Anker 577 Review 2026 - Specs, Pros & Cons

Name: Anker 577 Thunderbolt Docking Station (13-in-1, Thunderbolt 3)
Brand: Anker
SKU: A8396

The Anker 577 is Anker's Thunderbolt 3 docking station, a 13-in-1 dock that gives you dual 4K display output, 85W laptop charging, and plenty of ports from a single cable. Unlike the USB-C-based Anker 575, the 577 connects through Thunderbolt 3 at 40 Gbps, which means substantially more bandwidth for running displays and peripherals simultaneously. The downstream Thunderbolt 3 port can push 5K at 60Hz on its own, or pair with the HDMI 2.0 port for dual 4K at 60Hz. Anker includes a 180W power brick that feeds 85W to your laptop, 18W through a USB-C PD port for phones, and 15W through the downstream Thunderbolt 3 port. You also get SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0 card readers with UHS-II speeds, Gigabit Ethernet, four USB-A ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Model A8396 was originally sold as the "Anker PowerExpand Elite" before Anker standardized its naming convention. At $299.99, it sits at the higher end of the Anker docking station lineup. The main compatibility caveat is that this dock requires a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port on your laptop. It does not work with USB-C only machines. Anker officially lists it as incompatible with Apple Silicon MacBooks (M1 and later), though users report it does work with M-series Macs for single display and peripherals. If your laptop has a Thunderbolt port and you want dual 4K, fast charging, and high-speed card readers from one cable, the Anker 577 is a good pick.

Pros & Cons

What We Like

85W Power Delivery charges most 13 to 15-inch Thunderbolt laptops at full speed
Dual 4K@60Hz display output through HDMI and downstream Thunderbolt 3
UHS-II SD and microSD card readers for fast media transfers
13 ports that handle most peripherals from a single Thunderbolt cable
40 Gbps Thunderbolt 3 bandwidth avoids bottlenecks common in USB-C docks
18W USB-C PD port for charging phones alongside the laptop

What Could Be Better

Requires Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port, does not work with USB-C only laptops
Workaround: Check that your laptop has a Thunderbolt port (look for the lightning bolt icon) before purchasing. If you have USB-C only, consider the Anker 575 instead.
Apple Silicon MacBooks not officially supported, limited to single display on M-series
Workaround: For dual displays on Apple Silicon, use a Thunderbolt 4 dock like the CalDigit TS4 with an M1 Pro/Max or later chip.
18-month warranty is shorter than the 24-month coverage offered by CalDigit
Included 0.7m Thunderbolt cable is short for many desk setups
Workaround: Purchase a longer certified Thunderbolt 3 cable. Ensure it is rated for 40 Gbps and 100W PD.
Linux and ChromeOS not supported
Workaround: Linux users may have partial success depending on the distribution and kernel version, but Anker provides no support or guarantees.

Display Support

Max Displays: 2

1 display (Single 5K@60Hz via downstream Thunderbolt 3 port)

5120x2880 @ 60Hz

1 display (Single 4K@60Hz via HDMI 2.0 or downstream Thunderbolt 3 port)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

2 displays (Dual 4K@60Hz using HDMI 2.0 + downstream Thunderbolt 3 port. Requires Thunderbolt 3 or 4 host.)

3840x2160 @ 60Hz

Ports & Connectivity

USB Ports

1x USB-C 3.2 18W

1x USB-C 3.2

1x USB-A 3.1 7.5W

3x USB-A 3.1

Video Outputs

1x HDMI 2.0

1x Thunderbolt 3

Network

1x Ethernet (1 Gbps)

Audio

1x 3.5mm combo

Card Readers

1x SD (SD 4.0 / UHS-II)

1x microSD (SD 4.0 / UHS-II)

Full Specifications

General
Manufacturer	Anker
Model	A8396
Release Date	2020-08
MSRP	$299.99
Connectivity
Host Connection	Thunderbolt 3
Max Data Rate	40 Gbps
Driver Required	No (native)
Display Output
Max Displays	2
1x Display	5120x2880 @ 60Hz (Single 5K@60Hz via downstream Thunderbolt 3 port)
1x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Single 4K@60Hz via HDMI 2.0 or downstream Thunderbolt 3 port)
2x Display	3840x2160 @ 60Hz (Dual 4K@60Hz using HDMI 2.0 + downstream Thunderbolt 3 port. Requires Thunderbolt 3 or 4 host.)
Ports (8+ total)
USB-C 3.2	1x (18W)
USB-C 3.2	1x
USB-A 3.1	1x (7.5W)
USB-A 3.1	3x
HDMI 2.0	1x
Thunderbolt 3	1x
Ethernet (RJ45)	1x 1 Gbps
Audio (3.5mm-combo)	1x
SD Card Reader	1x
microSD Card Reader	1x
Power
Power Input	DC-barrel
Laptop Charging	Up to 85W

Compatibility

Windows (10+)

Full support with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 equipped PCs. Dual 4K display output works natively.

macOS (10.12 (Sierra)+)

Officially supported on Intel MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3. Apple Silicon MacBooks not officially supported (see known incompatibilities).

