Anker 555 vs 565 - USB-C Hub Comparison 2026

Anker 555 vs Anker 565: Same Family, Different Expectations

The Anker 555 USB-C Hub and Anker 565 USB-C Hub look like close siblings on paper. Both are compact Anker USB-C hubs. Both connect through a built-in USB-C cable. Both rely on USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode rather than Thunderbolt or DisplayLink. Both offer 85W passthrough charging when you add a suitable USB-C charger. Both include HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, SD, and microSD.

The buying decision is still not as simple as choosing the bigger number. The Anker 555 is an 8-in-1 hub built around one clean 4K@60Hz display output, three 10Gbps data ports, Ethernet, and card readers. The Anker 565 is an 11-in-1 hub with HDMI plus DisplayPort, an audio jack, and extra USB-A ports, but its dual-display behavior depends heavily on the host laptop. On macOS, the two external monitors mirror each other. On Windows, the best dual-display mode depends on whether the host supports DisplayPort 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2 over USB-C.

The short verdict: The Anker 555 is the better default buy for most people comparing these two portable hubs. It has the higher site score, the lower MSRP, one more 10Gbps data port, and fewer display gotchas. The Anker 565 is the right upgrade only if your Windows laptop needs two physical video outputs, or if you need its 3.5mm audio jack and extra low-speed USB-A ports.

If you are not sure whether a small USB-C hub is enough for your desk, start with our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking station guide. These Anker hubs are practical adapters, not full Thunderbolt docks.

Quick Specs Comparison

What They Have in Common

Before separating them, it is worth spelling out the shared platform. Neither hub is a Thunderbolt dock. Neither has a DisplayLink chip. Neither creates extra displays through a USB graphics driver. Both depend on the host laptop’s USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt port supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode for video output.

That matters because the same product can behave differently across laptops. If your USB-C port is data-only or charge-only, neither hub will produce HDMI or DisplayPort video. If your laptop supports USB-C video but only exposes an older DisplayPort Alt Mode lane configuration, display bandwidth can become the limiting factor. If your MacBook is the target, macOS rules around MST become just as important as the hub’s physical ports.

Both hubs also take the same approach to charging. You plug your own USB-C PD charger into the hub, then the hub can pass power to the laptop. The YAML for both products lists 85W maximum host charging. That is enough for many thin-and-light laptops, MacBook Air models, iPads, and compact Windows notebooks. It is not the same as a powered desktop dock with its own large power brick, and it is not ideal for high-wattage workstation laptops under heavy load.

Both hubs include Gigabit Ethernet and UHS-I SD plus microSD readers. Neither gives you 2.5GbE. Neither includes UHS-II card reader speeds. For wired internet, video calls, document transfer, and casual photo offload, that shared spec is fine. For a photographer dumping large UHS-II cards every day, something like the CalDigit TS4 is a more serious desktop tool.

Port Selection: The 565 Has More Types, The 555 Has Cleaner Fast Data

The Anker 565 wins the raw port-count argument. It is an 11-in-1 hub with HDMI, DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, 3.5mm audio, SD, microSD, one USB-C data port, one fast USB-A port, two USB 2.0 ports, USB-C PD input, and the built-in host cable. If your desk has a wired headset, keyboard receiver, mouse receiver, Ethernet cable, and two monitors, that layout is easy to understand.

The Anker 555 is smaller in scope. It has HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, SD, microSD, one USB-C 10Gbps data port, two USB-A 10Gbps data ports, USB-C PD input, and the built-in host cable. There is no audio jack and no DisplayPort output. But the USB mix is stronger than the port count suggests. All three data ports listed in the YAML are 10Gbps class ports. The 565 has two fast data ports, then two USB 2.0 ports that are better suited to keyboards, mice, or dongles than storage.

That makes the 555 better if your peripherals are simple but speed-sensitive: external SSD, capture reader, USB microphone, backup drive, or a fast flash drive. It gives you one USB-C data port and two fast USB-A data ports without asking which ports are slow. The 565 is better if your peripherals are numerous but not all speed-sensitive: keyboard, mouse, webcam, headset, and occasional storage.

