The Best Desk Setup Accessory Ever? - CalDigit TS4 Review
Вставка
- Опубліковано 2 сер 2024
- Get an exclusive NordPass deal plus 4 additional months for FREE here: nordpass.com/createdtech or use code createdtech at the checkout!
The CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 dock is a solid product, but should you sell one of your kidneys for it? With 18 ports of connectivity, a premium build, and features to match, you might be tempted...
Find the best price here:
⮕ CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: geni.us/caldigitTS4
Other things featured in this video:
⮕ Active DisplayPort to HDMI adapter: geni.us/dpadapter
⮕ USB-C to HDMI adapter: geni.us/usbctohdmi
⮕ CalDigit TS3 Plus: geni.us/thunderboltdock
⮕ Why I Use A Gaming Monitor With My Mac: • Why I Use a Gaming Mon...
Support us:
🖥️ Get our custom macOS wallpapers: crtd.tech/wallpapers
🟣 Join our Discord for giveaways and more: crtd.tech/discord
📷 Behind-the-scenes content on Instagram: / createdtech
00:00 The Solution
01:13 Form Factor
02:03 Ports
04:49 Sponsor
05:44 External Monitor Support
07:06 CalDigit TS3 vs TS4
08:49 Thunderbolt 3 vs Thunderbolt 4
09:37 Price
11:06 Should You Buy?
#caldigit #macbook #createdtech
--
Disclaimer: Some of the above links are affiliated, and we may receive a small commission (at no cost to you) if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. - Наука та технологія
⮕ CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: geni.us/caldigitTS4
Get an exclusive NordPass deal plus 4 additional months for FREE here: nordpass.com/createdtech or use code createdtech at the checkout!
Got one!!!! Just need to unpack it and get it running. Saw a review of it a few months back, pretty impressive. Sold!!! Thanks for the video.
I picked up a refurbed TS3 Plus a few months ago for use with my M1 MBA and couldn't be happier, rock solid. The immediate trigger was the USB C port on my external monitor failing, but now my connectivity is independent of my monitor (now connected via DP) I am free to buy a much wider range of displays, like an LG C2 (rather than the more expensive but better connected monitor options).
I have their older TB3 version connected to my Mac Studio, and it’s great! If I ever have a reason to upgrade it to this one I will. 👍🏻
Keep up the good work! Love the videos!
I was getting constant drive disconnection errors on my 2020 iMac until I plugged them into a TS3 CalDigit dock. That dock solved my issues
I’ve been using the TS4 for about 6 months at home connected to all my peripherals. Monitor, Mirrorless Camera (via USB and Camlink 4K), Ethernet, Speakers, Logitech Unifying receiver for Mouse & Keyboard, and external SSD drives. Use it between my personal MacBook Pro M1 16” and my work one daily. It’s been one of the best purchases I’ve made. Switching between MacBook Pros feels effortless, or even if I just want to unplug the MacBook to go to another room and then come back and plug back in.
Caldigit has had pretty good costumer support and troubleshooting to address some of the issues people initially had when the TS4 was launched on their website. I encountered one issue which I found a resolution for on their website. Overall been very happy with my TS4.
I think the CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 4 is both the new King and Queen of Thunderbolt docks. Bring a total of 18 Ports of extreme connectivity is more than I could imagine! I think the number of ports is the most featured on any Thunderbolt dock ever. It's definitely/ arguably an accessory to consider/ have despite it's slightly high price tag.
To prevent slipping when plugging in stuff, I put a couple of command strips under it. It works great and can always adjust it when I need to, since the heat it gives off keeps the adhesive pretty stable.
I was looking for a Thunderbolt dock when the TS4 was launched and I bought it immediately. I’m super happy with my choice. Super it was expensive, but it has all the back ports used, including 2 monitors. I have a 3rd monitor connected directly to the MacBook. This way I only need 2 cables to plug/unplug everything. It’s awesome!
You made a solid choice!
I bought it immediately, too to replace my TS3+. I was on the look out as one of their reps winked and nodded at the new TS4 before it launched.
