Anker A8389 vs Anker Nano Docking Station Comparison 2026

Anker A8389 vs Anker Nano Docking Station: the quick answer

The Anker A8389 14-in-1 USB-C Hub and Anker Nano Docking Station sit in the same Anker universe, but they are built for different buyers. Both are USB-C docks. Both avoid DisplayLink drivers. Both use USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode and MST for video, which means Windows gets the best multi-monitor behavior while macOS users run into mirrored-display limits. Both can attach three displays on the right Windows laptop, and both are clearly aimed at people who want more ports without paying Thunderbolt dock prices.

The short verdict: the Anker Nano Docking Station wins for most people who want a real desk dock. Its 7.4 score beats the A8389’s 7.0, and the reasons are visible in the YAML: a faster 10Gbps host link, 100W laptop charging from an included 140W power adapter, dual 4K@60Hz support on capable Windows, USB4, or Thunderbolt hosts, DisplayPort, audio, and a removable 6-in-1 hub that works away from the desk.

The A8389 still has a lane. It costs $69.99 at MSRP, has five USB-A ports, includes two HDMI outputs plus VGA, and can pass up to 80W to a laptop if you supply a 100W USB-C charger. For a Windows user building a low-cost office desk with 1080p side monitors, dashboards, email, chat, and basic peripherals, it makes sense. It is not as polished or as capable as the Nano Docking Station, but it is much cheaper.

If you are not sure whether this USB-C class is right for your laptop, read our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking station guide before buying either one.

Quick specs comparison

What these two Anker docks have in common

These products are closer than the price gap suggests. Both are driverless USB-C docks. Neither is Thunderbolt. Neither uses DisplayLink. That means you do not need DisplayLink Manager, Synaptics drivers, or macOS screen-recording permissions just to light up displays. The cleaner setup is useful, especially on locked-down work laptops where display drivers can be a problem.

The tradeoff is display behavior. Both docks depend on the host laptop’s USB-C video support. If the laptop USB-C port does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode, the video outputs do not work. If the laptop or GPU cannot handle the requested monitor layout, the port count does not magically fix that. On macOS, both docks hit the same MST wall: extra external monitors mirror instead of extending as separate desktops. The YAML for both products calls this out directly.

They also share the same basic office-dock target. Both give you HDMI, Ethernet, SD, microSD, USB-A, USB-C, audio, and laptop charging. Neither is the right class for high-refresh gaming, color-critical video work, or fast external SSD use while pushing multiple monitors. For browser tabs, spreadsheets, calls, email, admin tools, and light creative work, the compromises are easier to live with.

Port selection: A8389 has more USB-A, Nano has the better desk mix

The Anker A8389 looks generous because it really does have a lot of ports for the money. Its YAML lists one USB-C data port, three USB-A 3.2 ports, two USB-A 2.0 ports, two HDMI outputs, VGA, Gigabit Ethernet, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, SD, microSD, and USB-C PD input. That is a strong spread at $69.99. The two USB 2.0 ports are fine for keyboards, receivers, printers, and other low-bandwidth accessories. The three faster USB-A ports give the A8389 a clear advantage if your desk still uses mostly USB-A peripherals.

The Anker Nano Docking Station is less USB-A-heavy, but it is a better modern desk layout. It has two USB-C 3.2 data ports, one USB-A 3.2 port, two USB-A 2.0 ports, two HDMI 2.0 outputs, one DisplayPort 1.4 output, Gigabit Ethernet, audio, SD, and microSD. The big differences are the second USB-C data port and the DisplayPort output. In 2026, those matter. More accessories are USB-C now, and many monitors are happier on DisplayPort than HDMI.

The A8389 wins raw USB-A count. The Nano wins variety. If your desk has older USB-A devices everywhere, the A8389 is easier to justify. If you want a cleaner dock for a newer laptop and monitors, the Nano layout is more balanced.

Port winner: Anker Nano Docking Station for most desks. A8389 wins only if five USB-A ports matter more than DisplayPort, 10Gbps USB-C, and the removable hub.

Display support: both can do three screens, but the Nano has the better ceiling

This is the section where marketing can mislead people. Yes, both products are triple-display docks in the broad sense that they have three video outputs and can attach three monitors on compatible Windows laptops. No, that does not make either one a triple 4K workstation dock.

