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Head-to-head · Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

CalDigit TS4 vs OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

CalDigit TS4 comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.8 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about Power users building a maxed-out, single-cable desk who want the most ports and charging power and do not mind paying for it. — read the strengths below before deciding.

CalDigit TS4
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks
CalDigit TS4
$379.99as of Jun 7

The TS4 is the no-compromise flagship: 18 ports, 98W charging, 2.5GbE and a UHS-II card reader in one driver-free package that reviewers say nothing else matches. TechRadar awarded it a full five stars, Macworld gave it an Editors' Choice and XDA its top 'Best' badge. The only real downsides are the price and the lack of HDMI, but for a maxed-out desk it is the dock to beat.

Strengths
  • — Class-leading 18 ports, the most of any Thunderbolt 4 dock
  • — 98W charging to the host through a single Thunderbolt cable
  • — Native dual-display support plus 2.5GbE networking and UHS-II card reader
Watch-outs
  • — The most expensive dock here at around $400
  • — No HDMI ports, so you need DisplayPort cables or adapters
  • — Only adds a net of one extra Thunderbolt port versus the host
$379.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Ranked #3 in Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks
OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock
$229.99as of Jun 7

The OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock is the daisy-chainer's pick: three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports and a UHS-II card reader make it a favorite for creative workflows, at a price that meaningfully undercuts the CalDigit TS4. docking-stations.info scored it 8/10 and TechRadar praised its construction and flexibility. The lack of HDMI is the main caveat, but for Thunderbolt-heavy setups it is excellent value.

Strengths
  • — Three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports for daisy-chaining drives and displays
  • — UHS-II SD card reader prized by photographers and videographers
  • — 96W host charging through a single cable
Watch-outs
  • — No HDMI port, so displays need DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
  • — Fewer total ports than the CalDigit TS4 or Plugable TBT4-UDZ
  • — USB 2.0 port is a dated inclusion among faster connections
$229.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

How they stack up

CalDigit TS4

The most port-dense dock here, beating the Plugable TBT4-UD5, OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock, Kensington SD5780T and Plugable TBT4-UDZ on sheer connectivity and charging power. The trade-off is price and the absence of HDMI — where the Plugable TBT4-UD5 and Kensington SD5780T include HDMI outputs, the TS4 relies on DisplayPort or its Thunderbolt ports.

OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock

Sits between the value Plugable TBT4-UD5 and the flagship CalDigit TS4: it adds three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports for daisy-chaining that the Plugable TBT4-UD5 lacks, while undercutting the TS4 on price. Like the TS4 it has no HDMI, where the Plugable TBT4-UD5 and Kensington SD5780T include it, and it carries fewer total ports than the Plugable TBT4-UDZ.

Specs side-by-side

SpecCalDigit TS4OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Ports18 total11 total
Thunderbolt3x Thunderbolt 4 downstream (40Gb/s)3x downstream Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s)
USB3x USB-C + 5x USB-A (10Gb/s)3x USB-A (10Gb/s) + 1x USB 2.0
Host Charging98W Power Delivery96W Power Delivery
Networking2.5GbE EthernetGigabit Ethernet
DisplaysSingle 8K@30Hz or dual 6K@60HzSingle 8K@60Hz or dual 4K
Card ReaderSD + microSD (UHS-II)SD 4.0 UHS-II
CompatibilityMac, Windows, Chrome (driver-free)—
Warranty—2-year limited
← See the full ranking of best thunderbolt 4 docks