Head-to-head · Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

CalDigit TS4 vs Plugable TBT4-UDZ

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 4.3). 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.

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

CalDigit TS4

4.8

$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 Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Thunderbolt 4 Docks

Plugable TBT4-UDZ

4.3

$269.95as of Jun 7

The TBT4-UDZ is the do-everything alternative: a 16-in-1 dock with HDMI, DisplayPort, multiple Thunderbolt ports and a generous USB charging spread that earned Laptop Mag's 2025 Dock of the Year. Laptop Mag said it lands just shy of a 5-star score and is one of the best docks it has tested. It is pricier and bulkier than the UD5 sibling, but for a decked-out workstation it rivals the flagships.

Strengths

— Huge 16-in-1 port selection rivaling the most loaded docks
— Both HDMI and DisplayPort outputs plus multiple Thunderbolt ports
— Many powered USB ports for charging accessories at the dock

Watch-outs

— Falls just short of a 5-star score in expert testing
— Larger footprint than slim docks like the Plugable TBT4-UD5
— Pricier than the value TBT4-UD5 sibling

$269.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full 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.

Plugable TBT4-UDZ

The maximalist value play: it nearly matches the CalDigit TS4 on port count while adding both HDMI and DisplayPort the TS4 lacks, for less money. It is more loaded than its Plugable TBT4-UD5 sibling and the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Dock, and offers more total ports than the Kensington SD5780T, though it is bulkier and pricier than the UD5.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	CalDigit TS4	Plugable TBT4-UDZ
Ports	18 total	16 total
Thunderbolt	3x Thunderbolt 4 downstream (40Gb/s)	Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) host + downstream
USB	3x USB-C + 5x USB-A (10Gb/s)	7x USB ports
Host Charging	98W Power Delivery	100W Power Delivery
Networking	2.5GbE Ethernet	2.5GbE Ethernet
Displays	Single 8K@30Hz or dual 6K@60Hz	Dual 4K@60Hz (2x HDMI, 2x DisplayPort)
Card Reader	SD + microSD (UHS-II)	SD + microSD
Compatibility	Mac, Windows, Chrome (driver-free)	Mac, Windows, USB4

← See the full ranking of best thunderbolt 4 docks