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CalDigit TS3 Plus

A powered Thunderbolt 3 dock with fifteen ports, up to 87 W of laptop charging and dual 4K display support.

USB-C Hubs and DocksCalDigit

Overview

What it is

A powered Thunderbolt 3 dock with fifteen ports, up to 87 W of laptop charging and dual 4K display support.

Who it is for

Users with a Thunderbolt 3 laptop who want a desk dock that charges the machine and drives two displays.

Product data

Key specifications

Values are stored as structured data with a source and a confidence state.

Recorded specifications for CalDigit TS3 Plus
SpecificationValueStatusSource
ProtocolThunderbolt 3VerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Port count15 portsVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Laptop chargingUp to 87 WVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Ethernet1 GbEVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Power sourceExternal power supply, a 180 W adapterVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Display supportTwo 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 twoVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Card readersSD 4.0 UHS-II, up to 312 MB/sVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
USB ports5 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 frontVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Dimensions131 by 40 by 98.44 mmVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Weight0.47 kgVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page
Operating systemsmacOS 10.12 or later, Windows 10 or laterVerifiedCalDigit TS3 Plus page

Capabilities

Documented features

  • Multiple display supportYes
  • Powered dockYes
  • Wired EthernetYes

Trade-offs

Strengths and limitations

Published together so the trade-offs are visible before you decide.

Strengths

  • Fifteen ports and a card reader that keeps up: The recorded port count is fifteen, with 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, and the recorded card readers are SD 4.0 UHS-II at up to 312 MB/s. The port count and the card slot are what the box exists to provide.
  • Charges the laptop at up to 87 W while driving two displays: The recorded laptop charging is up to 87 W and 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. One box handles the power and the picture for a Thunderbolt 3 laptop.
  • The smaller and lighter of the two CalDigit docks: The recorded weight is 0.47 kg and the recorded dimensions are 131 by 40 by 98.44 mm, against the TS4's recorded 0.64 kg and 141 by 42 by 113 mm. No price is recorded for either dock, so size and weight are the recorded differences between them.

Limitations

  • Thunderbolt 3, with a display limit on base Apple silicon: The recorded protocol is Thunderbolt 3, and the manufacturer states that 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 recorded two-display support is not available.
  • It needs a socket and a 180 W adapter: The recorded power source is an external power supply with a 180 W adapter, so the dock is fixed to a desk and needs a socket and a cable of its own. A bus powered hub takes its power from the laptop and needs neither.

Alternatives

Consider these instead

Each alternative states why it is worth considering.

  • alternativeUSB-C Hubs and Docks

    CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Station

    The TS4 is the current Thunderbolt 4 dock, with more bandwidth, more ports and more charging. The TS3 Plus is the Thunderbolt 3 generation and is still the cheaper way to a powered desk.

  • alternativeUSB-C Hubs and Docks

    Anker 555 USB-C Hub

    Both expand a laptop. The Anker 555 is bus powered and covers the essentials, the TS3 Plus is a powered dock that charges the machine and drives two displays.

FAQ

Common questions

What protocol does the CalDigit TS3 Plus use?

Thunderbolt 3 is the recorded protocol. The CalDigit TS4 in the catalogue records Thunderbolt 4 instead, and the catalogue holds no compatibility statement between the two protocols.

Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page

Can the TS3 Plus drive two displays?

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. The manufacturer adds that Apple M1 and M2 laptops accept only one external display through the Thunderbolt port, while M1 Pro and M1 Max accept two.

Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page

Does the CalDigit TS3 Plus need a power adapter?

Yes. The recorded power source is an external power supply, a 180 W adapter, and being a powered dock is in the recorded feature list.

Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page

How much power does the TS3 Plus charge a laptop with?

The recorded laptop charging figure is up to 87 W, and the recorded external power supply is a 180 W adapter, which also feeds the dock's own ports and the host connection.

Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page

Does the TS3 Plus have a card reader?

The recorded card readers are SD 4.0 UHS-II at up to 312 MB/s. Only an SD slot is recorded for this dock, where the TS4 records SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0 UHS-II.

Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page

What Ethernet speed does the TS3 Plus have?

1 GbE is the recorded Ethernet figure, against the 2.5 GbE recorded for the CalDigit TS4 in the same category.

Source:CalDigit TS3 Plus page

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