Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
More powerful than a childlike USB - C bob , the CalDigit TS3 Plus features the superior ( but otherwise physically indistinguishable ) 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 connectors that can turn tail two external displays in Extended modality ( via one cable to the laptop ) and charge at 87W so make a great companion to Apple ’s 15 in MacBook Pro .
Best Prices Today: CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus (TS3 Plus)
The CalDigit Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus ( TS3 Plus ) is a long name for a pocket-size box , but it ’s a tethered laptop docking post that boasts a lot of port and connectedness .
It sport two superior 40Gbps Thunderbolt 3 port , two USB - snow ports ( one at 5Gbps and the other Gen2 embrasure at 10Gbps ) , five old - vogue USB - A ( 3.1 ) ports , a DisplayPort 1.2 , an Mount Rushmore State Card Reader , Digital Optical Audio ( S / PDIF ) , Analog Audio In ( Stereo ) and Analog Audio Out ( Stereo ) , plus a Gigabit Ethernet larboard .
This is the most ports we ’ve reckon on a comparable USB - C or Thunderbolt 3 dock . What no HDMI ? See later for CalDigit ’s reasoning for DisplayPort over HDMI .
It can charge at up to 87W so is perfect for Apple ’s 15 in MacBook Pro , and ranks as our # 1best Thunderbolt 3 tying up station for the MacBook Pro – creating an easy dock that you may colligate your laptop to and from in moment , and have a amply work desktop - comparable setup quick for action as before long as you get back at base . Indeed , why not purchase two ? One for home and one for the role .
( Caldigit update the dock ’s microcode to take it from 85W to 87W , as well as improve backup for USB - C monitoring machine . )
thunderclap 3 docks might seem a little old hat now that Thunderbolt 4 is the newfangled connectivity touchstone on all Macs and premium PCs , but Mac user wo n’t note much of a divergence as its iteration of Thunderbolt 3 include most of the benefit found in Thunderbolt 4 , which is much more of an upgrade for Windows PCs .
CalDigit TS3 Plus price
The Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus dock costs £ 264.99 in the UK and $ 309.99 in the US , direct fromCaldigit . To pass dual displays you will need to summate a further adapter , and CalDigit trade a DisplayPort 1.2 to HDMI 2.0 adapter for £ 24.99 or $ 19.99 . A USB - century to HDMI or DisplayPort adapter is ordinarily under £ 20/$20 .
It is more affordable than the newerCaldigit TS4 dockthat includes Thunderbolt 4 .
MacBook Pro owners will be pleased that the TS3 Plus is available in either Silver or Space Gray .
The TS3 is one of ourbest accessories for the MacBook Pro , and is just as useful for the MacBook Air ( 2018 and after ) .
What’s the difference between USB-C and Thunderbolt 3?
A spry note on Thunderbolt 3 and USB - C. Because they look the same , it ’s well-to-do to forget that there is a deviation . The two are interchangeable but Thunderbolt 3 has 40Gbps bandwidth and USB - C has 10Gbps . This becomes important when you desire to connect a threefold display to your MacBook Pro .
A Thunderbolt 3 laptop computer ( like most late MacBooks ) can utilise a USB - ampere-second bobtail , but will lose its bandwidth advantage . But a USB - 100 laptop computer ( like the erstwhile 12 in MacBook ) wo n’t run with a Thunderbolt 3 dock , like this one .
There are , however , New docks on the mart that work with both T3 at full 40Gbps speed and USB - C at 5Gbps . These docks , such as theUSB - C Pro Dockfrom the maker of the TS3 Plus , use the Titan Ridge chipset .
What’s the difference between Thunderbolt 3 and 4?
Anyone with a newer MacBook , with Thunderbolt 4 ports , should deal a Thunderbolt 4 ( TB4 ) docking station rather than Thunderbolt 3 ( TB3 ) , but , as TB4 is back compatible with TB3 and USB - C , old docks such as the Caldigit TS3 Plus will work with newer MacBooks as well as TB3 modelling .
