Comparison
Two CalDigit desk docks: Thunderbolt 3 at 15 ports, 87 W and 1 GbE against Thunderbolt 4 at 18 ports, 98 W and 2.5 GbE Ethernet.
A powered Thunderbolt 3 dock with fifteen ports, up to 87 W of laptop charging and dual 4K display support.
Full product researchTwo CalDigit desk docks, two Thunderbolt generations, and one decision that comes down to which laptop is on the desk. The TS3 Plus records the Thunderbolt 3 protocol, 15 ports, up to 87 W of laptop charging and 1 GbE Ethernet. The TS4 records Thunderbolt 4, 18 ports, up to 98 W of laptop charging and 2.5 GbE Ethernet.
Every value here comes from the specifications recorded against each product, and each carries the manufacturer page it was read from. Neither dock was connected for this comparison, so nothing here describes how either behaves with a particular machine.
Protocol. Thunderbolt 3 against Thunderbolt 4. The TS4's recorded USB ports include 3 Thunderbolt 4 at 40 Gb/s, 3 USB-C and 5 USB-A at 10 Gb/s, where the TS3 Plus records 5 USB-A at 5 Gb/s, 1 USB-C at 10 Gb/s at the rear and 1 USB-C at 5 Gb/s at the front.
Ports and card readers. Fifteen against eighteen. The TS3 Plus records SD 4.0 UHS-II card readers at up to 312 MB/s, and the TS4 records SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0 UHS-II, so the microSD slot is the practical difference in the card readers.
Charging. Up to 87 W against up to 98 W. Both record an external power supply as the power source, and the TS3 Plus records a 180 W adapter where the TS4's record gives no adapter figure. The TS4 also records a two year warranty, where no warranty is recorded for the TS3 Plus.
Ethernet. 1 GbE against 2.5 GbE. That is the difference between a gigabit network and a 2.5 gigabit one, and it only matters if the network and the laptop support it.
Displays. The TS3 Plus records two displays at up to 4K 60 Hz each, or one display at up to 5K 60 Hz over Thunderbolt. The TS4 records up to 8K on one display on compatible Windows computers, up to 6K on macOS and dual 6K on Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max.
There is a condition on the TS3 Plus's two-display figure that the manufacturer states. Apple M1 and M2 laptops support only one external display through their Thunderbolt port, while M1 Pro and M1 Max support two. On a base M1 or M2 Mac the two-display capability of the Thunderbolt 3 dock is not available, whatever the dock itself can do.
Size and weight. The TS3 Plus records 131 by 40 by 98.44 mm and 0.47 kg. The TS4 records 141 by 42 by 113 mm and 0.64 kg.
The TS3 Plus is the choice for a buyer with a Thunderbolt 3 laptop who wants 15 ports, up to 87 W of charging, a card reader and two displays, and who would rather have the smaller and lighter box at 0.47 kg.
The TS4 is the choice for a buyer who needs the Thunderbolt 4 protocol, 2.5 GbE Ethernet, a microSD slot, more charging headroom or the higher recorded display resolutions, and it is the one whose recorded display figures are not limited to two 4K displays.
It does not settle price, because no price is recorded for either dock. It does not settle compatibility between a Thunderbolt 3 dock and a Thunderbolt 4 host, because the catalogue holds no compatibility statement of any kind. It does not settle how the 87 W and 98 W charging figures divide when the docks' own ports are drawing power, nor how the card readers perform over sustained transfers. It does not settle availability.
What it does settle is the protocol, the port count, the charging figure, the Ethernet speed, the display support, the card readers and the recorded weight and dimensions on each side.
Methodology
How the products below were evaluated and chosen.
What this comparison settles
It settles the recorded protocol, port count, laptop charging, Ethernet, display support, card readers, weight and dimensions on each side, along with the manufacturer's condition on Apple M1 and M2 laptops. It does not settle price, availability, compatibility between a Thunderbolt 3 dock and a Thunderbolt 4 host, or how the charging figures divide under load.
At a glance
Values come from the structured product database, not from prose.
| Attribute | CalDigit TS3 Plus | CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Station |
|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Thunderbolt 3 | Thunderbolt 4 |
| Port count | 15 ports | 18 ports |
| Laptop charging | Up to 87 W | Up to 98 W |
| Ethernet | 1 GbE | 2.5 GbE |
| Display support | Two displays at up to 4K 60 Hz each, or one display at up to 5K 60 Hz over Thunderbolt. Apple M1 and M2 laptops support one external display through their Thunderbolt port, while M1 Pro and M1 Max support two | Up to 8K on one display on compatible Windows computers, up to 6K on macOS, dual 6K on Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max |
| Card readers | SD 4.0 UHS-II, up to 312 MB/s | SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0, UHS-II |
| Weight | 0.47 kg | 0.64 kg |
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Differences
The differences that change the buying decision.
