Anker 777 vs 778 - Thunderbolt 4 Dock Comparison 2026

Anker 777 vs 778: the same brand, different desk

The Anker 777 and Anker 778 look like a simple one-number upgrade. They are not quite that clean. Both are 12-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 desktop docks with one upstream Thunderbolt 4 host connection, one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, Gigabit Ethernet, four USB-A ports, external power bricks, and Anker’s 18-month limited warranty. Both are also Windows-first docks with real Mac caveats.

The difference is the desk they are built around. The 777 is the older Apex-branded model for people who want a Thunderbolt 4 dock with two HDMI ports, UHS-II SD, and audio built in. The 778 is the newer multi-monitor model with 100W laptop charging, HDMI 2.1, dual DisplayPort 1.4, two 30W USB-C ports, and official support for up to four 4K displays on capable hosts.

The short verdict: the Anker 778 wins for most buyers who are choosing between these two today. It scores higher in our product data, charges the laptop at up to 100W instead of 90W, has better front USB-C charging, and is the stronger Windows multi-monitor dock. The Anker 777 is still worth considering if your desk needs two HDMI ports, a built-in SD card reader, and a 3.5 mm audio jack more than it needs four-display support.

If you are still deciding between USB-C and Thunderbolt as a category, start with our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking station guide. If you already know you want an Anker Thunderbolt dock, this comparison is the cleaner buying decision.

Quick specs comparison

Winner: Anker 778 for most Windows multi-monitor desks

The Anker 778 is the better default recommendation because its advantages are core docking advantages. It has the higher score in our reviews, 7.8 versus 7.2. It charges the host laptop at up to 100W instead of 90W. It includes a 180W power adapter rather than the 120W adapter used by the 777. Its two front USB-C ports can each provide 30W charging, while the 777 has one 20W USB-C port. Its display side is also stronger on paper: HDMI 2.1 plus two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs, with Anker advertising up to four 4K displays on capable hosts.

That does not mean the 778 is universally better. It is not. It removes two practical ports that some people use every day: the 777’s UHS-II SD card reader and 3.5 mm audio jack. It also keeps the same basic Thunderbolt expansion limitation as the 777, because each dock has only one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port. If your idea of a Thunderbolt dock is a hub with several downstream Thunderbolt ports for fast storage, displays, and accessories, neither Anker model is the best shape.

Still, when someone searches Anker 777 vs 778, they are usually deciding between an older HDMI-first dock and a newer multi-monitor Windows dock. On that specific question, the 778 has the cleaner win. It has more charging headroom, more flexible dedicated video outputs, better front USB-C charging, and a stronger display ceiling.

Display support: the 778 has the bigger Windows ceiling

Display support is the main reason to choose the Anker 778. The 777 supports a single 8K@30Hz display through its downstream Thunderbolt 4 port on supported Windows hosts, single 5K@60Hz for macOS in Anker’s listed configuration, dual 4K@60Hz, and triple display on Windows. The triple-display mode is not equal across all outputs. The product data lists both HDMI ports at 4K@30Hz plus the downstream Thunderbolt 4 port at 4K@60Hz.

The 778 raises the ceiling. Anker lists one 8K display at 30Hz through HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort, dual 4K@60Hz on Windows Thunderbolt 4 laptops through the dedicated video outputs, and up to four 4K displays on capable hosts. The phrase “capable hosts” matters. The laptop GPU and Thunderbolt implementation still decide what actually works. But the 778 is the dock in this pair that is built around several external monitors.

The physical video outputs also tell you what Anker had in mind. The 777 has two HDMI 2.0 ports plus one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port. That is handy if your desk already has HDMI monitors and you want to avoid adapters. The 778 uses one HDMI 2.1 port and two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs. That is a better fit for modern Windows desktop monitors, especially if you are connecting two or three displays and would rather not turn every USB-C or Thunderbolt port into a video adapter.

For a simple dual-monitor desk, both can work. The 777 can run dual 4K@60Hz through one HDMI port and the downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, and Windows can also use both HDMI ports for dual 4K@60Hz. The 778 can run dual 4K@60Hz through its dedicated video outputs. For three or four monitors, the 778 is the stronger choice.

