★★★★★ 4
Video output does not contain power — caveats and findings for Switch users to whom this may concern
The product works with some caveats, which I initially tried to resolve with an ultimately unsuccessful firmware upgrade. (Anker was responsive via email, much appreciated.) It turns out the product was working to the best of its abilities this whole time, which I will now expound upon.
I expect that perhaps another 4-5 people in the world intended to use this in the ways that I did, namely with a Nintendo Switch as the source to various output devices. If you are one of these people who are interested in reading my experience connecting this hub with a Nintendo Switch, my findings are below (after a brief primer).
A Brief Primer
1. As you know, the Nintendo Switch can be coaxed to output Dp-Alt video if you can satisify a 39W+ handshake (15V, 2.6A or higher)
2. There are other adapters that will do this and output the video (with ample power) over USB-C, which are useful for powering AR glasses, portable monitors, or desktop USB-C monitors.
3. The limitation of a USB-C Dp-Alt adapter is that it does not also provide USB data ports like the Switch Dock itself, while many USB-C to HDMI dongles include USB-A ports. (But we don't want HDMI out, of course, because using USB-C we can power AR glasses or a portable monitor and send the video signal with one cable.)
4. I surmised that, by chaining a USB-C Dp Alt Adapter to this one (Anker A8340), I could have video output and three USB-C ports. Why do I want USB-C data ports? Since you are like me, you already know it is so I can connect a UAC1 DAC to output USB Audio and power thirsty headphones via a 4.4mm Pentacon balanced headphone jack. I also don't need to convince you of the merits of this versus using the Switch's built in 3.5mm headphone jack. Or say, connecting a wired controller because I don't care for input latency if I can avoid it.
My Findings
1. This hub can indeed be chained to a USB-C Dp-Alt adapter and pass through a video signal while also leaving three USB 3.2 data ports for wired devices (yes!)
2. However, as other reviews kindly mention, the video signal outputted by the A8340 does not contain power of any sort. So, if you are intending to plug this into a desktop USB-C monitor which already has/doesn't need power, then everything is awesome.
3. If you are trying to power AR glasses, this won't work unless you add a second USB-C DP-Alt adapter after it, and provide power that way. If you intend to convert the video signal to HDMI or DisplayPort via a USB-C to HDMI or DP cable, these won't work because there is no power for the inline conversion.
4. If you are using a USB-C travel monitor, this will work provided you directly power the monitor via its second USB-C power (if it has one).
So in summation, it's possible to get what you want, though you may find the victory pyrrhic. The perfect adapter (which I had hope this was, and may yet exist at a higher price point) basically takes a USB-C Dp-Alt adapter, adds USB-C data ports, and outputs USB-C + power to power AR glasses or a travel monitor.
This device nevertheless has its uses, such as the ability to connect multiple USB-C devices to the Switch in handheld mode and charge it, too.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2025
