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CalDigit TS4 vs Kensington SD5000T5 EQ: Comparison
CalDigit TS4 and Kensington SD5000T5 EQ separate most on power delivery: CalDigit TS4 at 98 W, Kensington SD5000T5 EQ at 140 W, 30% in favour of Kensington SD5000T5 EQ. Host Power Delivery splits them by another 30%, again favouring Kensington SD5000T5 EQ. They match on 14 other specifications, including ethernet, bus powered and video path.
Specs
| Specification |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Connection Type | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 |
| Host Interface | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 |
| Port Configuration | 3x TB4 40Gbps, 3x USB-C 10Gbps, 5x USB-A 10Gbps, 2.5GbE, SD/microSD UHS-II, front/rear audio | 11-in-1: 1x TB5 host, 3x TB5 downstream (80Gbps), 3x USB-A 10Gbps, SD + microSD UHS-II, 2.5GbE, 3.5mm combo audio |
| Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 5 |
| Max Display Support | Dual 4K | Triple 4K@144Hz / Dual 8K@60Hz |
| Host Bandwidth | 40 Gbps | 80 Gbps |
| Power Delivery | 98 W-30% | 140 W |
| Host Power Delivery | 98 W-30% | 140 W |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| Bus Powered | No | No |
| Video Path | Thunderbolt Native | Thunderbolt Native |
| DisplayLink Driver Required | No | No |
| Max Displays Windows | 2 | 3 |
| Max Single Display Resolution | 8K | 8K |
| Max Single Display Refresh | 30 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Max Dual Display Resolution | 6K | 8K |
| Max Dual Display Refresh | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| HDMI Port Count | 0 | 0 |
| HDMI Version | None | None |
| DisplayPort Port Count | 1 | 0 |
| DisplayPort Version | 1.4 | None |
| Downstream Thunderbolt Port Count | 2 | 3 |
| USB-A Port Count | 5 | 3 |
| Max USB Data Rate | 10Gbps | 10Gbps |
| Ethernet Speed | 2.5GbE | 2.5GbE |
| SD Card Slot | UHS-II | UHS-II |
| microSD Card Slot | UHS-II | UHS-II |
| Audio Jack Configuration | Front Combo Plus Rear In And Out | Single Combo |
| macOS Supported | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Supported | Yes | Yes |
| Brand | CalDigit | Kensington |
| Model | TS4 | SD5000T5 EQ |
| Price | ~$300 | $269.99 MSRP |
| Source URL | https://www.caldigit.com/thunderbolt-station-4/ | https://www.thunderbolttechnology.net/product/kensington-sd5000t5-eq-thunderbolt%E2%84%A2-5-triple-4k-docking-station-140w-pd ; https://www.macworld.com/article/3127228/kensington-sd5000t5-eq-thunderbolt-5-dock-review.html |
Verdict
CalDigit TS4
9 / 10 Expert Rating
Best USB-C dock for most WFH setups — 98W charging, dual 4K@60Hz, 18 ports, and flawless Mac/Windows/Chrome compatibility.
Kensington SD5000T5 EQ
9 / 10 Expert Rating
The highest power delivery in our dock lineup paired with genuine triple 4K@144Hz output.