Port winner: Anker 565 for variety, Anker 555 for fast-data simplicity. The 565 has HDMI plus DisplayPort and audio. The 555 has three 10Gbps data ports and fewer slow-port compromises.

Display Support: This Is the Real Decision

Display output is the main reason to choose one over the other.

The Anker 555 is straightforward. It has one HDMI 2.0 output. The product YAML lists one external display at 3840x2160 and 60Hz through HDMI on a compatible USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode host. That is the whole story. If you need one external monitor for a MacBook, Chromebook, iPad, XPS, ThinkPad, or similar laptop, the 555 does the job without a driver and without a second-output caveat.

The Anker 565 is more ambitious. It has HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort, and the YAML lists one display at 4K@60Hz through either output. For two displays, the YAML records Amazon’s limits: up to 2560x1440 at 60Hz on a DP 1.4 laptop, or up to 1920x1080 at 60Hz on a DP 1.2 laptop. That can be useful for Windows users with two lower-resolution monitors or a pair of 1440p office displays.

The catch is macOS. The Anker 565 YAML says macOS can use both external outputs, but both external monitors show the same content rather than two independent extended desktops. That means MacBook buyers should not treat the 565 as a dual-monitor productivity dock. It is a mirrored-display hub on macOS. If the goal is two independent Mac displays, look at a Thunderbolt dock for MacBook Pro models that support multiple external displays, or a DisplayLink dock if you are trying to work around base Apple Silicon display limits.

For Windows users, the 565 can justify its higher price if two monitors are part of the plan. For everyone else, the 555’s one-display limit is less of a weakness and more of a clear expectation.

Display winner: Anker 565 for Windows dual-display setups. Anker 555 for simple one-monitor setups, especially on Mac.

For more context, see our best docking stations for dual monitors guide.

Charging and Power Delivery

Charging does not decide this comparison. Both product YAML files list USB-C power input and 85W maximum host power delivery. Both require you to provide the USB-C charger. Both are better paired with a 100W USB-C PD charger if you want the full passthrough result after the hub reserves power for itself.

In practical terms, both can keep many 13-inch and 14-inch laptops charged during normal desk work. Both can work with a MacBook Air, an iPad, a compact Windows ultrabook, or a USB-C Chromebook when the charger and host port support USB-C Power Delivery. Neither should be mistaken for a high-power workstation dock. If your laptop normally ships with a 140W, 180W, or larger adapter, an 85W passthrough hub may slow battery drain rather than fully cover heavy workloads.

There is also a usability point: because the charger is not included with either hub, the shelf price is not the whole system cost if you do not already own a capable charger. The Anker 555’s lower MSRP leaves more room in the budget for a 100W charger, which strengthens its value case.

Power winner: Tie. Both list 85W host charging and both need an external USB-C PD charger.

macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux Compatibility

Both hubs are driverless, which is a major advantage over DisplayLink for people who want plug-and-play behavior. There is no screen recording permission to approve on macOS and no USB graphics driver to maintain. The trade-off is that all display behavior comes from the host’s native USB-C video support.

On Windows, both hubs are comfortable fits as long as the laptop’s USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode. The Anker 555 gives you one 4K@60Hz monitor. The Anker 565 can add a second display, subject to the host’s DisplayPort generation and bandwidth. The 565’s extra USB 2.0 ports also make sense on a Windows desk where keyboard and mouse receivers can live permanently in the hub.

On macOS, the 555 is easier to recommend. It is a one-monitor hub, and macOS is perfectly aligned with that expectation. The 565 works for hub functions and display output, but the known macOS limitation in the YAML is important: the two external monitors mirror each other. A Mac buyer who chooses the 565 specifically for two displays is likely to be disappointed unless mirroring is acceptable.

ChromeOS appears in both products’ compatibility sections. As usual with USB-C hubs, the safe assumption is that the Chromebook needs DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery support from its USB-C port. The Anker 565 YAML also includes a Linux incompatibility note from Anker’s Amazon listing. The 555 YAML does not list Linux as a supported operating system either, so Linux buyers should be cautious with both and avoid assuming full vendor support.