Great Videos always, I thought by now your channel will surpass 200k subs, Anyway keep the good review job
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 dock is the one I purchased with my M1 MacBook Air back in March. Yes I put 3/4 in. Clear Soft Rubber Plastic Like Self-Adhesive Square Bumpers from Home Depot on the side/bottom and it does not slide now. Also little more air flow now to keep it cool.
Best one I could find. Love that the host port for my MacBook Air is on the back along with all the other connectors I leave pulled in all the time. Then quick access on the front to the ports I use for the data transfer from temporary storage devices.
Should last me many years to come.
My M1 air is holding up amazing, so happy for this video. Might snag one.
The price is still an impediment. So I'll continue with the uGreen and qGeeM docks. Not because I'm a fan, but because the cost x benefit is still worth it.
I just love mine, it’s perfect despite it having a Ethernet controller issue that gives some issues with connectivity or/and speed on the 2.5Gbe, but hopefully that will be solved with Ventura. My NAS is a Qnap so I have that connected via TB4 and then internet via TS4 Ethernet port thru a 10Gbe switch.
Awesome & Thanks :)
Damn.. you guys are quick
That is really a life saver
I got one of these after my chinese TB3 dock's USB controller had intermittent problems. Running 2 DP monitors 1 at 4k and one at 1440p 144hz & charges my 16" m1 macs under pretty demanding workloads. Also runs WAY cooler than my old dock, that thing probably killed itself.
Overall cannot complain, hopefully it lasts longer than my previous one. Also to note I think TB definitely has some funkiness in EVERY device, but once you have everything setup I've found it as stable as USB for the most part.
Vollste Empfehlung! Ich liebe das Gerät
Hi thanks for the video, are you using a KVM with the dock? can you share your experience with this? I noticed you switched between the Mac laptop and PC computer however i may have missed if your sharing your peripherals or not, keen to get some insights on if you are using one.
I own the previous gen and it is great
Curious to know how it compares to the offerings from OWC.
I used one of these for a few weeks on my work and personal M1 MacBook Pro 14” laptops.
I had two big issues:
1) When the computer went to sleep, it put the TS4 into some sleep mode where the ethernet adapter would lose the IP assignment and then have a self-assigned IP, resulting in issues reconnecting to my VPN. I would have to disconnect and reconnect the TS4 to get it to recover.
2) When the computer would go to sleep and then be woken up, the external display appeared at a lower than native resolution, which would require me to power cycle the TS4, or, yet again, disconnect and reconnect the TS4. Due to a lot of documentation reading on my iPad, my work machine’s enforced quick power savings to turn off the displays (cut the HDMI signal), I would have to disconnect and reconnect the TS4 dozens of times a day. I gave up and just use an Anker 5 series 6-in-1 that has an Ethernet, PD and a few extra ports.
All OS updates were applied, the TS4 firmware was up-to-date, et al.
Good comment here. I went thru the same scenario but with my 15 razer blade
Thanks
which laptop stand is that? looks nice!
I've been using this dock on my Samsung laptop for a month or so. Works perfectly! Worth the price to me.
The LG 4K monitor Apple sells has 4 USB C ports eliminating the need for a hub while I am using a Mac mini which has its own ports.
I bought the TS3+ like a week before the TS4 was announced 😬 and they seems to have stopped selling the 10gb dongle, which I was hoping to add on.
Just grab the 10 gig QNAP one from Mwave or Amazon mate, they work just as well. Been running two QNAP adapters for years without issue, both SFP+ and ethernet.
@@CreatedTech Good to know thanks, that was going to be the backup plan! What's the point in having a 10gb network if I can't use it haha
Having a gaming PC and separate mac laptop.
Razer Blade 14. RTX 3808, 8 Core AMD - does everything both of those can and you only have to buy and maintain 1 computer. Also you can then game anywhere.
I want to a dock that uses both USB-C thunderbolt ports for power and data throughput. Having all of those ports share one USB-C port can be a bit overloading, and can limit it from fully supporting every type of port, notice this one is missing HDMI and is limited on some of its ports data throughput.
