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

For the final two weeks I have been testing the Anker 551 USB-C hub with my 2021 iPad Pro, after which the 2022 iPad Pro. It is confirmed to be a worthwhile machine that I’ve grown to understand the extra I take advantage of it. 

It is not due to the eight completely different ports which might be unfold out on the perimeter of the bottom.

What makes the 551 a gadget that I get pleasure from utilizing is the adjustable stand the place you place a flagship iPad, or actually, any USB-C pill. Let me clarify. 

Over the previous couple of years, I have been on the hunt for my preferrred iPad Professional hub and dock working station. I’ve tried all kinds of options. 

Additionally: This iPad Professional USB-C hub is there if you want it

I actually like TwelveSouth’s $80 HoverBar Duo for placing the iPad on the identical top as my exterior monitor, but it surely would not embody any form of hub for connecting equipment like a keyboard, mouse, or exterior storage. It additionally garnered bonus factors in my use for being simply adjustable on the fly.

I’ve additionally loved the compact dimension, ease of use, and portability that Hyper’s $99.99 6-in-1 USB-C Hub permits when utilizing it with the iPad. Hyper’s $99.99 USB-C 6-in-1 Media Hub is analogous, however with the added bonus of bodily media controls inside arms attain. Nonetheless, having one thing like a whole hub bodily protruding from the aspect of the iPad makes me extremely nervous that I will break the charging port on my iPad. To not point out, having what appears to be like like a bundle of spaghetti with numerous cables and wires popping out of the aspect of the show simply would not look all that nice.

And even should you can overlook all of that, you continue to have to determine some form of mounting association for the iPad Professional. 

I’ve additionally used some very costly USB-C or Thunderbolt hubs with the iPad Professional, such because the $399.99 Belkin Connect Pro Thunderbolt 4 Dock. It does every little thing you’d desire a hub to do, with quick switch speeds, a number of ports, and a protracted Thunderbolt cable to hook up with your iPad (useful should you’re utilizing the beforehand talked about HoverBar Duo) — but it surely’s $400. Ouch.

All of that experimenting and testing has led to my appreciation of the Anker 551 for just a few completely different causes. 

Additionally: Utilizing the unsuitable USB-C cable can injury your tech. Here is how one can keep away from that

What I like concerning the Anker 551 USB-C Hub

In the beginning I admire the way in which it holds the iPad. The adjustable stand is flexible and lets me place the iPad in order that it appears to be like extra like a laptop computer’s show, and it is nice. Nonetheless, I’ve discovered myself utilizing the 551 with the iPad Professional mendacity practically flat but nonetheless at a slight angle, slightly below my exterior monitor. 

Meaning I can kind and work together with the iPad and no matter else is on the exterior monitor, after which if I want to make use of the iPad Professional’s display screen, I can use an Apple Pencil or my finger to shortly write, faucet, or swipe throughout the display screen. 

There are two hinges on the 551, with the decrease hinge providing 70 levels of vary, whereas the highest hinge nearest the pill can rotate a full 180 levels. 

As for connecting equipment and extra gadgets to the hub, you’ve gotten a complete of eight choices. On the left aspect of the bottom, you may discover a 3.5mm audio jack and two USB ports. 

On the again, flanking both aspect of the hinge, you may discover a USB-C PD port that accepts as much as 100W of energy to cost your pill and an HDMI 2.0 port that handles 4K/60Hz output.

Additionally: M1 iPad Professional (2021) vs M2 iPad Professional (2022): Is it well worth the improve?

On the fitting aspect of the bottom are a microSD card slot and a full-size SD card slot, together with one other USB-C port that is used to attach your iPad to the dock through the included cable. 

What I do not like concerning the Anker 551 USB-C Hub

There’s one space the place the 551’s quest to develop into the right USB-C hub for the iPad falls brief, although. That is the dearth of an Ethernet port. Certain, Apple simply added Wi-Fi 6E help to the most recent iPad Professional, and wi-fi networks are getting sooner and extra dependable basically, however there’s nothing fairly like a hardwired connection. 

I would surrender the three.5mm audio jack or a USB port on the left aspect for ol’ gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet port any day of the week. However possibly that is simply me. 

For now, nonetheless, the Anker 551 goes to stay on my desk for the times or moments once I’m utilizing my iPad Professional as a pc and never a pill. 

If you do not have an iPad Professional however like the general look and thought of the Anker 551, do not overlook it. As a result of it makes use of USB-C, you should utilize it with any USB-C machine. Meaning the Surface Pro 9, any of Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs, and even the upcoming Pixel Pill will relaxation properly on the stand and interface with all of the stuff you connect with it.