The CalDigit TS4 meets
the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub
18 ports of Thunderbolt 4 power for the serious desk setup. We tested it head-to-head against the Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub ($95) across 6 key dimensions.
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub
“Full Thunderbolt 4 speed at a fraction of the price”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
CalDigit TS4
- 18 ports including 2.5Gb Ethernet and UHS-II SD readers, per Kyle Erickson and The ReviewLab
- 98W host charging keeps even power-hungry laptops at full charge under load, per The ReviewLab
- 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth handles SSD transfers and dual displays without bottlenecks
- Aluminum chassis runs noticeably warm during heavy use, described as a 'cozy campfire' by Switch and Click
- Requires manual installation of rubber orientation feet on a $380 product, per Switch and Click
- Downstream TB4 ports only supply 15W, low compared to newer CalDigit models, per 9to5Mac
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub
- 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 speeds at $95, down from original $300 MSRP, per Kyle Erickson
- Single 8K@60Hz or dual 5K display support rivals docks costing 3-4x more
- Low-latency SSD transfers make it viable for video editing and audio production workflows
- AC power adapter is physically larger than the hub itself, strictly desk-bound per Kyle Erickson
- 60W power delivery may force high-end laptops (M-series Max chips) to draw from battery under load
- Only 3 USB-C ports with no built-in SD reader, Ethernet, or USB-A. You will need dongles
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The CalDigit TS4 won because it solves the actual problem docking stations exist to fix: cable chaos. With 18 ports packed into a single Thunderbolt 4 connection, it replaces every dongle, adapter, and hub cluttering your desk. Kyle Erickson and The ReviewLab both highlighted its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-II SD card readers (312 MB/s transfers), and three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports as the features that separate it from anything else in the $250 to $400 range.
CalDigit TS4
The CalDigit TS4 won because it solves the actual problem docking stations exist to fix: cable chaos. With 18 ports packed into a single Thunderbolt 4 connection, it replaces every dongle, adapter, and hub cluttering your desk. Kyle Erickson and The ReviewLab both highlighted its 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, UHS-II SD card readers (312 MB/s transfers), and three downstream Thunderbolt 4 ports as the features that separate it from anything else in the $250 to $400 range.
- Power users running 2+ monitors with external drives, SD cards, and wired Ethernet from one cable
- Video editors and photographers who need UHS-II SD card speeds (312 MB/s) built into the dock
- Remote workers with a permanent desk who want to eliminate every dongle and adapter
- Users with high-performance laptops that need 98W charging under sustained load
- Anyone who values port variety over bleeding-edge Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth
Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub
The Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Hub exists because of a pricing anomaly. It originally retailed for $300, which made it a mid-range Thunderbolt hub. At its current $95 price point, Kyle Erickson called it an 'absolute steal' because you get the same 40Gbps Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth that powers docks costing three to four times more.
- Budget-conscious buyers who want real Thunderbolt 4 speeds without premium dock pricing
- Freelancers who edit video or audio from external SSDs and need low-latency transfers
- Single-monitor users who want 8K or 5K output without paying for 15 ports they won't use
- Students or home office workers with a simple keyboard-mouse-monitor setup
- Anyone upgrading from a basic USB-C hub who wants a meaningful speed jump