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Review: CalDigit's Thunderbolt Station 4 Offers 18 Ports to Level-Up Mac Connectivity
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The new m1/m2 Mac mini has 2 Thunderbolt 4 (TB4)ports. Except Mac mini m2 pro that has 4 TB4 ports. You would use a TB4 port to attach to the CalDigit's Thunderbolt Station 4
Why would you think that? Not only does this Thunderbolt 4 dock work with Thunderbolt 3, it can also work with plain USB-C (minus some limitations you may find due to reduced bandwidth). This is one differences between Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 3 in general.Doesn't work with thunderbolt 3 computers?
Why felt pads – for additional height compared to the two semi-transparent feet that come with the dock?
FWIW, I have been using one since Spring 2022 and it has been remarkably good for switching between a 2016 MBP, Mac mini and Steam Deck.
The displays should work fine. That's similar to my set up (TB to my Studio Display, DP1.4 to my LG 4K). That said all displays have their own idiosyncrasies and it's impossible to guarantee. I think you'd have to try and send it back if it doesn't work for you. I think you'll be fine, though.
I'm actually more concerned with the external drives. They should all work through the TS4 just fine (and I've had a similar arrangement with three SSDs attached - but now I attach those direct to my Mac Studio) - but if you're going to be disconnecting/ connecting the cable to your Mac (whether to switch machines, or to take a laptop away) then you'll need to remember to "eject" all the drives each time, which is a bit of a pain. You could just chance it - I think laggy cache writes are rare these days - but at the very least you'll get the pop-ups warning you and that feeling that one day you might get some data loss.
But, technically, your desired config should all work nicely.
Thanks for that input! I do hear about finicky monitors so I guess we'll see how they behave.
I'm usually pretty good about ejecting drives so that won't be an issue. The occasional situation where a drive refuses to eject is annoying. Out of curiosity, what do you do in those situations? I try to make sure that there's no read/write going on (mainly by not initiating any said process) and just shut down my machine. Is there a better, more technical way to handle that? Perhaps checking activity monitor? 🤔
so weird. i have it on now and like i said the light still shines through the vents and you can’t tape the whole dock because than it can’t vent.
maybe something is different between the ts3 and ts4?
Maybe so, cause I can’t see it through vents or ports or anything else unless I get really close to it in the dark. Weird.
Seems like a difficult situation to remedy. Maybe you could try keeping a small cloth to put over it when you go to bed?
The single TS4 to the Mac Mini makes everything work seamlessly. The line-in jack on the TS4 would show up on OS when connected to any device. Just select it as input device in system settings.
9 times out of 10 its Quicklook holding on to it. Kill the Quicklook service(s) in Activity Monitor and try again (they should relaunch as needed).
It is said that if there's nothing good to say about anything, then refrain from saying anything. Normally, I would do that, but I think it's one's duty to inform others if it can help them.
CalDigit's Thunderbolt Station 4 (TS4) is a dock with 98W charging power and an impressive array of 18 ports, ideal for Mac setups with a wide range of connection requirements.
The dock comes with a price tag of $399.99, reflective of its high-speed data transfer, expansive connectivity, and powerful charging abilities. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option on the market, its performance and convenience make a compelling case for professionals with demanding workloads and complex Mac setups. In this review, we delve into the TS4's capabilities to determine whether its cost is justified, and help you understand if it is the right fit for your specific needs.
The dock comes with a 0.8m Thunderbolt 4 Cable, two rubber feet strips, one power cord, one 230W power supply, and a two-year CalDigit warranty.
Design
The CalDigit TS4 dock features a high-quality, durable aluminum design. Its overall footprint is reasonably compact, measuring 141mm x 42mm x 113mm, meaning that it avoids taking too much space on a desk. If that is too tall for your desktop, just slide on the included pair of rubber strips for cushioning and tip the dock over on its side. The aluminum casing has a ribbed design that gives it a more industrial look while also offering some extra surface area for effective heat dissipation.
The TS4's design, despite its compactness, does not compromise on functionality. It houses an impressive total of 18 ports that are logically divided between the front and rear of the dock. The front features easily accessible USB-C, USB-A, and SD card slots, alongside an audio input and output port. The back, meanwhile, is equipped with the remaining ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, USB-A, DisplayPort, and Ethernet.
The dock is accompanied by a large power brick that, while necessary for its function, detracts slightly from the portability of the device and is an important consideration in terms of cable management.
USB Ports
The dock is outfitted with a total of eight USB ports, split between USB-C and USB-A variants. There are three 10Gb/s USB-C ports (two located conveniently on the front and one at the back), offering high-speed data transfer rates and power delivery. The dock also features five 10Gb/s USB-A ports to accommodate slightly older hardware. Four of these ports are located on the back of the device, and one is placed on the front for easy access.
One notable advantage is that the USB ports also deliver power sufficient for charging. One of the front USB-C ports delivers 20W, suitable for a MagSafe charger or even a HomePod mini. The two rear Thunderbolt ports can supply 15W, while the remaining USB-C and USB-A ports offer 7.5W. This means that even in the absence of the host computer, many of the ports will continue to supply power to your devices, effectively turning the TS4 into a handy charging station.
