The catch
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
It has no Ethernet, audio or card reader. With a 90W host maximum, the original laptop charger may have to stay plugged in.
Side by side
Element 5 vs TS5 from CalDigit: Element 5 serves the simpler desk, TS5 brings the connections that are missing
Quick verdict
Three Thunderbolt branches come on both docks, but the TS5 adds Ethernet, card readers and higher host power. The Element 5 is enough when Wi-Fi, the audio you already have and 90W charging take care of your supported laptop. If camera imports, wired networking or compatible charging above 90W are part of your routine, the TS5 is the better choice. Two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt drive fit the branch count on either dock, and neither overrides the laptop’s native display limit.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The small hub can end up surrounded by a cluster of adapters
Take a weekend photographer who works from home and needs wired networking, a camera-card reader and a drive once the shoot is done. Element 5 handles the drive connection, but the network adapter and the reader are extra pieces. TS5 builds in both of those functions. If you use both every week, compare everything that ends up on the desk, including the dock itself. Element 5 stays a good fit when Wi-Fi is already good enough or an existing reader is staying regardless. It also has three fast USB-A sockets, so keeping those external accessories is possible. What matters is what you want to plug in and pack away. No transfer-time saving is assumed.
Where this comes from
Element 5’s full inventory has no Ethernet and no card readers, while TS5 includes 2.5GbE and UHS-II readers. How many adapters you add depends on those two household jobs, and it is not a claim that every buyer needs them.
The catch
CalDigit TS5
It has only two USB-A sockets, one of them USB 2.0, and no fixed HDMI or DisplayPort. Ethernet depends on a compatible PCIe host path.
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Why pick it
- A 90W charging budget is enough for your supported laptop, and you can do without built-in networking or card readers.
- Three direct branches serve two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt SSD, and no extra display adapters are needed.
- The catch
- It has no Ethernet, audio or card reader. With a 90W host maximum, the original laptop charger may have to stay plugged in.
CalDigit TS5
- Why pick it
- Copying camera cards and using wired networking happen at this desk, so built-in readers and 2.5GbE take the place of separate accessories.
- Your supported PD 3.1 laptop can take charging above 90W, and the port layout on the TS5 suits the gear you keep.
- The catch
- It has only two USB-A sockets, one of them USB 2.0, and no fixed HDMI or DisplayPort. Ethernet depends on a compatible PCIe host path.
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What this page compares
Element 5 vs TS5 if you have USB-C monitors, camera cards and a laptop that leaves the desk. Add up the extra adapters before settling on the smaller hub.
Both are current CalDigit options for a supported laptop with several Thunderbolt devices. What you are really deciding is whether the smaller hub handles your whole routine or needs accessories to behave like a full dock.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Direct branches are needed for three TB devices
Each has three branches, depending on the exact screen and host support.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Good
- CalDigit TS5
- Good
Camera cards and wired networking come up every week
For both functions, Element 5 relies on external adapters.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5
- Better fit
A supported laptop needs more than 90W of USB charging
A compatible PD 3.1 host can get up to 140W from TS5.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5
- Better fit
Three USB-A accessories ought to stay plugged in directly
TS5’s two A sockets include a USB 2.0 one, while Element 5 has three.
- CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Better fit
- CalDigit TS5
- Caution
In practice
Differences you will notice
The small hub can end up surrounded by a cluster of adapters
Take a weekend photographer who works from home and needs wired networking, a camera-card reader and a drive once the shoot is done. Element 5 handles the drive connection, but the network adapter and the reader are extra pieces. TS5 builds in both of those functions. If you use both every week, compare everything that ends up on the desk, including the dock itself. Element 5 stays a good fit when Wi-Fi is already good enough or an existing reader is staying regardless. It also has three fast USB-A sockets, so keeping those external accessories is possible. What matters is what you want to plug in and pack away. No transfer-time saving is assumed.
How we worked this out
Element 5’s full inventory has no Ethernet and no card readers, while TS5 includes 2.5GbE and UHS-II readers. How many adapters you add depends on those two household jobs, and it is not a claim that every buyer needs them.
Moving to a bigger dock does not open up room for a fourth Thunderbolt device
On either model, two USB-C monitors and one Thunderbolt-only SSD take up all three direct branches. If you want a second Thunderbolt drive for a separate backup, switching from Element 5 to TS5 will not fix that port shortage by itself. See whether a monitor supports a suitable downstream chain, whether the laptop has another free Thunderbolt port, or whether the backup device can work over an ordinary USB connection. Each of these routes needs its own compatibility check. TS5 may still improve networking or charging, but it does not add the missing direct branch. Knowing that keeps you from upgrading for the wrong reason.
