Choose by laptop display needs, USB ports, and where the hub will sit
Choose the Anker A8357 when a compatible USB-C laptop needs HDMI and laptop power pass-through from a separate PD charger. Choose the TP-Link UH720 for a desk with multiple USB-A data devices and two dedicated USB charging ports, provided an external outlet and Micro-B upstream connection suit the setup. Neither recommendation is a measured speed or charging-performance result.
Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-18
Source checked 2026-10-18 01:04 UTC
Products compared
Product A · ASIN B0DKT8BB4M
Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI; A8357)
Last observed offer
$19.99
Per listed package.
Offer eligibility must be confirmed on Amazon.
Checked 2026-10-19 13:03 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Product B · ASIN B00SCX6I8A
TP-Link UH720 USB 3.0 7-Port Hub with 2 Charging Ports
Last observed offer
$23.45 List Price: $29.99
Per listed package.
Checked 2026-10-19 13:50 UTC. Price and availability may change.
Pickoryx may earn a commission from qualifying purchases through the paid Amazon links on this page, at no added cost to you.
The buying question
Will the Anker A8357's USB-C, HDMI, and laptop power pass-through fit your host computer, or does the TP-Link UH720's Micro-B connection and larger set of USB-A data and charging ports better match a fixed desk setup?
The A8357 combines HDMI and a USB-C power-delivery input in a compact hub, but display and pass-through charging depend on the laptop's USB-C capabilities and an external PD charger. The UH720 connects upstream by USB 3.0 Micro-B and separates seven data ports from two charging ports, but it needs its own external power adapter and has no display output listed in its specifications.
Quick verdict
Choose Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI; A8357) if
- Your laptop's USB-C port supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery, and HDMI display output is part of the setup.
- You want the hub's USB-C PD-IN to pass power through to the laptop; Anker says the hub reserves 10W, so a 100W PD charger leaves up to 90W available for the laptop.
Choose TP-Link UH720 USB 3.0 7-Port Hub with 2 Charging Ports if
- You need seven USB 3.0 Standard-A data ports plus two separate 5V/2.4A charging ports for a desk setup.
- Your computer can connect to the UH720's USB 3.0 Micro-B upstream input, and a separately powered hub is acceptable.
When the recommendation changes
- If the laptop's USB-C port lacks DisplayPort Alt Mode, the A8357's HDMI output is not a fit for that host; confirm the computer's port specifications first.
- If you need monitor video through the hub, the UH720's published interface list does not identify a display output, so choose a hub whose maker explicitly documents the required video connection.
- If the included power-adapter rating matters, verify the exact UH720 package with the seller because the retailer title and TP-Link's US page show different ratings.
The differences that matter
Host Connection And Display Workflow
Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI; A8357)
Exact model A8357 is a 5-in-1 USB-C hub with HDMI supporting up to 4K at 30Hz; the laptop's USB-C port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode for display use.[1]
TP-Link UH720 USB 3.0 7-Port Hub with 2 Charging Ports
UH720 lists one USB 3.0 Micro-B upstream input, seven USB 3.0 Standard-A data outputs, and two charging ports; no video output is listed.[2]
What this changes: Buyers needing laptop video output should evaluate A8357 only when the host supports the required video mode; UH720's listed connections are for USB peripherals and charging.[1, 2]
External Power And Data Vs Charging Port Roles
Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI; A8357)
A8357's USB-C PD-IN port is charging-only. Anker states that a 100W PD wall charger leaves up to 90W available for the laptop after the hub uses 10W.[1]
TP-Link UH720 USB 3.0 7-Port Hub with 2 Charging Ports
UH720 has seven data ports plus two 5V/2.4A charging ports and its US package list includes an external power adapter; check the retailer's exact package if the adapter rating matters.[2]
What this changes: A8357's PD input is for charging the laptop, not USB accessories; UH720 separates data and charging ports and is an externally powered desk hub. Neither source establishes comparative real-world charging performance.[1, 2]
Best for your routine
A compatible laptop setup that needs HDMI and power delivery back to the laptop through the hub
Best fit: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI; A8357)
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
Anker documents HDMI and USB-C PD-IN laptop pass-through on A8357, conditional on the host port supporting DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery. The compromise is that an external PD wall charger is part of that power workflow, and the hub's PD-IN port cannot carry data or video.
A fixed desk setup that needs many USB-A data connections and separate USB device-charging ports
Best fit: TP-Link UH720 USB 3.0 7-Port Hub with 2 Charging Ports
Based on listed features, not comparative testing.
TP-Link documents seven USB 3.0 Standard-A data ports and two dedicated charging ports on UH720. The compromise is the Micro-B upstream connection, external power requirement, and no display output in the listed interfaces.
Value and trade-offs
One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.
A price difference would need to be weighed against the distinct host, HDMI, pass-through-power, and USB-A port-role requirements; this comparison has no verified offer or price-history evidence.
Insufficient current-offer and price-history evidence is available to make a buy-now or wait recommendation.
Limitations
- This comparison is based on published specifications, not hands-on testing or a controlled transfer-speed or charging test.
- The exact power-adapter rating in the selected UH720 retail package is unresolved; check the seller's exact package before relying on an adapter rating.
- A8357's page used here is Anker's exact-model manufacturer page on its Australia storefront. Regional availability, package contents, warranty, and seller terms are not inferred from it.
- A8357 display output requires a host USB-C port with DisplayPort Alt Mode; a USB-C connector alone does not establish that capability.
Questions shoppers ask
Can either hub connect a monitor?
Anker documents HDMI on the A8357 and says the laptop's USB-C port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode. TP-Link's published UH720 interface list gives a Micro-B upstream input, USB-A data ports, and charging ports, but no display output. Check your computer's specifications before choosing A8357 for video.
Does the A8357 charge a laptop and USB accessories through the same port?
No. Anker describes its USB-C PD-IN as a charging-only input for laptop pass-through; it does not carry data or video. The page also describes separate USB data ports, including 5Gbps and 480Mbps connections. The UH720 instead specifies two dedicated 5V/2.4A charging ports apart from its seven data ports.
Methodology and sources
Compared the exact A8357 and UH720 model pages for host and display connections, power input, and the roles of data and charging ports. Recommendations are feature-fit guidance only; no transfer or charging tests were performed.
AI assistance helped organize published specifications and prepare conditional buying guidance; Pickoryx did not perform hands-on testing.
View 2 sources
- 1.Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI)Anker · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-18 01:04 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Model Number A8357; Key Features and Notes, including HDMI, host requirements, PD-IN role, and 100W-to-90W pass-through example: Anker identifies model A8357 and describes a USB-C 5-in-1 hub with HDMI up to 4K at 30Hz and Power Delivery. The laptop's USB-C port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery. The PD-IN port is charging-only; with a 100W PD wall charger, the hub consumes 10W and up to 90W remains available for laptop charging. Anker also describes separate 5Gbps and 480Mbps USB data connections.
- 2.UH720 | USB 3.0 7-Port Hub with 2 Charging PortsTP-Link · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-18 01:04 UTC
Evidence used on this page
- Overview, lines 532–538; Specifications, lines 577–588: TP-Link identifies UH720 and lists seven USB 3.0 Standard-A data outputs, two 5V/2.4A charging ports, one USB 3.0 Micro-B upstream input, supported Windows/Mac OS X/Linux systems, and a package power adapter listed as 12V/3.3A. Verify the rating for the exact package being purchased.