Listen to the verdict
Quick Verdict
The Anker USB-C Hub 7-in-1 is the best sub-€40 hub for most laptop users. It reliably handles 4K HDMI output, 100W Power Delivery pass-through, SD card access and three USB-A ports in a bus-powered package you can pocket. The one catch: HDMI output is capped at 4K 30Hz — fine for documents, browsing and calls, not for video editing or gaming. If you want a permanent single-cable desk setup instead of a pocketable hub, step up to the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt dock; both feature in our best Mac productivity accessories roundup.
Score Breakdown
What Is the Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub?
Anker's A8346 is a 7-port USB-C hub that connects via a short integrated USB-C cable. It expands a single USB-C port into: one 4K@30Hz HDMI output, three USB-A 3.0 ports (5Gbps), one USB-C Power Delivery port (100W pass-through), one SD card reader, and one microSD card reader. It's bus-powered — no wall adapter needed — and weighs just 65 grams.
At €35 it's aimed squarely at MacBook Air and Pro users who need a quick deskside expansion solution without committing to a full Thunderbolt dock at €150–€350. But does it live up to the Anker brand reputation for reliability?
Design and Build Quality
The hub has an aluminium shell in space grey that matches modern MacBook aesthetics well. The integrated 22cm USB-C cable is braided and flexible — a clear improvement over competitors using hard-wired thin cables that crack at the base within months. The footprint is roughly the size of a thick pen, making it genuinely pocket-friendly.
Port spacing is well-considered: the three USB-A ports are spread across the back edge with 16mm between them, meaning most USB-A devices and short dongles can sit side-by-side without blocking neighbouring ports. The HDMI and SD slots are on the left face, PD on the right.
Performance Deep-Dive
4K HDMI Output
The hub outputs 4K at 30Hz via HDMI 1.4. For productivity work — documents, spreadsheets, browser tabs, video calls — this is completely fine. For video editing or gaming where you want 60Hz at 4K, you'll need to step up to a Thunderbolt dock with HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort 1.4. The 30Hz cap is a hardware limitation of the Anker's chip, not a configuration issue — don't waste time trying to force 60Hz in display settings.
Power Delivery Pass-Through
Anker rates the PD port at 100W pass-through. That covers a MacBook Air or a 14-inch MacBook Pro at their full charge rate. A 16-inch MacBook Pro is rated by Apple for up to 140W, so it will still charge through the hub — just not at its maximum rate.
USB-A Transfer Speeds
The three USB-A ports run at USB 3.0 speeds (5Gbps). That is the ceiling for anything plugged into them: a portable SSD rated well beyond 5Gbps will be limited by the port, not by the drive. For flash drives, keyboards, mice and dongles, the ports are not the bottleneck.
SD Card Performance
The SD slot reads UHS-I cards at up to 104MB/s. UHS-II cards will be limited to UHS-I speeds, so Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 shooters working with massive UHS-II cards should use a dedicated reader instead.
Watch before you buy
Official Anker
Anker official breakdown of when a hub is enough and when you need a dock. Useful primer before you choose the 7-in-1 model we reviewed.
Anker 7-in-1 vs. Competing USB-C Hubs
| Hub | Price | Ports | HDMI | Max PD | Weight | Thunderbolt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 7-in-1 A8346 | €35 | 7 | 4K@30Hz | 100W | 65g | ✗ |
| Hiearcool 7-in-1 | €22 | 7 | 4K@30Hz | 87W | 58g | ✗ |
| Uni USB-C Hub 9-in-1 | €45 | 9 | 4K@30Hz | 100W | 78g | ✗ |
| Satechi Slim 7-in-1 | €79 | 7 | 4K@60Hz | 100W | 72g | ✗ |
| CalDigit TS4 Dock | €249 | 18 | 4K@60Hz | 98W | 450g | ✓ |
| Apple USB-C Hub | €69 | 6 | 4K@30Hz | 87W | 55g | ✗ |
The Anker sits in the sweet spot: significantly better build quality and PD spec than budget alternatives like the Hiearcool, while costing less than half of the Satechi (which adds 4K@60Hz if that's your priority). The CalDigit TS4 is in a completely different category — a full Thunderbolt 4 dock vs. a portable hub.
Who Should Buy the Anker 7-in-1?
MacBook Air users (M2/M3): This is the ideal match. The Air has one Thunderbolt port you might use for charging, and the Anker handles the expansion. PD throttling isn't an issue since the Air charges comfortably at 67W.
Travelling professionals: At 65g and pocket-sized, it's the best travel companion. Pop it in a shirt pocket with your laptop charger and you've got full deskside connectivity in seconds at any hotel or coworking space.
Video editors who need 4K@60Hz: Skip this and get the Satechi or a Thunderbolt dock. The 30Hz cap will frustrate you within a week.
Gaming laptop users: If your laptop demands 150W+ PD, the 100W pass-through won't keep up under load. Otherwise fine for secondary display use.
Pros
- Excellent value at €35 — premium feel
- 100W PD pass-through (highest in class at this price)
- Braided cable won't crack or fray
- Three USB-A 3.0 ports with good spacing
- SD + microSD slot simultaneously usable
- Bus-powered — no separate adapter
- No driver installation required
- 18-month Anker warranty
Cons
- HDMI capped at 4K@30Hz (not 60Hz)
- PD drops to ~85W with 4K active
- Gets warm in enclosed spaces
- No Ethernet port
- Only one display output
- UHS-II cards limited to UHS-I speeds
Buy the Anker USB-C Hub 7-in-1
€35 on Amazon — free delivery with Prime. 18-month Anker warranty included.
7-in-1 discontinued — see Anker's 8-in-1 with Ethernet →Full Specifications
| Model | Anker A8346 7-in-1 USB-C Hub |
| Connection | USB-C (integrated 22cm braided cable) |
| HDMI Output | 4K @ 30Hz (HDMI 1.4) |
| USB-A Ports | 3× USB-A 3.0 (5Gbps each) |
| Power Delivery | 100W pass-through (USB-C) |
| SD Card | Full-size SD (UHS-I, up to 104MB/s) |
| MicroSD Card | MicroSD (UHS-I, up to 104MB/s) |
| Dimensions | 112 × 30 × 13 mm |
| Weight | 65g |
| Shell Material | Aluminium alloy |
| Bus Powered | Yes — no wall adapter required |
| Compatibility | MacBook Air/Pro, Dell XPS, ThinkPad, Surface, iPad Pro |
| OS | macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, iPadOS |
| Warranty | 18 months |
| Price | €35 (Amazon) |
| ASIN | B087QZVQJX |
Final Verdict
At €35, the Anker 7-in-1 USB-C Hub delivers a level of build quality and feature set that would have cost €70 three years ago. For MacBook Air users, occasional travellers and anyone who needs to expand a single USB-C port without spending big, it's the clear recommendation in 2026.
The only reason to spend more is the 4K@60Hz ceiling: if you're driving a high-refresh display or doing colour-critical video editing work, the Satechi Slim (€79) or a full Thunderbolt 4 dock is worth the investment. But for 90% of laptop users? The Anker is the answer.
Check Current Price on Amazon
Usually in stock — price occasionally drops to €29 during Amazon sales events.
7-in-1 discontinued — see Anker's 8-in-1 with Ethernet →Compare: CalDigit TS4 Review →