The A8389 uses two HDMI ports and one VGA port. The YAML lists single 4K@60Hz through the primary HDMI port. Dual-display combinations can include 4K@30Hz plus 1080p@60Hz, or 4K@30Hz on both HDMI ports depending on the host and monitors. In triple-display mode, Anker’s own table lists 1080p@60Hz across VGA, HDMI, and HDMI. That is usable for email, chat, a ticket queue, or monitoring dashboards. It is not a premium multi-monitor setup.

The Nano Docking Station uses two HDMI 2.0 outputs and one DisplayPort 1.4 output. Its YAML lists single 4K@60Hz and dual 4K@60Hz on capable Windows, USB4, or Thunderbolt hosts. That is a meaningful step up from the A8389. Triple-display mode is still constrained, though. The schema stores it at 1080p@60Hz, and the YAML notes review testing with three monitors at 1600x900@60Hz, below the schema’s lowest resolution enum.

So the right reading is simple. For one or two sharper displays, the Nano is stronger. For three low-resolution office displays, both can work on Windows, with the A8389 using VGA as the third output and the Nano using DisplayPort. If your plan involves two or three sharp 4K screens, start looking at Thunderbolt or DisplayLink instead.

Display winner: Anker Nano Docking Station. Dual 4K@60Hz on capable hosts is a better practical ceiling than the A8389’s HDMI plus VGA layout.

MacBook behavior: neither fixes MST on macOS

Mac buyers need to be careful with both docks. The A8389 YAML says macOS works for basic connectivity, but it does not support multi-display extended mode. External monitors show identical content. That is not a minor footnote if you are buying the dock specifically to run two or three external Mac displays.

The Nano Docking Station has the same core issue. Its compatibility notes say macOS gets single extended display behavior, with additional external monitors mirroring the same content. The dock is still useful for Mac users who need USB, Ethernet, audio, card readers, charging, and one external monitor. It is just not a workaround for the base Apple Silicon external-display limit.

The Nano is the better Mac desk dock because the rest of the hardware is better. It delivers up to 100W to the host from the included 140W adapter, has a 10Gbps host link, includes DisplayPort and audio, and gives you the removable travel hub. But if your main requirement is multiple independent Mac displays, neither Anker dock is the right answer. A DisplayLink dock from our best docking stations for MacBook guide or a native Thunderbolt dock for Pro and Max chips makes more sense.

Mac winner: Anker Nano Docking Station for general docking. Tie for multi-monitor limitations, because both mirror extra Mac displays.

Charging and power: Nano includes the complete setup

The A8389 charging setup is fine for a budget hub, but it asks you to bring the charger. It accepts up to 100W through its USB-C PD input, reserves about 20W for itself, and passes up to 80W to the laptop. That is enough for many thin-and-light Windows laptops, MacBook Air systems, Chromebooks, and normal office machines. It is not enough for heavier workstation laptops under sustained load, and the real cost rises if you need to buy a 100W charger separately.

The Nano Docking Station is a powered desktop dock. It uses a DC-barrel input and includes a 140W power adapter. The YAML lists up to 100W host charging. That gives it a cleaner out-of-box story: power brick in the box, host charging ready, and more overhead for the dock’s own ports. The downside is flexibility. A USB-C PD input is easier to replace or share with other chargers than a barrel adapter. Still, for a desk dock, included power wins.

There is also a use-case difference. The A8389 can act like a compact bus-powered hub when you do not care about laptop charging. The Nano is more of a desk base with a travel module. If you constantly move between rooms and only need occasional HDMI or Ethernet, the A8389 is simpler. If the dock will live on a desk most of the time, the Nano is easier to recommend.

Power winner: Anker Nano Docking Station. It supplies 100W host charging and includes the 140W adapter, while the A8389 needs your charger and tops out at 80W to the laptop.

Travel and hybrid work: the Nano’s removable hub is the reason it exists

The A8389 is portable in the normal hub sense. It has a short built-in USB-C cable and does not need a power adapter for basic USB, Ethernet, card reader, or display use. You can toss it in a bag, plug into a conference room monitor, and get work done. The short 200 mm cable is not perfect for every laptop stand or desk layout, but it keeps the device compact.

The Nano Docking Station takes a different approach. The full unit is a desktop dock, but the front 6-in-1 hub detaches and works separately. The detached hub keeps HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, SD, microSD, and USB-C passthrough charging. That means you can leave monitors, Ethernet, keyboard, mouse, and power at your desk, then take the smaller front hub when you leave.

