Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full Ethics & Affiliate Relationship Disclaimer.
After testing a number of Thunderbolt 5 docks, I have seen firsthand how a single cable can turn your desk into a clean, simple workspace. You plug one cord into your laptop or desktop and you are connected to your display, your network, and all of your accessories at once. Take the laptop home, bring it back to the office, plug in one cable, and you are set. In this comparison I am going over the CalDigit Element 5, the CalDigit TS5 Plus, the CalDigit TS5, and the Sonnet Echo 13 SSD dock, plus two honorable mentions. Every one of these was sent to me for free to review, and everything here is based on my own experience using them.
My favorite all-around dock. It packs a fast Thunderbolt 5 SSD directly into the body and covers almost every port you need.
- Fast Thunderbolt 5 SSD built right in (1TB, 2TB, or 4TB)
- Spare Thunderbolt port and UHS-II card slots on the front
- Plastic body ran cooler to the touch than some metal docks
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet and three rear USB-A ports
- You pay for the SSD whether you want that exact size or not
- Missing a couple of USB-C ports and has no dedicated video out
- Only 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, not 10 Gigabit
- Thunderbolt host port sits on the front, which not everyone likes
Intro: Who This Is For
This is for anyone who wants to run one cable to their computer and have everything else stay plugged in. All of these docks use a single Thunderbolt 5 cable, and they all deliver plenty of power to keep your laptop charged.
They are Thunderbolt 5 docks, but they are backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. If you have an older machine, just know your total bandwidth will be a little smaller. Thunderbolt 5 supports 80 gigabits a second, boosted all the way to 120 gigabits a second for faster displays. Thunderbolt 4 topped out at 40 gigabits a second, so depending on the extra accessories you plug in, you can run into some incompatibility on older devices. Some of these are clearly better than others, and there are cases where one is right for your setup and wrong for someone else’s.
The CalDigit Element 5: More Hub Than Dock
The Element 5 is really more of a hub than a full dock. It gives you two USB-C data ports on the front and two USB-A data ports on the back. On the back you also get three Thunderbolt 5 ports and a USB port, plus the host port on the side. With one single cable you get 90 watts of power to your computer, three extra Thunderbolt ports, and five additional USB ports.
The main drawback is that it does not give quite as much power as the other docks here, which run around 140 watts total. It also has no Ethernet port, no built-in card reader, and no dedicated video outs, so you may find yourself reaching for adapters. You can easily add a Thunderbolt to network adapter, or convert Thunderbolt out to your display. If you are running an Apple Studio Display, this is still a really strong option because of all the bandwidth and the power out on the side.
I really like the Element 5. It is super versatile and it is the most affordable of the bunch. If you just want to get into the Thunderbolt world, this is the one I recommend, since you can daisy chain three Thunderbolt devices off it and add a couple of USB ports too. It is a great fit for a Mac Mini or Mac Studio. Just know the 90 watts may feel a little limiting if you have a 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The Sonnet Echo 13: My Favorite All-Around Dock
The Sonnet Echo 13 is my favorite all-around dock, and the reason is the SSD built directly into it. You do have to order it pre-installed with a 1TB, 2TB, or 4TB SSD, although it does look like you could swap that drive out for whatever you want later. The catch is that you are paying to get that SSD built in. If you wanted to run an 8TB drive inside it, you would end up with the original SSD pulled out and left laying around.
This one is made of plastic, which gave me no issues with heat. It actually felt cooler to the touch than some of the metal docks I have used. It is a little controversial because the Thunderbolt host port sits on the front, and some people do not like that since it makes the desk look less streamlined.
What I love is that it has everything you need. The front has the power button, a spare Thunderbolt port, a fast USB-A port, UHS-II microSD and SD card slots, and a headset jack. On the back there are three more USB-A ports, 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet, and two more Thunderbolt ports. The biggest drawback to me is that it feels like it is missing a couple of USB-C ports, and there are no dedicated video outs. I also wish they had put 10 Gigabit Ethernet on it, because if you want the fastest network for a NAS, you will have to give up one of your Thunderbolt ports for it.
That spare Thunderbolt port on the front is a feature I wish more of these had, because I love plugging fast external SSDs into it. This is a really great option if you want a 1TB SSD built in and plan to swap it later, or if you need a lot of extra storage. It gives you fast Thunderbolt 5 SSD speeds, way faster than a typical USB SSD and faster than most Thunderbolt 3 SSDs I have tested.
