The catch
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
Without built-in readers, Ethernet or audio you may need external accessories, and host power tops out at 90W.
Side by side
CalDigit Element 5 vs Plugable TBT-UDT3 docks: Three TB branches on both, Plugable adds the extras for wired work
Quick verdict
Three downstream Thunderbolt ports are on offer either way, and the TBT-UDT3 adds Ethernet, card readers and 140W host power. If 90W, Wi-Fi and ordinary USB accessories already cover your routine, the Element 5 will do. If wired work, SD cards or compatible charging above 90W are real needs, the Plugable is the better fit. Each dock caps its downstream TB ports at 15W, so moving to the larger dock does not on its own solve a higher-power portable-screen requirement.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A USB-C microphone can end up in the port you were saving for storage
On either dock, two USB-C monitors and a Thunderbolt SSD already use the three TB branches. If you then add a microphone or webcam with a fixed USB-C cable, Element 5 still has two ordinary C data sockets free and TBT-UDT3 has none. On TBT-UDT3 the device may need a compatible adapter, a replacement cable where supported, or a different connection to the laptop. A USB-A socket helps only if the device can connect that way. So for a desk with lots of calls and newer C-shaped accessories, the smaller Element 5 can spare you an extra adapter even though Plugable has more built-in functions.
Where this comes from
The stated two-screen/one-drive setup occupies three TB branches. Element 5 has two additional ordinary C data sockets, while TBT-UDT3 has USB-A accessory sockets only. No claim is made that every USB-C microphone works with an A adapter.
The catch
Plugable TBT-UDT3
Outside the TB ports there is no ordinary USB-C data socket. A USB-C accessory may therefore take a branch meant for a screen or drive.
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Why pick it
- The 90W power limit suits your supported laptop, and you want two ordinary USB-C data sockets that do not use up TB branches.
- You already have Wi-Fi and an audio setup for the desk, and built-in card readers are not something you use regularly.
- The catch
- Without built-in readers, Ethernet or audio you may need external accessories, and host power tops out at 90W.
Plugable TBT-UDT3
- Why pick it
- Ethernet or UHS-II cards are part of your routine, and a supported laptop can take up to 140W PD 3.1.
- The screens and drive fit on three TB branches, and its USB-A sockets take your other accessories.
- The catch
- Outside the TB ports there is no ordinary USB-C data socket. A USB-C accessory may therefore take a branch meant for a screen or drive.
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What this page compares
Element 5 vs TBT-UDT3 for USB-C screens, camera files and a laptop that moves between home and work. Judge the whole desk, charging included.
Each offers three downstream TB5 ports for the same screens-and-storage setup. The choice comes down to the functions around those ports. There is no real difference in the core connection count.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
You need three TB branches plus a fixed USB-C accessory
Element 5 has its own ordinary USB-C data sockets.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Better fit
- Plugable TBT-UDT3
- Caution
Wired networking and SD imports should not call for extra boxes
Plugable builds in both functions.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- Plugable TBT-UDT3
- Better fit
A compatible laptop needs more than 90W of host charging
Plugable supports PD 3.1 at up to 140W.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- Plugable TBT-UDT3
- Better fit
A portable screen has an explicit 20W requirement on its video connection
Both docks limit downstream TB to 15W, so look into separate power.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- Plugable TBT-UDT3
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
A USB-C microphone can end up in the port you were saving for storage
On either dock, two USB-C monitors and a Thunderbolt SSD already use the three TB branches. If you then add a microphone or webcam with a fixed USB-C cable, Element 5 still has two ordinary C data sockets free and TBT-UDT3 has none. On TBT-UDT3 the device may need a compatible adapter, a replacement cable where supported, or a different connection to the laptop. A USB-A socket helps only if the device can connect that way. So for a desk with lots of calls and newer C-shaped accessories, the smaller Element 5 can spare you an extra adapter even though Plugable has more built-in functions.
How we worked this out
The stated two-screen/one-drive setup occupies three TB branches. Element 5 has two additional ordinary C data sockets, while TBT-UDT3 has USB-A accessory sockets only. No claim is made that every USB-C microphone works with an A adapter.
Charging a laptop at 140W does not give a portable screen more power
If a portable screen explicitly needs 20W through its video cable, that is more than the 15W downstream TB limit on both models. Plugable’s 140W headline is power for the laptop and not for that spare port. Picking it over Element 5 will not get rid of the screen’s second power cable on that basis. Check the monitor’s exact accepted power profile and supported display mode. A screen that runs fully within 15W may work through one suitable cable, while a more demanding mode may need separate power. The distinction matters when you are buying the dock to clear chargers off a small shared desk.
