CalDigit TS4 vs TS5 Plus - Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5 Dock Comparison

CalDigit TS4 vs TS5 Plus: the old flagship is still not obsolete

The CalDigit TS4 and CalDigit TS5 Plus look like a simple generation jump. The TS4 is CalDigit’s mature Thunderbolt 4 dock. The TS5 Plus is the larger Thunderbolt 5 dock with 20 ports, 140W host charging, 10GbE, DisplayPort 2.1, and a much higher display ceiling on the right computer.

That makes the TS5 Plus the more powerful dock on paper. It is also the more conditional dock. The product data attaches several of its biggest advantages to the host computer: Thunderbolt 5 or the right kind of USB4, PCIe tunneling for some USB4 hosts, Windows 11, macOS 15, a Windows 10GbE driver for Ethernet, and specific Mac or PC display support for the highest multi-monitor modes.

The TS4 is less dramatic, but it is easier to recommend. It has an older 40 Gbps Thunderbolt 4 host connection, yet it still covers the desk most people actually have: dual 4K 60Hz displays, 98W laptop charging, 2.5GbE, UHS-II SD and microSD readers, lots of USB-A and USB-C ports, separate audio jacks, and no driver requirement. It also has the higher score in our product data: 9.2 for the TS4 versus 9.0 for the TS5 Plus.

The short verdict: the TS4 is still the better default buy for most people. Choose the TS5 Plus when you can point to specific needs such as 10GbE, 140W charging, Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth, high-refresh external displays, or several busy 10 Gbps USB drives. If those are not part of your setup, the TS4 remains the more sensible dock.

If you are still sorting out the standards, our USB-C vs Thunderbolt docking station guide explains why a faster dock is only useful when the host and peripherals can use it.

Quick specs comparison

Thunderbolt generation and bandwidth

The TS5 Plus wins the bandwidth category. Its Thunderbolt 5 host connection is listed at 80 Gbps, double the 40 Gbps host connection on the TS4. If you use fast Thunderbolt storage, high-refresh displays, or a newer workstation laptop that can actually push that much traffic, the TS5 Plus has a real technical edge.

The question is whether that edge changes your desk. Many docking station setups do not saturate Thunderbolt 4. Two 4K 60Hz monitors, Ethernet, a keyboard, a mouse, audio, an SD card, and a few USB devices are exactly the kind of workload the TS4 was built to handle. The TS4 product data gives it no driver requirement and broad operating system coverage across macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux.

The TS5 Plus is more demanding. Its product data lists macOS 15 and Windows 11. It also says USB-C-only host computers are not compatible, Thunderbolt 3 Windows PCs are not compatible, and USB4 hosts without PCIe tunneling may lose Ethernet or the second USB controller. That is not a reason to avoid it if you own the right machine. It is a reason not to buy it only because the number 5 is newer than the number 4.

Bandwidth winner: TS5 Plus. Practical default winner: TS4, unless the rest of your setup is ready for Thunderbolt 5.

Port layout and everyday use

The TS4 has 18 ports. The layout is one reason it became the default premium dock recommendation. The YAML lists three Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports, three USB-C 3.2 ports, five USB-A 3.2 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, RJ45 with 1Gbps and 2.5Gbps support, SD and microSD readers, and three audio connections. For a mixed desk with old and new accessories, it is hard to outgrow.

The TS5 Plus has 20 ports and a more pro-focused layout. It has two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports, DisplayPort 2.1, five USB-C data ports across Thunderbolt and USB-C groups, five USB-A 10 Gbps ports, 10GbE, SD and microSD readers, and the same three audio jack types. The biggest practical upgrades are not just the two extra ports. They are 10GbE, DisplayPort 2.1, dual USB controllers, and three 36W accessory charging ports.

Those upgrades matter for a specific desk. If you edit from fast USB drives, move footage between several external SSDs, connect to a 10GbE NAS, or want a DisplayPort monitor without spending a downstream Thunderbolt port on video, the TS5 Plus has the better layout. If your setup is a monitor or two, Ethernet, a headset, SD cards, and normal USB peripherals, the TS4 already has the fixed ports you need.

Port winner: TS5 Plus by spec count and high-end features. Everyday usability winner: TS4 for users who do not need 10GbE or multiple high-power accessory ports.