Thunderbolt 4 does have technical benefits , such as smarter daisy chain of devices and truehearted storage technical school . Read our feature film onThunderbolt 3 vs Thunderbolt 4 vs USB - C.
Connecting dual displays to a MacBook
bolt 3 wharf and USB - C dock are both capable of running two Monitor through a sorrel . USB - C dock can display at a maximum answer of 4 K ( 30Hz ) . With 40Gbps bandwidth , Thunderbolt 3 docks are open of double 4 K ( 60Hz ) displays , which is good for gaming and using Apple ’s Pro apps .
The TS3 Plus , for illustration , does require an adapter to touch base a 2d monitor because it only has one video port ( DisplayPort ) built - in .
To connect the 2d monitor , you need to touch base a USB - C Video Adapter to the spare Thunderbolt 3 larboard on the TS3 Plus .
orchard apple tree throws in a further complication , which is not the fault of bob maker . irksome USB - C loading dock on Mac are capable of creating only threefold “ Mirrored ” displays rather than the more useful “ Extended ” displays where two monitors combine to create a much larger screen .
This is because the macOS does n’t boast MST ( Multi Stream Transport ) , which means dual lengthy display are not potential via USB - C on Mac , only Windows .
However , Thunderbolt 3 sorrel can play with double extended displays because they are using the newer , faster engineering .
We did get two ( stretch out ) exhibit to run off theUSB - C Stone bob ( by Henge Docks ) , but it required a second adapter secure into the laptop . The CalDigit TS3 Plus require adapters to the dock ( for HDMI ) but needed just the individual Thunderbolt 3 connection to the laptop . But you must use the Thunderbolt 3 cable television , not a USB - C one even though they look identical .
Here is avideoabout connecting two monitors to the TS3 Plus .
Why no HDMI on the TS3 Plus ? CalDigit uses DisplayPort ( stateless person ) over HDMI because DP is aboriginal to the Thunderbolt intention . Thunderbolt technology is based on PCIe and DisplayPort applied science . Therefore , it is easier to implement displaced person on a Thunderbolt twist .
Also , DisplayPort is more versatile than HDMI , because – with use of an arranger – you may change over to any monitor lizard you desire such as HDMI , DVI or VGA . Modern mid- to high-pitched - conclusion monitors now include both HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity . For monitors with only HDMI , you need to add a “ DisplayPort to HDMI ” adapter . For more detail , see our feature on thedifference between DisplayPort and HDMI .
The TS3 Plus features an all - aluminium body that ’s just for heat dissipation .
CalDigit also sells a non - Thunderbolt USB - C Dock , which can charge at 60W ( compare to the TS3 Plus at 87W ) so is less suitable for the 15 in MacBook Pro or other high - exponent USB - hundred laptop computer , but fine for the 12 in MacBook .
Also , see above , the TS3 Plus can connect dual 4 K 60Hz monitor lizard ( Mirrored or Extended ) , while the USB - C Dock can connect dual 4 K 30Hz monitors ( Mirrored only ) when using just the one - cable television link to the laptop computer .
Pro audio ports
The TS3 Plus also beat up most other tying up stations with its audio feature . It has separate Audio In and Out port on its front , and also a professional - level Digital Optical Audio ( S / PDIF ) embrasure at the back .
Verdict
It ’s small but packed with ports , and being a Thunderbolt 3 gadget this pier is more powerful and capable than a dim-witted USB - speed of light dock . you could plug in two display to a MacBook Pro in Extended mode with just one cable television going into the laptop , which can also be saddle at 87W.
If you ’re looking for a more - than - capable multi - port dock for your MacBook , the CalDigit TS3 Plus looks toilsome to beat … unless you seem at the newer Caldigit TS4 , of course of action . The TS3 remains a more than able docking post and is more low-priced .
