This is a brief user review of the Anker 568 (AKA A8399) with the Framework Laptop 13 on Linux.
I can’t add this device to the megathread because the wiki appears to have reached its character max.
tl;dr:
It mostly works well, with some minor Wayland bugs that have known workarounds. Caveat though that Framework doesn’t support multiple monitors on docks, and Anker does not support Linux with any of their docks (best you’ll get is ChromeOS).
Longer version of the caveats
Just to re-emphasise: if this doesn’t work for you, you’ll probably get best-effort help from Framework (although their “best effort” is usually pretty great 
) and no support from Anker if you’re using Linux. I would strongly advise that you test it in your particular scenario and be prepared to return the dock if it doesn’t work for you.
Hardware/software setup
I’ve got this dock attached to 2x UHD (3840x2160) monitors via DisplayPort as well as an external mouse and several USB 3 devices.
Firmware version: 1.3.4
I have attached the dock to the following devices:
- AMD Framework: My primary device, an AMD-based Framework 13 (7840U) running Kubuntu Noble
- Intel Framework: A friend’s 12th-generation Intel Framework running KDE Neon (Ubuntu Jammy base)
- Steam Deck
- ARM-based (M1) Mac (also a friend’s)
Limitations
- USB: All standard USB 2 & 3 devices I’ve used work correctly.
- USB-C: Works great for charging multiple devices.
- Each port gets 30 W separately.
- Caveats:
- While it is mentioned in some of the images, it’s worth noting that the dock has two separate USB hubs in it, one of which is a USB 2.0 hub. These ports are marked with keyboard/mouse symbols, but they do work correctly with all USB 2 devices I’ve tested.
- The onboard gigabit ethernet is attached to the same 10 Gbit/s USB 3.1 hub as other USB devices, so in my testing I haven’t been able to get more than 10 Gbit/s total speed for all attached USB devices + the ethernet controller, even without displays attached, from my AMD Framework. (This is a non-issue for me, but worth calling out for anyone who may desire higher speed.)
- USB-C: Works great for charging multiple devices.
- HDMI: Despite the online claim of being an HDMI 2.0 port (and being able to drive a 4k monitor at 60fps), I have not been able to achieve more than 30Hz from this port with any device.
- The monitor tested works correctly with the Framework gen 3 HDMI card on both the Intel and AMD Frameworks. (I didn’t test the Mac or the Steam Deck with this card.)
- I suspect this means the devices I’ve tested are setting the port into an HDMI 1.4 mode when combined with this dock
- The dock does have a firmware update available. Current firmware: v1.3.4, available update to v1.3.9. It’s possible this firmware update fixes it (untested)
- DisplayPort
- Intel Framework: Works perfectly
- Steam Deck: Works perfectly (though this may be because desktop mode uses x11 - see the AMD Framework note below)
- Mac: Works correctly with known macOS + Apple Silicon limitations
- AMD Framework: ONLY under Wayland, I sometimes get display corruption on the second screen when driving two external monitors in both 3840x2160@60Hz. WORKAROUND: Start an X11 session and then switch back to Wayland. I have reported this on the KDE bug tracker and may report elsewhere as it gets tracked.
- Firmware
- Anker does not provide firmware updates via LVFS, so if you’re Linux-only like I am, you’re not likely to be able to get firmware updates.
- The macOS version of Anker’s firmware updater repeatedly failed when trying to update this dock, so if you need to do a firmware update you will probably need Windows specifically.
- VIA, who appears to make the internal chips, has a test account on LVFS but has only uploaded test firmware.
- Neither the dock nor any of its embedded peripherals (USB hubs, USB billboard device, Anker HID, etc.) appear as upgradable devices with
fwupdmgr1.9.16. - Anker doesn’t appear to provide firmware updates through Microsoft Update either (which uses the same format as LVFS updates), so even on Windows you have to install their own firmware updater.
Subjective review
After a few nightmares with other docking stations, I decided to give Anker a try. They’re generally a very reliable company, though I hesitated due to the lack of explicit Linux support. It was somewhat rocky, but I did manage to get it working pretty reliably with my laptop. Overall I’m fairly impressed. However, I can’t give 5 stars given their support limitations on Linux and the fact that they don’t use a standard firmware updater.
