Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) review: One of the best

Price When Reviewed

$399.95

Best Prices Today: CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4)

$399.99

$495.87

The successor to the favored TS3 Plus docking station, Caldigit’s TS4 Thunderbolt Station 4 dock has rather a lot to stay as much as—and, with a mess of high-end ports and design flexibility, it succeeds by not altering an award-winning method.

In some ways, the TS3 redefined the docking station and was our long-time favourite Thunderbolt 3 docking station.

Caldigit has waited longer than most to launch a Thunderbolt 4 dock, however we aren’t disenchanted as this one is one of the best we’ve examined. Later, we’ll talk about the variations between Thunderbolt 3 (TB3) and Thunderbolt 4 (TB4) and whether or not TS3 Plus homeowners ought to improve to the brand new TS4.

A docking station permits a laptop computer proprietor to create a busy desktop setup with only a single USB-C/TB connection between pc and dock.

All the exterior units are linked to the dock: from exterior screens to quick SSD drives, printer, webcam, reminiscence sticks, keyboard and mouse (should you haven’t caught up with Bluetooth, in fact). Many docks additionally embody a card reader so you may add cheap moveable storage playing cards, normally SD or microSD.

A dock additionally frees you from the vagaries of Wi-Fi with a wired Ethernet Internet connection.

You simply stroll up, plug in and begin working, and unplug once you need to take your laptop computer elsewhere. Your most popular setup is ready for you once you return.

Thunderbolt 4 works with the newest Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 computer systems and can also be backwards appropriate with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C.

It works with macOS 11.4 (Big Sur) or above, Windows 10 (20H2) or above, Chromebook, iPad Pro/iPad Air/iPad mini, and Windows Tablet. All will need to have both Thunderbolt or USB-C.

Specs and options

The TS3 had 15 ports, and the TS4 goes three higher with a mighty 18.

• One upstream Thunderbolt 4 port (40Gbps, 98W)
• Two downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps, 15W)
• One DisplayPort 1.4 video port
• Five USB-A ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• One USB-C port (10Gbps, 20W)
• Two USB-C ports (10Gbps, 7.5W)
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
• UHS-II SD and microSD card readers (320MBps)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack (entrance)
• 3.5mm Audio In and Audio Out ports (again)
• 230W energy provide

That’s as spectacular an array of recent ports as we’ve seen on a docking station.

Thunderbolt 4, USB-C and USB-A ports: All the USB ports are a minimum of 10Gbps (twice the bandwidth of the TS3’s USB ports), and there are eight of them!

You can daisy-chain as much as six Thunderbolt units, together with further TB4 hubs. However, do not forget that the laptop computer has a 40Gbps connection to the dock, so all the units linked are sharing that that bandwidth.

Aside from its 40Gbps bandwidth, one of many benefits of Thunderbolt 4 is the flexibility for a tool to incorporate as much as 4 TB4 ports, so some is likely to be stunned that Caldigit has included simply three (one upstream to the pc and two downstream to units).

The firm determined that switching one TB4 for a DisplayPort video port made sense as almost all dock customers join a minimum of one exterior show to their laptop computer and so having a video port merely is smart.

Dual show dock

Of course, you may join shows by way of Thunderbolt—both on to a monitor with a USB-C connection or utilizing a USB-C-to-DisplayPort or USB-C-to-HDMI adapter.

Having the built-in video port included saves you from shopping for a USB-C adapter should you want one as a result of your required monitor has a USB-C connection—though you’ll in fact nonetheless require a DisplayPort cable.

DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 4 show connections are just about an identical in functionality, so leaving three downstream TB4 ports might need made extra sense than swapping one for the built-in DisplayPort for the sake of comfort.

If you favor to attach an HDMI show you might have the selection to both join an Active-DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapter to make use of the video port or use a USB-C-to-HDMI Adapter with one of many TB4 ports.

Caldigit selected DisplayPort 1.4 over HDMI on the TS4 as a result of DP is native to the Thunderbolt design and it’s extra versatile than HDMI—with an adapter, you may convert to any monitor you need similar to HDMI, DVI or VGA. It also can assist larger resolutions and refresh charges, whereas with HDMI it may be capped.

HDMI 2.0 is proscribed to supporting 4K shows at 60Hz, whereas DisplayPort 1.4, as discovered on the TS4, can deal with 8K at 60Hz. DP additionally beats HDMI on pass-through audio. For extra particulars, see our function on the difference between DisplayPort and HDMI.

You’ll want to make use of one of many TS4’s two downstream TB4 ports if you wish to add a second show.

Windows customers with a TB4 or USB4 pc can join a single 8K show at 60Hz or 2x 4K at 60Hz; Mac customers, a single 6K show at 60Hz or 2x 4K at 60Hz. Macs packing an M2 Ultra chip can assist a single 8K show, or 2x 4K at 60Hz. Older Intel Macs and newer M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBooks can join two 4K shows at 60Hz, though plain M1 MacBooks are sadly restricted to simply the one exterior show—Apple’s, not the dock maker’s fault.

