CalDigit TS5 and Element 5 Hub Review: Two Thunderbolt 5 Docks for Apple's Latest Macs

Cal Digit is best known for its docks and hubs, and it has two options designed for Apple's latest Macs. I reviewed the larger $500 20-port TS5 Plus last summer, and for the last couple of weeks, I've been testing the $400 15-port TS5 that launched a bit later than the premium model, and the smaller $250 Element 5 Hub. TS5 The TS5 is probably the Thunderbolt 5 dock that I would recommend if someone on the street came up to me and asked which Thunderbolt 5 dock to buy. It's smaller and takes up less space on a desk than the TS5 Plus, it has no fans like some competing docks, and it has a useful port selection. With some exceptions, it'll meet the needs of most people. Thunderbolt 5 docks are ideal for Apple's Thunderbolt 5 Macs (the M4 Pro, M4 Max, M5 Pro, and M5 Max), but they're also backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 Macs, so you can use the TS5 with almost any Mac to add ports for displays and accessories. Ports on the front: Audio jack USB-C with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W USB-C with 10Gb/s speeds and 20W MicroSD card slot (UHS-II) SD card slot (UHS-II) Ports on the back: Audio in/out USB-C port with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W USB-A port with 10Gb/s speeds and 7.5W USB-A port with 480Mb/s speeds and 7.5W 2.5 GbE Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports with 15W charging One upstream Thunderbolt 5 port with 140W charging The TS5 does not have dual USB controllers like the TS5 Plus, it has 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet instead of 10GbE, it doesn't have DisplayPort, and it has three fewer USB-A ports and two fewer USB-C ports than the TS5 Plus. The TS5 has three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports instead of two, so it beats the TS5 Plus (which only has two), but the higher-end TS5 Plus has more charging power. The front USB-C port on the TS5 Plus is 36W, as are the two downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports at the back. The TS5 has the same general design that CalDigit has used for its last several docks. It's made from a space gray aluminum material with ribbing