Editor’s pick
CalDigit
CalDigit TS5 Plus Thunderbolt 5 Dock
Thunderbolt 5 · 140 W · 4
8.7
$500Nov 92 videos
CalDigit Element 5 Hub (Thunderbolt 5)
A compact Thunderbolt 5 hub with nine ports and 90 W charging, for expansion without a full dock.
- Thunderbolt 5
- 90 W
- 4
- 0 GbE
PCPR score
8.4
Great
Best price we’ve seen
$250Nov 9
Checked recently. Confirm at the retailer.
R1
The short version
The Element 5 is CalDigit's compact Thunderbolt 5 hub, with one host and three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports, two USB-C and three USB-A ports at 10 Gbps, and 90 W of host charging from its included power supply. TechRadar scored it highly for speed and compact size, noting that full features depend on the host and it lacks DisplayLink support. It has no Ethernet or audio ports, so it suits Mac users who mainly need fast expansion.
Pros
- Three downstream Thunderbolt 5 ports plus host port
- 90 W sustained charging from an included power supply
- Three USB-A and two USB-C ports at 10 Gbps
- Compact footprint praised by TechRadar
Cons
- No Ethernet, audio or SD card reader
- Full features depend on the host, per TechRadar
- No DisplayLink support, per TechRadar
Best for
- Mac users who need fast Thunderbolt expansion
- Desks that already have Ethernet and audio elsewhere
J3
Full specifications
Core
- Type
- USB hub
Connectivity
- Host connection
- Thunderbolt 5
- Ethernet
- 0 GbE
Power
- Power delivery
- 90 W
Ports & I/O
- Displays
- 4
- Max video
- Up to four external displays on M5 Max; triple on supported Thunderbolt 5 hosts
- USB-A ports
- 3
- USB-C ports
- 2
Features
- SD reader
- No
Compatibility notes
- CalDigit lists macOS 15 or newer and Thunderbolt 3 or newer hosts as minimum requirements.
- Three displays need a Thunderbolt 5 host that supports triple output; four displays need an M5 Max Mac.
P1
Where to buy
Official store
Seen Nov 9, 2026
$249.99
Buy from the maker- Check price on Amazon
Amazon
Search this retailer
- See it at Newegg
Newegg
Search this retailer
- See it at Best Buy
Best Buy
Search this retailer
- See it at B&H
B&H Photo
Search this retailer
- See it at Micro Center
Micro Center
Search this retailer
- Search TikTok
TikTok Shop
Search this retailer
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. Prices move quickly, so confirm the final price at the retailer.
AV1
Video reviews
Overview · Review
CalDigit Element 5 Thunderbolt 5 Hub Review - More Ports & Power for your Mac
Adam Talks Tech
Adam Talks Tech demonstrates the hub on a Mac setup and advises which buyers should pick a full dock instead.
AV2
What reviewers and owners say
TechRadar
PositiveTechRadar's reviewer liked how much Thunderbolt 5 bandwidth it offers from a small box, but cautioned that the best features need a matching host computer.
4.5/5 · 2025-07-05
Read the sourceStorageReview
PositiveStorageReview praises the compact Thunderbolt 5 hub's nine ports, 120Gb/s bandwidth, 90W charging, and multi-monitor support, though macOS monitor behavior differs from Windows.
2025-07-22
Read the source
Summaries are written in our words. Follow the links for each source’s own review.
R9
Common questions
Does the Element 5 Hub have Ethernet?
No. CalDigit's specification lists only Thunderbolt 5, USB-A and USB-C ports, so wired networking needs a separate adapter connected to one of them.
How much can it charge a laptop?
CalDigit rates it at a sustained 90 W to the host through the included power supply, and laptops above 90 W will still charge at a slower rate.
J9Alternatives
