Searching for a versatile Thunderbolt 3 docking station that does it all? The Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is sleek, sturdy, high-performing, and built to last. Roughly the height of a soup can and about as thick as a paperback book, it’s compact yet powerful—an ideal addition to any desktop setup.
elevates any workspace with 13 versatile functions while bringing a touch of organization and style. Its design strikes the perfect balance between elegance and durability, offering a premium feel. The solid aluminum frame around the ports adds stability, and its extra weight ensures it stays firmly in place instead of shifting around your desk.
Each port delivers impressive transfer speeds, and when it comes to charging, this powerhouse outperforms many other docking stations with ease. It helps cut down on clutter, giving your desk a cleaner, more streamlined look. Anker nailed the design by keeping it straightforward: a sturdy, minimalist frame with easily accessible ports on both sides. The long power adapter cable conveniently reaches the floor, and the rubber base keeps your desktop free from scratches.
Whether you place it upright or flat, you’ll have six ports and the power button right at your fingertips. One of the USB-C ports is labeled “PD” (Power Delivery), meaning it not only transfers data quickly but also provides 18W of charging power—perfect for smaller devices like a smartphone.
Available ports include:
- SD Card Slot
- Micro SD Card Slot
- USB-C Port
- USB-C Port (PD) – Power Delivery for fast phone charging
- USB 5Gbps Port
- Headphone Jack
Rotating the dock to its back side reveals an additional set of seven expansion ports designed for speed and versatility. Among them are two Thunderbolt 3 connections, offering some of the fastest transfer rates available today. One of these ports is marked with a laptop icon and “85W,” making it the ideal choice for connecting directly to your laptop—delivering faster charging for a MacBook compared to Apple’s standard 60W charger.
On the back, you’ll find:
- 4K HDMI Port
- Thunderbolt 3 Port (85W – optimized for MacBook charging)
- Thunderbolt 3 Port
- USB-A Port
- USB-A Port
- USB-A Port
- Gigabit Ethernet Port
Finding the right docking station to fit your setup isn’t always easy, but the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock deserves serious consideration. With an impressive variety of ports, it adapts effortlessly to almost any device combination you throw at it. That said, it does tend to run hot under heavy use, so if you’re planning to push it to the max, it’s worth having some airflow or cooling in place.
Still, its strengths far outweigh that drawback. The ability to charge multiple Apple devices at once is a huge plus, and the power adapter is seriously robust (maybe not quite “light-up-Chicago” strong—but close enough). After extended use across a range of tasks, it proves itself to be a reliable, compact, and highly capable docking station that’s easy to recommend.
You can grab the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-1 Thunderbolt 3 Docking Station directly from Anker for $249.99 or on Amazon for the same price.
