The iconic Thunderbolt Station is back, now in its 4th iteration, featuring the classic design first introduced by CalDigit.
Not only is the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt Station 4 the most powerful dock ever created, the dock with the most ports, the dock with the highest charging capabilities, the first dock with 2.5GbE, it is the dock that will drive us into the Thunderbolt 4 generation.
The TS4 offers a staggering 18 ports of connectivity, the most featured on any Thunderbolt dock ever.The purpose of a device like this is to never run out of ports, and for the majority of us, that should certainly not be the case with the TS4.
Having the ability to use the TS4 on any Type-C computer or tablet is incredibly convenient.
Compatible with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C computers, the TS4 adapts to the host computer it connects to, providing the features available to your computer or tablet.
¹Requires macOS 11.4 (Big Sur) or above
² Functionality is dependent on host computer or tablet’s capabilities.
When it comes to laptop charging the TS4 provides up to 98W of sustained power delivery at all times thanks to the inclusion of a power supply that is more than capable of maintaining a consistent level of power.
Whilst many other Thunderbolt 4 docks state that they can charge at up to 96W, or above, they actually include an insufficient power supply. These docks will allocate host power based on how many devices are connected to them. Some of the host power will move to newly attached devices, thereby reducing the power delivery.
Rest assured that the CalDigit TS4’s power supply will always provide the full 98W power delivery, and will never drop that performance even when new devices are connected to the TS4.
For laptops or tablets that require less than 98W, the TS4 will only supply the wattage required by your device.
The TS4 features three Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports with 40Gb/s performance.
One of the ports is used as the host connection to the laptop, and the two remaining ports can be used to connect Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4, or USB-C devices to the TS4. This includes monitors, SSDs, hubs, and much more.
With 8 USB ports on the TS4, a mixture of USB-A and USB-C, you have plenty of port connectivity to connect your USB accessories*.
All of the USB ports on the TS4 offer 10Gb/s performance.
*USB-C & USB-A ports are for data only. Users who wish to connect monitors must connect them to the spare Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports.
One of the front-facing USB-C ports can supply up to 20W of power for your attached USB-C device.
This is ideal for accessories that require more power, such as Apple’s MagSafe wireless charger.
When it comes to connecting a monitor the TS4 offers outstanding visual clarity.
Single Monitor
If you’re looking to add a single monitor to the TS4 you can either connect it to the DisplayPort connector or to one of the spare Thunderbolt 4 ports.
If you wish to connect a HDMI monitor you can either connect an Active DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter, or use a USB-C to HDMI Adapter ***.
Dual Monitors
macOS users on M1/M2 Pro, M1/M2 Max, or Intel based Macs can connect up to dual displays.
M1/M2 based Macs do not support dual monitors through their Thunderbolt ports.
Windows PC Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 users can connect up to dual displays.
NOTE: If you intend to connect dual monitors above 4K 60Hz, such as dual 5K 60Hz or 6K 60Hz, your monitors and host GPU must support DSC 1.2 (Display Stream Compression) and DP 1.4 HBR3. Apple M1, M1 Pro, M1 Max & M1 Ultra support DSC 1.2 & DP 1.4 HBR3. Please note that the LG UltraFine 5K monitor does not support DSC.
In addition, if you intend to connect a single display above 4K 60Hz your host GPU and monitor must also support DSC 1.2 and DP 1.4 HBR3.
*Some Windows PC manufacturers have decided to restrict functionality on their Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports such as charging and monitor compatibility. Check to see if your PC supports external monitors.
*Intel MacPro 2019 with Radeon Pro 580X or Vega MPX Module can NOT support 6K (such as Apple Pro Display XDR) behind TS4. It is limited to 5K only. To use Pro Display XDR at 6K behind TS4, please upgrade to the MPX Module that can support DSC.
**Some refresh rates require DP 1.4 HBR3 and DSC 1.2 support from host GPU and monitor.
Some Thunderbolt 3 hosts that only support DP 1.2 will be capped at a lower resolutions & refresh rates.
The bit/color depth may vary in order to support higher refresh rates.
The support of higher refresh rates may vary due to OS updates.
*** Current Mac computers, including Apple Silicons M1 / M2, can only support up to HDMI 2.0b over its Thunderbolt ports. As such, resolution will be limited to 4K 60Hz when using an HDMI adapter. If higher refresh rate is required, please use USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to DisplayPort or DisplayPort to DisplayPort connection.
The TS4 is a dock that provides a lot of unique features, and that is certainly the case with the inclusion of 2.5GbE.
2.5GbE is 2.5x faster than traditional Gigabit Ethernet, and is becoming the new standard for routers, switches, and NAS devices**
USB to 2.5GbE Adapters cost anywhere between $20 – $55.
The TS4’s 2.5GbE functionality represents great value for money.
Of course you can use the 2.5GbE port on the TS4 with traditional 1GbE Ethernet devices.
**Ethernet is only supported on Thunderbolt based hosts as well as USB4 hosts that support PCIe. Please contact your USB4 host manufacturers for PCIe support information.
Connect the TS4 to your Thunderbolt/USB-C iPad, or Windows tablet, and take your workflow to the next level.
*Full tablet functionality will be dependent on your tablet’s capabilities.
The front facing SD and microSD connectors offer a convenient way to access your SD cards. Both card slots offer UHS-II performance for the best possible speeds.
The front USB-A port, all of the USB-C ports, and two of the rear USB-A ports on the TS4 provide offline charging.
This function allows those specific ports the ability to charge your USB devices, such as phones and tablets, even when the TS4 is not connected to a host device.
Some people prefer to connect their headphones to the front of a dock for easy convenience, whilst others prefer to have them plugged into the back of a dock to keep their workflow cleaner.
The TS4’s two audio output ports, one on the front and one on the back, cater for either scenario*.
The back of the device also offers an audio input port for connecting a microphone.
*Only the front audio combo port, or the rear audio in and out ports can be used at once. Audio will default to the front port if both front and rear ports are used.
When you have the world’s most powerful dock you need to make sure no one takes it from your desk! The TS4’s Lock allows you to secure the dock for added protection.
Devices such as the Apple SuperDrive are recommended by Apple to be directly connected to a laptop as they require extra power. CalDigit has developed a driver for the SuperDrive so that it can be directly connected to the TS4.
*Requires a one-time driver install.
Most generic Thunderbolt 4 docks feature a front host Thunderbolt port which results in messy cable management.
The TS4’s unique rear Thunderbolt 4 host port features a more elegant solution for a clean desktop experience.
3 x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s)
3 x USB-C (10Gb/s)
5 x USB-A (10Gb/s)
1 x DisplayPort 1.4
1 x SD 4.0 (UHS-II)
1 x microSD 4.0 (UHS-II)
1 x 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet
1 x Front Combo Audio In/Out (3.5mm)
1 x Rear Audio Out (3.5mm)
1 x Rear Audio In (3.5mm)
1 x DC In (19.5V 11.80A)