SD Card Slots
Two slots accommodate both full-size SD and microSD cards, with UHS-II support ensuring adequate data transfer rates for photographers or videographers. The positioning of these slots on the front of the TS4 is another thoughtful touch, enabling easy access and the quick swapping of cards.
It is worth noting that these slots are UHS-II and not the latest UHS-III specification, which means they will not offer the absolute highest transfer speeds available on the market for users with UHS-III cards. Despite this, UHS-II is still more than fast enough for the vast majority of users.
Display Support
The CalDigit TS4 offers comprehensive support for external displays, a feature that is particularly valuable for professionals who require multiple monitors for their workflow. The dock supports up to two 6K, 60Hz screens when connected via the Thunderbolt 4 ports, offering ample screen real estate. Moreover, if your requirements are focused on refresh rates, the TS4 can support up to 240Hz at a 1440p resolution. This makes it a perfect fit for graphic designers, video editors, and others who require high-resolution multi-monitor Mac setups.
In addition to the Thunderbolt 4 ports, the TS4 also includes a DisplayPort 1.4 port. DisplayPort 1.4 supports high resolutions and refresh rates, as well as features like HDR, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of displays. However, an HDMI port is noticeably absent on the device, which may be a drawback for those who rely on HDMI for their display setup, such as those using smaller OLED TVs as monitors.
Ethernet
A 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port promises substantially faster data transfer rates compared to standard Gigabit Ethernet, offering solid perfor... Click here to read rest of article
Article Link: Review: CalDigit's Thunderbolt Station 4 Offers 18 Ports to Level-Up Mac Connectivity
I bought a TS4 late last year. I waited a number of months for its release. As soon as it was available, I ordered it with haste. Fantastic, I thought. It matched my new 16" MBP perfectly and looked so good to boot. I was so pleased!
Once I'd worked out that I actually needed to connect my MBP to the 'computer' TB port, everything was hunky dory, or so I thought. At first I noticed a 'digital' coil noise that varied in tandem with access to the ports. I thought not much of it until I also noticed USB 'drop-outs' - loss of connections randomly to my external drives (corruption of data and backups) and monitor. Yes I did check and exchange all leads - test each device on its own and updated the firmware. I even had flickering screen on my new Dell monitor that was connected to the TS4. The only thing that worked flawlessly was the ethernet network.
Because of personal ('tragic') reasons that's outside the scope of this, I contacted CalDigit in the New Year. The communications, initially were good but then stopped abruptly. I repeatedly contacted CalDigit and got as far as getting an ok to return the product but at my cost. Upon each query of why I should pay for postage again for a faulty product, the communications ceased on their side. Each time I reach out, I have to start again and each time I get the same result.
My confidence in CalDigit has dropped significantly. A company is only as good as their after sales service and support. Anything other is damning verdict on their reputation.
I am now left with a hunk of metal, that admittedly looks good, but I haven't used for months.
I know that a lot of you out there are very happy with their devices and good luck to you. This is my experience. Never again will I buy anything CalDigit.
yes - i also had terrible experience with their customer support after reaching out to them. they take a while to respond and keep prolonging the problem.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It's always good to get multiple points of view.
The flickering monitor could be a separate issue that's discussed on another thread - https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macbook-pro-m1-external-screen-flickering.2325279/.
I've had disconnects when waking my computer from sleep - 3 drives, 3 volumes each drive. CalDigit were initially responsive, but ultimately blamed Apple.
Yes. Exactly the same problem. I had to continually cycle power for things to re-connect.
Thanks for the thread link. Very thorough investigation. Yes I agree. The monitor flicker has actually stopped ever since I started using the Beta release of MAC OS. At least I haven't noticed it since. Hopefully this has been sorted. It'd be interesting to see if others have had the same experience.
Hi - I was wondering if someone can help with my use case and recommend which Caldigit product (or other brands) to buy
Use case as follows:
can anyone give me pointers and would I need the TS4 over the TS3+ because I need one screen at 5k and the other at 1080. I would like to buy one soon given Black Friday deals.
thanks in advance. (Not that it matters, I am based in UK)
Use case as follows:
- MacBook Pro M2 14
- Connects to two monitors
- Apple Studio Display 27
- Dell 1080p Monitor
- I want a one cable solution into the MacBook Pro (so quick to dock and undock)
- I will have other accessories connected to the dock. USB Mouse dongle, Ethernet cable, usb accessories
- Sound will come from Apple Studio Display
- I also have a Windows Work Laptop (just a standard Dell) - I would like to use this with the two monitors if possible (though i appreciate the Studio Display may not work on a windows laptop). This is not essential and a nice to have
can anyone give me pointers and would I need the TS4 over the TS3+ because I need one screen at 5k and the other at 1080. I would like to buy one soon given Black Friday deals.
thanks in advance. (Not that it matters, I am based in UK)
Facts: The only way you are getting more than one 5K monitor on a dock is to use compression. TS3+ can't do it but the TS4 can do it with DSC 1.2
My Thoughts & Opinion: I don't know if the Apple Studio display supports that, and even if it does, you are going to loose quality going down that path. If you had the money to throw at the Studio Display for just a "nice monitor" then it likely won't matter and I would say "test and see" but if you actually NEED a Studio Display then you likely won't want to risk the issues with compression for the sake of one cable vs two.