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Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro vs CalDigit TS5 Plus: Comparison
Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro vs CalDigit TS5 Plus: the host power delivery difference
They are built to different briefs, and host power delivery shows it, Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro 90W against CalDigit TS5 Plus 140 W. CalDigit TS5 Plus also leads on total ports, 12 on the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro versus 20 on the CalDigit TS5 Plus.
Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro vs CalDigit TS5 Plus: which one fits your build
Take the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro for anyone running two Thunderbolt peripherals who wants a second true TB4 port on the dock itself. The same goes for dual 4K or single 8K monitor setups on a consumer budget. It is the wrong buy for buyers who only need one external display, cheaper single-HDMI docks cover that. Take the CalDigit TS5 Plus for power users who refuse to compromise on port count or bandwidth. It is equally the pick for buyers wanting a dock they can keep for five-plus years without needing to upgrade. Avoid it for buyers on a budget or without a Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptop, the price premium doesn't pay back unless running extreme displays or workloads that need the extra bandwidth today.
Where the two are identical
The common ground is wider than the gap: ethernet, host cable captive, bus powered, displaylink driver required and max displays windows are identical here. They match on 5 further specifications as well.
Which is cheaper, Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro or CalDigit TS5 Plus?
At the last price check the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro was $350 and the CalDigit TS5 Plus $500, a 43% premium.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro and CalDigit TS5 Plus differ on ethernet speed?
Yes. Ethernet Speed reads 1GbE on the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro versus 10GbE on the CalDigit TS5 Plus.
Is the Max Displays Mac Base the same on the Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro and CalDigit TS5 Plus?
It is. Both are listed at 1, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Brand
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Belkin
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- CalDigit
Connection Type
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Thunderbolt 4
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Thunderbolt 5
Host Interface
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Thunderbolt 4
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Thunderbolt 5
Model Number
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- TS5 Plus
Port Configuration
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 1x TB4 host, 1x TB4 downstream 40Gbps, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB-C 10Gbps, 2x USB-A 3.1, 2x USB-A 2.0, 1GbE, SD 4.0, 3.5mm combo audio
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 1x TB5 host, 2x TB5 downstream (80Gbps), 5x USB-C 10Gbps, 5x USB-A 10Gbps, DisplayPort 2.1, 10GbE, SD/microSD UHS-II, front/rear 3.5mm audio
Thunderbolt Version
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 4
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 5
Host Bandwidth
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 40 Gbps
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 80 GbpsBest
Max Display Support
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 1x 8K@30Hz or 2x 4K@60Hz
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Quad 4K
Host Cable Captive
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- No
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- No
Host Cable Length
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 0.8 m
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 1 m
Total Ports
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 12-40%
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 20Best
Host Power Delivery
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 90W (Thunderbolt 4)
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 140 W
Ethernet
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Yes
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Yes
External PSU Wattage
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 120 W
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 330 WBest
Bus Powered
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- No
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- No
DisplayLink Driver Required
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- No
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- No
Max Displays Windows
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 3
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 3
Max Displays Mac Base
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 1
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 1
Max Single Display Resolution
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 8K
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 8K
Max Dual Display Resolution
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 4K
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 6K
Max Dual Display Refresh
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 60 Hz
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 120 Hz
HDMI Port Count
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 2
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 0
HDMI Version
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 2.0
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- None
DisplayPort Port Count
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 0
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 1
DisplayPort Version
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- None
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 2.1
Downstream Thunderbolt Port Count
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 1
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 2
USB-A Port Count
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 4
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 5
USB-C Data Port Count
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 1
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 5
Max USB Data Rate
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 10Gbps
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 10Gbps
Downstream Thunderbolt Port Power
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 15 W
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 36 W
Ethernet Speed
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- 1GbE
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- 10GbEBest
Audio Jack Configuration
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Single Combo
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Front Combo Plus Rear In And Out
macOS Supported
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Yes
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Yes
Windows Supported
- Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
- Yes
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Yes
Which one should you pick?
Choose Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro if you already have it on hand or find it at a lower price.
Choose CalDigit TS5 Plus if you want the higher total ports (20 vs 12).
Price comparison
| Retailer | Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro | CalDigit TS5 Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Best Buy | $349.99 View on Best Buy | |
| Amazon | $500.00 View on Amazon |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
Belkin Thunderbolt 4 Dock Pro
8 / 10 Expert Rating
The second true Thunderbolt 4 port and dual HDMI make this the flexible pick for multi-peripheral desks.
CalDigit TS5 Plus
10 / 10 Expert Rating
Best overall Thunderbolt 5 dock, most ports, best charging, dual 8K@60Hz, and 10GbE for buyers who refuse to compromise.