The CalDigit TS5 Plus: The Port and Connectivity King
The TS5 Plus is the one that gives you the most ports and the most connectivity. On the front you get two USB-C ports, including one that delivers 36 watts of power, UHS-II SD and microSD card slots, a headset jack, and a USB-A port. It is designed to lie flat or stand up on its side, and it has a rubber base on the bottom.
The back is where it goes wild. You get three more USB-C data ports, four USB-A ports, and a 10 Gigabit network port, which is amazing to have built into a dock. This is the only one of these docks with 10 Gigabit Ethernet built in. You also get a separate microphone and headphone jack, so you can wire it into your audio gear and still plug headphones into the front later. Then there is DisplayPort, two downstream Thunderbolt ports, and one upstream Thunderbolt port to connect it to your computer.
The only thing I feel it is missing is one more Thunderbolt port, and that is the trade you make for DisplayPort, 10 Gigabit networking, and so many USB ports. If your workflow is built around tons of USB data devices, this is an amazing pick. I think it is a great option for musicians too, since a lot of audio interfaces, keyboards, and MIDI devices is exactly when you appreciate all those USB ports on the back. It uses multiple USB controllers, so it has plenty of bandwidth to feed all your devices.
It ships with a 330 watt power brick, which makes sure you get the full 140 watts to your laptop, reserves 36 watts for that front port, and still leaves plenty for the other USB-C ports. This is the one to get if you need every port and the highest performance for data and networking.
The CalDigit TS5 Standard: More Thunderbolt, Less USB-C
CalDigit also sells the standard TS5, which is very similar to the Plus but with a couple of key differences. It has fewer USB-C ports, but it gives you three Thunderbolt downstream ports and one Thunderbolt upstream port. That is great if you need to keep multiple high-speed Thunderbolt devices or monitors connected, like the Apple Studio Display. It provides up to 140 watts of host charging, just like the TS5 Plus.
The compromises are that it lacks a dedicated video output and uses a slower 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port. If you want the 10 Gigabit network, I would go for the TS5 Plus instead. The standard TS5 does have a few more USB ports than the Sonnet, and it lands at a pretty similar price to the Sonnet. So my advice is simple: go for the CalDigit if you need more ports, and go for the Sonnet if you want the dedicated SSD built in.
| TS5 Standard | TS5 Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 downstream + 1 upstream | 2 downstream + 1 upstream |
| Ethernet | 2.5 Gigabit | 10 Gigabit |
| Dedicated video out | None | DisplayPort |
| Host charging | Up to 140W | Up to 140W |
| Best for | Multiple Thunderbolt displays | Maximum USB and fast networking |
Two Honorable Mentions: iVanky and Anker
Two quick honorable mentions are the iVanky Fusion Dock Pro 3 and the Anker Thunderbolt 5 dock. The iVanky is very similar to the Sonnet dock, but it does not have a built-in SSD. It does have a metal body, which feels pretty nice. I have a hard time recommending it because it does not have a real standout feature next to the others. It is just as reliable as any of them, it is just missing that killer feature. If you find it at a good price, it can be a really great option.
The Anker Thunderbolt 5 dock is cool because it has the power adapter built into the body. Every other dock here uses an external power brick, and this one does not. The trade is that it only has three Thunderbolt ports and it does not have a ton of USB ports, though you do get a few more on the front than some of the others. That built-in power adapter is really its one killer feature. It could be a great buy around 300 dollars. I just do not think it is worth a full 400 dollars when you could get the Sonnet for 400, or step into the TS5 or TS5 Plus for 400 or 500.
How to Pick the Right Thunderbolt 5 Dock
For me the three main contenders are the CalDigit Element 5, the Sonnet Echo 13, and the CalDigit TS5 Plus. To decide between them, start by looking at the ports you actually use right now. Count your USB devices, note your audio interfaces, figure out if you run an eighth-inch output into speakers, and add up how many Thunderbolt and USB ports you really need.
If you are just getting into the Thunderbolt world, I recommend the Element 5. You can daisy chain three Thunderbolt devices, add a couple of USB ports, and shape it into whatever you want with network or video adapters. It is super flexible with a Mac Mini or Mac Studio, though the 90 watts may feel limiting on a 16-inch MacBook Pro. If you want the integrated SSD with plenty of ports to expand your machine, go with the Echo 13. And if you need to keep a ton of USB devices connected and you draw a lot of power, the TS5 Plus is the one, because it is built for the user with tons of USB gear and fast networking.
