The Anker 521 Power Strip is a vertical charging hub designed to maximize desk space by stacking outlets and ports in a compact tower. This 8-in-1 station provides four AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. Its rectangular design is intended to occupy about half the surface area of a traditional horizontal power strip, making it a good fit for crowded nightstands or small home office desks.
Safety features include a fire-retardant polycarbonate housing and Anker's 7-point protection system, which monitors for temperature and voltage spikes. The 5-foot cord is designed with a 45-degree flat plug to fit behind furniture easily. While the unit provides a 20W USB-C output—enough for fast-charging a smartphone—it is important to note that this power is shared; using multiple USB ports will result in slower charging speeds for each device.
This model is built without surge protection components (MOVs), a design choice that makes it compatible with most cruise ship regulations but means it does not protect against electrical grid spikes. It is best used as a convenient access point for charging peripherals and mobile devices rather than as a primary protector for high-end computers or televisions. The spacing of the AC outlets is helpful for most standard plugs, though very large power bricks may occasionally overlap adjacent ports.
If you need higher wattage for a laptop and would like more AC outlets, the Anker 647 9-in-1 Hub offers 100W of power and built-in surge protection.
Check out our full selection of desktop charging stations to find the best hub for your tech essentials.
