Tech

Anker’s 551 USB-C Hub is almost the perfect accessory for iPad Pro


Anker 551 USB C Hub on iPad with ZDNET home page on desk.

Jason Cipriani / ZDNET

For the past two weeks, I’ve been experimenting Anker 551 . USB-C Hub with me iPad Pro 2021And after that 2022 iPad Pro. It has proven to be a valuable device that I come to appreciate more and more with the more I use it.

That’s not because eight different ports are spread out at the perimeter of the base.

What makes the 551 a gadget I love to use is the adjustable stand where you place your iPad or really any USB-C tablet. Let me explain.

For the past few years, I’ve been searching for my ideal iPad Pro dock and hub. I have tried all kinds of solutions.

Also: M1 iPad Pro (2021) and M2 iPad Pro (2022): Is it worth the upgrade?

I really like TwelveSouth’s $80 HoverBar Duo to put the iPad at the same height as my external display, but it doesn’t include any kind of hub for connecting accessories like a keyboard, mouse, or external storage. It has also earned me bonus points when I use it because it can be easily adjusted on the go.

The hub connected to the iPad displays an image of a parrot.

Image: Hyper

I also love the compact size, ease of use and portability Hyper’s 6-in-1 USB-C Hub $99.99 permission when using it with iPad. Hyper’s 6-in-1 USB-C Media Center $99.99 similar, but with the added bonus of physical vehicle controls at hand. However, having something like the entire hub protruding from the side of the iPad made me extremely worried that I would damage the charging port on my iPad. Not to mention, having what looks like a pack of spaghetti with various cables and wires coming out of the edge of the screen doesn’t look great.

Belkin Thunderbolt Pro 4 Dock on a white surface.

Image: Belkin

And even if you can skip all that, you still have to figure out some mounting arrangements for the iPad Pro.

I’ve also used some very expensive USB-C or Thunderbolt hubs with my iPad Pro, such as $399.99 Belkin Connect Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock. It does everything you’d want a hub to do, with fast transfer speeds, plenty of ports, and a long Thunderbolt cable to connect to your iPad (handy if you’re using the previously mentioned HoverBar Duo) – but it is 400 dollars. Noisy.

All that trial and error has made me appreciate the Anker 551 for a few different reasons.

Also: Using the wrong USB-C cable can damage your technology. Here’s how to avoid it

What I like about Anker 551 USB-C Hub

First and foremost, I appreciate how it holds the iPad. The adjustable stand is very flexible and allows me to position the iPad so it looks more like a laptop screen and that’s great. However, I found myself using the 551 with the iPad Pro lying almost flat but still at a slight angle, just below my external display.

That means I can type and interact with the iPad and anything else on the external display, and then if I need to use the iPad Pro’s screen, I can use the Apple Pencil or my finger. yourself to quickly write, tap, or swipe across the screen.

There are two hinges on the 551, with the bottom hinge offering 70-degree range, while the top hinge closest to the tablet can rotate 180 degrees.

Close-up side view of iPad with Anker 551 hinge.

Jason Cipriani / ZDNET

As for connecting accessories and more devices to the hub, you have a total of eight options. On the left side of the base, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio jack and two USB ports. On the back, either side of the hinge, you’ll find a USB-C PD port that receives up to 100W of power to charge your tablet, and an HDMI 2.0 port that handles 4K/60Hz output.

On the right side of the base is a microSD card card slot and a full-size SD card slot, along with another USB-C port used to connect your iPad to the dock via the included cable.

What I don’t like about the Anker 551 USB-C Hub

However, there is one area where the 551’s quest to be the perfect USB-C hub for the iPad is limited. That’s missing a Ethernet Port. Sure enough, Apple just added Supports Wi-Fi 6E for the latest iPad Pro, and wireless networks in general are getting faster and more reliable, but there’s nothing like a hard-wired connection.

I would remove the 3.5mm audio jack or the USB port on the left side for a good gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet port any day of the week. But maybe it’s just me.

Anker 551 USB-C shot on a desk.

Jason Cipriani / ZDNET

Currently, however, Anker 551 will remain on my desk in the days or moments when I use my iPad Pro as a computer and not a tablet.

If you don’t have an iPad Pro but like the look and overall idea of ​​the Anker 551, don’t miss it. Since it uses USB-C, you can use it with any USB-C device. It means Surface Pro 9″any Samsung Galaxy Tab or even the upcoming one Pixel Tablet will sit nicely on the stand and interface with all the things you connect it to.

news7f

News7F: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button