Anker 556 vs 555 - USB4 vs USB-C Hub Comparison 2026

Anker 556 vs Anker 555: Same Port Count, Different Job

The Anker 556 USB-C Hub and Anker 555 USB-C Hub are both 8-in-1 Anker hubs, but they are not aimed at the same desk. The 556 is the newer, higher-bandwidth option. It uses a 40Gbps USB4 upstream connection, includes HDMI plus DisplayPort, and can drive either one 8K@30Hz display or two 4K@60Hz displays when the host can support it. The 555 is the older and cheaper USB-C option. It is built around one 4K@60Hz HDMI output, Ethernet, fast USB data ports, SD and microSD, and passthrough charging.

That difference sounds simple until you look at the trade-offs. The Anker 556 has the stronger display ceiling, but it loses the card readers and has mixed MacBook display feedback in its YAML. The Anker 555 has less bandwidth and only one monitor output, but it is cheaper, easier to explain, and currently scores higher in our product data.

The short verdict: The Anker 555 is the better default pick for most compact-hub buyers. It wins on score, price, card-reader utility, and Mac simplicity. The Anker 556 is the right upgrade if you have a Windows USB4 laptop, Surface, HP EliteBook, Lenovo, or handheld PC setup that needs HDMI plus DisplayPort and can actually use dual 4K@60Hz output.

If you are comparing these because you are unsure whether a hub is enough, read our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking station guide. Both of these Anker products are portable hubs, not full desktop Thunderbolt docks with their own power supplies.

Quick specs comparison

What they have in common

Neither hub uses DisplayLink. That is good if you want a simple driverless setup, but it also means the laptop has to do the display work natively. The Anker 556 needs a USB4, Thunderbolt, or full-function USB-C host that can feed the required display bandwidth. The Anker 555 needs USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode for its HDMI port. If the laptop has a charge-only or data-only USB-C port, neither product will turn that port into a video output.

Both hubs also use USB-C passthrough charging instead of a dedicated power brick. You connect your own USB-C Power Delivery charger to the hub, then the hub passes power to the laptop. The YAML for both products lists up to 85W host charging. That is enough for many MacBook Air models, Surface laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, ROG Ally style handheld PCs, and Windows ultraportables. It is not a workstation-class power source. If your laptop normally ships with a large 140W, 180W, or 240W adapter, either hub may slow battery drain during heavy workloads rather than fully cover the system.

Both products also include Gigabit Ethernet. Neither has 2.5GbE. For normal home office use, video calls, downloads, admin work, and wired hotel or office networks, 1Gbps is fine. If your workflow depends on a fast NAS or a 2.5GbE router, a dock such as the CalDigit TS4 fits that job better.

Bandwidth and host connection

The Anker 556’s strongest factual advantage is the host connection. Its YAML lists a 40Gbps USB4 upstream link and an included 1.6 ft USB4 cable. That puts it well above normal 10Gbps USB-C hubs on paper. More bandwidth matters when you want high-resolution video and fast peripherals on one cable.

The Anker 555 is a 10Gbps USB-C hub. That is still good for a compact adapter. Its product YAML lists one USB-C data port and two USB-A data ports at USB 3.1 speeds, so the data side is better than many budget hubs that hide slow 5Gbps or USB 2.0 ports in the spec sheet. But it does not have USB4 bandwidth, and it does not try to run two external monitors.

The catch with the 556 is that the host must be up to the job. The product YAML says video depends on the host USB-C, USB4, or Thunderbolt port supporting the required DisplayPort Alt Mode or USB4 display capability. That is not just fine print. A laptop with the wrong USB-C port can make the 556 feel like an expensive Ethernet and USB adapter. A laptop with a proper USB4 port can make the 556 look much more capable than the 555.

Bandwidth winner: Anker 556. A 40Gbps USB4 upstream link gives it much more room for video and data than the 10Gbps Anker 555.

Display support: the main reason to upgrade

Display output is where the buying decision gets clearest.

The Anker 556 has HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4. Its YAML lists a single-display mode up to 7680x4320 at 30Hz through HDMI or DisplayPort, plus a dual-display mode up to 3840x2160 at 60Hz through HDMI plus DisplayPort. That makes it the more capable monitor hub on paper by a wide margin. If your Windows laptop or handheld has USB4 and you want two 4K screens without a full-size dock, the 556 is the better fit.

