Anker 563 vs Anker 564 - DisplayLink Dock Comparison 2026

Anker 563 vs Anker 564: Same Idea, Newer Execution

The Anker 563 DisplayLink and Anker 564 USB-C Docking Station are closely related 10-in-1 USB-C docks. Both target the same core problem: a MacBook or Windows laptop owner wants more external monitors than a normal USB-C hub can drive. Both use DisplayLink software, both ship with a 180W power adapter, both can charge the host laptop at up to 100W, and both include two HDMI-class display paths plus DisplayPort.

The important difference is that the Anker 564 looks like the cleaner follow-up for most buyers. It has a 10Gbps USB-C host link where the Anker 563 is listed at 5Gbps, a lower MSRP in the product data, a slightly higher editorial score, and stronger listed display configurations. It also adds ChromeOS to the compatibility list, while the Anker 563 YAML lists Windows and macOS.

The short verdict: The Anker 564 wins for most people. It is the better default DisplayLink dock because it combines the same 100W charging and same general 10-in-1 layout with a faster host connection, lower MSRP, and better display ceiling in the YAML. The Anker 563 is still worth considering if it is discounted and your monitor setup fits its more limited 4K@30Hz plus 2K output model.

If you are still comparing DisplayLink against native Thunderbolt, read our DisplayLink vs Thunderbolt docking station guide before buying either dock. These two Anker models solve a specific multi-monitor problem, but they do not behave like native Thunderbolt docks.

Quick Specs Comparison

Design and Purpose

These docks are not trying to be premium Thunderbolt workstations. They are practical USB-C DisplayLink desks for people who need multiple monitors from a laptop that would otherwise be limited.

Anker 563 DisplayLink

The Anker 563 DisplayLink is the more constrained version in the product data. It connects over USB-C at 5Gbps and is built around one native-style 4K@30Hz HDMI output plus two DisplayLink outputs with lower ceilings. The second HDMI port is listed as 2K@50Hz DisplayLink, while the DisplayPort output is listed as 2K@60Hz DisplayLink. In triple display mode, the YAML says the dock can run 4K@30Hz on the first HDMI output plus 2048x1152@60Hz on the second HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. It also notes that many 2K monitors may fall back to 1920x1080.

That makes the Anker 563 a productivity dock. It is good for email, dashboards, chat, reference documents, browser windows, and spreadsheets. It is not the right tool if you want three sharp 4K workspaces or smooth native-feeling video across every screen.

Anker 564 USB-C Docking Station

The Anker 564 keeps the same general 10-in-1 desk-dock concept but improves the parts that matter most. The host link is listed at 10Gbps instead of 5Gbps. Its display support is also more ambitious: the YAML lists single 4K@60Hz, dual 4K@60Hz, and triple display mode up to 4K@60Hz when the host supports DP 1.4. There is a caveat in the product notes that DP 1.2 hosts can limit the first HDMI path to 4K@30Hz, so the best result depends on the laptop.

The Anker 564 is therefore easier to recommend as the default pick. It still has the same DisplayLink software cost, but its ceiling is higher and its MSRP is lower.

Design and positioning winner: Anker 564. The docks are similar, but the 564 has the newer and more capable spec profile in the YAML.

Display Support

Display support is the whole reason to compare these two docks. If you only need one monitor, a smaller USB-C hub may be cheaper and simpler. If you need native dual 4K@60Hz with no software layer, a Thunderbolt dock is usually cleaner. These Anker docks are for the middle case: you want multiple external displays, often from a MacBook, and you accept DisplayLink.

The Anker 563 supports up to three displays, but the resolution split is uneven. Its first HDMI output reaches 3840x2160 at 30Hz. The second HDMI output is listed at 2K@50Hz, and DisplayPort is listed at 2K@60Hz. In triple display mode, the highest display remains 4K@30Hz while the other two screens run at 2048x1152@60Hz, or often 1080p if the monitor does not accept that mode.