I had to return my TS4 because it would not let me connect my 3 usb c monitors, i kept my anker power expand tb4 dock and it works great.
There is no dock better than this one. I have it and it’s amazing. I use it on a PC laptop and run an entire audio studio with it
Same lol works great!
Finally a PC user testimony, thanks !!
I started to think that it was a Mac only device.
@@sylreadalong9516 glad it helps you decide. I have thunderbolt 4 connections.
@@sylreadalong9516 why would you think that? Thunderbolt is a common standard, it's not exclusive.
cannot wait to get my hands on the 14 inch MacBook Pro
I pulled the trigger on the official refurb. Wish I got 2tb instead of 1! Lol but it’s not a real problem really as I have a NAS. Best thing I like coming from 2014 MacBook Pro, is finally I have sleep that works and doesn’t drain battery. Oh yeah, she is faster lol
Are you going to buy monitors?
Do it! I love mine. Costco or refurbished with Apple care is the way to go!
M2 max in 6 months
The m1 pros really are good👍
Slightly unrelated question, but for Mac users with docks with multiple mountable media connected, when you want to disconnect from the dock is there a fast way to unmount all the media connected to it at once?
How did you set up your dock to switch between your Mac and pc by changing your monitor output?
One thing that is important to me is that TB4 is USB4 compliant. This means that non-Thunderbolt devices can still utilize the TS4, whereas the TS3 Plus (which I also own) is exclusively Thunderbolt 3 and can't work with either of the aforementioned.
There are limitations, though-Non thunderbolt devices like my desktop and Valve Steam Deck (both of which only use 3.2 gen 2) can use only non-Thunderbolt devices connected to the TS4. And while my Steam Deck works great, my desktop doesn't have an integrated GPU, so there's no Display output for it-so it's effectively a USB hub (which is what I expected).
In leu of a KVM, I actually use my MacBook Pro 16 and desktop gaming PC with the TS4. I have my audio devices, webcams, and peripherals all plugged into the TS4. And then when I need to use my desktop instead, I simply plug the TS4 into the USB 3.2 gen 2 port on my motherboard, and it picks up all the I/O. For my monitor, I keep both my dedicated GPU and TS4 plugged into the monitor simultaneously. And it'll auto-switch if I'm using my MBP with the dock or using my dGPU from my PC.
So what is your KVM setup now? Do you connect your MBP and PC straight to the monitor's KVM and from the monitor to the TS4?
the m1 macbook air does support my 5120x1440 120Hz display which does help me get around the single external monitor issue
I love the OSX and MS love here , for the same reasons I love Them... ;)
Not enough people run both, they’re missing out
what chair is it you have in your video? because my seat is feeed. all the cussion went in the front
I have read and heard there is a lot of problems with TS4 with the Macs?
Is it possible to limit the charging while docked? I don't want the battery to degrade by having it plugged in all the time
With a new Macbook Pro and the TS4, can you output 4k 120hz with the display port 1.4?
I tried this once but got interference in my speakers because my audio interface was connected to the dock and the dock was charging my Macbook. Doesn't this happen to you? If not i will have to try this one out
I bought baseus thunderbolt 3 dock with 16 ports for 70 dollar and it's working great! If you searching for bang for the buck I'm recommending this option
Where can I find your laptop stand?
That SD card reader on the new Macbook Pros are slow, so maybe CalDigit's is faster?
That dock is awesome it is really the only dock other than the Anker dock that is extremely reliable!
do u get the usbc 3.2 bandwith over thunderbolt 4... ? the newer usb 3.2 2x2 speed external ssd example?
unicon vomit... LOL you win the interweb Sir, well done, very well done!
easily the best dock I've ever owned, zero stability issues, which is a bigger concern than you'd think on docks.
What desk is this?
A quick question. Can you connect your QNAP 10 Gb adapter through the TS4 for using the connection to your 10 Gb Synology NAS, and what are the speeds like? Thanks!
Yes, you can. You'll get the full 10 gigabit speed too. But a HDD-only NAS like mine with 6 drives won't saturate a full 10g connection, you'll probably get around 0.7 of that.
