Anker has announced its first Thunderbolt 5 dock, the Prime TB5 Docking Station, which boasts an impressive array of features, including a built-in power supply, adjustable ambient lighting, and a cooling fan. This new dock is designed to provide users with a convenient and powerful solution for connecting their devices.

The Prime TB5 Docking Station measures 5.2 inches wide and 3.4 inches tall, making it slightly larger than some of its competitors, such as CalDigit's Element 5 Hub. However, its aluminum alloy housing packs a punch, with an integrated GaN power supply capable of delivering up to 232W of combined power output. This means users won't have to deal with a bulky power brick or adapter, making it a more compact and portable option.

The dock features an impressive 14 ports, including two 10Gbps USB-C ports, three 10Gbps USB-A ports, HDMI, DisplayPort, a 2.5Gbps ethernet port, a headphone jack, and two downstream USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports offering up to 120Gbps speeds with a Bandwidth Boost option. Additionally, there's an upstream USB-C Thunderbolt 5 port that can deliver up to 140W of power to a host computer. This makes it an ideal solution for users who need to connect multiple devices at high speeds.

In comparison to other Thunderbolt 5 docks on the market, the Prime TB5 Docking Station falls short in terms of port count. CalDigit's TS5 Plus, for example, boasts 20 ports, including three Thunderbolt 5, five USB-C, and five USB-A. However, Anker's dock makes up for this with its unique features, such as the adjustable ambient LED lighting and cooling fan, which uses an "intelligent temperature algorithm" to prevent overheating and performance loss.

The Prime TB5 Docking Station is capable of connecting up to two 8K displays, although Anker notes that resolutions and refresh rates may be limited by the host system's capabilities. It's unclear whether the dock can support triple-display setups, but Cable Matters' Thunderbolt 5 dock has been shown to support three displays running at 8K/60Hz or 4K/144Hz.

The dock is available starting today through Anker's online store and other retailers for $399.99. It also features remote firmware updates using Anker's Dock Manager software, making software maintenance easier in facilities with multiple docks in use.

The launch of the Prime TB5 Docking Station marks Anker's entry into the Thunderbolt 5 market, and it's clear that the company is aiming to make a statement with its feature-packed dock. With its unique design and impressive performance capabilities, the Prime TB5 Docking Station is likely to appeal to users who need a reliable and high-speed solution for connecting their devices.

As the Thunderbolt 5 market continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how Anker's dock compares to other offerings from competitors. With its focus on convenience, performance, and design, the Prime TB5 Docking Station is likely to be a strong contender in the market.