The Anker 564 also supports up to three displays, but its YAML lists a much stronger ceiling. A single display can reach 3840x2160 at 60Hz through HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort on a compatible host. Dual external display mode is listed at 4K@60Hz. Triple display mode is described as up to 4K@60Hz through two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort if the host supports DP 1.4. With DP 1.2 hosts, the product data warns that the first HDMI port may be limited to 4K@30Hz.

That caveat matters. The Anker 564 is not magic, and not every laptop will produce the best possible table entry. But compared strictly from the product YAML, the 564 has the stronger display story.

Display winner: Anker 564. It has the higher listed display ceiling and is a better fit for buyers who want smoother 4K productivity screens. The Anker 563 remains usable, but its 4K path is capped at 30Hz and its secondary outputs are lower resolution.

Host Bandwidth and Everyday Performance

Both docks connect through USB-C, not Thunderbolt. That means display traffic, USB data, Ethernet, audio, and any downstream peripherals all share a narrower link than a Thunderbolt 4 dock would provide.

The Anker 563 is listed with a 5Gbps host connection. That is enough for basic peripherals, Ethernet, audio, and ordinary productivity work, but it is not generous once you add DisplayLink displays and storage. Its own cons call out that the 5Gbps host link limits fast storage and display traffic compared with Thunderbolt docks.

The Anker 564 moves to a 10Gbps host connection. That still does not make it Thunderbolt, but it gives the dock more room for USB data and the rest of the desk setup. The YAML still warns that it is a USB-C dock rather than a Thunderbolt dock, so high-bandwidth storage and displays share a narrower host link. Even so, 10Gbps is the better baseline.

For normal office use, the difference may not be dramatic. A keyboard, mouse, webcam, Ethernet, audio headset, and a few browser windows will not saturate either dock in the same way that NVMe storage or capture devices would. But if the prices are close, the faster host link is an easy reason to prefer the Anker 564.

Performance winner: Anker 564. It doubles the listed USB-C host bandwidth from 5Gbps to 10Gbps while keeping the same dock category.

Ports and Desk Setup

The physical port mix is almost identical. Both docks include one downstream USB-C 3.2 port with 30W Power Delivery, one USB-A 3.2 port with 7.5W charging, two USB-A 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. Both use two HDMI outputs and one DisplayPort output for the display side. Neither dock has an SD or microSD card reader.

That means neither model is a great creator dock. If you regularly ingest camera cards, you will need a separate USB card reader. If you use fast external SSDs, you should connect the drive directly to the laptop or choose a Thunderbolt dock. If you need 2.5GbE, neither dock has it. These are productivity desks, not storage-heavy workstations.

The USB-A layout also has a real limitation. On both docks, only one USB-A port is USB 3.2. The other two USB-A ports are USB 2.0, which is fine for keyboards, mice, receivers, printers, and slow peripherals, but not for external storage. The single downstream USB-C port is more useful because it supports both data and 30W charging.

The Anker 564’s port advantage is mostly in the video labeling and host connection. Its HDMI ports are listed as HDMI 2.0 up to 4K@60Hz, while the Anker 563 splits one HDMI as 4K@30Hz and the other as 2K@50Hz DisplayLink.

Ports winner: Anker 564 by a small margin. The basic desk ports are tied, but the 564 has the stronger video-port ceiling and faster host connection.

Charging and Power

Charging is a tie. Both docks use a DC-barrel power input, both require external power, both include a 180W power adapter in the product data, and both can provide up to 100W to the host laptop. Both also include a downstream USB-C port rated at 30W, useful for a phone, tablet, earbuds case, or other smaller device.

This is one of the best reasons to consider either dock over a tiny bus-powered hub. A 100W host charging ceiling is enough for many MacBooks and Windows laptops in normal productivity use. The 180W adapter also gives the dock power overhead for the 30W USB-C charging port and the rest of the attached devices.

The limitation is that neither dock is meant for high-power workstation laptops that need more than standard USB-C charging. If you run a large mobile workstation under sustained load, a vendor dock with higher proprietary charging or a separate laptop power adapter may still be necessary.

