CalDigit TS3 Plus vs TS4 - Which CalDigit Dock Should You Buy in 2026?

CalDigit TS3 Plus vs CalDigit TS4: Same Brand, Different Generation

The CalDigit TS3 Plus and TS4 are the two most recognized docking stations in CalDigit’s lineup, separated by about four years of development and one full Thunderbolt generation. Both share CalDigit’s core philosophy - premium aluminum build, plug-and-play reliability, excellent Mac support - but the TS4 represents a meaningful step forward in nearly every measurable area.

The short verdict: The CalDigit TS4 wins this matchup for anyone buying new in 2026. It is the better long-term investment with Thunderbolt 4 support, more ports, faster networking, and higher power delivery. The CalDigit TS3 Plus only makes sense if you find it at a significant discount or if your existing setup does not demand the TS4’s upgrades.

If you are still figuring out what type of dock fits your workflow, our docking station buying guide is a good starting point.

Quick Specs Comparison

Design and Build Quality

Both docks come from the same manufacturer and share the same core design language - a rectangular aluminum enclosure, front-panel card reader and audio, rear-panel video and Ethernet. They look like siblings, but the TS4 is slightly larger to accommodate three additional ports and the expanded port mix.

CalDigit TS3 Plus

The TS3 Plus ships with a 0.7m Thunderbolt 3 cable - short by modern standards but functional. The aluminum chassis dissipates heat passively, and build quality is consistently praised. The front panel houses the SD card slot, headphone jack, and microphone jack. The rear carries five USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and the Thunderbolt 3 host port. It is a clean, logical layout that has stood the test of time. One notable inclusion is digital optical audio (S/PDIF), rare on modern docks, which is useful for audio setups connected to an AV receiver.

CalDigit TS4

The TS4 is slightly larger but similarly styled. The front panel gains a microSD slot alongside the SD slot, and the audio section moves to a 3.5mm combo jack (plus separate headphone and microphone jacks, giving three audio connections total). The rear panel carries the Thunderbolt 4 host, three TB4 downstream ports, three USB-C 3.2 ports, five USB-A ports, DisplayPort 1.4, and 2.5GbE Ethernet. Cable is 0.8m. The TS4 dropped S/PDIF optical audio - a minor but real regression for users who rely on it.

Design winner: CalDigit TS4 - marginally. The layouts are similar, but the TS4 adds meaningful front-panel ports while keeping the same premium build. The TS3 Plus wins only if you need S/PDIF optical audio.

Thunderbolt Version: TB3 vs TB4

This is the most fundamental difference between the two docks. The TS3 Plus uses Thunderbolt 3, the TS4 uses Thunderbolt 4. At 40 Gbps, the raw bandwidth is identical - but TB4 adds several important guarantees that TB3 does not have.

What Thunderbolt 4 Adds Over TB3

Thunderbolt 4 mandates a minimum PCIe bandwidth of 32 Gbps (vs 16 Gbps for TB3), requires support for two 4K displays (TB3 had no such minimum requirement), and mandates 40 Gbps to all downstream TB4 devices simultaneously. TB4 also adds enhanced security features (Intel VT-d DMA protection).

In practice, the difference matters most if you chain multiple Thunderbolt accessories. With the TS4’s three TB4 downstream ports, each one can deliver full 40 Gbps bandwidth to a connected Thunderbolt drive or daisy-chained dock. The TS3 Plus has one Thunderbolt 3 downstream port and two USB-C 3.1 ports (10 Gbps each) - less flexible for complex Thunderbolt peripheral setups.

Both docks are backward and forward compatible - the TS3 Plus works on TB4 laptops, and the TS4 works on TB3 laptops.

TB version winner: CalDigit TS4. TB4 brings real-world benefits for users with multiple Thunderbolt peripherals, and future-proofs the dock for the next generation of laptops.

Port Count and Connectivity

The TS4’s 18 ports vs the TS3 Plus’s 15 ports represents three extra connections, but the qualitative difference is larger than the number suggests.

USB Ports

The TS3 Plus offers five USB-A 3.1 ports (7.5W each) and two USB-C 3.1 ports - a total of seven USB ports capable of 10 Gbps each.

The TS4 offers five USB-A 3.2 ports (7.5W each), three USB-C 3.2 ports (7.5W each), and three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports (15W each, 40 Gbps) - a total of 11 USB connections. The TB4 downstream ports are especially valuable: each can power a Thunderbolt drive, connect a display via adapter, or act as a high-wattage USB-C charging port simultaneously.

Video Outputs

The TS3 Plus has a single DisplayPort 1.2 output, which supports up to 4K@60Hz on one monitor. For a second display, you need the Thunderbolt 3 downstream port with a USB-C video adapter. DP 1.2 also lacks DSC (Display Stream Compression), which limits configurations above 4K without tapping into Thunderbolt bandwidth.

The TS4 has a single DisplayPort 1.4 output with DSC support, plus video output available through its three TB4 downstream ports. DP 1.4 supports 4K@120Hz and 8K@30Hz (Windows only), and handles higher color depths and HDR content more reliably than DP 1.2.

Networking

The TS3 Plus provides standard Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps). The TS4 provides 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5 Gbps). For most web browsing and office tasks, 1 Gbps is fine. For NAS transfers, large file copies on a local network, or homes with 2.5GbE infrastructure, the TS4’s faster Ethernet delivers noticeably better throughput.