If your main goal is a dual-monitor setup rather than a brand-specific Anker comparison, our best docking stations for dual monitors page includes broader options.

Charging: 100W and two 30W USB-C ports beat 90W and one 20W port

The Anker 778 has a clear charging advantage. Its upstream Thunderbolt 4 host port can deliver up to 100W to the laptop. The Anker 777 tops out at 90W. A 10W difference will not matter for every ultrabook, but it does matter if your laptop can draw more under load or if you want a little more headroom while running displays, storage, and peripherals.

The accessory charging gap is more noticeable. The 777 has one USB-C 3.2 port with 20W Power Delivery. The 778 has two USB-C 3.2 ports, and each can deliver 30W. That makes the 778 easier to live with if you charge a phone, tablet, headphones, or another USB-C accessory at the desk. You get two faster front USB-C charging ports instead of one slower one.

The power bricks explain part of the difference. The 777 uses a 120W adapter. The 778 ships with a 180W adapter. The bigger adapter gives the 778 more budget for the laptop, dock, and front charging ports at the same time. Neither product is a bus-powered travel dock. Both are desk docks that expect to live next to a monitor, keyboard, and power outlet.

Ports: 777 is better for SD and audio, 778 is better for video and USB-C charging

The port comparison is not a straight upgrade. It is a trade.

The Anker 777 has one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, one 10 Gbps USB-C port with 20W charging, two USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-A 2.0 ports, two HDMI 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-II SD, and a 3.5 mm combo audio jack. That is a sensible mix for an older Windows desk with HDMI monitors, a wired network connection, a headset or speakers, and occasional camera card use.

The Anker 778 has one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port, two 10 Gbps USB-C ports with 30W charging each, two USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-A 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, one HDMI 2.1 port, and two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs. It drops the SD card reader and audio jack completely.

So the 777 wins if you use SD cards or analog audio every week. That is not a minor detail for photographers, video creators, podcasters, or anyone with a speaker system permanently plugged into the dock. Buying the 778 means adding a USB card reader or USB audio adapter, which costs money and uses a port.

The 778 wins if your desk is more display-heavy than creator-port-heavy. HDMI 2.1 plus dual DisplayPort 1.4 is a better dedicated monitor layout than dual HDMI 2.0 for many modern Windows setups. Two 30W USB-C charging ports are also more useful than the 777’s single 20W USB-C port if your desk has newer accessories.

Both docks have the same Thunderbolt expansion weakness: one downstream Thunderbolt 4 port. If you need several downstream Thunderbolt ports, look at a hub-style Thunderbolt 4 dock or a premium model such as the CalDigit TS4 instead.

Mac compatibility: neither one is the Mac pick

This comparison gets much easier if you use a MacBook: do not treat either dock as the safe Mac recommendation.

The Anker 777 is especially limited. Anker says it needs a Windows 10 Thunderbolt 4 laptop on the Intel Evo platform or a non-M1 MacBook running macOS 11 or later. The product data says it does not support M1 MacBooks, including M1 Pro and M1 Max models. It also says the two HDMI outputs mirror on macOS instead of acting as two independent extended displays. For Mac extended dual displays, the setup tips say to use one HDMI port and the downstream Thunderbolt 4 port.

The Anker 778 is also a poor Mac pick. Anker says it is not compatible with M1 or M2 MacBooks, and the product data flags weak Mac multi-display behavior. TechAdvisor’s note in the YAML is blunt: Mac users should avoid the 778 because base M1 and M2 Macs are not supported and higher-end Apple Silicon models may be limited to mirrored external displays with this dock.

Windows users get the better version of both products. The 777 is best for Windows 10 Thunderbolt 4 Intel Evo laptops. The 778 is best for Windows laptops with Thunderbolt 4, with quad-display support depending on the laptop GPU and Thunderbolt implementation. If you are buying for a Mac desk, this Anker pair is the wrong shortlist. Read the CalDigit TS4 review or compare premium Thunderbolt options instead.

