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4 years in the past, once I acquired the unique CalDigit TS3 Plus dock, I known as it one of the best Thunderbolt dock out there to Mac customers. Many docks have come and gone since its launch, however the TS3 Plus has remained considered one of my favourite Thunderbolt equipment.
Not too long ago, CalDigit launched the successor to the TS3 Plus, merely known as TS4. Is CalDigit’s TS4 a worthy sequel to the TS3 Plus? As you may see in my hands-on, the TS4 is a extra refined and extra succesful dock than its predecessor.
Lots has modified for the reason that unique TS3 Plus hit the scene. There’s Thunderbolt 4, which is constructed on prime of USB 4 and is backwards suitable with Thunderbolt 3. And one of the crucial notable adjustments is that the iPad Professional now features a Thunderbolt 4 port, providing full compatibility with the TS4.
The unique TS3 Plus was a serious {hardware} launch not solely as a result of it contained an absurd 15 ports, but in addition due to the kind of ports it contained. For instance, it was one of many first docks with a UHS-II suitable SD card slot. Constructing on the muse laid by its ancestors, the TS4 includes a whopping 18 I/O ports, with fairly a number of extra enhancements.
Video: CalDigit TS4 – The Finest Thunderbolt 4 / USB 4 Dock for Mac
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Specs:
The TS4 is full of 18 ports in a comparatively small type issue. This is a take a look at every little thing it comprises:
Ports
- 1 x upstream Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 port (98W)
- 2 x downstream Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports (15W)
- 3 x USB-C 3.2 information ports (10 Gbps, 1 x 20 W and a pair of x 7.5 W)
- 5 x USB-A 3.2 ports (10 Gbps and seven.5 W offline charging)
- 1 x SD card reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II)
- 1 x microSD card reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II)
- 1 x DisplayPort 1.4
- 1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port (supported by Thunderbolt or USB4 host)
- 1 x Entrance Combo Audio Jack (3.5mm) (with precedence over rear jacks)
- 1 x rear audio jack (3.5mm)
- 1 x rear audio jack (3.5mm)
Extra specs
- Peak 5.55″ (141.0mm) x Width 1.65″ (42.0mm) x Size 4.46″ (113.4mm)
- Helps vertical or horizontal orientation
- 1 x DC Enter (19.5V 11.80A)
- Ship 98W energy to host
- Kensington Safety Lock
- Helps twin 4K screens
- Helps a single 8K monitor
- Weight: 1.41lbs (0.64kg)
- 1 x Thunderbolt 4 cable
- 2 x Rubber Toes Strips
- 1 x Energy Wire
- 1x energy provide (230w)
- 2 12 months guarantee
- Worth: $360
Design and type issue
At first look, the TS4 appears virtually indistinguishable from its predecessor, however upon nearer inspection, it turns into clear that there are some design adjustments to bear in mind. Firstly, the TS4 is a bigger dock than the TS3 Plus. The TS4 is 0.35 inches taller, 0.08 inches wider and 0.59 inches deeper. CalDigit’s newest dock can also be 0.37 lbs heavier than the TS3 Plus. The bigger dock is partly defined by the additional ports which can be on board, together with the addition of a safety lock.
The TS4 incorporates the well-known all-aluminium ribbed design language that has been used on many CalDigit merchandise previously. The ribbed design not solely appears to be like cool, but in addition permits the pair of included rubber ft to attach simply to the chassis, permitting the dock to relaxation horizontally on a desktop.
In contrast to many docks, which may solely relaxation horizontally in your desktop and take up a variety of desktop house, the CalDigit TS4 lets customers determine. The dock has a built-in rubber floor on the underside, so it will probably additionally stand vertically.
In comparison with the 15 ports on the TS3 Plus, the TS4 has 18 ports. What extra ports might be discovered on the TS4?
Entrance microSD card reader (SD 4.0 UHS-II)
When you have a microSD card reader on board, you now not must seek for adapters when overloading recordsdata from the smaller playing cards. So many gadgets as of late use microSD playing cards for storage, so it is good to have such a function on board.
Rear Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 Port
Having an extra Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 port means now you can connect with a number of Thunderbolt gadgets with out daisy-chaining by way of one other Thunderbolt machine. This provides customers a variety of further freedom to attach exterior Thunderbolt drives and different gadgets that terminate at their connection level. It is one of many causes I not too long ago used OWC’s Thunderbolt hub so I might join a number of Thunderbolt gadgets to a single port on my MacBook Professional.
