The catch
CalDigit TS4
It uses a separate power brick and supplies the host with 98W. Ethernet needs a Thunderbolt or PCIe-capable USB4 connection, so it is not available over ordinary USB-C fallback.
Side by side
CalDigit TS4 vs Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 docks: More fast USB-A gear stays connected on TS4, Anker gets rid of the power brick
Quick verdict
Five 10Gb/s USB-A sockets are on the TS4, while the Anker has its power supply built in. If several fast USB-A devices, UHS-II camera cards or a supported older Thunderbolt computer matter to you, take the CalDigit. If you have a supported modern host and the up-to-140W charging and brick-free power layout fix your desk, take the Anker. The TS4 supplies 98W. The Anker does not support Thunderbolt 3 hosts or displays, and its HDMI and DisplayPort cannot be used together.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The faster photo copying can be lost at the card reader
A UHS-II camera card plugged into Anker’s UHS-I reader still will not run as a UHS-II connection. The TS4 has the faster reader interface even though it belongs to the older Thunderbolt generation. When importing cards is the step that keeps slowing you down, choosing Anker and adding a separate UHS-II reader uses up another USB socket and puts an extra accessory on the desk. That reader may be worth it, but count it in the purchase. How fast copying goes depends on the card and the destination drive, so treat this as a compatibility advantage and not a promise of minutes saved.
Where this comes from
Rests on the documented reader interfaces and external USB connections. No import speed was measured, and no assumption is made that every UHS-II card fills its interface.
The catch
Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
It has three USB-A sockets and UHS-I readers. TB3 hosts and displays are not supported, and just one of HDMI or DisplayPort can be active at a time.
CalDigit TS4
- Why pick it
- You want to keep five USB-A accessories plugged in with no extra hub, devices that need a fast data path among them.
- Copying from UHS-II cards, or using a supported Thunderbolt 3 host, is part of your regular routine.
- The catch
- It uses a separate power brick and supplies the host with 98W. Ethernet needs a Thunderbolt or PCIe-capable USB4 connection, so it is not available over ordinary USB-C fallback.
Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Why pick it
- Your compatible laptop can take more than 98W of USB power, and you want the dock’s supply built into the enclosure.
- With a supported modern host and an HDMI monitor, the fixed HDMI output is worth more to you than extra USB-A sockets.
- The catch
- It has three USB-A sockets and UHS-I readers. TB3 hosts and displays are not supported, and just one of HDMI or DisplayPort can be active at a time.
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What this page compares
CalDigit TS4 vs Anker Prime A83B5 for a desk that serves work and photos. Weigh support for an older laptop, camera-card copying, accessories and the whole power setup.
For a desk that serves both work and hobbies, a well-established premium TB4 dock and a newer full TB5 dock are both realistic choices. In practice, the equipment you already own separates them more than the newer protocol number does.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Give five USB-A devices direct sockets
Five sockets on the TS4, three on the Anker.
- CalDigit TS4
- Better fit
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Caution
Read compatible camera cards with a built-in UHS-II reader
The UHS-II interface is on the TS4.
- CalDigit TS4
- Better fit
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Caution
Get rid of the dock’s separate power brick
Anker builds in its supply.
- CalDigit TS4
- Caution
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Better fit
Supply a compatible laptop with more than 98W via USB
Anker goes up to 140W, provided the charging conditions are supported.
- CalDigit TS4
- Caution
- Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
The faster photo copying can be lost at the card reader
A UHS-II camera card plugged into Anker’s UHS-I reader still will not run as a UHS-II connection. The TS4 has the faster reader interface even though it belongs to the older Thunderbolt generation. When importing cards is the step that keeps slowing you down, choosing Anker and adding a separate UHS-II reader uses up another USB socket and puts an extra accessory on the desk. That reader may be worth it, but count it in the purchase. How fast copying goes depends on the card and the destination drive, so treat this as a compatibility advantage and not a promise of minutes saved.
How we worked this out
Rests on the documented reader interfaces and external USB connections. No import speed was measured, and no assumption is made that every UHS-II card fills its interface.
