G / O Media can receive a commission
You found a battery on Amazon, but can’t remember who made it. It was short, started with an A? Aukey? anchor? So similar. Either way, you might be right. These two companies have frustratingly similar sounding names, similar product lines, and are similarly known for making low-cost versions of official accessories from better-known brands. Fast Charger, USB-C Hubs, and power Banks It can cost a fortune to come from the manufacturer of your device, but you can find all kinds of devices and accessories from these companies for as little as $ 10, sometimes even less. While they are indistinguishable in name, there are a handful of key differences worth focusing on.
The (few) differences between Aukey and Anker
The similarities between Anker and Aukey don’t stop with their names and product lines. In some cases, you would even have to squint to see the difference. Aukey was founded in Germany in 2005 before moving to Shenzhen, China. Anker was founded in 2011 by a former Google software developer who quickly moved to Shenzhen. Today both companies operate out of China, where their factories are located. Both offer very similar (but not identical) product lines. They each sell portable batteries, charging cables, charging blocks, wireless chargers, and anything else you can use to charge your phone or tablet under their respective brands.
Both companies also sell accessories like headphones, car gadgets, and smart lights. The main difference, however, is this: Aukey still makes all of these products under the Aukey brand, while Anker uses a few different sister brands to differentiate its products. EufyFor example, Anker’s smart home brand is with products like Robotic vacuum cleaner and Security cameras. Roav is Ankers brand for in-car gadgets like Alexa-enabled car chargers and Dash cams. And then there is something else fog, Ankers brand for projectors. Anker’s sister brands make it easy to differentiate the areas in which the two companies differ. However, you will find that they share many similarities when it comes to their core business of charging accessories.
However, Aukey is also beginning to explore the same type of diversification through Sub-brands like Hulkman, a smart car jump-start initiative that was only launched last year. However, Hulkman differs a little from Eufy or Roav in that there is no evidence that the two brands are related outside of the industry’s knowledge. Go to Aukey Store on Amazonand I assure you you won’t even find it as a footnote. Anker does the same for Eufy and treats it as a standalone business, but you will find that its Roav car chargers and fog projectors are sold alongside everything else it has to offer its Amazon storefront.
G / O Media can receive a commission
G / O Media can receive a commission
G / O Media can receive a commission
G / O Media can receive a commission
What to look out for with Aukey and Anker
While it is tempting to get lost in vague discussions about which company has better “build quality”, the truth is that Aukey and Anker are largely interchangeable for most charging accessories. Both companies have a wide range of devices for fast charging, wireless charging and power capacity. Most of them are highly rated by reviewers on Amazon. Instead of putting one or the other company into a generic “better” category, it is best to compare them special charging accessories. Determine if you need to quickly charge your devices, how much capacity you want a portable battery to store, and which devices you want to support. If you can find an accessory that fits your needs – and sites like Amazon don’t have particularly negative reviews – you can probably go for one.
However, when it comes to non-rechargeable accessories, the company you work with can make a difference.
For example, Eufy robotic vacuum cleaners are uniformly classified among the best mid-range vacuum cleaners of its kind. Aukey doesn’t have a comparable robot vacuum, but it does have some really nice smart plugs. If all you want is smart plugs, Aukey might be your best bet. However, if you’ve already bought a Eufy robotic vacuum cleaner, you may also want to use the Eufy smart plug so you can install one less app. Even if the individual products are very similar, you may find it easier to choose one or the other based on the constellation of specific devices that you need in your home.
G / O Media can receive a commission
G / O Media can receive a commission
There are also a number of areas in which certain devices are only manufactured by one company or another. Aukey does Gaming keyboardswhile Anker doesn’t. Anchor makes Robotic vacuum cleaner while Aukey doesn’t. In these cases, their main competition can be very different. For example, Aukey’s gaming peripherals are more likely to compete with Logitech and Razer than Anker, and Anker’s robotic vacuums are more likely to compete with iRobot than Aukey. So, keep in mind which ecosystem you prefer to be in and look at the broader market when choosing specific devices.
The Aukey and anchor Products to get started with
If you are looking for a few products to familiarize yourself with both companies’ product lines, here are some of the most popular gadgets to get you started.
Aukey
Graphics: Eric Ravenscraft
Mini USB car adapter
Graphic: Gabe Carey
If you charge your phone in the car, you may need an adapter to turn the cigarette lighter into an electrical outlet. Like this ultra-compact 24W car charger. It can quickly charge two devices at the same time, so you and your navigator can charge your phones.
G / O Media can receive a commission
Mini dash cam
Graphic: Gabe Carey
While you are upgrading your car, Aukey has too very cheap dash cams that you can add to your vehicle to ensure you have a record of what happened when you have an accident. A dash cam can already save you tons of insurance costs if you can prove you weren’t responsible for an accident, but Aukeys cameras are cheap enough that even the upfront cost is negligible.
G / O Media can receive a commission
FHD 1080p webcam
Graphic: Gabe Carey
Speaking of cameras, if you haven’t updated your laptop’s built-in webcam for all of the video conferencing you’ve done in the past year, Aukeys webcam is a worthwhile upgrade. While comparable webcams from other peripheral manufacturers can cost a lot more, Aukey’s 1080p webcam does the job for a lot less.
G / O Media can receive a commission
anchor
Graphics: Eric Ravenscraft
PowerCore Essential Portable Charger
Graphic: Gabe Carey
One of Anker’s most popular product categories is the Powercore range of portable batteries. So absolutely full Powercore Essential 20,000 mAh battery That can charge multiple phones on a single charge or charge a single phone multiple times. If you’ve ever wanted a battery to get you out of a traffic jam while traveling, this is it.
G / O Media can receive a commission
5-in-1 USB-C adapter
Graphic: Gabe Carey
Another reader favorite is this 5-in-1 USB-C adapter This can accommodate SD cards, HDMI or multiple USB plugs. This is useful when you are traveling and need to connect a variety of devices but don’t want to carry too many dongles with you.
G / O Media can receive a commission
Graphic: Gabe Carey
And when you’re charging at home, Anker has both wireless chargers and Fast charging blocks this works with most phones. They’re usually a lot cheaper than the official accessories your phone manufacturer sells, and you can often find them even cheaper (such as right here at Kinja Deals).
G / O Media can receive a commission