Anker Prime TB5 Dock Review: Powerful, Sleek, but with Puzzling Limits
The dream of a clean, minimalist desk setup often boils down to a single, powerful cable that can handle everything—charging your laptop, connecting to monitors, and linking all your peripherals. Docking stations are the key to this dream, and today we're looking at a top-tier contender: the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station.
Promising the future-proof speed of Thunderbolt 5, a massive 140W of power for your host computer, and a ton of ports, this dock aims to be the central hub for any power user. Anker sent one over for me to test, and after putting it through its paces in my studio, I'm here to break down if it's the ultimate one-cable solution it claims to be.
First Impressions: Bigger Than You Think, But For a Good Reason
Right out of the box, the first thing you'll notice about the Anker Prime TB5 is its size. It's surprisingly hefty and actually larger than an M4 Mac Mini. However, there's a great reason for this bulk: the power supply is built-in.
Unlike many other high-powered docks that require a cumbersome external power brick, the Anker dock just needs a standard power cable plugged directly into the back. This is a huge win for cable management and maintaining a clean aesthetic.
The dock itself has a premium, metallic finish, and features a cool ambient blue light strip around the top, which can be turned off with a quick press of the front power button.
A Tour of the Ports
Anker packed 14 ports into this cube, giving you a wide range of connectivity options.
On the Front:
1x Headset Jack (3.5mm)
2x USB-C Ports (10Gbps)
1x USB-A Port (10Gbps)
Power Button
The front ports share a total of 45W of charging power, which is great for quickly topping up phones, tablets, or other accessories.
On the Side:
1x Full-Size SD Card Slot (UHS-I)
1x Micro SD Card Slot (UHS-I)
On the Back:
1x Power Input
1x Thunderbolt 5 Host Port (connects to your computer, provides up to 140W)
2x Downstream Thunderbolt 5 Ports
2x USB-A Ports (10Gbps)
1x 2.5 GbE Ethernet Port
1x HDMI Port
1x DisplayPort
It's great to see dedicated HDMI and DisplayPort options, but note that you can only use one of them at a time for a single display.
Performance in the Real World
I tested the dock with both an M4 MacBook Air and my M4 Max Mac Studio. Even though these are Thunderbolt 4 machines, the dock performed flawlessly. The backward compatibility with Thunderbolt 4 is solid, delivering fast speeds and a stable connection.
I connected my 80Gbps external SSD enclosure and saw no performance drop compared to plugging it directly into my computer. The dock does get warm to the touch, especially under load, but it has internal fans and I never experienced any device disconnects or performance throttling, even after all-day use.
The Not-So-Good: Where the Prime Dock Falls Short
While the dock gets a lot right, there are some puzzling limitations, especially considering its premium $399.99 price tag.
No Thunderbolt 3 Support: This is the biggest deal-breaker. The dock is not backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3 computers. If your machine is more than a few years old, this dock simply won't work for you.
Only Two Downstream Thunderbolt Ports: While having three total Thunderbolt 5 ports is great, one is for the host computer, leaving you with only two for peripherals. If you use one for a high-resolution display like an Apple Studio Display, you're left with just one for everything else (like a high-speed SSD).
Slower SD Card Readers: For a "Prime" product aimed at professionals, the use of slower UHS-I SD card readers is a letdown. Creatives transferring large files will miss the speed of UHS-II.
2.5 GbE, Not 10 GbE: Again, while 2.5 GbE is faster than standard gigabit, many pro-level docks are moving to 10 GbE. It feels like a missed opportunity.
Display Compatibility Quirks: I initially had trouble getting my non-standard resolution LG DualUp display to work over the HDMI port. However, it worked perfectly when I connected it via one of the USB-C/Thunderbolt ports. Be sure to check Anker's detailed compatibility chart on their website to ensure your specific monitor setup is supported.
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the Anker Prime TB5?
The Anker Prime TB5 is a powerful, well-built, and aesthetically pleasing docking station for a very specific user.
This dock is for you if:
You have a modern Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 computer.
You need high-power (up to 140W) charging for a large laptop.
You value a clean desk and love the idea of a built-in power supply.
Your workflow relies more on USB-A/C peripherals than multiple Thunderbolt devices.
You should probably look elsewhere if:
You have a Thunderbolt 3 computer.
You need more than two downstream Thunderbolt ports for displays and storage.
You require the fastest possible SD card or Ethernet speeds.
At around $400, the Anker Prime TB5 is a significant investment. It excels at providing a clean, high-power, all-in-one solution. However, alternatives like the Sonnet Echo 13 SSD Dock offer a built-in SSD for a similar price, and the Caldigit Element 5 provides more Thunderbolt ports for users who need maximum flexibility.
Ultimately, the Anker Prime TB5 is a solid piece of hardware that successfully future-proofs your desk setup, as long as you can live with its specific set of compromises.
If you're interested in the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station, you can check the latest pricing and availability here (affiliate link). Got any questions? Drop them in the comments below!
