Does the CalDigit TS4 need a power adapter?

Yes. The recorded power source for the CalDigit TS4 is an external power supply, so the dock is not bus powered and needs a power source of its own. Its recorded laptop charging is up to 98 W, which is the figure that makes the external supply necessary rather than optional.

What the record settles

The TS4's recorded specifications are a protocol of Thunderbolt 4, a port count of 18, laptop charging of up to 98 W, Ethernet of 2.5 GbE, and an external power supply as the power source. Its recorded features are wired Ethernet, multiple display support and being a powered dock.

The practical consequence of those values is fixed. A powered dock with 18 ports and high wattage laptop charging is a desk fixture. It needs a socket, and the laptop connected to it is charged by the dock rather than by the laptop's own charger.

For comparison within our category, the Anker 555 is recorded as bus powered, with a recorded pass through of up to 85 W of input and laptop charging wattage that depends on hub draw. That is a different arrangement: the laptop charges through the hub, and the hub takes its power from the laptop.

What it does not settle

The record does not state the wattage of the power supply itself, whether a supply ships in the box, or whether the supply is sold separately in some regions. It does not state what happens to laptop charging if the dock is connected without the supply, because that behaviour is not part of the record. It also does not record a price, and the difference between a powered dock and a bus powered hub is one of hardware and use rather than a figure on a shared scale.

Verification state

Every value here was read from the manufacturer's own domain and has not been checked against a specific product page. It is the documented specification, not a confirmed result from our own use.