolt support, consider purchasing a Thunderbolt dock from our selection.