Card Readers

The TS3 Plus has a UHS-II SD card reader (312 MB/s theoretical). No microSD slot.

The TS4 has both a UHS-II SD card reader and a UHS-II microSD card reader. For photographers who shoot on SD and videographers who also use drones or GoPros (microSD), this is a real upgrade.

Port winner: CalDigit TS4, clearly. More USB ports, faster USB, better DisplayPort, 2.5GbE, and dual card readers.

Power Delivery

Both docks deliver power over a single Thunderbolt cable - the TS3 Plus at 87W, the TS4 at 98W.

The 87W of the TS3 Plus handles most laptops including the 15-inch MacBook Pro comfortably. Under very heavy CPU and GPU load on a 16-inch MacBook Pro (which can draw up to 96W), the TS3 Plus may charge more slowly than full rate, though the laptop still charges during idle and light use.

The TS4’s 98W covers the 16-inch MacBook Pro under normal workloads with more headroom. For MacBook Pro 16-inch owners, this is a meaningful practical improvement. For smaller ultrabooks drawing 30-65W, both docks are equally capable.

Power delivery winner: CalDigit TS4 - 98W beats 87W, particularly relevant for 16-inch MacBook Pro users.

Audio Ports

This is a narrow category where the TS3 Plus retains a specific advantage.

The TS3 Plus has a 3.5mm headphone output and a separate 3.5mm microphone input - plus a digital optical audio (S/PDIF) output for connecting to AV receivers, DACs, or audio interfaces. S/PDIF is rare on docking stations, and if you have audio gear that relies on it, the TS3 Plus is one of the few docks to offer it.

The TS4 has a 3.5mm combo jack, a 3.5mm headphone output, and a 3.5mm microphone input - three analog audio connections, but no S/PDIF. For standard headsets and speakers, the TS4 is more versatile. For home theater or pro audio setups using optical connections, the TS3 Plus wins.

Audio winner: Depends on your needs. TS4 for most users (more flexible analog options), TS3 Plus if you use S/PDIF optical audio.

Pricing and Value

The MSRP gap - $249.99 for the TS3 Plus vs $379.99 for the TS4 - is substantial at $130. In practice, street prices are different. The TS4 regularly sells for $299-329 on Amazon. The TS3 Plus, as an older model, often dips below $180 and occasionally below $150.

At $299 for the TS4 and $149 for the TS3 Plus, the gap narrows to $150. At that spread, the TS4’s additional features - 2.5GbE, microSD, 98W PD, TB4 downstream, DP 1.4, three extra ports - represent genuinely good value for the upgrade cost. The TS3 Plus only becomes the rational choice if you find it at $120 or less and are confident TB3 meets your long-term needs.

Both docks carry a 2-year limited warranty from CalDigit.

Value winner: CalDigit TS4 for buyers prioritizing features. TS3 Plus only wins when found at a heavy discount below $150 for budget-constrained buyers.

macOS Compatibility

CalDigit has built its reputation on Mac support, and both docks reflect that. Neither requires drivers on macOS. CalDigit provides firmware updates via its Docking Station Utility app for both models.

The TS3 Plus supports macOS 10.12 (Sierra) and later. It is a proven dock for older Intel Macs and remains compatible with current Apple Silicon hardware via TB4 backward compatibility. Dual display support on Apple Silicon requires M1 Pro/Max or later due to Apple’s own limitations.

The TS4 supports macOS 11 (Big Sur) and later. It is CalDigit’s current flagship, receiving priority firmware updates for new Apple hardware. Day-one compatibility with new MacBook models is a consistent TS4 strength.

For a broader comparison of how the TS4 stands against competitors, see our CalDigit TS4 vs Kensington SD5780T and CalDigit TS4 vs OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock comparisons.

Mac compatibility winner: Tie for functionality. TS4 for ongoing support.

Verdict: CalDigit TS4 Is the Clear Upgrade

For anyone buying a docking station in 2026, the CalDigit TS4 is the right choice in this matchup. Thunderbolt 4 support, 18 ports, 2.5GbE networking, dual card readers, 98W power delivery, and DisplayPort 1.4 represent a meaningful set of improvements over the TS3 Plus - and CalDigit continues to prioritize the TS4 for firmware updates and new hardware compatibility.

The TS3 Plus is not a bad dock - its 7.8/10 score reflects genuine quality. But in 2026, unless you find it at a steep discount, the TS4 is worth the premium.

Choose the CalDigit TS4 if:

• You have a Thunderbolt 4 laptop and want the best dock on the market
• You need 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet for NAS or fast local network transfers
• You need both SD and microSD card readers
• You want 98W power delivery for a 16-inch MacBook Pro
• You value long-term firmware support on current and future hardware
• You need multiple Thunderbolt downstream ports for daisy-chaining

Choose the CalDigit TS3 Plus if:

• You find it significantly discounted below $150
• You need S/PDIF digital optical audio output
• Your TB3 laptop does not benefit from TB4 features
• Budget is the primary constraint and you are on an older Intel Mac

For full reviews of each dock, see our CalDigit TS4 review and CalDigit TS3 Plus review. For a broader look at the premium TB4 category, check our best Thunderbolt 4 docking stations roundup.