Check a shared desk against the oldest computer that will use it
Both docks may work with a newer personal laptop, but a Thunderbolt 3 work computer you plan to keep changes the picture. Anker explicitly rules out TB3 hosts and displays. The TS4 supports the relevant older hosts, though exact operating-system and display checks are still needed. Falling back to plain USB-C on the TS4 does not equal Thunderbolt either, since its Ethernet depends on PCIe and drops out on a basic USB-C connection. Write down both computers and any Thunderbolt display before you order. A shared desk is only convenient if whoever sits down with the weaker machine can still get the connections they need.
How we worked this out
Built on manufacturer exclusions for hosts and displays and on the TS4 PCIe Ethernet requirement. There is no blanket promise for every older machine or USB-C port.
The brick-free dock may need a USB hub instead
Add up a webcam, a microphone, a keyboard receiver, a capture device and an external drive and you get five USB-A connections. The TS4 has five fast sockets and the Anker has three. Some of those devices could use suitable USB-C cables instead, and a low-speed receiver has no need for a 10Gb/s link. Count the plugs you really use before you add a hub. Anker’s integrated power supply gets rid of a separate brick, but a USB hub on top of it eats into that tidy-desk benefit. On the other hand, with just three devices and a compatible high-power laptop, Anker’s integrated supply and higher host power make for the simpler layout. A socket count says nothing about every device running at full speed at the same time.
How we worked this out
An illustrative five-device connection plan, with the verified five versus three USB-A sockets and the placement of the power supply. Cable swaps are conditional, and shared bandwidth is still a limit.
Option A
CalDigit, TS4-US 500971
CalDigit TS4
You want to keep five USB-A accessories plugged in with no extra hub, devices that need a fast data path among them.
- Best for
- You want to keep five USB-A accessories plugged in with no extra hub, devices that need a fast data path among them.
Facts we checked
- Fast USB-A sockets: Five at 10Gb/s
- Camera-card reader interface: UHS-II SD and microSD
- Host power: 98W sustained
- Power supply placement: Separate 230W supply
Option B
Anker, A83B5
Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
Your compatible laptop can take more than 98W of USB power, and you want the dock’s supply built into the enclosure.
- Best for
- Your compatible laptop can take more than 98W of USB power, and you want the dock’s supply built into the enclosure.
Facts we checked
- Fast USB-A sockets: Three at 10Gb/s
- Camera-card reader interface: UHS-I SD and microSD
- Host power: Up to 140W
- Power supply placement: Integrated supply
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | CalDigit TS4 | Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast USB-A sockets | Five at 10Gb/s | Three at 10Gb/s | Five devices may mean adding a separate hub to the Anker. |
| Camera-card reader interface | UHS-II SD and microSD | UHS-I SD and microSD | A UHS-I reader stays UHS-I, even with a UHS-II card. |
| Host power | 98W sustained | Up to 140W | Match the exact laptop’s supported charging against its workload. |
| Power supply placement | Separate 230W supply | Integrated supply | Clearing the desk means counting the brick and cables too. |
| Thunderbolt 3 compatibility | Supported hosts subject to exact limits | TB3 hosts and displays excluded | Moving to a newer dock can cost you compatibility with gear you already own. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With CalDigit TS4
- Look up exactly what displays the older host supports. A demanding laptop could still need its original charger.
With Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
- If your existing equipment calls for a separate UHS-II reader or USB hub, include it. Verify the host and display matrix.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Current USB gear, camera cards or older hosts come first
Go with CalDigit TS4. After the exact compatibility checks, the TS4 keeps the connections that matter.
Power for a modern host and a simpler supply layout come first
Go with Anker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5. Anker suits that setup and needs no separate dock brick.
Decision guide
Before you buy
A tidier desk and a modern dock sound good, as long as you do not end up adding adapters for the camera cards, USB gear or older computer that already work for you.
What this page can’t tell you
- Nothing here compares measured copy times or charging.
- The socket count says nothing about full bandwidth on all of them at once.
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 TS4 |
|
| |
| 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 TS4
You want to keep five USB-A accessories plugged in with no extra hub, devices that need a fast data path among them.
Copying from UHS-II cards, or using a supported Thunderbolt 3 host, is part of your regular routine.
See price & reviews on AmazonAnker Prime Thunderbolt 5 A83B5
Your compatible laptop can take more than 98W of USB power, and you want the dock’s supply built into the enclosure.
With a supported modern host and an HDMI monitor, the fixed HDMI output is worth more to you than extra USB-A sockets.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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