Start with your laptop, then the hub
A hub purchase often starts with a familiar frustration: the laptop has fewer connections than the desk needs. Before choosing the biggest port count, write down what you actually plug in. A monitor, a camera card and a network cable make a different shopping list from two displays and a power-hungry workstation.
The Anker 555, model A8383, combines HDMI, Ethernet, SD and microSD slots, two USB-A data ports, a USB-C data port and a USB-C power input. Anker's support page specifies a host USB-C port with Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alt Mode. A matching connector shape alone is not a compatibility guarantee. Product specifications; host requirements.
Three checks worth doing
- Find the exact model of your laptop and read its port specifications. Look for the video capability the hub requires; ask the manufacturer if the wording is unclear.
- Write down your display's resolution, refresh rate and connector. The hub lists HDMI up to 4K at 60 Hz, but that ceiling does not establish what your complete laptop, cable and monitor combination will deliver.
- Read your laptop's charging requirement. Anker lists up to 100 W input with 15 W reserved for hub operation, leaving up to 85 W for the host. The wall charger is sold separately.
Two USB-C ports, different jobs
The data port is not a second display output. Anker explicitly says its USB-C data connection does not support video or charging. That matters if your monitor expects a single USB-C cable for everything. Check the connection diagram before ordering adapters. Anker's port notes.
Our editorial take: this is a candidate for a straightforward single-monitor desk. If your plan depends on dual displays or charging above 85 W, write those requirements at the top of your shopping list and investigate a different solution. We have not measured heat, transfer speeds or display stability on this unit.
Research notes
Sources & what we checked
Official documentation checked on October 23, 2026. Features and terms may change. The workflow suggestions and fit assessments are our editorial interpretation, not measured performance results.
