Anker 555 USB-C Hub A8383 review

A one-screen hub for a faster USB accessory set

The Anker 555 A8383 is worth considering when one HDMI display is enough, but you want both USB-A and USB-C data connections advertised at 10 Gbps. Its eight roles combine two USB-A data ports, one USB-C data port, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, full-size SD, microSD and a separate USB-C charging input. It is a different proposition from a hub whose extra USB sockets operate only at USB 2.0 rates.

That balance suits a routine involving an external drive, camera cards, a wired network and one main monitor. It does not make A8383 a multi-monitor dock. Work backward from those actual jobs: if a second independent external desktop is essential, its otherwise useful data-port arrangement cannot compensate for the missing video route.

Three data ports, with the same advertised ceiling

Anker lists the two USB-A ports and the USB-C data port at up to 10 Gbps. This is useful when comparing a mix of older rectangular plugs and newer USB-C drives. You do not have to reserve one uniquely fast socket while the other ordinary data sockets are limited to 480 Mbps.

These remain advertised interface rates, not measured copying speeds. The accessories share the connection back to the computer, and their own interfaces, storage and cables affect transfers. It is sensible to match the port capability to a drive you already own, but not to budget three independent full-speed transfer paths from the individual socket labels.

The USB-C data connection is explicitly data-only in Anker's notes: it does not provide screen mirroring or video, and the maker does not present the USB-A or USB-C data ports as charging outlets. Keep a USB-C display cable out of the data socket and put the laptop's charging source into the dedicated PD input.

One HDMI monitor, up to 4K60

The product specification lists HDMI at up to 4K and 60 Hz. That is the relevant mode if your goal is a single 4K desktop with a 60 Hz refresh, rather than merely finding the word “4K” in a product title. Anker also identifies HDMI 2.0, HDR support and HDCP 2.2 in the specification.

The host still needs the documented USB-C video capability. Anker's support description requires DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery for the complete arrangement; a data-only USB-C socket is insufficient for native HDMI output. The material reviewed does not establish an exact DisplayPort revision for every host, so it is not a universal promise for every USB-C-equipped computer.

Charging is optional for the hub, separate for the laptop

A useful detail in Anker's own notes is that the hub does not need a wall charger simply to function. Connect an appropriate charging source when you also want to charge the host laptop. This distinction matters for travel: the data hub and a complete powered workstation are different things to pack.

The current product table describes up to 100 W entering the hub and up to 85 W reaching the laptop, with 15 W allocated to operation. The charger is not included. Anker's older support table labels PD input differently, so use the exact supplied documentation when sizing the source; the 100 W headline should never be read as 100 W delivered to the laptop.

For iPad Pro, Anker warns that the original tablet charger may not support the desired pass-through arrangement and specifies a source supporting at least 15 V and 45 W for full-speed charging. That is a source requirement for the stated use, not proof that every charger with a sufficiently large wattage label supplies the needed voltage profile.

Cards and a wired network round out the routine

The Ethernet socket is specified up to 1 Gbps. It adds a wired-network connection without proving the speed of your internet service. The SD and microSD slots are UHS-I readers for moving camera and device files; their presence does not establish simultaneous access to both cards.

Anker calls the hub portable and gives a thickness of about 0.6 inches. Its computer examples include earlier Intel MacBooks, named XPS laptops, Pixelbook and specific iPad Pro generations. Treat those references as the documented scope, rather than extrapolating later Mac chip generations from a 2020 model-year entry. USB SuperDrive and Nintendo Switch are expressly excluded.

Choose by the missing connection

Shortlist A8383 for one 4K60 HDMI screen, two USB-A data devices, one USB-C data device and a useful mix of cards and Ethernet. It is particularly relevant when the data sockets' 10 Gbps capability matters more than adding extra slow USB ports. Choose a different dock for two independent displays, USB-C video output, an included laptop charger or a specific later computer generation that needs its own positive compatibility evidence.

Manufacturer references: A8383 specifications and operating notes; Anker 555 support port map and host requirements.