A USB-C hub going on sale is really not all that newsworthy, but this one is worth stopping for. The Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD Media Hub is down to $41 at Amazon right now. That’s 24% off its regular $54 price, and for that money it gives you a genuinely usable desktop expansion setup without asking you to reach too deeply into your pocket.
The two HDMI ports are the showstoppers. You can run a single display at 4K@60Hz, or split across two monitors at 4K@30Hz. The 30Hz ceiling on dual-monitor mode is worth knowing going in: It’s fine for most productivity setups and isn’t going to bother anyone who isn’t gaming. But if you are gaming or running a creative workstation with color-critical work, a single 4K@60Hz priority display may be the smarter call. macOS users should also know that dual external monitors will mirror rather than extend. That’s an Apple limitation, not an Anker one, and it’s one that will send you on a search for a KVM switch.
One Cable, Eight Ports
Beyond the displays, the Anker PowerExpand hub packs 85W pass-through USB-C Power Delivery, a 1 Gbps Ethernet port, two USB-A data ports, and a microSD card reader. The 85W charging covers most mainstream laptops, though you’ll need a 100W PD wall charger and a USB-C to USB-C cable that aren’t included, but are a small added cost that’s easily outweighed by the overall benefits of the hub.
Compatibility covers USB-C, USB4, and Thunderbolt connections, and the hub works with Windows 10, Windows 11, and ChromeOS. Linux compatibility isn’t there, and neither is support for laptops that lack DP Alt Mode – check your USB-C port’s spec sheet if you’re not sure.
Add ‘Em Up
At $41 while this Amazon deal is up and running, the Anker PowerExpand hub sits at a price where the savings quickly become apparent. A decent Ethernet adapter alone is $20. A USB-C SD card reader runs another $15. Two standalone HDMI adapters would take you well past $40 without even touching Power Delivery, and by now your laptop is almost certainly out of vacant ports. Buying all of that functionality in a single cable-managed unit at this price is easy to recommend.
The PowerExpand 8-in-1 ships with an 18-month warranty and Anker’s customer support, which has a legitimately strong track record in this product category. If something goes wrong in the first year and a half, Anker tends to make it right without a lot of friction.