The catch
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
Its two TB ports supply only 15W each. Front USB-C charging does not carry video, and 8TB is the supported capacity. No included storage is verified.
Side by side
UGREEN Maxidok U716 vs CalDigit TS5 Plus docks: UGREEN has local storage built in, TS5 Plus links up with a ready 10GbE NAS
Quick verdict
An internal NVMe slot is what UGREEN brings, and the TS5 Plus brings 10GbE and higher downstream TB power. If your working storage should live inside the dock and 2.5GbE is enough, pick UGREEN. If you have a 10GbE NAS path ready, five USB-A accessories or a compatible TB device that needs more than 15W, pick the TS5 Plus. Any SSD that comes with UGREEN should be confirmed against its exact seller package. The Plus needs the right host and, on Windows, its network driver.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Decide where the files need to live before picking the faster dock
If you edit at a single desk, UGREEN’s internal SSD slot can take the place of an external enclosure. A household that shares the same files between computers may get more from a NAS, and that is where TS5 Plus’s 10GbE connection comes in. The advantage depends on the NAS, the switch or direct connection, and the storage supporting a useful faster path. If the NAS is still on Gigabit, both dock connections run into that neighboring link ceiling. UGREEN’s internal drive also does not turn into a NAS once the laptop is unplugged. These are different ways of organizing files, and they come with different equipment costs.
Where this comes from
UGREEN’s internally attached NVMe and 2.5GbE are set against Plus’s external storage and 10GbE. On a stated 1GbE adjacent link, both negotiate no higher than 1Gb/s. No transfer-time or automatic sharing claim is made.
The catch
CalDigit TS5 Plus
There is no internal SSD bay. 10GbE on Windows needs a driver, and a slower switch or NAS can cancel the network advantage.
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Why pick it
- Working storage should sit inside the dock. Check what storage is included and budget for a separate backup.
- Your network is 2.5GbE or slower, and three ordinary USB-A sockets handle the gear you keep.
- The catch
- Its two TB ports supply only 15W each. Front USB-C charging does not carry video, and 8TB is the supported capacity. No included storage is verified.
CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Why pick it
- With your NAS, switch and storage in place and the Windows driver allowed, a 10GbE connection is worth having.
- You have a compatible downstream TB accessory that needs up to 36W, or five USB-A devices you want to keep plugged in directly.
- The catch
- There is no internal SSD bay. 10GbE on Windows needs a driver, and a slower switch or NAS can cancel the network advantage.
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What this page compares
UGREEN U716 vs TS5 Plus for local files, shared NAS storage and portable screens. Find out which other gear makes the premium dock useful.
These are full TB5 docks, each with two downstream TB ports, fixed DisplayPort and 140W host power. Their premium functions address different storage and accessory problems for the same kind of workstation buyer.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Working storage needs to live inside the dock
UGREEN has an NVMe slot. Check which drive is included and whether it is compatible.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Better fit
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Caution
The entire NAS path is set up for 10GbE
Plus offers 10GbE, provided the host, driver and storage check out.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Not suitable
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
A video accessory explicitly requires compatible 20W power
UGREEN’s TB ports give 15W and Plus’s give 36W. Check the PD profiles.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
Five USB-A devices ought to stay connected directly
Plus has five A sockets and UGREEN three.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
In practice
Differences you will notice
Decide where the files need to live before picking the faster dock
If you edit at a single desk, UGREEN’s internal SSD slot can take the place of an external enclosure. A household that shares the same files between computers may get more from a NAS, and that is where TS5 Plus’s 10GbE connection comes in. The advantage depends on the NAS, the switch or direct connection, and the storage supporting a useful faster path. If the NAS is still on Gigabit, both dock connections run into that neighboring link ceiling. UGREEN’s internal drive also does not turn into a NAS once the laptop is unplugged. These are different ways of organizing files, and they come with different equipment costs.
How we worked this out
UGREEN’s internally attached NVMe and 2.5GbE are set against Plus’s external storage and 10GbE. On a stated 1GbE adjacent link, both negotiate no higher than 1Gb/s. No transfer-time or automatic sharing claim is made.
