The catch
CalDigit TS4
98W is the host power, and there are two downstream Thunderbolt ports. Two USB-C screens can fill both, unless one goes over the direct DisplayPort route.
Side by side
TS4 vs TS5 from CalDigit: TS4 plugs in more USB-A gear, TS5 brings a third Thunderbolt branch
Quick verdict
The TS5 gives you a third downstream Thunderbolt port, but the TS4 can keep more of your existing USB-A equipment plugged in. For a desk centered on older USB-A accessories, or a supported Thunderbolt 3 Windows laptop, go with the TS4. For two compatible USB-C screens plus a Thunderbolt drive, or a supported laptop that can take advantage of its 140W charging, go with the TS5. Keep in mind that the TS5 has no direct DisplayPort socket, and that neither dock gives a basic M1 or M2 Mac laptop a second native screen.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Tally up your older accessories before you replace a hub that works
A webcam, a USB microphone, a keyboard receiver and an older external drive already add up to four USB-A connections, before any camera cable shows up. TS4 has five fast USB-A sockets. TS5 has two A sockets and only one of them runs at 10Gb/s, so after the upgrade the same desk may need adapters or another hub. That does not make every accessory a high-bandwidth device. A keyboard or mouse can use the USB 2.0 socket, and cables you can replace may move other devices to USB-C. TS5 makes more sense when those changes are already in your plan. If you want to keep familiar equipment plugged in without extra pieces, the older layout of TS4 can be the simpler purchase.
Where this comes from
Four example USB-A devices set against five TS4 sockets versus two TS5 sockets, one of which is USB 2.0. This is socket accounting and not a measured bandwidth requirement for the named device types. Check whether cables are replaceable and whether devices are compatible.
The catch
CalDigit TS5
There is just one fast USB-A socket alongside a USB 2.0 socket, no direct DisplayPort, and no Thunderbolt 3 Windows support.
CalDigit TS4
- Why pick it
- Several USB-A accessories or a DisplayPort monitor are in play, and you would rather not add a hub or a video adapter.
- The desk still has to serve a supported Thunderbolt 3 Windows laptop. Look up what displays that laptop supports and whether 98W of charging is enough for it.
- The catch
- 98W is the host power, and there are two downstream Thunderbolt ports. Two USB-C screens can fill both, unless one goes over the direct DisplayPort route.
CalDigit TS5
- Why pick it
- Three direct downstream branches are needed for two compatible USB-C displays and a Thunderbolt drive, and the host has to support both screens.
- Your supported modern laptop can take advantage of PD 3.1 charging above 98W, and your gear works with the revised port layout.
- The catch
- There is just one fast USB-A socket alongside a USB 2.0 socket, no direct DisplayPort, and no Thunderbolt 3 Windows support.
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What this page compares
CalDigit TS4 vs TS5 if you run two monitors, a Thunderbolt SSD and older desk accessories. See which of the two removes adapters and which can bring new ones.
The newer of these CalDigit desktop docks succeeds the older, and both do the same laptop, monitor and peripheral job. The newer generation reshapes the connections and does more than raise their maximum speed.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Direct branches are needed for two USB-C screens and one TB drive
Three downstream TB ports are on TS5. TS4 needs another screen route or a suitable chain.
- CalDigit TS4
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5
- Better fit
Four USB-A accessories need to stay directly connected
TS4 offers five USB-A sockets, while TS5 offers two, one of which is USB 2.0.
- CalDigit TS4
- Better fit
- CalDigit TS5
- Caution
The work laptop is a TB3 Windows model that is supported
TB3 Windows is excluded on TS5. TS4 still calls for exact-host checks.
- CalDigit TS4
- Better fit
- CalDigit TS5
- Not suitable
Two native external screens are needed on a basic M1 or M2 Mac
That laptop's one-screen native limit is not overridden by either native dock.
- CalDigit TS4
- Not suitable
- CalDigit TS5
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
Tally up your older accessories before you replace a hub that works
A webcam, a USB microphone, a keyboard receiver and an older external drive already add up to four USB-A connections, before any camera cable shows up. TS4 has five fast USB-A sockets. TS5 has two A sockets and only one of them runs at 10Gb/s, so after the upgrade the same desk may need adapters or another hub. That does not make every accessory a high-bandwidth device. A keyboard or mouse can use the USB 2.0 socket, and cables you can replace may move other devices to USB-C. TS5 makes more sense when those changes are already in your plan. If you want to keep familiar equipment plugged in without extra pieces, the older layout of TS4 can be the simpler purchase.
How we worked this out
Four example USB-A devices set against five TS4 sockets versus two TS5 sockets, one of which is USB 2.0. This is socket accounting and not a measured bandwidth requirement for the named device types. Check whether cables are replaceable and whether devices are compatible.
Which cable a monitor takes can decide whether the photo drive has a place to plug in
Two USB-C monitors and a Thunderbolt SSD call for three direct downstream branches. TS5 provides all three, provided the laptop supports those screens. TS4 provides two, so if both go to monitors the drive has no direct connection to the dock. Look at the monitors before choosing TS5. When one of them also takes DisplayPort, TS4 can send video out of its full-size DP output and keep a Thunderbolt port for the drive. That can preserve your existing dock plan at the cost of one different monitor cable. If both screens need their USB-C or Thunderbolt route, TS5 spares you that rearrangement. Neither arrangement guarantees the SSD's advertised speed while displays and other devices share the host link.