That design is not a gimmick if you normally own both a desk dock and a travel adapter. It reduces duplicate gear. It also explains why the Nano costs more than the A8389 despite being in the same broad USB-C category. You are paying for the modular design and the included power system, not just for one extra display output.

Travel winner: depends on how you travel. A8389 is cheaper and simpler as a normal bag hub. Nano is better if you want one product that covers desk and travel.

Performance and storage: 10Gbps beats 5Gbps

The A8389 has a 5Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 host link. That is acceptable for keyboards, mice, webcams, Ethernet, card readers, and basic file transfers. It becomes a limit if you connect external SSDs or other data-heavy devices while also driving displays. The YAML says not to expect fast external SSD work while displays and peripherals are active.

The Nano doubles the host connection to 10Gbps. That does not turn it into Thunderbolt, but it gives the dock more breathing room. For everyday USB-C accessories, moderate storage work, and a normal desk full of peripherals, the Nano should feel less constrained. Its YAML still warns that fast storage can bottleneck when displays are connected, so expectations matter.

This is one of the clearest spec differences in the comparison. If you only need office peripherals, 5Gbps is fine. If you use external SSDs, card readers, and displays together, 10Gbps is the safer minimum.

Performance winner: Anker Nano Docking Station. It is still a USB-C dock, but 10Gbps is a real upgrade over the A8389’s 5Gbps link.

Price and value: A8389 is the budget answer

The A8389’s biggest advantage is price. At $69.99 MSRP, it gives Windows users a lot: three video outputs, five USB-A ports, USB-C data, Ethernet, audio, card readers, and passthrough charging. If you already own a 100W USB-C charger, the value gets even better. It is easy to see why this dock works for home offices, students, and basic corporate desks where the monitor setup is not demanding.

The Nano Docking Station is more than twice the MSRP at $149.99. It earns that price with stronger specs, not with mystery. You get the included 140W adapter, 100W host charging, a 10Gbps connection, dual 4K@60Hz support on capable hosts, DisplayPort, two USB-C data ports, and the detachable hub. If you will use those things, the Nano is the better buy. If you will not, it is overkill.

That makes the value call less one-sided than the overall winner. The Nano is the better dock. The A8389 is the better cheap dock. Those are different statements.

Value winner: Anker A8389 14-in-1 for basic Windows setups. Nano is the better value only when the stronger charging, bandwidth, and removable hub solve real problems for you.

Verdict: Anker Nano Docking Station wins, A8389 keeps the budget lane

The Anker Nano Docking Station is the better USB-C dock overall. It has the higher score, faster 10Gbps host connection, better dual-display ceiling, 100W host charging, included 140W adapter, DisplayPort, stronger USB-C support, and the removable 6-in-1 hub that makes the whole design more useful. For a desk that also needs a travel adapter, the Nano is the smarter long-term buy.

The Anker A8389 14-in-1 is still easy to recommend for the right person. It is inexpensive, compact, packed with USB-A, and capable of driving three low-resolution office displays on compatible Windows laptops. Its limits are clear from the YAML: 5Gbps bandwidth, no included charger, 80W passthrough ceiling, macOS mirroring, and a triple-display mode that tops out at 1080p.

Choose the Anker Nano Docking Station if:

• You want the better overall Anker USB-C dock
• You need 100W host charging and want the power adapter included
• You prefer a 10Gbps host link over 5Gbps
• You want dual 4K@60Hz support on capable Windows, USB4, or Thunderbolt hosts
• You use DisplayPort or want a more modern desk port mix
• You like the idea of a removable 6-in-1 travel hub
• You are comfortable paying more for a stronger desk-and-bag setup

Choose the Anker A8389 14-in-1 if:

• You want the cheaper Anker triple-display USB-C hub
• You use a Windows laptop and can live with 1080p triple-display mode
• You already own a 100W USB-C charger for passthrough power
• You need more USB-A ports than USB-C ports
• You want HDMI plus VGA for an older monitor setup
• You need a compact hub more than a powered desktop dock
• You understand that Mac multi-monitor output will mirror rather than extend

For most buyers, the Anker Nano Docking Station is the safer pick. For price-sensitive Windows users who need lots of ports and basic triple-display support, the A8389 is the more sensible budget play.

Read the full individual reviews for more context: Anker A8389 14-in-1 USB-C Hub review and Anker Nano Docking Station review. If neither one fits your setup, the docking station buying guide will help you decide whether USB-C, DisplayLink, or Thunderbolt is the right class for your laptop.