How we worked this out
On both docks, 2 monitor branches + 1 TB-only SSD =3. A second TB-only drive would need a fourth direct branch or some other verified route. It is not assumed that every monitor supports daisy chaining.
Whether the charger can stay in the travel bag is part of the decision
When the laptop goes to work every morning, the most convenient setup lets its original charger stay packed. Element 5 supplies 90W, while TS5 can supply up to 140W to a compatible PD 3.1 laptop. If the machine’s documented requirement and usual workload go beyond what 90W can provide, TS5 may spare you from unpacking that charger at home. That will not hold for every laptop, since some accept less over USB-C or require a proprietary charger for demanding work. Check that limit first. If 90W comfortably serves your laptop, the higher headline figure changes nothing about the daily packing routine.
How we worked this out
Documented maximums of 90W and 140W are weighed against a charger that travels between locations. Laptop acceptance and workload are stated unknowns. Nothing is inferred about charging time or battery health.
Option A
CalDigit, TBT5-ELEMENT5-US-AMZ
CalDigit Element 5 Hub
A 90W charging budget is enough for your supported laptop, and you can do without built-in networking or card readers.
- Best for
- A 90W charging budget is enough for your supported laptop, and you can do without built-in networking or card readers.
Facts we checked
- Direct TB branches: Three downstream TB5, 15W each
- Host charging: 90W sustained maximum
- Wired network: No Ethernet port
- Camera cards: No card reader
Option B
CalDigit, TBT5-TS5-US-AMZ
CalDigit TS5
Copying camera cards and using wired networking happen at this desk, so built-in readers and 2.5GbE take the place of separate accessories.
- Best for
- Copying camera cards and using wired networking happen at this desk, so built-in readers and 2.5GbE take the place of separate accessories.
Facts we checked
- Direct TB branches: Three downstream TB5, 15W each
- Host charging: 140W maximum on compatible PD 3.1 hosts
- Wired network: 2.5GbE requires PCIe tunneling
- Camera cards: UHS-II SD and microSD
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | CalDigit Element 5 Hub | CalDigit TS5 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct TB branches | Three downstream TB5, 15W each | Three downstream TB5, 15W each | The larger dock gives no fourth direct branch for screens or storage. |
| Host charging | 90W sustained maximum | 140W maximum on compatible PD 3.1 hosts | How many charging cables stay on the desk can depend on how demanding the laptop is. |
| Wired network | No Ethernet port | 2.5GbE requires PCIe tunneling | Each extra adapter on the smaller hub costs money, space and a data socket. |
| Camera cards | No card reader | UHS-II SD and microSD | Regular camera imports may gain more from this than occasional phone transfers do. |
| USB-A accessories | Three USB-A 10Gb/s | One USB-A 10Gb/s and one USB-A USB 2.0 | The smaller hub takes more USB-A plugs directly. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With CalDigit Element 5 Hub
- Count any network adapter, card reader and separate charger as part of the physical setup before you judge its smaller chassis.
With CalDigit TS5
- Extra host power helps only when the laptop accepts it. It does not mean a faster charge or stronger performance.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
The desk as it stands needs only the three TB branches and ordinary USB
Go with CalDigit Element 5 Hub. Element 5 handles that arrangement and carries no network or reader functions that would go unused.
Card readers, networking or compatible charging above 90W are everyday needs
Go with CalDigit TS5. TS5 puts those functions in the same box.
Decision guide
Before you buy
A smaller desk setup is the aim, with no need for separate boxes to handle the jobs you do every week.
What this page can’t tell you
- Nothing here compares measured speed, charging time or reliability. Both docks need external power, and three TB sockets do not guarantee three independent native screens.
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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| |
| CalDigit TS5 |
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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
A 90W charging budget is enough for your supported laptop, and you can do without built-in networking or card readers.
Three direct branches serve two compatible USB-C screens and a Thunderbolt SSD, and no extra display adapters are needed.
See price & reviews on AmazonCalDigit TS5
Copying camera cards and using wired networking happen at this desk, so built-in readers and 2.5GbE take the place of separate accessories.
Your supported PD 3.1 laptop can take charging above 90W, and the port layout on the TS5 suits the gear you keep.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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