@@CreatedTech Thanks a lot!
I agree with getting this docking station however, most people who are WFH have a work laptop that is windows based and USB C gen 2 based. This one wouldn't be of any use to them to if its not supported. This works if you have a thunderbolt 3 or 4 laptop but my experience is that most people have a work laptop that is USB C gen 2 and not Thunderbolt 3 laptops
I bought exactly this CalDigit Dock a couple of weeks ago. I have a MacBook Pro M1 13" from 2021. I also bought the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 monitor. I'm not a gamer and bought tis Ultrawide specifically for my online seminars using MS Teams. What I didn't know at the time of purchase is my M1 MacBook only allows one external monitor. You mentioned this in your video here. You also mentioned a "work-around". Could you please be more specific. My intention is to be able to split my Neo into two 27" screens, seeing my participants on one side whilst sharing content with them on the other side, something which isn't possible at the moment. If I leave my MacBook open, the Neo shows a blank screen. It's only when I close it into Clamshell mode that I get the picture on the Neo. The Mac only has a 60Hz refresh rate, the Neo can do 240Hz. Not sure what to do here either as I'm not happy with the overall picture quality. Please reply and I promise to subscribe and ring the bell 🙏
This will give you more info:
ua-cam.com/video/sNkhlPqv0Cg/v-deo.html
@@CreatedTech If this works Buddy, I'd love to give you a thousand Likes and the same subscriptions to your channel. I'd like to keep my CalDigit in the loop. Can I go from Macbook to CalD and then to the Displayport dock? If so, what connections would I have to make? Have subscribed and rang the bell. Many thanks 😊
@@robertw.1499 I'm not too sure to be honest, going from MacBook>CalDigit>Displayport dock is a bit tricky and I can't say for sure if it would work. You could try buying a DisplayPort dock off Amazon, fiddling around and seeing if it would work, and return it if it doesn't.
@@CreatedTech Thanks once again for replying, really appreciated. What I will try is using one of the Macs USB-C/Thunderbolt outlets to the CalD then to the display port on the Samsung, use the second Mac USB-C/Thunderbolt to the Displayport then HDMI to the Samsung. Hope this works 🤔
heich dmi?
The price went up by £100 which makes it about £420 in the UK. That is a lot of money for a dock.
It has rubbuh, mate? Crikey that's good!
Quick question; you say your using an audio interface, how well does the Caldigit handle this?
I seem to remember audio interfaces being pretty much unusable with the dell TB docks due to USB noise and for the longest time thought it was just a general tb dock issue
Works fine for me, currently using an Audient EVO 4 interface.
@@CreatedTech Oh nice, same here
number 5!
Can you compare it to the Ivanky Fusion Max? I am not sure whether the Ivanky or the TS4 would be the best fit for me. The 60Hz restriction of the Ivanky seems to be a no go for me, but I believe using a HDMI to USB-C cable might be a workaround for that..
Ivanky internals are apparently crap inside. Refer to comments on their reviews. Caldigit is expensive but apparently do proper wiring and safety.
Would love to see a comparison to the Dell WD19TBS
WD22TB4 is the doc that is most similar to this one, minus the 2.5Gbit Ethernet.
@@psycl0ptic True, but the WD19TBS is still more common and waaay cheaper right now. But yeah, for higher-end setups, the newer version is king
Do you have the sleep issue with the TS4? I have a M1 Max Macbook Pro 14 and there are times where all of my devices get disconnected. I can't wake my computer from sleep unless I open the lid or switch over to Bluetooth. After waking, the remaining devices are still disconnected. Anything on USB is completely unresponsive (e.g. stream deck, mice, keyboard...). I'm on the latest firmware as well. My MacBook is set to never sleep the computer, but sleep displays.
I haven’t personally had this issue, but I use my MacBook on a stand with the screen open. Although I have had it happen when connected to a USB-C monitor with the screen closed.
I’m not sure what the root of the issue could be, but I’ve heard of others having similar problems with their Mac, with different USB-C or thunderbolt devices.
I am still begging for a TS2. Is it available in Australia? No hope in India.