The dock will assist a single 4K show at as much as 144Hz, 3440×1440 at 180Hz and 2560×1440 at 240Hz; word that some refresh charges require DP.14 HBR3 and DSC 1.2 assist from the host, GPU and monitor.

Super-fast Ethernet

One of the standouts is the super-fast 2.5Gb Gigabit Ethernet, which, as you’d anticipate, has the potential to be 2.5 occasions quicker than commonplace Gigabit Ethernet. You should purchase 2.5Gb adapters for different docks however these will add on an additional $30-50 (£30-50) and take up one among your USB-C ports, leaving the 1Gbe Ethernet unused. So, kudos to Caldigit for together with it as commonplace.

Note that to benefit from the highest velocity, you want a linked system that’s 2.5GbE or above. It is usually a router/community change that has a 2.5GbE port or larger, or you may join a NAS storage system that has a 2.5GbE port or larger.

The 2.5Gb Ethernet port is backwards and forwards appropriate with different speeds of Ethernet.

Super energy

With a 230W energy provide, the TS4 is essentially the most powered docking station we’ve ever examined.

It wants all that energy as a result of it could cost a laptop computer at 98W—greater than sufficient for many even massive laptops—in addition to energy linked units. Apple’s 16-inch MacEbook Pro (2021) can deal with 140W over MagSafe however 98W ought to maintain even that power-hungry laptop computer glad.

Each USB port has a minimal charging energy of 7.5W, and the downstream TB4 ports can provide 15W.

One of the front-placed USB-C ports can cost at a beneficiant 20W – good for Apple’s MagSafe Charger, for instance.

One factor we recognize on different docking stations is an influence change, as seen on some Anker and Kensington docks. Caldigit omits one as a result of it turns into a degree of wear-and-tear failure that would render the entire dock unusable if damaged. So, simply disconnect on the finish of the day if you wish to protect your laptop computer’s inner battery.

Helpfully, there’s a downloadable software program utility that means that you can disconnect all your linked exterior drives with only one click on.

Audio ports back and front

There are three audio ports inbuilt. At the entrance is a 3.5mm combo jack for both wired headphones or a microphone, and on the again are separate 3.5mm jacks for attainable audio system, headphones and mic. Only entrance or again audio ports can be utilized at one time.

The older TS3 Plus included a professional-level Digital Optical Audio (S/PDIF) port on the again, however that is omitted from the TS4, because it’s a comparatively area of interest requirement.

SD and microSD slots

Having each SD and microSD card readers presents flexibility, whereas some docks offer you simply SD.

MicroSD is clearly smaller however no extra moveable. However, some telephones embody a microSD slot, so it’s a extra versatile resolution.

These reminiscence playing cards aren’t only for skilled customers similar to photographers and video producers who use them to rapidly switch information. Anyone can decide up a top quality 512GB card for round $60/£50, and so they provide a reasonable approach of upping the storage in your laptop computer and are tremendous moveable, too.

Both card readers can be utilized on the identical time.

Apple’s newest MacEbook Pro fashions boast their very own SD card slot. However, though rated as 312MBps UHS-II, Apple has throttled the velocity to 250MBps. So for max velocity, the TS4’s full-speed UHS-II beats Apple’s. Plus you don’t want an adapter for microSD because the TS4 has a devoted slot for the smaller reminiscence card.

Design

Docking stations are available two totally different codecs: horizontal or vertical. I choose vertical because it saves desk house however horizontal can provide a cleaner look.

Caldigit’s design with the TS3 Plus and now TS4 dock is extra versatile, as it may be laid flat or stand upright, with no particular stand required of some docks. It comes with two rubber toes that may be fitted both approach.

Which approach you angle the dock to face you is much less non-obligatory, as the ability provide is linked to the again.

Every different TB4 dock or hub (except for Caldigit’s personal Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub) positions the upstream computer-connecting TB4 port on the entrance, which at all times strikes me as an unpleasant place to place it. Who desires a cable protruding the entrance when it could possibly be hidden across the again with the also-essential energy cable?

Yes, plugging in on the entrance is less complicated and faster however you need to stay with the cable flapping round your desk on a regular basis you’re linked.

On the Caldigit Thunderbolt 4 Station, the upstream port is positioned on the again, and I’d award it an additional star only for that tidy resolution.

Aside from that, the TS4 continues the good-looking appears of the TS3 Plus. It’s neither glossy nor shiny—it’s grilled to help warmth dissipation—however it has useful magnificence.

Thunderbolt 4 compatibility

Aside from the additional ports, energy and a couple of centimeter in peak, the principle distinction between the TS3 Plus and the TS4 is the inclusion of the newest licensed Thunderbolt 4 know-how.