Protocol and bandwidth: Thunderbolt 3 against Thunderbolt 4
The TS3 Plus records the protocol Thunderbolt 3 and the TS4 records Thunderbolt 4. The TS4's recorded USB ports include 3 Thunderbolt 4 at 40 Gb/s, 3 USB-C and 5 USB-A at 10 Gb/s, where the TS3 Plus records 5 USB-A at 5 Gb/s, 1 USB-C at 10 Gb/s at the rear and 1 USB-C at 5 Gb/s at the front.
Ports and card readers: 15 ports and SD against 18 ports and SD with microSD
The recorded port counts are fifteen and eighteen. The TS3 Plus records SD 4.0 UHS-II card readers at up to 312 MB/s, and the TS4 records SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0 UHS-II, so the extra card format is the practical difference inside the card readers.
Charging: up to 87 W against up to 98 W
The recorded laptop charging is up to 87 W for the TS3 Plus and up to 98 W for the TS4. Both record an external power supply as the power source, and the TS3 Plus records a 180 W adapter where the TS4's record gives no adapter figure.
Ethernet: 1 GbE against 2.5 GbE
The recorded Ethernet is 1 GbE for the TS3 Plus and 2.5 GbE for the TS4. That is the difference between a gigabit network and a 2.5 gigabit one, and it only matters where the network and the laptop support the faster link.
Displays: two 4K 60 Hz against up to 8K on Windows and dual 6K on M1 Pro and M1 Max
The TS3 Plus records two displays at up to 4K 60 Hz each, or one display at up to 5K 60 Hz over Thunderbolt. The TS4 records up to 8K on one display on compatible Windows computers, up to 6K on macOS and dual 6K on Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max. The manufacturer also states that Apple M1 and M2 laptops accept only one external display through their Thunderbolt port.
Size and weight: 0.47 kg against 0.64 kg
The TS3 Plus records 131 by 40 by 98.44 mm and 0.47 kg. The TS4 records 141 by 42 by 113 mm and 0.64 kg, so the older dock is the smaller and lighter box of the two on the recorded figures.
Products
Why it is here: The subject of this comparison. Its recorded Thunderbolt 3 protocol, 15 ports, up to 87 W of charging, 1 GbE Ethernet and 0.47 kg weight mark it as the earlier generation dock.
Protocol: Thunderbolt 3
Why it is here: The later dock from the same manufacturer. It records Thunderbolt 4, 18 ports, up to 98 W of charging, 2.5 GbE Ethernet, a microSD slot and dual 6K on Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max.
Protocol: Thunderbolt 4
Fit
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Context
What the Thunderbolt 3 dock gives up
The recorded protocol is the older generation, with 1 GbE Ethernet against 2.5 GbE, up to 87 W of charging against 98 W, an SD slot without microSD, and displays capped at two 4K 60 Hz. In return it records the smaller 0.47 kg body and fifteen ports.What the Thunderbolt 4 dock gives up
The recorded 0.64 kg weight and the larger 141 by 42 by 113 mm body are what the TS4 gives up. In return it records the newer protocol, three Thunderbolt 4 ports at 40 Gb/s, 2.5 GbE Ethernet, a microSD slot, up to 98 W of charging and a two year warranty.FAQ
No. Its recorded protocol is Thunderbolt 3, while the TS4 records Thunderbolt 4, and the catalogue holds no compatibility statement between the two protocols.
Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page
The recorded display support is two displays at up to 4K 60 Hz each, or one display at up to 5K 60 Hz over Thunderbolt, with the manufacturer's condition that Apple M1 and M2 laptops accept only one external display through the Thunderbolt port.
Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page
The TS4, at a recorded 2.5 GbE against the 1 GbE recorded for the TS3 Plus.
Source:CalDigit TS4 specifications
Yes. The recorded card readers are SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0 UHS-II, where the TS3 Plus records SD 4.0 UHS-II at up to 312 MB/s and no microSD slot.
Source:CalDigit TS4 specifications
Up to 87 W for the TS3 Plus and up to 98 W for the TS4, both recorded against an external power supply, with a 180 W adapter recorded for the TS3 Plus.
Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page
The TS4, at a recorded 0.64 kg against the TS3 Plus's recorded 0.47 kg and dimensions of 141 by 42 by 113 mm against 131 by 40 by 98.44 mm.
Source:CalDigit TS4 specifications
Keep researching
The CalDigit TS3 Plus is a powered Thunderbolt 3 dock with 15 ports, up to 87 W of laptop charging, 1 GbE Ethernet and support for two 4K displays.
The recorded alternatives to the CalDigit TS3 Plus are the Thunderbolt 4 CalDigit TS4 and the bus powered Anker 555, a portable hub.
The catalogue holds no compatibility statement between the TS3 Plus and a Thunderbolt 4 host. It records the TS3 Plus as Thunderbolt 3.
