CalDigit TS5 vs TS5 Plus: Which Thunderbolt 5 Dock Should You Buy?
A port-by-port comparison of the CalDigit TS5 and TS5 Plus Thunderbolt 5 docks — networking, charging, expansion, and which one is worth the extra $100.
CalDigit released two Thunderbolt 5 docks in the same window, priced about $100 apart, and the spec sheets look almost identical at a glance. Both deliver 140W of host charging. Both run on Thunderbolt 5. Both work flawlessly with M4 MacBook Pros and the latest Windows TB5 laptops.
So which one should you actually buy? The answer comes down to two things: how many ports you need, and whether your network can use 10GbE.
The Short Answer
Buy the TS5 if you have a typical home office: a couple of monitors, a few USB peripherals, and standard gigabit or 2.5GbE internet.
Buy the TS5 Plus if you have a 10GbE network, run a NAS, work with large media files, or genuinely fill more than 8 USB ports.
Most people should buy the TS5. The Plus exists for a specific user — and if you’re not sure whether you’re that user, you’re probably not.
Port-by-Port Comparison
Thunderbolt 5 Ports
Both docks have the same Thunderbolt 5 layout: one host port (to your laptop) and three downstream TB5 ports running at the full 80Gbps bidirectional spec, with 120Gbps Bandwidth Boost available for displays. This is the headline feature on both, and CalDigit didn’t cut corners on either model.
You can drive dual 6K monitors, a single 8K display, or three 4K monitors at high refresh from either dock.
USB Ports
This is where the Plus pulls ahead. The TS5 has five USB-A ports and two USB-C ports downstream. The TS5 Plus adds three more USB-A ports and one more USB-C, for a total of 11 USB ports versus 7 on the standard TS5.
If you have a webcam, microphone, audio interface, stream deck, external SSD, keyboard, mouse, and a printer all plugged in simultaneously, the Plus stops the hub-on-a-hub problem. If you have a keyboard, mouse, and one external drive, the standard TS5 has plenty of room.
Networking: 2.5GbE vs 10GbE
The TS5 ships with 2.5GbE ethernet. The TS5 Plus ships with 10GbE.
This is the biggest functional difference between the two docks, and it’s also the most overhyped. Most home internet connections top out at 1Gbps. Most routers don’t have 10GbE ports. Most NAS units serve files at speeds well below 10GbE saturation.
If you have a 10GbE switch and a fast NAS — and you actually move large files across your LAN regularly — the Plus pays for itself in saved minutes per day. If you don’t, the 2.5GbE port on the TS5 is already overkill for a gigabit internet connection.
SD Card Reader
Both docks include an SD 4.0 card reader on the front. Both read and write at the same speeds. No difference here.
Audio
Both have a 3.5mm combo jack on the front. Identical.
Host Charging Parity
Both docks deliver 140W of host charging, which is enough to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Max under sustained load. This was a real differentiator versus the older TS4, which topped out at 98W and would slowly drain a maxed-out laptop during heavy work.
If you’re upgrading from a TS4 to either TS5 model, the charging upgrade alone is noticeable.
M4 MacBook Pro Compatibility
Both docks are fully compatible with the M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max MacBook Pros, and both can drive the maximum number of external displays each chip supports. The M4 Max paired with either dock can run three external 6K displays plus the laptop screen — a setup that simply wasn’t possible over a single cable before Thunderbolt 5.
Windows TB5 laptops (Lenovo, Razer, ASUS) work equally well, though display configurations vary by chipset.
How They Stack Up Against Plugable
The Plugable Thunderbolt 5 Dock is the only other serious TB5 dock on the market right now. It’s cheaper than both CalDigit options and includes 2.5GbE networking, but it has fewer total ports than even the standard TS5 and lacks CalDigit’s reputation for long-term firmware support.
For most buyers, Plugable competes with the TS5, not the TS5 Plus. If you want CalDigit’s build quality and support, the TS5 wins. If you want to save $80, Plugable is a real option.
The Verdict
The TS5 Plus is a fantastic dock — but it’s built for a specific power user with a 10GbE network and a deep peripheral collection. For everyone else, the standard TS5 delivers the same Thunderbolt 5 performance, the same 140W charging, and the same display capability for $100 less.
Save the money. Spend it on a better monitor.