The catch
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
It has no built-in Ethernet, card reader, audio jack or fixed HDMI/DisplayPort. A demanding laptop may still need its original charger, since this dock charges at 90W.
Side by side
CalDigit Element 5 Hub vs Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5, compared: Element 5 holds on to three TB branches, and the everyday desk extras come with Anker
Quick verdict
Three downstream Thunderbolt ports come with the Element 5, and Ethernet plus card readers come with the Anker. If two compatible USB-C displays and a Thunderbolt drive need three direct branches and Wi-Fi already covers the desk, go with the Element 5. If Ethernet, cards and up to 140W host charging can take the place of separate accessories, go with the Anker. The Anker’s HDMI and DisplayPort cannot be used together. The Element 5 supplies 90W to the host and uses a separate power brick.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A smaller setup can remain around the larger dock
Suppose you bring camera cards home, work over wired Ethernet and leave a USB headset plugged in. Anker has the first two connections built in. Element 5 needs separate adapters for them, which use up ordinary USB sockets and add equipment to put away when the desk is cleared. If you already rely on Wi-Fi and copy straight from the camera, those additions may be unnecessary and the hub makes more sense. Anker’s reader is UHS-I, so a UHS-II card by itself does not turn it into a UHS-II transfer path. Choose around your real card-copy routine and do not expect the bigger dock to be faster at every task.
Where this comes from
Verified built-in 2.5GbE and UHS-I readers are set against Element’s complete inventory. The accessory count is conditional, and no measured transfer-speed claim is made.
The catch
Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
It has two downstream Thunderbolt ports. HDMI and DisplayPort share one active output, and the front USB-C charging ports carry no video.
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Why pick it
- You want to keep two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt-only SSD on direct connections.
- With Wi-Fi and the audio setup you have already covering the desk, Ethernet and card readers would go unused.
- The catch
- It has no built-in Ethernet, card reader, audio jack or fixed HDMI/DisplayPort. A demanding laptop may still need its original charger, since this dock charges at 90W.
Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Why pick it
- Plugging in Ethernet and SD cards is a regular thing for you, and you want those connections built in.
- Your supported laptop needs USB charging above 90W, and it matters to you to lose the separate dock power brick.
- The catch
- It has two downstream Thunderbolt ports. HDMI and DisplayPort share one active output, and the front USB-C charging ports carry no video.
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What this page compares
Element 5 vs Anker Prime A83B5 for USB-C screens, a fast drive and daily desk use. Look at the full connection plan, the adapters involved and how the laptop charges.
A compact Thunderbolt hub and a full desktop dock are real alternatives for a buyer with modern screens and storage. What you are deciding is whether built-in desk services or a third direct branch gets rid of more extra hardware.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Two USB-C-only screens and a TB drive should stay on direct branches
Three downstream branches are on Element.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Better fit
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Caution
Copy SD cards and run wired Ethernet without needing separate adapters
Anker has both connections built in.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Better fit
Hold on to the third direct TB branch when Wi-Fi already handles networking
Element keeps the branch and does not bundle network hardware that would go unused.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Better fit
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Good
Skip the separate power brick for the dock
Anker builds in its supply.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
A smaller setup can remain around the larger dock
Suppose you bring camera cards home, work over wired Ethernet and leave a USB headset plugged in. Anker has the first two connections built in. Element 5 needs separate adapters for them, which use up ordinary USB sockets and add equipment to put away when the desk is cleared. If you already rely on Wi-Fi and copy straight from the camera, those additions may be unnecessary and the hub makes more sense. Anker’s reader is UHS-I, so a UHS-II card by itself does not turn it into a UHS-II transfer path. Choose around your real card-copy routine and do not expect the bigger dock to be faster at every task.
How we worked this out
Verified built-in 2.5GbE and UHS-I readers are set against Element’s complete inventory. The accessory count is conditional, and no measured transfer-speed claim is made.
