Head to Head: Plugable USBC-9IN1E vs. Anker 555

In today’s fast-paced IT environment, choosing the right USB-C hub is critical for both power users and IT professionals. The Plugable USBC-9IN1E is making waves by offering industry-leading Power Delivery 3.1 Extended Power Range (PD 3.1 EPR) charging alongside high-speed data and 4K video capabilities. Its most direct competitor in the market is Anker’s 555 8-in-1 (model A8383), which similarly targets professionals looking for robust connectivity on a budget. 

In this head-to-head comparison, we’ll provide a side-by-side feature comparison, deep dives into power delivery, data/video performance, and overall connectivity to help provide an analysis and recommendation.

Side-by-Side Feature Comparison: Plugable USBC-9IN1E vs. Anker 555 8-in-1

Power Delivery Comparison

Plugable USBC-9IN1E — PD 3.1 Extended Power Range (EPR)

• Input Capability: Up to 140W (PD 3.1 EPR).
  
  
• Passthrough Output:
• 125W to EPR hosts (e.g., 16″ MacBook Pro, high-end Windows Ultrabooks).
• 85W to SPR hosts (legacy PD 3.0 devices).
  
  
• Key Benefits:
• Allows future-proofing for compatibility with new EPR-capable devices as they become more popular on the market.
• Charge high-draw laptops like a 16” MacBook Pro and peripherals while using all ports at full speed.
• Eliminates charging bottlenecks common in <100W-capable hubs.

No competing hub in its class offers PD 3.1 EPR with 140W input and 125W passthrough, making this a first-in-class feature for power-hungry environments.

Anker 555 — Standard PD 3.0

• Input Capability: Up to 100W (PD 3.0).
  
  
• Passthrough Output: 85W to host.
  
  
• Considerations:
• Adequate for most ultrabooks and 13″/14″ MacBook Pros.
• May struggle to keep a 16″ MacBook Pro or similarly power-hungry machines topped up under heavy workloads.

While the Anker 555 supports 100W input and 85W passthrough, the Plugable USBC-9IN1E’s 140 W EPR capability highlights Plugable’s clear advantage in power delivery.  For professionals working in creative, engineering, or productivity-heavy areas, you can enjoy a higher-than-standard charging rate with the Plugable USBC-9IN1E compared to hubs like the Anker 555.

Data and Video Performance

High-Speed Data Ports

• Plugable USBC-9IN1E:
  
  
• USB Data Ports:
• 1× USB-C 10Gbps (downstream) 
• 2× USB-A 10Gbps (one with BC 1.2, 7.5W charging)
• 1× USB-A 2.0 (480 Mbps) for low-speed peripherals
  
  
• Anker 555:
  
  
• USB Data Ports: 
• 1× USB-C 10Gbps (downstream)
• 2× USB-A 10Gbps

Important Differences: While both offer 3x 10Gbps ports, the USBC-9IN1E offers one with charging capabilities and an extra USB 2.0 port for low-speed devices to keep the high-speed ports free for your devices that need them.

Card Readers

• Plugable USBC-9IN1E:
  
  
• SD & MicroSD UHS-II card readers (up to 312 MB/s): Optimal for photographers, videographers, and content creator workflows.
  
  
• Anker 555:
  
  
• SD & MicroSD UHS-I card readers (up to 104 MB/s): UHS-I limits rapid media transfers.

Why It Matters: If transferring multi-gigabyte video files or large databases is a daily practice, the USBC-9IN1E’s dual UHS-II slots provide a 2–3× speed advantage over Anker 555’s UHS-I slots.

Compatibility and Extensive Interoperability Testing

Compatibility is a top priority for Plugable. The USBC-9IN1E has undergone rigorous testing to ensure compatibility with the newest hosts like the Apple 16” MacBook Pro, supporting up to 140W EPR PD charging. We also test with various other systems from major manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo, HP, Microsoft, and many more. By comparison, Anker, for example, predominantly lists Apple devices and only mentions compatibility for Dell XPS for Windows devices.

Support

Dedicated Customer Support: The Plugable support team—composed of the engineers who helped design and test our products—is always ready to assist. On the other hand, Anker relies on a more traditional support model where their engineering and support teams are not unified, which can lead to delays when their support and engineering teams communicate before being able to offer assistance. Plugable offers easy evaluation, return, and warranty policies, as well as extensive resources like updated knowledge base articles, community forums, and FAQs. We are committed to providing reliable, accessible support when you need it most. Additionally, Plugable's Watts AI chat is available 24/7, offering a convenient self-serve option for troubleshooting and questions at your fingertips. 

Final Decision?

After carefully examining power delivery, data/media throughput, and port availability, the Plugable USBC-9IN1E offers a clear advantage for faster charging, faster card reader slots, and overall more ports versus the Anker 555. If your workflow demands maximum power headroom, ultra-fast media transfers, and versatile connectivity, choose the Plugable USBC-9IN1E. If you require a physically smaller hub for less power-hungry tasks, the Anker 555 remains a capable alternative.