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0 Anker has done it again and released a product that can change the way you work. The Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock is a powerhouse of tech in one small well designed little box.
Work from home hub by day, Gaming by night!
Due to everything happening in the world today, more and more people have the ability and the technology to work from home. COVID19 in some respects has forced this way of working into many businesses, most are seeing unbelievable levels of success. This has even caused a ripple in recruitment due to many roles becoming available for remote working.
This however has also meant people have had to find their own little workspace at home. This is not always the easiest as not everyone’s circumstances at home allow them to have a dedicated office space. This is where technology comes into play and used wisely can convert your work from home life. The tech hardware I am referring to is, of course, the docking station.
The Dock
Docking stations come in many forms and factors, not only that, the market for them is quite substantial. There are many at the cheaper end providing slight improvements on already available ports. Then there are ones like the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock, which provide you with power, alongside the expansion.
My current work from home prior to the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock, was sitting at my gaming pc desk and staring at my laptop screen all day. Not only was I using the small screen, but I was also hunched over using the keyboard and the trackpad. Everyone who works from home knows how uncomfortable this can be.
Now, I have my laptop to one side powered by the Anker Dock and have all of my glorious gaming peripherals plugged into it for use on my work laptop. I have use of a much larger screen alongside my laptop display and a day that s much more comfortable than it used to be. Come dinner time, I simply unplug 2 USB dongles, place them back in my gaming pc and within less than 30 seconds I am ready for a few games on Rocket League.
Features And Functionality
Let’s start with the front of the dock, at the top you have the power button (nice and clicky). Below this, you have 2 card readers, SD and micro SD, both of which are vertical slots. There are 2 USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports, one of them also has power delivery. Enabling you to charge a USB-C compatible Device (alongside your laptop). To finish off there is an audio in/out and a USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 port. I am just getting started, as there are ports on the reverse of the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock as well.
To the rear, we are greeted with 3 USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports and gigabit ethernet down the right-hand side. Down the left, we have 2 Thunderbolt ports (1 upstream and 1 downstream), an HDMI 2.0 port and to finish off we have the DC-IN. The Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock has just about everything you need and more to up your work from home game.
Compatibility
So this is where I will probably be letting down a few Windows laptop users. For your device to be compatible, you will need either generation of USB-C 3.1 or Thunderbolt. Meaning macOS users will highly likely be able to harness the power of this dock over Windows users. However, if you are one of the lucky ones to have a USB-C powered device, this could be a game-changer. Further details around the compatibility can be found on the Anker website.
Final Thoughts
Despite the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock been at the higher end of the market for a docking station. It is well worth the current price of £279.99, the features packed into this docking station unbelievable. Having worked from home for over a year now. I can safely say that it has made my work from home life more comfortable. Therefore, I award the Anker PowerExpand Elite 13-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Dock a Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A product was received in order to write this review.
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