Isn't it very expensive just fir providing few ports
They still haven't fixed all the bugs with dock and network port yet? WTF! I have an older OWC doc and use it daily. never have to power cycle the dock, it just works...for years.
From 2:59 there is no on/off button. Does this mean that its made to always powered on?
The dock will always be in "standby" mode, but not technically "on". It consumes almost no power when in standby, so it doesn't need an on/off button.
@@CreatedTech So having electricity runs through it all the time will not shorten its lifespan?
@@mckungsmakong No
how did you switch between two computers? I cannot find any information on connecting 2 computers. I have a mac and a PC and am trying to find one device to connect both computers to the same monitor, mouse and keyboard
KVM switch with HDMI ports
You had two computers on your desk but didn’t address the elephant; how to switch KVM quickly and easily. TB 4 KVM’s are very hard to find… was looking for a solution.
I have two thunderbolt cables that I alternate. When I want to use the PC, I just unplug the Mac host cable, and plug in the host cable for the PC. There are other solutions like built-in KVM to the monitor etc but I only use the PC maybe 15% of the time, so it's not a problem for me.
Well!
Can someone please answer my question? I have a M1 MacBook Pro 14 and I'm interested in getting a monitor. I am seeing a lot of people use usb-c for connecting the monitor and charging the MacBook at the same time. Now if I keep my laptop plugged in for the whole day and it's continuously getting charged, won't it 1) affect the battery life of the laptop as it's not discharging and charging like normal 2) Won't it ruin the usb-c port of the monitor in the long run due to heating of the port because of continuous charging.
ua-cam.com/video/d34p7ULZbzU/v-deo.html
Just buy ORICO Type-C Docking Station.
It twice cheaper, have better look, can be powered from your own GaN charger and also has DisplayLink, so you can connect up to 3 monitors to MacBook with M1/M2 chip.
Great video! I’ve been recently watching your video about about charging our mbp/a. But how do you deal with this dock when you have passthrough charging capability ? It is not that I can unplug it whenever I want since my display and SSD are connected to it ? What is your strategy ? Thanks!
You can unmount the SSD before unplugging from the dock. Just click the little eject button next to the SSD in the Finder window.
@@CreatedTech Sorry my question wasn't well composed. How do you preserve your MBP/A battery (20%-80%, unplugging for a while etc VS letting it be plugged in all the time.) when your dock is constantly plugged in because you need your display and whatever that is connected to it? Or you just don't care and let plugged in as mentioned at the end of that video because trying to take care of the battery will only save us only a few longevity % on the long term. But I'm one of those who keeps their mac for a long time. Just bought MBA M3. (Retiring almost 12 years old mid 2012 MBP). Thank you!! (And thank you for your reply!)
@@demazyI don't really care tbh, it's not worth spending so much time and effort every day. I would just unplug at night, and every now and then use it as a normal laptop on battery mode. You'll probably do this anyway, that's what I do. Watch UA-cam videos on the couch etc.
@@CreatedTech Short answer: Alright, reassuring that the return value is not worth the effort.
Long answer: iPad mini is for the couch. I don't move as much with a laptop anymore, but sometimes I need to. Otherwise it would have been a mac mini. And I'm using Transmission and Infuse with SSD, that's why it stay up and running all the time. But I'll try to make exceptions and unplug form time to time.
Thanks for your time. Just discovered you recently while researching the MBA M3, and you're doing really great videos. Great image quality, great appearance and vibe, great explanations, not wasting time, no nonsense, down to earth and true knowledge is shared. Good job!
@@demazyYou can also look into apps like Al Dente for Mac, that will allow you to have more control over the charge level. Some people like to keep their battery at 50% if it's almost always plugged in. I've used Al Dente a little on my test laptops to keep their charge level at 50% for long term storage, but I haven't used it extensively.
But again, even if you just abuse the battery all day long, it's under $200 to replace it which IMO isn't that huge if you've used it for like 5-7 years.
Thanks for the kind words! I am working on an M3 MacBook Air comparison video right now so hope you'll like it.
