CalDigit made the best Thunderbolt 5 dock for Windows power users — but can you afford it?

CalDigit's goal to produce the best Thunderbolt docking stations stretches back to 2013, but I was first introduced to its Thunderbolt Station series in 2018 with the TS3 Plus.

I called it "about as good as it gets" in my TS3 Plus review, and I followed up a few years later when CalDigit launched the TS4 for Thunderbolt 4.

I was once again impressed with the hardware and performance, naming it "the pinnacle of Thunderbolt 4 docking stations" in my CalDigit TS4 review. CalDigit has now released a range of Thunderbolt 5 docking solutions to accommodate the (so-far) small number of laptops with the latest technology.

There's the CalDigit TS5 with 15 ports, the Element 5 Hub that I reviewed favorably, and the flagship CalDigit TS5 Plus, which I am currently testing. It's been on my desk for a couple of weeks, handling my regular workflow, and I'm ready to share my thoughts on this ultimate $500 docking station.

Why you can trust me

Why you can trust me

Cale Hunt

I have what some consider to be a strange fascination with docking stations, and I've tested and reviewed countless docks during my nearly 10 years at Windows Central. Not only can I compare the TS5 Plus to other CalDigit docks, but I also have a good idea of how it compares to competing brands.

Why change the familiar design when it works so well?

CalDigit has firmly established its design language over the years, and if you're familiar with its Thunderbolt Station hardware, the new TS5 Plus doesn't have many surprises from an aesthetic angle.

The dock is built from a solid chunk of aluminum that weighs about 1.98 pounds (0.9kg). A lot of the weight is shaved off thanks to the ribbed panel design on the top and side panels.

Not only does this give the dock a unique look, but it also helps dissipate heat that accumulates when you're putting the dock to task with multiple connections and data transfers.

A built-in rubber strip on the "bottom" of the dock keeps it in place on your desk, but that doesn't mean the dock has to be used vertically.

I typically prefer using a dock sitting horizontally, and CalDigit accommodates users like me by including a couple of rubber strips that can be added to the ribbed panels. Vertical or horizontal, the dock isn't going anywhere and is less prone to scratching.

The TS5 Plus is larger than CalDigit's other docks, including the standard TS5 without the "Plus" designation, but it's not so big that I'm wondering where I'll fit it on my desk.

On the other hand, the AC adapter is larger than ever to fit the massive 330W power max, and cable management aficionados might have a harder time hiding it away behind a desk. The TS5 Plus isn't meant to be a dock you take on your travels, so it's not as big of a deal.

The included one-meter Thunderbolt 5 cable with 240W charging for your laptop's host connection now comes in a braided variety, a nice upgrade that's bound to last longer than a standard plastic hookup.

I appreciate the lack of plastic faceplates here, as I find that they're generally more prone to scratching than metal. The front of the dock is a solid metal piece with rounded edges, and so too are the corners rounded off so they don't jab your hands when handling the hardware.

You won't find the same port selection anywhere else

The main attraction of the CalDigit TS5 Plus, especially for power users, professionals, and creators, is the selection of 20 total ports. That's five more than the standard TS5 and two more than the aging TS4.

The front of the TS5 Plus includes dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) ports capable of data transfers up to 10Gbps. One offers 36W of charging, the other 7.5W. There's one USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) port at 10Gbps with 7.5W charging.

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A 3.5mm audio combo jack and dual slots for UHS-II SD/microSD 4.0 cards are also included on the front; they can be used simultaneously.

While the front of the dock might appear to waste some space, the back of the dock is completely filled with ports. It's not like CalDigit just decided to make this model bigger because of its name. This also makes it easier to hide connected cables.

Three USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) and four USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2) ports each at 10Gbps offer up to 7.5W of charging power. Two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports each offer up to 36W of charging power and the standard 80Gbps bi-directional data flow.