For Apple customers, the variations between TB3 and TB4 are fewer as a result of Apple at all times gave them every part that TB3 might provide. Manufacturers of Windows computer systems, however, might decide and select which options they favored, so that you needed to verify your specs to see what advantages had been bestowed in your machine. It may, for instance, not even attain the utmost 40Gbps bandwidth or not assist twin shows.

Thunderbolt 4 is stricter. To label a pc Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 appropriate, producers should comply with all the foundations. So Windows customers with a TB3 laptop computer is likely to be higher off with a TB4 pc, whereas Mac customers have a lot of the primary advantages already.

New to Thunderbolt 4 for everybody, nonetheless, are a couple of benefits over Thunderbolt 3.

With TB3 you possibly can daisy chain Thunderbolt units however solely in a linear approach the place you needed to take away units backwards from the tip of the chain. With TB4, you may take away any system with out breaking the chain in a function known as ‘Hubbing’.

TB4 can also be a extra data-safe know-how, because it requires Intel VT-d-based direct reminiscence entry (DMA) safety, also referred to as DMA remapping.

TB4 requires PCIe (peripheral element interconnect categorical) at 32Gbps for storage speeds as much as 3,000MBps—double the minimal TB3 necessities.

Thunderbolt 4 cables could be as much as 2m lengthy and nonetheless deal with the total 40Gbps bandwidth; the place TB3 cables needed to be a most 0.7m until boosted with costly lively know-how.

The TS4 comes with a 0.8m Thunderbolt 4 cable.

Above: Caldigit TS3 Plus (left) vs Caldigit TS4 (proper); entrance view

Should you improve from Caldigit TS3 Plus to TS4?

The TS4 is a superb docking station if you’re shopping for for the primary time, however what about upgrading from an present dock?

If your present dock has USB-C solely, then upgrading to 40Gbps Thunderbolt is a should for appropriate computer systems. As TB4 is backwards appropriate, shopping for a future-proof Thunderbolt 4 dock makes essentially the most sense as we speak even when your older laptop computer is Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C.

The Caldigit TS3 Plus dock used to put on the docking station crown however its newer sibling the TS4 has stolen its crown. So ought to TS3 Plus homeowners improve, too?

The two docks are bodily and stylistically comparable, with the TS4 somewhat taller and deeper and a smidge wider.

Although TB4 is backwards appropriate, Thunderbolt 3 MacEbook or Windows customers don’t have any apparent must improve as they received’t profit from Thunderbolt 4’s smarter options. Windows TB3 homeowners may do higher upgrading their laptop computer to a totally licensed TB4 pc if their present TB3 PC is function restricted, as some are. Apple’s TB3 MacBooks already embody most (however not all) of the TB4 advantages; see above.

That mentioned, everybody will profit from the TS4’s extra quite a few, quicker and extra highly effective USB ports, and, if they’ve the appropriate setup, the two.5 Gigabit Ethernet too. The TS3 Plus had simply an SD card reader, whereas the TS$ has each SD and microSD slots.

And the dock’s 98W charging is a giant plus for homeowners of larger-screen laptops; the TS3 Plus had a formidable however nonetheless lighter 87W max charging energy.

Thunderbolt 4 is backwards appropriate, so even should you personal a USB-C or TB3 laptop computer or pill now, shopping for a TB4 dock just like the TS4 will work along with your present pc and be prepared in your improve to a Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 machine sooner or later.

If you favor pro-level digital audio, the TS3 Plus’s Optical Audio (S/PDIF) port didn’t make the minimize to the TS4.

Above: Caldigit TS4 (left) vs Caldigit TS3 Plus (proper); again view

Price

The Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 4 prices $399.95, £439.99 or €410. On launch the really helpful pricing was a lot decrease—$359.95, £324.99 or €324.99—which reveals that tech element and delivery prices are rising quick.

Expectedly, that is dearer than the TS3 Plus and likewise places the TS4 on the high-end of the value vary for Thunderbolt 4 docks.

See our roundup of all of the best Thunderbolt docks.

If a TB4 hub—normally simply 4 TB4 ports and a number of USB-A ports—isn’t sufficient for you, you want a dearer full docking station.

There are cheaper alternate options, similar to Anker Apex Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station with its two HDMI ports or the Kensington SD5700T, which can also be really helpful.

But none provide the vary of top-end ports, energy and versatile design of the TS4, which is price the additional outlay should you can afford it.

As you’ve spent deal shopping for one of the best docking station, you may need to use the lock to safe the TS4 to your desk.

Verdict

While some might grumble concerning the built-in DisplayPort at the price of one of many downstream TB4 ports, the Caldigit Thunderbolt Station 4 is a perfectly outfitted and well-designed dock.

It’s obtained all of the top-end ports you possibly can want for (greater than another), a beneficiant energy provide (bigger than another) and charging power, and a compact and versatile design (higher than another).

The Caldigit TS4 replaces its Thunderbolt 3 predecessor, the TS3 Plus, as one of many prime docking stations for homeowners of recent laptops and tablets.

This article initially appeared on techadvisor.com,