Compatibility winner: Anker 555 for Mac simplicity, Anker 565 for Windows dual-output flexibility.

Everyday Use: Travel Hub or Small Desk Dock?

The Anker 555 is the cleaner travel and desk-lite hub. The built-in cable is about 6 inches, the body is compact, and the feature list maps well to a laptop bag: HDMI for one monitor or projector, Ethernet for hotel or office networks, SD and microSD for camera cards, and three fast data ports for storage or accessories. It is also easier to explain to non-technical buyers. If the laptop supports video over USB-C, plug in one monitor and go.

The Anker 565 is closer to a small desk dock. Its longer built-in cable gives you slightly more placement flexibility, and the 11-port layout can stay connected to more desk accessories. The audio jack is useful for wired headsets. HDMI plus DisplayPort reduces adapter needs for monitor hookups. The two USB 2.0 ports are not exciting, but they are perfectly fine for keyboard and mouse receivers.

The difference is expectation management. A user who buys the 555 is unlikely to expect more than one monitor. A user who buys the 565 may expect two independent monitors everywhere because there are two video ports. The YAML says that expectation is valid on the right Windows host but not on macOS. That is the kind of caveat that can turn a technically stronger product into a worse buy for the wrong person.

If your setup moves often, the 555 is easier to live with. If your setup stays on one desk and uses a Windows laptop with two displays, the 565 makes more sense.

Value: The 555 Wins the Default Recommendation

The pricing gap is not huge in absolute terms, but it matters in this product class. The Anker 555 is listed at $49.99 MSRP. The Anker 565 is listed at $69.99 MSRP. For the extra money, the 565 gives you DisplayPort, an audio jack, two USB 2.0 ports, a longer built-in cable, and potential dual-display support on Windows.

That upgrade is worth it only if you use those features. If you are running one monitor, the 565’s biggest advantage sits idle. If you are on a MacBook and need two independent external displays, the 565 does not solve the problem. If your main concern is data speed, the 555 actually has the cleaner setup with three 10Gbps data ports. If you need a charger too, the 555 leaves more room in the total budget.

The site scores reflect that balance. The 555 scores 7.4. The 565 scores 7.3. That is a narrow margin, but it matches the buying logic: the 565 is more capable in specific setups, while the 555 is the safer recommendation for the broader audience.

Value winner: Anker 555. Lower MSRP, slightly higher score, fast data ports, and fewer display surprises make it the better default purchase.

Verdict: Anker 555 for Most People, Anker 565 for Windows Dual Displays

The Anker 555 wins this comparison by a small but meaningful margin. It is not the more feature-packed hub. It does not have DisplayPort. It does not have audio. It cannot run two monitors. But it is cheaper, simpler, slightly higher-rated in our product data, and better aligned with what most compact USB-C hub buyers actually need: one 4K@60Hz monitor, Ethernet, card readers, fast USB data, and passthrough charging.

The Anker 565 is still the right choice for a specific buyer. If you use Windows and want HDMI plus DisplayPort from one compact hub, it is the more capable product. If you want a built-in 3.5mm combo jack, it is the only one of these two that has it. If you need extra ports for keyboard and mouse receivers, the USB 2.0 ports are useful even though they are not storage-grade.

Choose the Anker 555 if:

• You need one external display at up to 4K@60Hz
• You use a MacBook and want a simple one-monitor hub
• You care more about fast USB data ports than total port count
• You want the lower MSRP option
• You do not need a 3.5mm audio jack
• You want fewer display-compatibility caveats

Choose the Anker 565 if:

• You use Windows and want two external display outputs from HDMI plus DisplayPort
• You are comfortable with the 2K@60Hz or 1080p@60Hz dual-display limits listed for Windows hosts
• You need a 3.5mm combo audio jack for a wired headset
• You want extra USB-A ports for keyboard, mouse, or receivers
• You do not mind that dual external displays mirror each other on macOS

For full product details, read our Anker 555 review and Anker 565 review. If you are comparing these because you need more than a compact hub can provide, also check the Anker 575 vs Anker 568 comparison or browse the full rankings on the docking-stations.info homepage.