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Head-to-head · Best Docking Stations

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 vs HyperDrive 12 USB-C 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.

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The short answer

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about professionals needing extensive connectivity — read the strengths below before deciding.

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Docking Stations
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4
8 sources$379.99as of Aug 1

TechRadar's Collin Probst gave the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Dock a full 5-star review and called it the gold standard for Thunderbolt docks. It carries 18 ports, four of them Thunderbolt 4 connections, delivers 98W of power, and the build quality feels durable enough to trust on a busy desk. The Verge's Dan Seifert called it 'nearly perfect' with the most well-equipped configuration available, though he flagged the $380 price tag as a significant drawback. Both reviewers agree on the superior port selection and performance, and both note the bulk. Power users and professionals who need maximum connectivity are the audience, not casual users or anyone shopping on portability or affordability.

Strengths
  • — Incredible 98W power delivery supporting fast charging for laptops and peripherals
  • — Fantastic port options with 18 total ports including 3x 10Gb/s USB-C, 5x 10Gb/s USB-A, and dual 6K displays support
  • — Extra Thunderbolt 4 ports providing high-speed data transfer and device connectivity
Watch-outs
  • — Costs noticeably more than most Thunderbolt 4 docks, and the two-year warranty is shorter than some rivals offer
  • — No HDMI output, so an HDMI display needs an adapter or a DisplayPort connection
  • — Bulky external power supply that reviewers flagged as a cable-management problem
$379.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
HyperDrive 12 USB-C Dock
Ranked #4 in Best Docking Stations
HyperDrive 12 USB-C Dock
3 sources1 derived$100as of Jun 7

Twelve ports for the money is the HyperDrive 12-Port USB-C Dock's argument, dual HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4 outputs included, plus 10Gbps USB ports and 100W power delivery passthrough. It runs driver-free and supports triple displays on Windows and ChromeOS. Reviewers also noted there is no power adapter in the box and macOS display support is limited. Its 10Gbps host connection creates bandwidth bottlenecks when several displays run at once, so this suits Windows and ChromeOS users more than Mac users who want three screens.

Strengths
  • — Supports triple extended display on Windows and ChromeOS via MST without requiring drivers
  • — 10Gbps USB-C and USB-A ports enable fast external drive transfers
  • — Compact and lightweight design at just 480 grams with aluminum-look chassis
Watch-outs
  • — Power adapter not included, required separately for PD charging
  • — Triple display not supported on macOS due to lack of MST support
  • — Two USB-A 2.0 ports limit transfer speeds to 480Mbps
$100 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4

The CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 stands out with its 18-port configuration and 98W power delivery, making it superior to the Anker 563 10-in-1 Docking Station which only offers 100W charging and fewer ports. Unlike the UGREEN Revodok Max, it provides better overall connectivity with dual 6K display support and no HDMI limitations, though it's significantly more expensive at $399.99. Compared to the Dell WD25TB4, it offers more universal compatibility and better port variety, but lacks the modular upgrade system that Dell's dock provides.

HyperDrive 12 USB-C Dock

The HyperDrive 12 provides driver-free triple display support on Windows and ChromeOS, unlike the Dell D6000 which requires DisplayLink drivers. It's more compact than the CalDigit TS4 and offers 10Gbps USB speeds, but lacks Thunderbolt support and has limited macOS compatibility. Compared to the Anker 555, it's less expensive but doesn't support 4K60Hz HDMI output.

Specs side-by-side

SpecCalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4HyperDrive 12 USB-C Dock
Power Delivery98W100W
Ports18—
Display Support2x 6K @ 60Hz—
Ethernet2.5Gb10/100/1000 Mbps
USB Speed3x 10Gb/s—
ThunderboltThunderbolt 4—
Weight2.43 lb—
Audio3.5mm Headphone Jack—
Dimensions4.46"L x 1.65"W x 5.55"H—
Wattage23085 watts
Host Connection—USB-C
USB-A Ports—2x 2.0
USB-C Ports—2x 10Gbps
Display Outputs—3 displays
Card Slots—SD, microSD
Build Material—Aluminum
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