CalDigit
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Station
A Thunderbolt 4 dock with a large port selection, high-wattage laptop charging and support for multiple displays.
Overview
What it is
A Thunderbolt 4 dock with a large port selection, high-wattage laptop charging and support for multiple displays.
Who it is for
Users who want a single desk dock for a laptop and need many ports and high charging wattage.
Product data
Key specifications
Values are stored as structured data with a source and a confidence state.
| Specification | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Thunderbolt 4 | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Port count | 18 ports | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Laptop charging | Up to 98 W | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Ethernet | 2.5 GbE | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Power source | External power supply | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Display support | Up to 8K on one display on compatible Windows computers, up to 6K on macOS, dual 6K on Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| USB ports | 3 Thunderbolt 4 at 40 Gb/s, 3 USB-C and 5 USB-A at 10 Gb/s | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Card readers | SD 4.0 and microSD 4.0, UHS-II | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Dimensions | 141 by 42 by 113 mm | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Weight | 0.64 kg | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
| Warranty | Two years | Verified | CalDigit TS4 specifications |
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 TS3 Plus
The TS3 Plus is the Thunderbolt 3 generation of this dock. It charges for less and has fewer ports, and it is the way to a powered desk without paying for the current generation.
- alternativeUSB-C Hubs and Docks
Anker 555 USB-C Hub
The Anker 555 covers the essentials for less and travels easily, at the cost of Thunderbolt bandwidth and display flexibility.
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
Related research
Continue your research
- Best USB-C hubs for MacBook
A shortlist of USB-C and Thunderbolt expansion options with published selection criteria.
- USB-C hub buying guide
How bandwidth, power delivery, display support and power sources actually work in hubs and docks.
- Alternatives to the Anker 555 USB-C Hub
The recorded alternative to the Anker 555 is the CalDigit TS4, a Thunderbolt 4 dock with 18 ports, 2.5 GbE and up to 98 W of laptop charging, which.
- Alternatives to the CalDigit TS4
The recorded alternative to the CalDigit TS4 is the Anker 555, a bus powered 8 in 1 USB-C hub with 1 GbE and up to 85 W of power pass through that.
- Anker 555 USB-C Hub vs CalDigit TS4: A Portable Hub Or A Powered Desk Dock?
The Anker 555 is a bus-powered 8-in-1 USB-C hub with 1 GbE Ethernet and 85 W pass-through power. The CalDigit TS4 is an externally powered Thunderbolt 4 dock with 18 ports and 98 W of laptop charging. How the recorded specifications differ.
- CalDigit TS3 Plus vs TS4: Thunderbolt 3 Or Thunderbolt 4?
The TS3 Plus records Thunderbolt 3, 15 ports, up to 87 W of charging and 1 GbE. The TS4 records Thunderbolt 4, 18 ports, up to 98 W and 2.5 GbE Ethernet.
- CalDigit TS3 Plus Review: A Thunderbolt 3 Dock With 15 Ports And 87 W Of Charging
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.
- Alternatives to the CalDigit TS3 Plus
The recorded alternatives to the CalDigit TS3 Plus are the Thunderbolt 4 CalDigit TS4 and the bus powered Anker 555, a portable hub.
- Does the CalDigit TS3 Plus Work With Thunderbolt 4 Laptops?
The catalogue holds no compatibility statement between the TS3 Plus and a Thunderbolt 4 host. It records the TS3 Plus as Thunderbolt 3.
- Does the CalDigit TS4 need a power adapter?
Yes. The recorded power source for the CalDigit TS4 is an external power supply, and its recorded laptop charging is up to 98 W.
- Anker 555 USB-C Hub Review: Eight Ports Without a Power Brick
The Anker 555 USB-C Hub is an 8-in-1 bus-powered hub with HDMI, Ethernet, SD and microSD readers and up to 85 W of power pass-through.
- CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Station Review: A Powered Dock for One Desk
The CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Station is a powered Thunderbolt 4 dock with 18 ports, up to 98 W of laptop charging and 2.5 GbE Ethernet.
- Rain Design mStand Review: A Fixed Height Stand That Needs an External Keyboard
The Rain Design mStand is a fixed-height aluminium laptop stand that raises the screen and improves airflow under the chassis, and it requires an.