Need More USB-C Ports? Baseus Spacemate RD1 Mini vs Anker A210C

Editorial disclosure: We have not tested this unit ourselves. This analysis is built from Baseus's official product page, Anker's official listing, and launch coverage from Notebookcheck, 9to5Toys and Android Authority, all checked on 21 October 2026. Prices change quickly after launch, so treat every figure here as a snapshot. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission.

The 30-Second Read

Why This Dock Exists

Most 10-in-1 USB-C hubs have two common limitations. One of the advertised USB-C ports often doubles as the power input, leaving fewer connections for accessories. Many also require a separate wall charger, adding to the overall cost while limiting how much power reaches your laptop.

The Baseus Spacemate RD1 Mini takes a different approach, with a rear DC power input, three front-facing USB-C ports and a bundled 120W GaN charger. It carries a $169.99 MSRP, compared with $99.99 for the Anker 10-in-1 Smart Display Hub (A210C). The price difference makes the choice worth examining, especially if you use several USB-C accessories or need a single dock for your desk.

This review looks at the port selection, laptop charging, external monitor support and overall value to help you decide which dock suits your setup.

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Spec Sheet, Translated

Source: Baseus official product page. Dimensions are rounded from Baseus’s imperial listing (4.43 x 2.83 x 1.59 in).

The Three Things That Actually Matter

1. Three usable USB-C ports on the front

On the Anker A210C, the front USB-C port is data-only and the rear USB-C is purely for power input. That leaves you with one usable USB-C port. Baseus gives you three: two at 10Gbps for storage and one dedicated to charging phones, tablets or earbuds. If your desk has more USB-C accessories than USB-A ones, this is the single biggest reason to pick the Baseus.

2. The 120W charger and how PowerTune 3.0 splits it

Anker specifies that the A210C supports up to 80W of host charging from a 100W input. Baseus sidesteps this by over-provisioning. The included 120W brick leaves enough headroom for the dock to send a full 100W to the host when nothing is plugged into the front PD port.

Plug a phone into that port and the split changes to 65W for the laptop and 30W for the accessory. For a 13- or 14-inch ultrabook (Dell XPS 13, ThinkPad X1 Carbon, MacBook Air), 65W is still enough to charge while you work. For a 16-inch workstation that ships with a 140W adapter, 65W will slow charging under load. Worth knowing before you buy.

Bottom line on cost: A good 100W GaN charger and cable runs $40 to $50. Factor that into any comparison with a hub that ships without one.

3.   Screen-lock button

Hold the top-panel button for two seconds to lock the connected PC. It’s a small convenience in a shared office or co-working space, where it saves you from reaching for Win+L as you step away.

Build and Layout

The dock sits flat on the desk and connects through an integrated host cable, rather than dangling off the laptop’s side like a travel dongle. Cable routing is sensible: HDMI, Ethernet, DC input and the three USB-A ports all face backwards, so only your temporary plug-ins (thumb drives, SSDs, a phone cable) face you.

Portability deserves a caveat. The dock alone is 371 g, and the external 120W brick adds more weight to a backpack. Compare that with Anker’s A210C at 330 g (but no charger included) or the Baseus Spacemate RD1 Plus, which builds a 140W GaN supply into its chassis but weighs 3.02 lb (about 1.37 kg). None of these is a true travel hub; the RD1 Mini’s compact size is offset by its external power brick.

The Status Screen

The front display shows port activity and charging wattage. Baseus doesn’t tie it to a companion app, which is a point in its favour for anyone on a locked-down work laptop: there is nothing to install. If you want a screen that does more than report status, Anker’s display offers additional monitoring (Anker lists data speeds and operating temperature), though the practical day-to-day difference is modest.

Monitors: Read This Before Buying

The RD1 Mini has two HDMI 2.0 ports and supports one 4K monitor at 60Hz or two 4K monitors at 60Hz on compatible systems. That’s the ceiling. Baseus’s own FAQ lists three conditions for dual 4K@60Hz:

1. Your laptop’s USB-C port must support DisplayPort 4 with DSC (Display Stream Compression) enabled.
2. Use HDMI 0 or newer cables.
3. Both monitors must support 4K@60Hz with DSC.

If the host laptop, cables or monitors do not meet these requirements, the output may fall to 4K@30Hz or a lower mode.

MacBook owners: this is a mirroring dock on macOS. Baseus lists macOS 10.15 and later, including M1 through M5 Macs, as compatible, but compatibility does not mean extended displays. macOS does not support MST through this type of dock, so both external monitors show the same image rather than separate desktops. Baseus points Mac users toward its DisplayLink-based alternatives (the Nomos Air 12-in-1 and Spacemate 11-in-1 Triple Display for macOS). A compatible Thunderbolt or DisplayLink dock is another route. The Anker A210C has the same macOS mirroring limitation, so switching brands will not fix it.

What the Specs Imply for Daily Use

Storage transfers. The two front USB-C ports support data rates up to 10Gbps. A fast NVMe enclosure may approach 1,000 MB/s in ideal conditions, though actual speeds depend on the drive, enclosure and workload. The three rear USB-A ports are capped at 5Gbps, so put your fast drive up front. (Anker, by contrast, has one 10Gbps USB-A on the back.)

No card reader. Photographers and video editors will notice immediately: there is no SD or microSD slot. One of your front ports will end up occupied by a card reader, which erodes the three-port advantage.