Known Issues

Apple Silicon MacBooks (M1, M2, M3, M4)

Not officially supported by Anker

USB-C only laptops (non-Thunderbolt)

Not compatible

Linux and ChromeOS

Not officially supported

7.5 /10

Our Verdict

Very Good

The Anker 577 sits in a useful spot: a Thunderbolt 3 dock with generous port selection at a price below the CalDigit and Dell alternatives. Its 85W power delivery handles most 13 to 15-inch laptops without issue, and the dual 4K display output covers the most common multi-monitor setup. The UHS-II card readers are a nice bonus that most competing docks at this price skip. Build quality is typical Anker, functional and compact, nothing fancy. The plastic chassis keeps weight down to 490g, but it does get warm under load because of the 85W passthrough charging. This is normal for Thunderbolt docks and not a reliability concern. The biggest limitation is compatibility. This dock only works with Thunderbolt 3 or 4 laptops, which rules out a lot of USB-C-only machines. Anker does not officially support Apple Silicon MacBooks, and while the dock functions for basic connectivity on M-series Macs, you lose the dual-display capability. If you are a Mac user with an M1 or later chip, look at the CalDigit TS4 instead. For Windows users with Thunderbolt laptops, the Anker 577 costs less than the Dell WD22TB4 or CalDigit TS3 Plus while offering comparable port variety. The 18-month warranty is shorter than the two-year coverage CalDigit provides, worth noting if long-term support matters to you. The included Thunderbolt 3 cable is only 0.7m (2.3 feet), so plan your desk layout accordingly or buy a longer certified cable. The Anker 577 does what it advertises. It won't win awards for design or build materials, but the port count, charging output, and price make it a practical pick for Thunderbolt laptop owners who want a single-cable desktop setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Anker 577 support dual monitors?

Yes, the Anker 577 supports dual 4K@60Hz displays when you connect one monitor to the HDMI 2.0 port and another to the downstream Thunderbolt 3 port. You can also run a single 5K@60Hz display from the Thunderbolt 3 downstream port alone. Dual display requires a laptop with a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port.

Can the Anker 577 charge my laptop?

Yes, the Anker 577 delivers up to 85W of power to your laptop through the Thunderbolt 3 host connection. The included 180W power adapter has enough headroom to power the dock and charge your laptop at the same time. 85W is sufficient for most 13 to 15-inch Thunderbolt laptops.

Does the Anker 577 work with M1/M2/M3/M4 MacBooks?

Anker officially lists the 577 as not compatible with Apple Silicon MacBooks. In practice, M-series MacBooks can connect to the dock and use peripherals, Ethernet, and a single external display. Dual display output does not work because base Apple Silicon chips only support one external display natively. If you need dual displays on an Apple Silicon Mac, consider a Thunderbolt 4 dock like the CalDigit TS4 paired with an M1 Pro, M1 Max, or later chip.

What is the difference between the Anker 575 and Anker 577?

The main difference is the connection type. The Anker 575 uses USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode (10 Gbps), while the Anker 577 uses Thunderbolt 3 (40 Gbps). The 577 offers significantly more bandwidth, supports 5K displays, and has UHS-II card readers instead of UHS-I. The 575 supports triple display on Windows via MST, while the 577 supports dual display. The trade-off is that the 577 requires a Thunderbolt port, while the 575 works with any USB-C port that supports DP Alt Mode.

Does the Anker 577 require any drivers?

No drivers are needed. The Anker 577 is plug and play on both macOS and Windows. It uses native Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, which is handled by the operating system. Connect the Thunderbolt 3 cable to your laptop and the dock is ready to use.

Head-to-Head Comparisons

Anker 575 vs Anker 577: Which Anker Dock Is Right for You?
A detailed spec-by-spec comparison of the Anker 575 USB-C and Anker 577 Thunderbolt 3 docking stations. We break down ports, display support, bandwidth, compatibility, and pricing to help you pick the right one.