How we worked this out
2 display branches + 1 storage branch = 3. TS4 offers 2 TB branches plus DP and TS5 offers 3 TB branches. What is evaluated is connector occupancy, with host display support and monitor inputs left explicit.
A newer personal laptop should not leave the older work machine stranded
A shared home desk may switch back and forth between a new personal laptop and an employer-issued Thunderbolt 3 Windows machine. Support for that older Windows connection is documented for TS4 and explicitly excluded for TS5. Upgrading the dock can therefore break the weekday half of a setup that works well on the new computer. If the work laptop is staying, TS4 is the sensible starting point, subject to the laptop's exact display capability and charging requirement. TS5 is easier to justify once every host you plan to use is supported. A USB-C-shaped socket alone is not enough evidence. Read the laptop specification, and keep the original charger handy if the workload or charging design needs it.
How we worked this out
The documented TB3 Windows support boundary, applied to swapping hosts by hand between work and personal laptops. There is no claim that all early TB3 systems support two monitors or charging.
Option A
CalDigit, TS4-US 500971
CalDigit TS4
Several USB-A accessories or a DisplayPort monitor are in play, and you would rather not add a hub or a video adapter.
- Best for
- Several USB-A accessories or a DisplayPort monitor are in play, and you would rather not add a hub or a video adapter.
Facts we checked
- Older USB-A equipment: Five USB-A sockets at 10Gb/s each
- Thunderbolt branches: Two downstream TB4 ports
- DisplayPort monitor: One full-size DisplayPort 1.4 output
- Laptop charging: Up to 98W
Option B
CalDigit, TBT5-TS5-US-AMZ
CalDigit TS5
Three direct downstream branches are needed for two compatible USB-C displays and a Thunderbolt drive, and the host has to support both screens.
- Best for
- Three direct downstream branches are needed for two compatible USB-C displays and a Thunderbolt drive, and the host has to support both screens.
Facts we checked
- Older USB-A equipment: One USB-A 10Gb/s and one USB-A USB 2.0
- Thunderbolt branches: Three downstream TB5 ports
- DisplayPort monitor: No fixed DisplayPort or HDMI output
- Laptop charging: Up to 140W for compatible PD 3.1 hosts
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | CalDigit TS4 | CalDigit TS5 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Older USB-A equipment | Five USB-A sockets at 10Gb/s each | One USB-A 10Gb/s and one USB-A USB 2.0 | Even with a faster host connection, the equipment already on the desk may get fewer direct connections. |
| Thunderbolt branches | Two downstream TB4 ports | Three downstream TB5 ports | With two USB-C screens, TS4 has zero direct TB branches left, and TS5 has one. |
| DisplayPort monitor | One full-size DisplayPort 1.4 output | No fixed DisplayPort or HDMI output | A DP screen connects to TS4 without using up a downstream TB port. |
| Laptop charging | Up to 98W | Up to 140W for compatible PD 3.1 hosts | Some workloads still call for the original charger, and the laptop must be able to accept the higher power. |
| Older Windows host | Thunderbolt 3 Windows supported with host-specific limits | Thunderbolt 3 Windows unsupported | A dock upgrade aimed at the personal computer can stop working for an older work laptop. |
| Wired home network | 2.5GbE requires Thunderbolt or USB4 PCIe tunneling | 2.5GbE has the same PCIe requirement | Falling back to ordinary USB-C loses Ethernet on either dock. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With CalDigit TS4
- For a third Thunderbolt device you may need a suitable chain, another host connection or a different display route. Check this before you buy another hub.
With CalDigit TS5
- Set aside money for compatible adapters if you keep HDMI or DisplayPort screens. A USB-C-only fallback loses the built-in Ethernet connection.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your current USB-A gear or a TB3 Windows laptop has to stay in use
Go with CalDigit TS4. TS4 carries that connection plan over with fewer changes.
Three direct TB branches or compatible 140W host power are a must
Go with CalDigit TS5. Those features come with TS5, provided the host and displays support them.
Decision guide
Before you buy
The goal is a single cable to the laptop while the webcam, microphone, screens and storage you already own keep working.
What this page can’t tell you
- Nothing here names a winner on measured speed, charging time or reliability. Port counts say nothing about running every port at full bandwidth at once, and the number of displays depends on the host and the screen modes you pick.
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 |
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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 TS4
Several USB-A accessories or a DisplayPort monitor are in play, and you would rather not add a hub or a video adapter.
The desk still has to serve a supported Thunderbolt 3 Windows laptop. Look up what displays that laptop supports and whether 98W of charging is enough for it.
See price & reviews on AmazonCalDigit TS5
Three direct downstream branches are needed for two compatible USB-C displays and a Thunderbolt drive, and the host has to support both screens.
Your supported modern laptop can take advantage of PD 3.1 charging above 98W, and your gear works with the revised port layout.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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