Value: the 778 costs more, but the useful upgrades are real

The Anker 777 has a $349.99 MSRP in the product data. The Anker 778 is listed at $379.99. That is a $30 gap at MSRP, and the 778 earns that difference if you need its strengths. A 100W host charging limit, two 30W USB-C charging ports, a 180W power adapter, HDMI 2.1, dual DisplayPort 1.4, and a higher display ceiling are worth more than $30 for a Windows multi-monitor desk.

The catch is that MSRP is not the only value story. The 778’s own product verdict says it is hard to recommend at the normal $379.99 price over a CalDigit TS4, Kensington SD5700T, or cheaper Anker model unless you specifically need its HDMI plus dual DisplayPort layout. It becomes more interesting when the price drops below about $250. That matters because the 778 wins this head-to-head, but it does not automatically become the best Thunderbolt 4 dock in the wider market.

The 777’s value is narrower. It is useful if you find it discounted and you specifically want two HDMI ports, SD, and audio in one box. It is weaker as a universal dock because of its compatibility limits, lower score, 90W host charging, and older display layout. A cheap 777 can make sense for the right Windows desk. A full-price 777 is harder to justify when the 778 and other Thunderbolt 4 docks exist.

Reliability and setup expectations

The product data for both docks includes setup and compatibility warnings. For the 777, common issues include monitor flicker or dropped signal, dock reconnect problems after sleep or restart, and normal warmth under charging or high-speed data transfer. Anker’s suggested troubleshooting is practical: wait a few seconds after connection, lower resolution if flicker continues, update graphics or Thunderbolt firmware, use the included cable, and give the dock airflow.

The 778 has a different set of warnings. Multi-display setups may not behave as expected on Macs. Connecting more than two displays can be finicky on Windows. Some buyers may expect more Thunderbolt expansion than the dock offers, because it prioritizes HDMI and DisplayPort over multiple downstream Thunderbolt ports.

None of that is unusual for high-bandwidth docks, but it should shape your expectations. The 778 is the better Anker dock for a Windows desk with several monitors, yet it still depends on laptop firmware, GPU support, monitor cables, and Thunderbolt routing. The 777 is simpler if you only need HDMI, but it has stricter host compatibility and weaker Mac behavior.

Choose the Anker 777 if

• You want two built-in HDMI 2.0 ports for a Windows desk.
• You need the UHS-II SD card reader built into the dock.
• You need a 3.5 mm combo audio jack built into the dock.
• Your laptop fits Anker’s 777 compatibility notes, especially a Windows 10 Thunderbolt 4 Intel Evo system.
• You are comfortable with 90W host charging.
• Your multi-monitor plan is dual 4K@60Hz or Windows triple display with the HDMI outputs at 4K@30Hz.
• You found it at a price low enough to justify choosing the older model.

Choose the Anker 778 if

• You want the stronger overall dock in this Anker pair.
• You use a Windows Thunderbolt 4 laptop with two, three, or four external displays.
• You prefer HDMI 2.1 plus two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs over dual HDMI 2.0.
• You want up to 100W laptop charging.
• You want two front USB-C ports with 30W charging each.
• You do not need built-in SD or analog audio.
• You can buy it on sale, especially if it drops far below the $379.99 MSRP.

Verdict: buy the 778 unless the 777’s missing ports matter to you

The Anker 778 wins this comparison. It has the higher score, stronger laptop charging, better accessory charging, more modern dedicated video outputs, and the more ambitious Windows display spec. For most people comparing these two Anker docks in 2026, that is the better set of tradeoffs.

The Anker 777 is not pointless. Its two HDMI ports, UHS-II SD reader, and audio jack give it a reason to exist, especially on an older Windows desk where those exact ports matter. But the 777’s lower score, stricter compatibility notes, 90W charging limit, and weaker multi-display ceiling make it the more situational buy.

Skip both if your main computer is a MacBook. The YAML for both models contains enough Mac caveats to make that decision easy. Mac users should look at a dock with stronger Apple Silicon behavior and better manufacturer support. Windows users choosing between these two should start with the Anker 778, then move back to the Anker 777 only if SD, audio, and dual HDMI are the deciding factors.

For more context, read the full Anker 777 review and Anker 778 review. If you want to compare against the broader premium field, the homepage ranks every docking station currently in our database.