Two screens can take the ports meant for the editing drive
Both of Anker’s downstream Thunderbolt ports are taken by two USB-C-only displays. A Thunderbolt-only editing drive then needs a different route, such as a separate laptop port. Element 5 has a third direct branch for that drive. If one monitor also has a suitable HDMI or DisplayPort input, Anker can use its fixed video output and free a Thunderbolt port instead. Its HDMI and DisplayPort sockets are either-or choices and not two independent direct-screen paths. Check the monitors before you buy adapters or replace the dock. All of this assumes the laptop supports the two displays and modes required.
How we worked this out
A count of direct connections, with no daisy chain assumed. Anker’s mutually exclusive fixed outputs and the no-video restriction on ordinary USB-C stay in place.
Dropping one brick is useful only if the laptop can use the dock’s power
If your desk turns into a dining table in the evening, Anker’s integrated power supply takes a separate dock brick off the list of things to gather up. It also offers up to 140W host charging, against Element 5’s 90W. That does not guarantee either dock replaces a gaming laptop’s original supply, and a lower-power laptop may gain nothing from the bigger number. Check the exact USB charging support and workload. Anker’s front USB-C charging sockets share 45W and output no video, so do not count them as spare powered-screen connections when you plan a tidy setup.
How we worked this out
The verified supply layout, host maximums and shared front charging budget. No promise is made about replacing a proprietary charger or about laptop battery behavior.
Option A
CalDigit, TBT5-ELEMENT5-US-AMZ
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
You want to keep two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt-only SSD on direct connections.
- Best for
- You want to keep two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt-only SSD on direct connections.
Facts we checked
- Downstream Thunderbolt: Three at up to 15W each
- Fixed monitor sockets: None
- Host charging: 90W
- Ethernet and card reader: Neither
Option B
Anker, A83B5
Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
Plugging in Ethernet and SD cards is a regular thing for you, and you want those connections built in.
- Best for
- Plugging in Ethernet and SD cards is a regular thing for you, and you want those connections built in.
Facts we checked
- Downstream Thunderbolt: Two at up to 15W each
- Fixed monitor sockets: HDMI or DisplayPort, mutually exclusive
- Host charging: Up to 140W
- Ethernet and card reader: 2.5GbE and UHS-I SD/microSD
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | CalDigit Element 5 Hub | Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downstream Thunderbolt | Three at up to 15W each | Two at up to 15W each | Element keeps an additional direct branch for compatible equipment. |
| Fixed monitor sockets | None | HDMI or DisplayPort, mutually exclusive | Anker can spare you one monitor adapter, but it cannot drive both sockets at once. |
| Host charging | 90W | Up to 140W | A supported laptop with heavy demands can change the choice. |
| Ethernet and card reader | Neither | 2.5GbE and UHS-I SD/microSD | Copying cards and working over a wire can mean adding adapters to the hub. |
| Power supply layout | Separate supplied 180W adapter | Integrated supply | Compare the whole desk and cable layout and not just the size of the enclosure. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Before you judge the smaller box, count any Ethernet, card or monitor adapters along with the separate power supply that comes with it.
With Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Thunderbolt 3 laptops and displays are excluded, the two front USB-C ports share 45W, and the host and screen paths need verifying.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Three native accessory branches take priority
Go with CalDigit Element 5 Hub. That direct-connection plan is a good match for Element 5.
Everyday desk connections and power layout take priority
Go with Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5. Anker can stand in for separate network, card and power-supply pieces.
Decision guide
Before you buy
Fewer boxes on the desk is the goal, yet the smaller hub may call for several adapters and the full dock has fewer Thunderbolt branches.
What this page can’t tell you
- Nothing here reports measured speed, fan noise or charging time.
- No claim that every screen or adapter will work.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the docking stations we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| CalDigit Element 5 Hub |
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| Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
You want to keep two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt-only SSD on direct connections.
With Wi-Fi and the audio setup you have already covering the desk, Ethernet and card readers would go unused.
See price & reviews on AmazonAnker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
Plugging in Ethernet and SD cards is a regular thing for you, and you want those connections built in.
Your supported laptop needs USB charging above 90W, and it matters to you to lose the separate dock power brick.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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