Display support: higher ceiling, more host checks

The TS4 display story is simple. Its product data lists single 8K 30Hz on Windows, single 4K 60Hz, and dual 4K 60Hz via DisplayPort 1.4. On Mac, dual displays require an M1 Pro, M1 Max, or later chip. Base Apple Silicon Macs are limited by the host computer, not by the dock.

The TS5 Plus has the higher ceiling. Its product data lists single 8K 60Hz conditions, dual 4K 240Hz on compatible systems, triple 4K 144Hz on supported Thunderbolt 5 Windows PCs and M5 Pro or M5 Max Macs, and quad 4K 144Hz on M5 Max with one daisy-chainable Thunderbolt display. Those are much stronger display specs than the TS4 offers.

They are also more conditional. The TS5 Plus YAML repeatedly ties display results to the exact Mac or PC. Base M1, M2, M3, and M4 Macs remain limited by Apple’s native external display support. Some of the highest modes require newer Pro or Max Mac chips, or a supported Thunderbolt 5 Windows PC. The dock cannot create display outputs the host does not support.

For a normal dual 4K 60Hz desk, the TS4 is enough. For high-refresh 4K displays, triple displays, or a four-display plan on a host that the YAML says can handle it, the TS5 Plus is the better tool.

Display winner: TS5 Plus for ceiling. TS4 for simpler dual 4K 60Hz desks.

For more display-focused picks, see our best docking stations for dual monitors guide.

Charging and power

The TS5 Plus wins host charging. It provides up to 140W to the laptop through Thunderbolt 5 / USB-C Power Delivery. The YAML describes that as enough for power-hungry MacBook Pro and workstation laptops that support USB-C PD 3.1 EPR.

The TS4 provides up to 98W host charging. That is lower, but still enough for many laptops. The TS4 FAQ says it can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro during normal use, even if Apple recommends 140W through MagSafe for the fastest charging. For many MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Windows ultrabook setups, 98W is already fine.

Accessory charging is another TS5 Plus advantage. The TS4 lists 15W on its Thunderbolt 4 downstream ports and 7.5W on several USB ports. The TS5 Plus lists two USB-C 4.0 ports at 36W and one USB-C 3.2 port at 36W, which is useful for an iPad Pro, phone, or bus-powered gear that benefits from more dock-side power.

There is a cost to that power budget. The TS5 Plus uses a 330W external power supply, and its own cons list the large power brick as a design downside. The TS4 uses an external power supply too, but the TS5 Plus is the more demanding piece of desk hardware.

Power winner: TS5 Plus. Value winner depends on whether your laptop or accessories can use the extra watts.

Ethernet, storage, and creator features

Networking is one of the cleanest splits. The TS4 has RJ45 with 1Gbps and 2.5Gbps speeds. The TS5 Plus has RJ45 with 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 5Gbps, and 10Gbps speeds.

If your network is Gigabit or 2.5GbE, both docks are covered. If you have a 10GbE NAS, a fast office switch, or a local workflow built around moving large files over Ethernet, the TS5 Plus is much stronger. The YAML even frames the built-in 10GbE port as a way to avoid a separate Thunderbolt network adapter.

The TS5 Plus also lists dual USB controllers. That is useful when several 10 Gbps USB drives are active at the same time. The TS4 does not make the same controller claim in its YAML, although it still has a very full USB layout for ordinary accessories and storage.

For card readers, both docks are strong. The TS4 lists SD and microSD at UHS-II 312 MB/s. The TS5 Plus lists SD 4.0 / UHS-II for SD and microSD. Both are reasonable choices for photo and video workflows that use removable media.

The Windows Ethernet driver note is worth calling out. The TS4 product data says no drivers are required. The TS5 Plus says no driver is needed for normal Thunderbolt, USB, display, charging, SD, or audio use, but Windows users must install CalDigit’s 10GbE Ethernet driver. If your company locks down driver installs, that matters.

Networking and storage winner: TS5 Plus. Simpler setup winner: TS4.

Compatibility and setup risk

The TS4 has the cleaner compatibility story. Its YAML lists macOS 11 Big Sur or later, Windows 10, ChromeOS, and Linux. It requires no drivers. Its main known incompatibility is the familiar base Apple Silicon display limit on M1, M2, and M3 MacBook Air and Pro models. That issue comes from the Mac, not from the dock.