No 3.5mm jack. Minor for most people, but if your monitor speakers run off a headphone cable from the hub, you’ll need another path.

Pros and Cons

Head-to-Head: Baseus vs Anker vs the Alternatives

Sources: Baseus US product pages, Anker US product page, Baseus India official store, 9to5Toys (20 Oct 2026), Android Authority (20 Oct 2026), Notebookcheck (19 Oct 2026).

The decision in one paragraph each

Choose the Baseus RD1 Mini if you need more than one USB-C port on the hub, your laptop can use 100W, and you don’t already own a 100W GaN charger. Anker at $99.99 plus an estimated $40–$50 for a suitable charger and cable comes to about $140–$150. At $169.99, the Baseus costs more overall, but includes the charger and adds two more usable USB-C ports. The better value depends on the live price and which ports you need.

Choose the Anker A210C if you need card slots or a high-refresh-rate monitor, or already own a suitable USB-C charger. Its HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs support refresh rates the Baseus cannot match. Dual 2K@240Hz, however, requires a laptop with DisplayPort 2.1 and DSC 3:1.

Choose the RD1 Plus if you want everything built in (power supply, SD slots, audio) and don’t mind a 1.37 kg desk tower. An earlier $169.99 launch deal matched the Mini’s full retail price; verify the current listing before treating that as an available price.

Which Buyer Are You?

Six profiles, six answers

Pricing and Where It’s Sold

United States. Baseus.com lists the RD1 Mini at $169.99 (struck-through list price $189.99).

Amazon US currently shows the dock at $169.99 on the manufacturer-linked listing. An earlier listing showed $109.99, but that lower price is not confirmed as the current offer. Check the live listing before buying.

Europe. Available on Amazon Germany and other EU storefronts at €179.99.

India. The RD1 Mini has not appeared on Amazon India as of this writing. The nearest official Baseus alternative sold locally is the Metal Gleam Series II 10-in-1, which offers dual HDMI (single 4K@120Hz, dual 4K@60Hz), a 10Gbps USB-C data port, 100W PD pass-through, SD/TF slots and a screen-lock button. It’s ₹11,999 on the Baseus India official store; Amazon India listings for the same model frequently run lower, so compare both before ordering. Bear in mind it has no bundled charger and only one usable USB-C port, so it solves a different problem than the RD1 Mini does.

Quick Answers

How does the Baseus Spacemate RD1 Mini compare with the Anker 10-in-1 Smart Display Hub?

The Anker is $70 cheaper at MSRP, includes SD/microSD slots, and supports higher refresh rates (single 4K@144Hz or 2K@240Hz; dual 2K@240Hz requires a compatible DP 2.1 host with DSC 3:1). It has one usable USB-C port, delivers up to 80W to the laptop and doesn’t include a charger.

Does the RD1 Mini support dual extended monitors on a MacBook?

No. macOS does not support MST through this type of dock, so the two external monitors mirror each other rather than showing separate content. Windows 10 and 11 support independent extended displays, provided the laptop meets the dock’s video requirements.

Do I need to buy a separate power adapter?

No. The 120W GaN adapter is in the box and connects to a rear DC input. The dock supplies up to 100W to your laptop.

What happens when I charge a laptop and a phone at the same time?

PowerTune 3.0 splits the output to 65W for the laptop and 30W for the device on the front PD port. Unplug the phone and the laptop goes back to 100W.

Can I run a 4K monitor at 120Hz?

Not on this model. The HDMI 2.0 ports are limited to 4K@60Hz. The RD1 Plus and Anker A210C support higher refresh rates on a single display, subject to the host laptop’s video-output capabilities.

Final Verdict

Judge the Baseus Spacemate RD1 Mini by its $169.99 sticker and it loses to Anker on price, card slots and refresh rate. Judge it by what you need to buy for a working desk, and the comparison depends on the price you can actually get: the Anker hub plus a suitable charger costs about $140–$150 using the estimates above, while the Baseus includes its 120W charger. The Baseus also gives you three usable USB-C ports instead of one.

So the recommendation is conditional. If you’re a Windows user with two 60Hz office monitors, several USB-C accessories and no spare 100W charger, consider the RD1 Mini if you find it at a price that justifies the extra cost. At $169.99, compare the total cost with the Anker A210C before buying. If you need card readers, high refresh rates or Mac dual-screen support, the Anker A210C or the Baseus RD1 Plus may be a better fit.

Where to Buy

1. Official manufacturer page (full specs, warranty, FAQ on display requirements)
   Baseus US: https://www.baseus.com/products/spacemate-rd1-mini-10-in-1-win-docking-station
2.  Amazon US (check the current price and any on-page coupon before paying full retail)
   Official Baseus Amazon US storefront
3. India (RD1 Mini not yet listed; closest official alternative is the Metal Gleam Series II 10-in-1)
   Amazon India official store (Metal Gleam II 10-in-1)

Last fact-checked 21 October 2026. Pricing and availability may have changed since publication.

Still deciding between the Baseus Spacemate RD1 Mini and the Anker 10-in-1 Smart Display Hub (A210C)? Tell us what matters most in your setup: more USB-C ports, faster charging, support for multiple monitors or better value for money. Share your laptop model and how you plan to use the dock in the comments. We’ll help you work out which option makes sense for your needs before you spend your money.

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