20W entrance USB-C port
The TS4 contains not only one, however two USB-C ports on the entrance. The second USB-C port is rated at 20W, which is vital as a result of it means that you can connect with gadgets that require a minimum of 20W of energy. For instance, Apple recommends a 20W or larger connection for its MagSafe wi-fi chargers.
Audio jack on the again (3.5mm)
That is 4 further ports, should not there be simply three extra? The rationale there are 4 new ports is as a result of CalDigit has eradicated the optical audio jack on the TS3 Plus and changed it with the three.5mm audio jack on the again. The TS4 has two 3.5mm audio output connectors — one combo port on the entrance that may help headsets with built-in microphones, and one output port on the again — however the combo port on the entrance takes precedence.
Notable enhancements
The CalDigit TS4 enhancements transcend simply having extra ports than the TS3 Plus as one can find enhancements made to the beforehand current ports. For instance, all the dock’s USB ports, together with the USB-A ports, are 10 Gbps connections. Beforehand restricted to Gigabit Ethernet, the Ethernet port can now perform as a 2.5GbE connection when linked to a Thunderbolt host. Lastly, the DisplayPort connection might be upgraded from DisplayPort 1.2 to model 1.4.
USB energy provide
One of many greatest benefits of Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 is the flexibility to energy linked gadgets. The TS4 has a most energy of 98 W, as an alternative of the 87 W of its predecessor. Due to this fact, the TS4 can simply energy a 13-inch MacBook Professional or MacBook Air, 14-inch MacBook Professional or an iPad with USB-C at full velocity. The dock may cost the 16-inch MacBook Professional, however you may want to make use of Apple’s fast-charging 140W USB-C energy adapter for full-speed charging.
Talking of energy, CalDigit has made it in order that solely two of the 4 USB-A ports on the again present energy when not linked to a bunch laptop. That is helpful for gadgets that you do not wish to energy whereas not linked to your Mac.
Twin 4K or 6K show connectivity
The CalDigit TS4 might be linked to a wide range of show output configurations primarily based on the kind of gadgets you wish to join. For instance, M1 Mac customers are restricted to a single exterior 4K or 6K show at 60 Hz, whereas M1 Professional/Max customers can join as much as two 4K or 6K shows at 60 Hz. Whereas macOS is proscribed to 6K at 60Hz, the TS4 can help as much as 8K60 on Home windows if each the pc and show help Show Stream Compression and DisplayPort 1.4.
Decrease resolutions with larger body charges are additionally out there, as much as 144Hz at 4K and as much as 240Hz at 2560×1440. Increased body charges are helpful when connecting to a gaming monitor.
There are lots of methods to connect with a show through the TS4. You possibly can join through:
- Certainly one of two out there Thunderbolt ports
- DisplayPort 1.4 port
- DisplayPort → Lively DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter
- USB-C → HDMI Adapter
Understand that the three USB-C ports are for information solely. If you wish to join a show through USB-C, use one of many two Thunderbolt ports.
Compatibility with USB-C host gadgets
In contrast to the TS3 Plus, which had an older Thunderbolt chipset, the TS4 permits customers to connect with each Thunderbolt and non-Thunderbolt USB-C ports. Whereas this does not enable entry to solely Thunderbolt peripherals, equivalent to Thunderbolt SSDs, it permits customers to work together with different gadgets linked to the dock. That is helpful, for instance, when utilizing a USB-C iPad Air or iPad mini.
Juicy Apple Information’s Take
CalDigit’s TS4 could appear to be the TS3 Plus, nevertheless it’s a big improve over its predecessor. It affords wider compatibility with each Thunderbolt and USB-C hosts, options two downstream Thunderbolt ports as an alternative of only one, options sooner Ethernet connectivity, and is suitable with a number of 6K shows and even an 8K show when linked on correctly configured Home windows machines.
There are just a few drawbacks I can consider with this dock. First, there’s the value, as a result of at $360, it is means out of impulse shopping for territory. And as talked about, the dock cannot cost a 16-inch M1 Professional/Max MacBook Professional at full velocity, however that is only a Thunderbolt limitation. The dock additionally homes a pretty big exterior energy provide, though it does not look fairly as cumbersome as earlier than due to the TS4’s bigger type issue. One last item – I want you would flip off the white LED on the entrance of the dock. Through the day it’s straightforward to miss, however in a darkish surroundings it may be a nuisance.
However these complaints are fairly minor in comparison with the design and performance of the CalDigit TS4, which incorporates every little thing however the sink. I really feel like I am repeating myself right here, however once more, for those who’re in search of one of the best all-round dock on your Mac, the CalDigit TS4, which now available on Amazonwill get my suggestion.
What do you assume? Pontificate beneath within the feedback.
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