Just wondering how this "octopus" is considered a MacBook upgrade. 😎
@7:44 GbE means Gigabit Ethernet. It should be instead 10 Gbps, Gigabit per second
Whoops, that was a typo. Thanks for letting me know!
best dock ever!!!
You're worried about a busted back, yet use a QWERTY keyboard from 1898. RSI welcomes you.
Corne, tented, split, ortholinear - and 32 programmable layers on visual configurator. Amazing how many people still use QWERTY.
No ergonomic keyboard can replace a standing desk and regularly moving every 30 minutes. I’d say less than 1% of the population use something other than QWERTY, because it’s simply too hard to retrain a lifetime of muscle memory.
TS4 is great, but the Ethernet port is the most unreliable thing I have had. I just use a 1Gb USBC adapter plugged in.
I use the Anker 563 and have had super good luck with my work MBA M1 and my personal MBP M1. I run two additional screens to the laptop monitor. If you can put up with the power adapter being heavier than the dock itself, it is a good alternative to the CalDigit Dock, which I think looks like a prototype product... And the 563 is 100 USD cheaper plus I get two HDMI ports... I just don't see the Caldigit dock being worth the money.
I agree! Someone got robbed with that deck.
Anker 563 literally has 8 less ports. Lol. Hardly comparable to this.
@@AlmightyEye And yet many of those ports are for things people don’t care about or are redundant.
For you guys out there caldigit 4 has 3 thunderbolt ports and caldigit 3 has only 2 thunderbolt ports
So pricey. Makes the upgrade from a high end Mini to a Studio look like money well spent.
It's almost the same as I paid for my 1. gen M1 Macbook Air 😭... I can see us all cheer, when Apple double their prices, just to upgrade a couple of ports every year😝☮
Please features your cat more on the future videos. 🐱
The problem is they stopped making their 10gbe tb3 adapter at the same time this came out because they knew that it made more sense to buy the TS3 hub for $300 and get the 10gbe adapter for $150 over getting this dock. At $400 it should have had 10gbe because they had 2 separate products that were $450. I love their products but it really stinks that they went this way
Razrs is great. Just turn off the lights or set to one color. Clearly you have nothing but rgb in the background of your video, so....
Most internet speeds cap out at 100
The dock seems a bit expensive for me, it's a little bit less than half the price of the M1 MacBook air after all... There are cheaper solutions for dual monitors but I'm not sure I trust other companies to be fully compliant with TS4/USB4.
It’s the Lamborghini of docks. Not cheap, but an extremely solid product. I won’t be using anything else unless a new Thunderbolt 5 standard comes out in a few years.
@@CreatedTech got one…..just need to unpack it and get it up and running. Saw a review of it on another channel….sold!!!
Just get the TS3 Plus. You'll be fine.
So expensive tho. Other alternatives works fine
A $400 hub that doesn't have an HDMI port? Yuck! lol
No toslink…
Until they fixed the issue on mac m1 chips, it will be perfect
great product, but ultimately you could've spent this money on more memory or storage
your monitor does this already...
"I need some kind of adapter or dongle"
so
"I need a dongle" then
You do realise an adaptor can be different to a dongle, right?
To begin with, these laptop makers shouldnt be stinggy by excluding the ports. Here, i give you a hint, 2xUSBC, 2xUSBA, HDMI... Thats it, just enough for us normal people
Rats...I've already donated a kidney...
I will dongle and jerry rig that shit up building a cluster fuck of cable like a pro before I even consider paying 500 dollars for this.
If you sit on a desk all day then just get a desktop! That way you’re not complaining about ports
Oh wow, why didn’t I think of that!!!
I did. Mac Mini m1. 2 thunderbolt 4 ports, an hdmi, ethernet and 2 usb type a ports. I still need a dock.
Based on your great view, I placed my order. Item arrived, could not use it power not getting to the unit. Maybe a faulty power supply or the unit. Send back next day. Did not expect to pay top dollar for a malfunction dock. Caldigit NEVER AGAIN
Every single product and every single brand will have the occasional unit that is dead on arrival (DOA). That definitely does not mean the product as a whole is bad.