Tech Essentials
In the relentless pursuit of minimalist desk setups, the humble docking station has become an unsung hero. Anker’s new Prime TB5 14-in-1 dock aims to be the command center for your entire workflow, promising to declutter your desk and supercharge your productivity with a single cable.
The Anker Prime TB5, officially the Anker 578, arrives with a clear mission: to be the one hub that rules them all. Visually, it carries Anker’s signature professional aesthetic, a sleek, gunmetal gray chassis designed to stand vertically. This orientation is a smart choice for saving precious desk real estate, though it feels slightly less planted than its horizontal competitors. The build quality is excellent, with a solid aluminum and plastic construction that feels durable and dissipates heat reasonably well, though it can get warm to the touch under heavy load. Most of the “permanent” connections like power, host Thunderbolt, Ethernet, and display outputs are relegated to the rear, while the front offers easy access to a USB-C port, two USB-A ports, an SD card slot, and an audio jack for peripherals you plug in and out frequently.
Performance is where the TB5 truly flexes its muscles. Built on the Thunderbolt 4 standard, it leverages a massive 40Gbps of bandwidth. For creatives and power users, this translates to driving dual 4K displays at a fluid 60Hz without breaking a sweat. It even supports a single 8K display at 30Hz, a spec that, while impressive, is niche for now. In testing with a MacBook Pro, the dock flawlessly powered two external monitors, a 10Gbps external SSD, and a handful of other peripherals, all while delivering a consistent 90-100W of power to the laptop. The inclusion of a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port is a significant, future-proof feature that sets it apart from the sea of 1GbE docks, offering a tangible speed boost for those with multi-gig home or office networks.
The “14-in-1” moniker is backed by a comprehensive array of ports. Beyond the powerful Thunderbolt 4 host and downstream ports, you get a mix of 10Gbps and 5Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports, HDMI 2.1, dual DisplayPort 1.4 connections, the aforementioned Ethernet, and a UHS-II SD card reader. While the port selection is fantastic, the display output configuration can be a source of confusion. Achieving specific multi-monitor setups requires using the correct combination of HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, a common complexity with Thunderbolt docks that can trip up less technical users. The only other notable drawback is the hefty external power brick, a necessary evil for a device this powerful, but one that undeniably adds to the cable clutter you were trying to eliminate.
Ultimately, the Anker Prime TB5 is a top-tier docking station for a specific user. If you’re a creative professional, a remote worker with a complex multi-monitor setup, or anyone with a Thunderbolt-equipped laptop looking for a true single-cable solution, the TB5 is a formidable contender. Its high price point places it in direct competition with established players like CalDigit and OWC, but its excellent build, forward-thinking 2.5GbE port, and robust power delivery make it a worthy investment for streamlining a high-performance workspace.
Where to Buy:
Anker Prime TB5 14-in-1 docking station Quick Summary
Key Scores:
- Value:
88% - Design:
92% - Performance:
96% - Quality:
93% - Popularity:
82%
Top Pros
- ✅ The 2.5Gbps Ethernet port offers future-proof networking speeds.
- ✅ Excellent port selection covers nearly every modern peripheral need.
- ✅ High-wattage power delivery capably charges the most demanding laptops.
- …
Key Cons
- ❌ The premium price tag places it in a very competitive category.
- ❌ Its large external power brick adds considerable under-desk clutter.
- ❌ The vertical design, while space-saving, can feel less stable.
- …