Charging winner: Tie. Both list 100W host charging, a 180W power adapter, and a 30W downstream USB-C charging port.

Compatibility and Driver Setup

Both docks depend on DisplayLink, and that dependency should be part of the buying decision. DisplayLink can be very useful, especially for base Apple Silicon MacBooks that normally support fewer external monitors. But it is not driver-free native display output.

For the Anker 563, the YAML lists Windows and macOS support. It notes that DisplayLink software is required for the 2K HDMI and 2K DisplayPort outputs, and that macOS users must enable Screen Recording permission for DisplayLink Manager. It also lists HDCP-protected video on the 2K HDMI or DisplayPort outputs as a known incompatibility.

For the Anker 564, the YAML lists Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. It similarly requires DisplayLink software for the full multi-monitor benefit and Screen Recording permission on macOS. Its compatibility notes also warn that gaming and protected-video workflows are not ideal because DisplayLink compresses video over USB and depends on a driver.

The practical setup advice is the same: install DisplayLink Manager before depending on the second or third display, approve macOS permissions, use the included USB-C cable, and reconnect the dock after permissions are granted. If you want zero-driver display output, neither dock is the right answer.

Compatibility winner: Anker 564. It lists ChromeOS in addition to Windows and macOS. Both still carry the same DisplayLink setup burden.

Price and Value

The Anker 563 has an MSRP of $199.99 in the product data. The Anker 564 has an MSRP of $179.99. That is a simple value win for the 564 before considering any sale pricing.

The score difference is small but points the same direction: 7.1/10 for the Anker 563 and 7.2/10 for the Anker 564. The difference is not large enough to pretend these are in different quality tiers. They are close siblings. But when the slightly higher score belongs to the lower-MSRP product with the faster host link and better display ceiling, the recommendation becomes straightforward.

The Anker 563 can still win if the real-world price flips. If you find the 563 at a meaningful discount and you only need the exact display layout it offers, it may be the better buy. But at the listed MSRPs, the 564 is the cleaner value.

Value winner: Anker 564. It has the lower MSRP, higher score, faster host connection, and stronger display table.

Verdict: Anker 564 Wins for Most Buyers

The Anker 564 is the better default pick in this comparison. It keeps the same useful foundation as the Anker 563: triple-display DisplayLink support, 100W host charging, a 180W power adapter, a 30W downstream USB-C port, Gigabit Ethernet, and audio. Then it improves the areas buyers should care about most: host bandwidth, display ceiling, listed OS support, MSRP, and overall score.

That does not make the Anker 563 a bad dock. It is still a practical way to add multiple productivity monitors to a USB-C laptop or base MacBook, and it has the same 100W charging ceiling. But the product YAML makes its limits very clear: 5Gbps host bandwidth, 4K@30Hz on the first HDMI output, lower-resolution secondary display outputs, and HDCP limitations on the DisplayLink 2K ports.

Choose the Anker 564 if:

• You want the better Anker DisplayLink dock for most MacBook or Windows desks
• You want the stronger listed display ceiling, including up to triple 4K@60Hz with a DP 1.4 host
• You prefer a 10Gbps USB-C host link instead of 5Gbps
• You want the lower MSRP in the product data
• You need ChromeOS listed alongside Windows and macOS
• You can accept DisplayLink software and macOS Screen Recording permission

Choose the Anker 563 DisplayLink if:

• You find it at a much lower street price than the Anker 564
• Your monitor setup fits one 4K@30Hz screen plus lower-resolution secondary displays
• You mainly need productivity screens for office apps, dashboards, chat, and browser windows
• You want the same 100W laptop charging and 30W USB-C accessory charging
• You understand the HDCP limitation on the 2K DisplayLink outputs

For most people shopping today, start with the Anker 564 review. If you are comparing broader alternatives, our best docking stations for MacBook and best docking stations for triple monitors guides are better next stops than forcing these two Anker docks to cover every use case.