Another first for me in the docking world is CalDigit's inclusion of two separate 10Gbps USB controllers. The first controller handles the front USB-C ports, rear Thunderbolt 5 ports, and the SD card readers.

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The second controller handles all of the USB-A ports and the three rear USB-C ports. This ultimately keeps your bandwidth uncompromised when using multiple ports at once, and I don't know of any other docks offering the same setup.

The Thunderbolt 5 ports can automatically reaccommodate bandwidth to handle 120Gbps in one direction and 40Gbps in the other, which is especially potent for connecting external displays. CalDigit also includes a native DisplayPort 2.1 connection for a third display.

While I don't have the display hardware to test the true limits of the TS5, CalDigit's display chart should have the information you need. Using the TS5 with a Thunderbolt 5-equipped Windows PC, the dock will run up to dual 8K@60Hz displays or triple 4K@144Hz displays.

It's worth pointing out that when you get into resolutions beyond 4K, Display Stream Compression technology is required from the external monitors.

To compare, Plugable's new TBT-UDT3 that I've begun testing is said to support up to dual 8K@120Hz displays, so it might be a better option if you actually have that type of hardware on hand. For most users, however, dual 8K@60Hz or triple 4K@144Hz will be more than enough.

Rounding out the rear ports are dual 3.5mm in/out audio jacks, the Thunderbolt 5 host port with up to 140W charging for your connected laptop, barrel charging port, and a 10Gb Ethernet hookup.

That last feature stands out, as it's not something I've seen in any other Thunderbolt 5 docks; the competition typically tops out at 2.5Gb Ethernet. Considering the cheapest Thunderbolt to 10GbE adapter I could find costs about $180, it's an included perk that power users will want to note.

If you've been keeping track of the charging potential from all ports, you'll already know that there can be up to 315.5W of power moving through the dock. That includes the 140W to the host laptop.

👉 Related: Can I use Thunderbolt 4 or 5 docks with USB4 laptops?

That means the 330W of power provided by the AC adapter doesn't have to move around when you're utilizing all ports, and you can expect the maximum charging power from all connections at all times.

I love the inclusion of a 36W USB-C port on the front, as it makes it easy to keep a phone or tablet charged up. All of the ports, save two of the rear USB-A inputs, will charge when you don't have a host PC connected, so no worries about walking away with your laptop and coming back to dead devices.

Is the CalDigit TS5's performance overkill for your workflow?

I admit that the CalDigit TS5 is far too much docking station for my needs.

I lack a 10Gbps internet connection (although the Ethernet port is backwards compatible with slower standards), I lack external SSDs that are threatened by the dock's massive 6,200MB/s bandwidth limits, and I lack dual 8K displays.

What I can say is that the CalDigit TS5 handled everything I threw at it with ease, including a 4K display paired with an ultrawide 3.4K display, multiple forms of external storage, wireless dongles, and myriad devices that require regular charging.

I know that many of you are in the same situation, and dropping $500 on a dock that you can't fully utilize right now might seem silly. In my experience, CalDigit's docks typically last far beyond the two-year warranty, in terms of both durability and performance relevance.

Thunderbolt 5 is only just starting to arrive in laptops — I tested mainly using the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 with TB5 and otherwise fell back to TB4 PCs — but it will one day completely take over for Thunderbolt 4.

The CalDigit TS5 is designed to be the supreme Thunderbolt 5 docking station for years to come. Power users can set themselves up nicely for the future, even if they can't take full advantage now.

As a more affordable alternative with the same CalDigit design and quality, I recommend checking out the TS5. It costs about $370 and offers many of the same performance perks across 15 total ports.

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The TS5 is expected to launch mid-July, which is about the same time that CalDigit expects the TS5 Plus to see a restock. According to CalDigit, the first wave sold out in about 20 minutes, and the second wave didn't take much longer. There's clearly a hungry docking station market for this level of performance and cost.

It might not be my first choice due to the cost, but those who can take advantage of the massive performance potential and 20 ports will surely want in on the action.