The catch
CalDigit TS5
One of the two USB-A sockets is USB 2.0, and downstream Thunderbolt power tops out at 15W per port.
Side by side
TS5 vs TS5 Plus from CalDigit: Three Thunderbolt branches on TS5, 10GbE on Plus
Quick verdict
Three direct Thunderbolt branches are the TS5’s strength, whereas the TS5 Plus brings 10GbE and extra accessory ports. For two compatible USB-C monitors and a Thunderbolt drive on a supported host, get the TS5. For a fast NAS path, five USB-A accessories, or a compatible accessory that wants more than 15W from a downstream Thunderbolt port, get the Plus. Host charging reaches 140W on both. The Plus has just two downstream Thunderbolt ports, and you should check its Windows Ethernet driver before you buy.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Plus can call for an adapter that the smaller TS5 does without
Take a desk with two USB-C monitors and a Thunderbolt SSD. The three downstream TB ports on TS5 match the three direct branches it needs, while Plus has two. Its DisplayPort socket can take one monitor only if that screen has a suitable input and cable, which leaves a TB port for the drive. That is why the larger dock does not automatically give you a cleaner desk. When both monitors rely on their USB-C or Thunderbolt connection, TS5 can spare you an extra hub, daisy chain or cable back to the laptop. When one screen already uses DisplayPort, the arrangement on Plus fits naturally. Check the host's supported screen count first, since spare sockets cannot create another native display stream.
Where this comes from
Two display branches plus one TB-only storage branch add up to three ports. TS5 gives three, while Plus gives two plus DP. This is a bounded inference about layout and does not prove that a suitable daisy chain is impossible.
The catch
CalDigit TS5 Plus
There are just two downstream Thunderbolt ports. USB-C-only hosts and TB3 Windows PCs are not supported, and 10GbE on Windows needs its driver.
CalDigit TS5
- Why pick it
- Each of your two USB-C or Thunderbolt screens and your one TB drive needs its own direct branch, and the host has to support the displays.
- Your network runs at 2.5GbE or slower, and the more modest set of ordinary USB-A sockets handles the gear you keep.
- The catch
- One of the two USB-A sockets is USB 2.0, and downstream Thunderbolt power tops out at 15W per port.
CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Why pick it
- Your NAS, switch, cabling and storage can make use of 10GbE, and the Windows network driver it requires is permitted.
- Your desk calls for five fast USB-A ports or a compatible downstream TB accessory that needs up to 36W, and two TB branches plus DisplayPort are enough to cover the layout.
- The catch
- There are just two downstream Thunderbolt ports. USB-C-only hosts and TB3 Windows PCs are not supported, and 10GbE on Windows needs its driver.
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What this page compares
TS5 vs TS5 Plus, judged by USB-C monitors, a home NAS and portable screens. Learn where the Plus upgrade helps and where its port layout complicates things.
These are both current 140W CalDigit Thunderbolt 5 docks for a permanent desk. If you are deciding whether Plus is worth the step up, map out the equipment around it and do not just count total sockets.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Direct connections are needed for two USB-C screens and a TB SSD
Three TB branches come with TS5, while Plus needs a suitable DP route or other arrangement.
- CalDigit TS5
- Better fit
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Caution
A 10GbE NAS path that is ready is required
Plus offers 10GbE. Check the entire path and permission for the Windows driver.
- CalDigit TS5
- Not suitable
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
Compatible 140W PD charging is needed for the laptop
The host maximum is the same on both. Workload and what the laptop accepts still matter.
- CalDigit TS5
- Good
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Good
A screen needs 20W, explicitly, over its compatible video cable
The TS5 TB ports give 15W, Plus gives 36W. Confirm the display PD profile and the cable.
- CalDigit TS5
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Plus can call for an adapter that the smaller TS5 does without
Take a desk with two USB-C monitors and a Thunderbolt SSD. The three downstream TB ports on TS5 match the three direct branches it needs, while Plus has two. Its DisplayPort socket can take one monitor only if that screen has a suitable input and cable, which leaves a TB port for the drive. That is why the larger dock does not automatically give you a cleaner desk. When both monitors rely on their USB-C or Thunderbolt connection, TS5 can spare you an extra hub, daisy chain or cable back to the laptop. When one screen already uses DisplayPort, the arrangement on Plus fits naturally. Check the host's supported screen count first, since spare sockets cannot create another native display stream.
How we worked this out
Two display branches plus one TB-only storage branch add up to three ports. TS5 gives three, while Plus gives two plus DP. This is a bounded inference about layout and does not prove that a suitable daisy chain is impossible.
A NAS upgrade pays off only once the slowest network link changes
A home office may need fast access to family video files while the NAS still connects through a 1GbE switch. With that arrangement, both docks hit the same 1Gb/s switch-link ceiling, and the 10GbE socket on Plus cannot lift it. A real case for Plus needs a compatible faster path through the switch or a direct NAS connection, along with storage that can deliver useful throughput. If the laptop is a Windows machine managed by an employer, add approval for the network driver to the plan. TS5 is the more proportionate choice when the network will stay at 2.5GbE or below. Plus pays off once the surrounding network is ready and large transfers really do interrupt your routine.