The TS5 Plus is not difficult if you have the right host, but the list is narrower. The YAML lists macOS 15 and Windows 11. It also includes known incompatibilities for USB-C-only host computers, Thunderbolt 3 Windows PCs, base Apple M1 through M4 Macs for higher multi-display modes, and USB4 hosts without PCIe tunneling for Ethernet and the second USB controller.

That list should not scare away the right buyer. It should slow down everyone else. If you own a current Thunderbolt 5 Mac or a supported Thunderbolt 5 Windows workstation, the TS5 Plus is built for you. If you own a Thunderbolt 4 laptop, a Thunderbolt 3 Windows PC, or a USB-C-only machine, the TS4 is the safer place to start.

The TS5 Plus common issues also reflect its newer class: early Thunderbolt 5 heat or disconnect reports, Windows Ethernet driver setup, and lower USB or Ethernet performance on some USB4 hosts. The TS4 common issues are more mature Thunderbolt dock issues such as occasional sleep/wake recognition and rare USB disconnects during display wake.

Compatibility winner: TS4. The TS5 Plus can be excellent, but it needs a more careful host check.

Price, score, and value

The TS4 lists a $379.99 MSRP. The TS5 Plus lists $499.99. That $120 gap is not small. The TS5 Plus earns it if you need 10GbE, 140W charging, Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth, DisplayPort 2.1, 36W accessory charging, or the higher display modes. If those features sit unused, the TS4 is the better value.

The scores also favor the TS4. Our product data rates the TS4 at 9.2 and the TS5 Plus at 9.0. That does not mean the TS4 is technically more advanced. It means the TS4 is easier to recommend as a complete dock: lower price, mature compatibility, no driver requirement, broad operating system support, and enough ports for most desks.

Both docks list a 24-month limited warranty, so warranty does not decide this one. The decision comes down to whether the TS5 Plus hardware solves a real problem for your setup.

Value winner: TS4 for most buyers. TS5 Plus for desks that can use its pro hardware today.

Verdict: TS4 wins for most people, TS5 Plus wins for high-end Thunderbolt 5 desks

The CalDigit TS4 wins this comparison as the default recommendation. It has the higher score in our product data, costs less, supports a broader range of operating systems, requires no drivers, and already covers the common premium dock workload: dual 4K 60Hz, 98W charging, 2.5GbE, card readers, audio, and lots of USB ports.

The CalDigit TS5 Plus is the more capable dock. It wins on Thunderbolt generation, bandwidth, total port count, 10GbE, host charging, accessory charging, DisplayPort 2.1, USB controller design, and display ceiling. If you have a Thunderbolt 5 host and a desk built around fast storage, high-refresh displays, and 10GbE networking, it is the one to buy.

Choose the CalDigit TS4 if:

• You want the safer default dock for a Thunderbolt 4 laptop.
• Dual 4K 60Hz is enough for your monitor setup.
• You want 98W charging, 2.5GbE, card readers, and audio without driver notes.
• You use macOS, Windows, ChromeOS, or Linux and want broad compatibility.
• You want the higher-scoring and lower-priced dock in our product data.
• Your desk has normal USB-A and USB-C peripherals rather than a heavy 10GbE or Thunderbolt 5 workflow.

Choose the CalDigit TS5 Plus if:

• You have a Thunderbolt 5 Mac or supported Thunderbolt 5 Windows PC.
• You need 140W host charging.
• You use a 10GbE NAS, switch, or fast office network.
• You want dual 4K 240Hz, triple 4K 144Hz, or quad 4K 144Hz on a host that supports it.
• You move data between several 10 Gbps USB drives.
• You want DisplayPort 2.1 and stronger 36W accessory charging.

For most readers, the TS4 is still the smarter buy. The TS5 Plus is not a replacement everyone needs. It is a high-end dock for the subset of desks that can turn its extra bandwidth, Ethernet, display, and charging specs into something useful.

Read the full CalDigit TS4 review and CalDigit TS5 Plus review for product-level details. If you want to compare against the rest of the market, our Thunderbolt 5 docking stations guide and docking station buying guide are the next useful stops.