How we worked this out
A conditional 20W accessory example is set against the documented 15W per TB port on both docks. The host maximums of 90W and 140W do not change those downstream limits. No universal display compatibility or brightness claim is made.
Importing photos after work can be reason enough for the full dock
If you use the laptop for calls during the week and for SD-camera photos at the weekend, TBT-UDT3’s built-in network and card connections could help every few days. Element 5 needs external versions of both. Count the plugs they use as well as what they cost, especially if the same USB-C sockets are already taken by a webcam or microphone. Plugable can simplify that mixed routine if its A sockets cover the remaining accessories. And if your photos come from a phone over the network and Wi-Fi is adequate, those extras may sit unused. Base the choice on your actual import path and not on the label of a creative workstation.
How we worked this out
TBT-UDT3 has Ethernet and UHS-II SD/microSD and Element 5’s inventory does not, weighed against weekly card imports and wired calls. No camera, throughput or network-reliability improvement is assumed.
Option A
CalDigit, TBT5-ELEMENT5-US-AMZ
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
The 90W power limit suits your supported laptop, and you want two ordinary USB-C data sockets that do not use up TB branches.
- Best for
- The 90W power limit suits your supported laptop, and you want two ordinary USB-C data sockets that do not use up TB branches.
Facts we checked
- TB branches: Three at up to 15W each
- Ordinary USB-C data: Two 10Gb/s sockets
- Host power: 90W
- Network and cards: No Ethernet or card reader
Option B
Plugable, TBT-UDT3
Plugable TBT-UDT3
Ethernet or UHS-II cards are part of your routine, and a supported laptop can take up to 140W PD 3.1.
- Best for
- Ethernet or UHS-II cards are part of your routine, and a supported laptop can take up to 140W PD 3.1.
Facts we checked
- TB branches: Three at up to 15W each
- Ordinary USB-C data: No ordinary downstream USB-C data socket
- Host power: 140W PD 3.1, up to 100W PD 3.0
- Network and cards: 2.5GbE and UHS-II SD/microSD
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | CalDigit Element 5 Hub | Plugable TBT-UDT3 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| TB branches | Three at up to 15W each | Three at up to 15W each | Both share the same documented accessory-power ceiling. |
| Ordinary USB-C data | Two 10Gb/s sockets | No ordinary downstream USB-C data socket | On Plugable, a USB-C accessory can end up using a scarce TB branch. |
| Host power | 90W | 140W PD 3.1, up to 100W PD 3.0 | Whether the extra host power helps depends on what the laptop accepts. |
| Network and cards | No Ethernet or card reader | 2.5GbE and UHS-II SD/microSD | Plugable can stand in for separate accessories on those regular jobs. |
| USB-A | Three 10Gb/s | Two 10Gb/s and one 5Gb/s | Either takes three A plugs, though the per-port limits differ. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Even when the hub is small, a separate card reader or network adapter can still add clutter.
With Plugable TBT-UDT3
- Every TB accessory port supplies 15W, whatever the higher 140W host headline says. A demanding portable screen may still need power of its own.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Ordinary USB-C accessories and 90W charging are all the desk needs
Go with CalDigit Element 5 Hub. Element 5 keeps those C devices from taking up TB branches.
Needs for networking, a card reader and higher host power come up routinely
Go with Plugable TBT-UDT3. TBT-UDT3 moves those jobs inside the dock.
Decision guide
Before you buy
A small setup is good only if the camera, network cable and laptop charger still have somewhere to plug in.
What this page can’t tell you
- External power is required on both. No claim is made about measured speed, reliability, call quality or charging time. A free USB-C data socket cannot serve as another video output.
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 |
|
| |
| Plugable TBT-UDT3 |
|
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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
The 90W power limit suits your supported laptop, and you want two ordinary USB-C data sockets that do not use up TB branches.
You already have Wi-Fi and an audio setup for the desk, and built-in card readers are not something you use regularly.
See price & reviews on AmazonPlugable TBT-UDT3
Ethernet or UHS-II cards are part of your routine, and a supported laptop can take up to 140W PD 3.1.
The screens and drive fit on three TB branches, and its USB-A sockets take your other accessories.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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