778 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

The Anker 778 operates on a genuine Thunderbolt 4 controller at the full 40Gbps bidirectional ceiling — a critical distinction from the DisplayLink-based docks that dominate the mid-market. DisplayLink docks use a USB video adapter chip to compress display output, which introduces CPU overhead, latency, macOS screen recording permission requirements, and HDCP-content incompatibility. The 778 avoids all of those trade-offs entirely: every port operates natively without driver software, and the dock is certified by Intel’s Thunderbolt Technology Community, meaning it has passed the interoperability testing required for that designation.

The port topology reveals where the 778 makes its trade-offs relative to higher-ranked competitors. There is a single downstream Thunderbolt 4 port — compared to three on the CalDigit TS4 and two on the Kensington SD5700T — which limits the dock’s flexibility for daisy-chaining additional Thunderbolt devices or connecting multiple TB4-native displays. The four USB-A ports split between two running at USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) and two operating at USB 2.0 (480Mbps) — a mix that requires attention during setup. Users connecting fast external SSDs or USB 3.2 storage should route them to the 5Gbps ports; plugging a high-speed drive into one of the USB 2.0 ports will silently cap throughput at a fraction of the device’s rated speed. Competing docks at similar or slightly higher prices, including the Plugable TBT4-UD5, offer a more uniform USB-A speed floor.

The two front-panel USB-C ports run at 10Gbps and each deliver 30W of charging — a genuinely useful placement for quick device charging and front-accessible data transfer. The Ethernet port runs at Gigabit (1GbE), which covers nearly all home office internet connections comfortably but falls behind the 2.5GbE implementations on the CalDigit TS4 and Kensington SD5700T for users on multi-gigabit fiber or operating large local network file transfers.

Bottom line on connectivity: Genuine TB4 at 40Gbps with driverless operation is the right foundation, but the single downstream TB4 port, mixed USB-A speed tier, and Gigabit Ethernet are real limitations relative to the docks ranked above the 778. For users who do not need TB4 daisy-chaining or 2.5GbE, these trade-offs cost little in practice.

The 778 provides three dedicated display outputs — one HDMI 2.1 port and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports — plus the downstream Thunderbolt 4 port for a theoretical maximum of four simultaneous external displays. On paper, this is more native display connectivity than many docks in our guide; in practice, the configuration achieves that count at a bandwidth cost that should be understood before purchase. Two 4K@60Hz displays via DP 1.4 plus one 4K@60Hz via HDMI 2.1 and one 4K@60Hz via TB4 downstream is the advertised quad-display configuration, but Anker’s own documentation notes that driving all four outputs simultaneously pushes into 4K@30Hz territory on some display combinations depending on the host laptop’s Thunderbolt controller implementation.

The HDMI 2.1 port supports single-display 8K@30Hz — useful for users with 8K monitors — and 4K@144Hz for high-refresh-rate gaming or professional motion work. For the more common dual-display home office configuration (two 4K@60Hz monitors), the 778 performs cleanly and without issues across both Mac and Windows hosts that natively support multiple external displays. The same Apple silicon restriction that affects all TB4 docks applies here: base M1, M2, and M3 MacBook Air models are hardware-limited to one external display regardless of the dock used.

The display output architecture relies on standard MST (Multi-Stream Transport) for the DP outputs — the same approach used by most docks at this tier. MST functions correctly on Windows and on Mac models with M1 Pro/Max silicon or later, but it is worth noting that CalDigit TS4’s SST-based implementation via multiple TB4 downstream ports provides better macOS compatibility in edge cases involving specific monitor firmware. For standard 4K monitors on supported Mac hardware, the practical difference is negligible.

Bottom line on display capability: Solid dual-4K@60Hz performance and genuine 8K@30Hz single-display capability make the 778 capable for most home office display setups. The quad-display configuration is real but operates closer to its bandwidth ceiling than premium competitors, and the single TB4 downstream port limits flexibility for users who want to route multiple TB4-native displays through the dock.

The 778 earns its highest category score on power delivery. The upstream Thunderbolt port delivers up to 100W to the connected laptop from a 180W external power supply — a generous headroom ratio that allows the dock to sustain high laptop charging while also powering peripherals. Under typical home office load (keyboard, mouse, webcam, phone charging), the host laptop reliably receives 85–90W sustained, which is sufficient to maintain charge on any MacBook Pro or Windows laptop rated for USB-C charging within the Thunderbolt specification.

There is one important nuance to understand: power sharing behavior at the two front USB-C ports. Each front USB-C port delivers up to 30W independently. When one front USB-C port is in active use, the upstream Thunderbolt charging remains at its full 100W rated output. When both front USB-C ports are simultaneously in use — charging two devices at once — the upstream Thunderbolt charging drops to approximately 65W. For users who habitually charge a phone and a tablet simultaneously from those front ports, this reduction is worth knowing. In practice, 65W is still adequate for all MacBook Air models and thinner Windows ultrabooks, though it will be below the sustained charge threshold for high-performance 16-inch laptops under heavy CPU/GPU load.