The Anker 555 has one HDMI 2.0 port. Its YAML lists one display at 3840x2160 and 60Hz. That is enough for a single-monitor desk, a conference room display, a TV, or a travel monitor. It does not support a second external display because there is no second video output and no DisplayLink path.

Mac behavior is where the 555 gains back ground. The 555 is simple: one external display. Its compatibility notes say it works as a single-display USB-C hub on compatible MacBooks. The 556 is more complicated. Its YAML says Mac display support is mixed and not the main advertised use case, and the known-incompatibilities section says not to buy it for dependable Mac dual extended displays. Some MacBooks may use it for basic hub functions and one display, but the 556 is a Windows-first USB4 hub in this comparison.

Display winner: Anker 556 for Windows USB4 dual-monitor setups. Anker 555 for basic MacBook and one-monitor setups.

For broader dual-display options, see our best docking stations for dual monitors guide.

Ports and everyday connectivity

Both are labeled 8-in-1, but the port mixes are different enough to matter.

The Anker 556 gives you one USB-C data port, two USB-A data ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, Gigabit Ethernet, USB-C PD input, and the USB4 upstream connection. The physical layout makes sense for a modern Windows desk: one monitor on HDMI, one monitor on DisplayPort, Ethernet, a storage drive or capture adapter on USB-C, and a couple of USB-A peripherals.

The Anker 555 gives you one USB-C data port, two USB-A data ports, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, USB-C PD input, SD, microSD, and the built-in USB-C host cable. It lacks DisplayPort, but it has the media slots that the 556 drops. That matters if you use camera cards, dashcam cards, 3D printer cards, handheld-console storage cards, or any small workflow where a separate reader would be annoying.

The USB data story is close. The YAML lists the 556’s USB-C data port and both USB-A ports as USB 3.2, while the 555 uses USB 3.1 for its USB-C and two USB-A data ports. In this content schema, both land in the 10Gbps class described by the product copy. Neither hub gives you downstream Thunderbolt ports, and neither has a dedicated audio jack.

Port winner: tie with different reasons. The Anker 556 has the better video port mix. The Anker 555 has the more practical all-round travel mix because it includes SD and microSD.

Charging and power delivery

Charging does not separate these two. Both YAML files list USB-C power input and up to 85W power delivery to the host laptop. Neither includes the wall charger. Both make the most sense with a capable USB-C PD charger, especially if you want to run the hub, charge the laptop, and keep displays or Ethernet active at the same time.

The Anker 556 YAML is more explicit about power sensitivity. Its setup tips say to add a 100W USB-C PD charger to the PD-IN port, and its common issues mention laptop charging problems or display instability when the charger is underpowered. That fits the product’s job. A compact hub trying to pass power and drive high-resolution monitors has less margin for weak chargers and questionable cables.

The Anker 555 has the same 85W host charging ceiling, but its one-monitor design is easier on the setup. It still needs a proper charger, and its YAML warns that the PD port is for power input rather than data. The lower MSRP also helps if you need to buy a charger separately.

Power winner: tie. Both list 85W passthrough charging, and both require you to bring the charger.

macOS, Windows, and ChromeOS fit

The Anker 556 is best treated as a Windows-first USB4 hub. Its YAML lists Windows 10 or later and calls Windows USB4 systems the cleanest target for dual-display use. It also mentions Surface, HP EliteBook, Lenovo, and ROG Ally style setups in the editorial copy. That is the buyer who gets the value from the 40Gbps link and dual 4K spec.

The same YAML is cautious about macOS. It says basic hub functions and single-display output may work on some MacBooks, but Mac dual-display behavior is not dependable. If you are buying specifically to run two external Mac displays, this is not the safe choice. A Thunderbolt dock or DisplayLink dock is a better path depending on the Mac model and display goal.

The Anker 555 is more comfortable across normal laptops because it sets a lower expectation. Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS all appear in the compatibility section, with the same basic rule: the host port must support USB-C video output for HDMI and USB-C Power Delivery for charging. Since there is only one video output, it avoids the mirrored-dual-display issue that catches many Mac users when they buy MST-style hubs.