How we worked this out
In the explicit 1GbE-switch example, min(2.5, 1)=1 and min(10, 1)=1 Gb/s are the link ceilings. File throughput, internet speed, storage and protocol overhead are not calculated. The Windows driver requirement for Plus is a separate compatibility condition.
A portable screen needs power for video, and a spare charging socket is not enough
When a portable monitor sits beside a laptop for calls or reference documents, downstream power can matter more than laptop charging. Both docks offer 140W to the host, but each spare Thunderbolt port gives up to 15W on TS5 and up to 36W on Plus. If the exact display needs a compatible 20W input for the mode you intend, the TB output on TS5 falls short of that stated requirement, so a separate power connection may be necessary. Plus has more headroom, but confirm the monitor's accepted voltage, current and cable before expecting it to run on one cable. A front USB-C data-and-charging socket is not an alternative video output. If the monitor runs entirely within 15W, this advantage may disappear.
How we worked this out
A conditional example that explicitly assumes a 20W display requirement. 20>15 and 20<36 set power-budget boundaries only, and say nothing about protocol compatibility or observed brightness. Host power is 140W on both.
Option A
CalDigit, TBT5-TS5-US-AMZ
CalDigit TS5
Each of your two USB-C or Thunderbolt screens and your one TB drive needs its own direct branch, and the host has to support the displays.
- Best for
- Each of your two USB-C or Thunderbolt screens and your one TB drive needs its own direct branch, and the host has to support the displays.
Facts we checked
- Direct Thunderbolt branches: Three downstream TB5 ports
- Downstream TB power: Up to 15W per port
- Local network: 2.5GbE
- Ordinary USB-A: One 10Gb/s and one USB 2.0 socket
Option B
CalDigit, TBT5-TS5Plus-US-AMZ
CalDigit TS5 Plus
Your NAS, switch, cabling and storage can make use of 10GbE, and the Windows network driver it requires is permitted.
- Best for
- Your NAS, switch, cabling and storage can make use of 10GbE, and the Windows network driver it requires is permitted.
Facts we checked
- Direct Thunderbolt branches: Two downstream TB5 ports plus DisplayPort 2.1
- Downstream TB power: Up to 36W per port
- Local network: 10GbE, with Windows driver requirement
- Ordinary USB-A: Five 10Gb/s sockets
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | CalDigit TS5 | CalDigit TS5 Plus | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Thunderbolt branches | Three downstream TB5 ports | Two downstream TB5 ports plus DisplayPort 2.1 | If the screen supports it, moving to DisplayPort can free up a TB port on Plus. |
| Downstream TB power | Up to 15W per port | Up to 36W per port | The cleaner connection plan may change with a compatible higher-power portable display. |
| Local network | 2.5GbE | 10GbE, with Windows driver requirement | Look at the NAS and switch before you count the port difference as faster backups. |
| Ordinary USB-A | One 10Gb/s and one USB 2.0 socket | Five 10Gb/s sockets | Plus can keep a larger collection of older plug shapes connected with no second hub. |
| Host charging | Up to 140W | Up to 140W | Charging the laptop is no reason by itself to buy Plus. |
| Older host fallback | Qualified USB-C fallback, without built-in Ethernet | USB-C-only hosts unsupported | Before any speed comparison, a shared work laptop may rule Plus out. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With CalDigit TS5
- Separate power may be needed for a high-power portable screen. Ordinary front USB-C charging adds no video output.
With CalDigit TS5 Plus
- A faster network port on the dock does not speed up a slow switch or NAS. Count those extra equipment costs apart from the dock price.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Three direct TB branches matter more to the setup than faster networking
Go with CalDigit TS5. TS5 fits that layout and does not spend a branch on a display adapter.
A ready 10GbE setup or higher-power TB accessories alter the daily job
Go with CalDigit TS5 Plus. Those capabilities are available on Plus after host and peripheral compatibility is checked.
Decision guide
Before you buy
A more capable dock is the aim, as long as its added network and USB features do not cost you a connection your screens and drive already rely on.
What this page can’t tell you
- There is no promise about NAS throughput, portable-screen brightness or charging that works everywhere. What is listed here are documented connection and power limits. Either dock needs a compatible host and a check of the exact display modes.
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 TS5 |
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| CalDigit TS5 Plus |
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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 TS5
Each of your two USB-C or Thunderbolt screens and your one TB drive needs its own direct branch, and the host has to support the displays.
Your network runs at 2.5GbE or slower, and the more modest set of ordinary USB-A sockets handles the gear you keep.
See price & reviews on AmazonCalDigit TS5 Plus
Your NAS, switch, cabling and storage can make use of 10GbE, and the Windows network driver it requires is permitted.
Your desk calls for five fast USB-A ports or a compatible downstream TB accessory that needs up to 36W, and two TB branches plus DisplayPort are enough to cover the layout.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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