The 60W label on the front does not tell you what power a video cable gets
The two higher-power front C sockets on UGREEN share 60W, but they carry no video. A portable monitor connected over Thunderbolt gets up to 15W from that TB port, while TS5 Plus offers up to 36W through each TB branch. If the monitor explicitly needs a compatible 20W input for its intended mode, UGREEN may need a second power cable and Plus has enough stated wattage. Confirm voltage, current and cable compatibility before you expect one-cable use. If 15W fully serves the screen, this advantage can vanish. Always read the power figure next to the actual video port.
How we worked this out
A conditional 20W display requirement is compared with the 15W and 36W TB limits. UGREEN’s ordinary front 60W shared budget is a separate circuit and carries no video. Wattage alone does not establish PD-profile compatibility.
Five older plugs may justify an upgrade better than a faster headline does
A USB microphone, a webcam, an input receiver and two USB drives can call for five A sockets. TS5 Plus has five fast A ports and UGREEN has three. If these exact devices need to stay connected between work calls and evening editing, Plus can spare you a separate hub or several compatible adapters. That does not mean every named device needs 10Gb/s, and a keyboard receiver is a low-bandwidth example. The benefit lies in the number of direct connections. If some cables can switch to USB-C, or one drive is replaced by UGREEN’s internal SSD, the smaller A count may be enough.
How we worked this out
Five example USB-A connections are set against Plus’s five sockets and UGREEN’s three. Internal storage or compatible cable changes can alter the count. There is no guarantee of simultaneous full speed.
Option A
UGREEN, U716 85590F
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
Working storage should sit inside the dock. Check what storage is included and budget for a separate backup.
- Best for
- Working storage should sit inside the dock. Check what storage is included and budget for a separate backup.
Facts we checked
- Working storage: Internal NVMe slot up to 8TB
- Local network: 2.5GbE
- Downstream TB power: Two ports at up to 15W each
- USB-A accessories: Three 10Gb/s sockets
Option B
CalDigit, TBT5-TS5Plus-US-AMZ
CalDigit TS5 Plus
With your NAS, switch and storage in place and the Windows driver allowed, a 10GbE connection is worth having.
- Best for
- With your NAS, switch and storage in place and the Windows driver allowed, a 10GbE connection is worth having.
Facts we checked
- Working storage: External storage only
- Local network: 10GbE with Windows driver
- Downstream TB power: Two ports at up to 36W each
- USB-A accessories: Five 10Gb/s sockets
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1 | CalDigit TS5 Plus | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working storage | Internal NVMe slot up to 8TB | External storage only | Settle whether the files should live locally in the dock or on shared storage. |
| Local network | 2.5GbE | 10GbE with Windows driver | Whether the higher network ceiling helps depends on the NAS and switch you have connected. |
| Downstream TB power | Two ports at up to 15W each | Two ports at up to 36W each | A compatible portable screen that draws more power can change which cable plan is cleaner. |
| USB-A accessories | Three 10Gb/s sockets | Five 10Gb/s sockets | A camera, audio and input setup you already own can fill all three quickly. |
| Display routes | Two TB5 plus DisplayPort | Two TB5 plus DisplayPort | After two USB-C screens, neither dock automatically has a third direct TB branch left. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- An internal SSD keeps the files at the desk. Add a separate backup, and check which drive format is supported.
With CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Factor in any network upgrade that is required. The dock by itself cannot make a Gigabit household network run at 10GbE.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Internal storage kept local is useful and the gear around it fits
Go with UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1. UGREEN can take that drive inside without an external enclosure to buy.
A limit goes away with ready 10GbE, higher TB accessory power or five A plugs
Go with CalDigit TS5 Plus. Plus can fix those particular connection constraints.
Decision guide
Before you buy
A more capable desk is the goal, though not at the price of a storage path that the rest of the equipment cannot use.
What this page can’t tell you
- No claim is made about measured throughput, charging time or screen brightness. A port’s maximum power does not guarantee a peripheral will be compatible.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1 |
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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.
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
Working storage should sit inside the dock. Check what storage is included and budget for a separate backup.
Your network is 2.5GbE or slower, and three ordinary USB-A sockets handle the gear you keep.
See price & reviews on AmazonCalDigit TS5 Plus
With your NAS, switch and storage in place and the Windows driver allowed, a 10GbE connection is worth having.
You have a compatible downstream TB accessory that needs up to 36W, or five USB-A devices you want to keep plugged in directly.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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