Compatibility winner: Anker 555 for most mixed-device homes and Mac users. Anker 556 for Windows USB4 desks.

Travel use versus desk use

The Anker 555 feels more like a travel hub. It has a short built-in host cable, a lower price, Ethernet, HDMI, SD, microSD, and three fast data ports. The product YAML describes it as a practical travel and desk-lite hub for a MacBook Air, XPS, iPad, or Windows ultraportable. That is still the cleanest use case. Put it in a laptop bag, connect one screen when needed, copy files from a card, and plug into wired Ethernet when Wi-Fi is poor.

The Anker 556 feels more like a small desk hub. The included 1.6 ft USB4 cable gives more placement flexibility than the 555’s short built-in cable. HDMI plus DisplayPort encourages a more permanent monitor setup. The 40Gbps upstream link also makes more sense when the hub stays connected to a desk full of devices rather than being pulled in and out of a travel pouch all day.

There is also a replacement-risk difference. A built-in cable is convenient until it wears out. The Anker 555’s cable is part of the hub. The Anker 556 uses an included USB4 cable, so cable replacement is easier as long as the replacement cable is rated for the required bandwidth and power.

Usability winner: Anker 555 for travel, Anker 556 for a compact Windows USB4 desk.

Value and score

The value comparison is not close if you only need one monitor. The Anker 555 has a $49.99 MSRP in its YAML. The Anker 556 has a $149.99 MSRP. For that extra money, the 556 gives you USB4 bandwidth, HDMI plus DisplayPort, single 8K@30Hz output, and dual 4K@60Hz output on a capable host. Those are real upgrades, not cosmetic ones.

The problem is that they matter only in the right setup. If you have one 4K monitor, the 555 already covers the display target. If you use a MacBook and want dependable dual extended displays, the 556’s own YAML warns against treating it as the answer. If you need SD or microSD, the cheaper 555 has them and the 556 does not. If Amazon availability matters, the 556 YAML notes that it was currently unavailable on Amazon.com at the time of review.

The site scores match that practical reading. The Anker 555 scores 7.4. The Anker 556 scores 7.1. That does not mean the 556 is weaker hardware. It means the 555 is a better recommendation for a broader group of buyers because it is cheaper, simpler, and less dependent on a specific USB4 host.

Value winner: Anker 555. The 556 earns its price only when you need its USB4 and dual-display strengths.

Verdict: Anker 555 for most buyers, Anker 556 for Windows USB4 dual 4K

The Anker 555 wins this comparison overall. It has the higher score in our product data, costs far less at MSRP, includes SD and microSD readers, supports one clean 4K@60Hz monitor, and avoids the Mac dual-display uncertainty around the 556. If you are buying a compact hub for a MacBook Air, iPad, Chromebook, XPS, or general USB-C laptop and you only need one display, the 555 is the safer purchase.

The Anker 556 is still the more powerful hub in a narrower lane. Its 40Gbps USB4 connection, HDMI plus DisplayPort, single 8K@30Hz support, and dual 4K@60Hz support make it the better choice for a Windows USB4 desk where monitor bandwidth is the main problem. It also has a replaceable included USB4 cable instead of the 555’s short built-in cable. Just do not buy it expecting a cheap universal answer for dual extended Mac displays.

Choose the Anker 556 if:

• You have a Windows USB4, Thunderbolt, or full-function USB-C host that can support its display modes
• You need two external monitors at up to 4K@60Hz through HDMI plus DisplayPort
• You want a single 8K@30Hz display option
• You prefer a separate 1.6 ft USB4 cable over a short built-in pigtail
• You do not need SD or microSD card readers
• You are comfortable supplying a proper 100W-class USB-C PD charger

Choose the Anker 555 if:

• You need one external display at up to 4K@60Hz
• You want the lower MSRP option with the higher site score
• You use a MacBook and want a simple one-monitor hub
• You need SD and microSD card readers
• You want a compact travel hub rather than a small desk hub
• You do not want to depend on USB4 support to get the best result

For full details, read our Anker 556 review and Anker 555 review. If you want a nearby Anker comparison with more ports, see Anker 555 vs Anker 565. If you are moving beyond compact hubs, the docking-stations.info homepage ranks the larger Thunderbolt, DisplayLink, USB-C, and USB4 docks we cover.