The 180W power supply gives the 778 better headroom than many competing docks that use 135W or smaller bricks. While the power supply unit is physically large — about the size of a portable external drive — the electrical engineering benefit is a dock that does not have to throttle laptop charging to maintain peripheral operation. Anker’s decision to over-spec the power supply rather than use the minimum viable brick is a sign of considered product engineering that shows up in real-world battery maintenance rather than specification sheets.

Bottom line on power delivery: 100W nominal with a 180W supply is a strong combination at this price point. The dual-USB-C power-sharing behavior that reduces host charging to 65W is a genuine caveat but affects only a specific use pattern. For users who prioritize reliable laptop charging over maximum front-port simultaneous output, the 778’s power delivery is one of the best arguments for choosing it over lower-priced alternatives.

The 778’s physical layout is one of its practical strengths. Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 30W), a power button, and an LED status indicator live on the front face — an arrangement that keeps frequently accessed connections within reach without requiring users to navigate around the rear of the dock. The power button is genuinely useful: it allows users to cut power to all connected peripherals simultaneously without physically unplugging the Thunderbolt cable, which is a convenience feature not present on most competing docks. The LED provides visible confirmation of dock and host connection status.

The rear panel carries the bulk of the infrastructure connections: the Thunderbolt 4 host port (left side), one downstream TB4 port, two DisplayPort 1.4 outputs, one HDMI 2.1 output, two 5Gbps USB-A ports, two 480Mbps USB-A ports, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. The TB4 host port is located on the left side rather than the rear — a placement that works well for desk setups where the cable routes to a laptop positioned to the left of the dock, though users with right-side laptop placement may find the cable management slightly awkward. A Kensington NanoSaver lock slot on the right side is a useful addition for open-plan office security.

The included 0.7-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable is adequate for most close-proximity desktop setups, though users who position their laptop further from the dock may prefer a 1-meter replacement. The 18-month warranty is the shortest in our guide — most competitors offer 2 years, and Kensington offers 3 — and this represents a genuine value consideration for users making a long-term infrastructure investment. Anker’s customer service reputation is generally positive, but the shorter coverage period is a factual disadvantage.

Bottom line on port mix and usability: The front USB-C placement, power button, and LED status indicator make the 778 noticeably more convenient to use day-to-day than docks with purely rear-facing ports. The USB-A speed split (5Gbps vs. 480Mbps) requires attention during setup, and the 18-month warranty is a below-average coverage term that factors into the overall value calculation.

The Anker 778’s strongest overall argument is its pricing relative to genuine Thunderbolt 4 alternatives. At list price it sits at the lower end of the TB4 dock market — noticeably below the CalDigit TS4 and Kensington SD5700T — and Anker regularly runs promotions that bring the street price down further. At its typical sale price, the 778 represents exceptional value for the feature set it delivers: driverless TB4, 100W host charging, three native display outputs, front-panel USB-C access, and a power button. No DisplayLink dock at a comparable price offers comparable connection quality, bandwidth, or macOS compatibility.

The value case becomes more nuanced at list price. At full MSRP, the gap between the 778 and the Plugable TBT4-UD5 or Kensington SD5700T narrows enough that users should evaluate those alternatives carefully — both offer 2.5GbE Ethernet, more consistent USB-A speeds, and longer warranties. The 778’s value score reflects its street-price reality: it is among the most frequently discounted TB4 docks on the market, and the effective price for most buyers is meaningfully lower than the MSRP.

Bottom line on value: At its typical sale price, the Anker 778 is the best-value genuine Thunderbolt 4 dock available. At list price, it is good but no longer the obvious choice over slightly-higher-priced competitors with more capable Ethernet and USB-A implementations. Buying on sale is the recommended approach — check Amazon for current pricing via the button above.

The 778 uses a gray matte plastic enclosure with a compact rectangular footprint — functional and desk-friendly but a step below the premium brushed-aluminum housings of the CalDigit TS4 and Kensington SD5700T in perceived quality. The build is solid with no flex or port wobble, and passive cooling keeps the dock completely silent under all operating conditions. There is no fan, which is appropriate for a home office environment where audible cooling noise would be disruptive on calls.

The most common hardware complaint in user feedback centers on the 180W power brick. At roughly the same footprint as a small external hard drive, the power supply is among the larger adapters in the TB4 dock category. The flip side is that the oversized brick is the reason the dock can deliver 100W to the laptop while simultaneously powering peripherals without throttling — it is the right engineering trade-off, but the physical bulk is real and worth factoring into desk planning. The power supply cord is long enough to route to a power strip or surge protector behind a desk without difficulty.

Thermal management is passive and effective. The dock runs warm under full multi-display, multi-device load but does not throttle performance or become uncomfortably hot to the touch. The compact form factor means the 778 fits comfortably under most monitors, beside laptop stands, or in tight under-monitor shelf arrangements — a practical advantage for users with space-constrained desks.

Bottom line on build and design: Solid functional construction with passive cooling and a compact desk footprint, but the plastic housing and large power brick hold this category back relative to premium competitors. The power brick size is a deliberate engineering choice that enables the strong charging performance — users who understand that trade-off will be less bothered by it.