CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub - Universal Multi-Port Hub, 4X Thunderbolt 4/USB4 Ports, 4X USB 3.2 Gen2 10Gb/s Ports, Single display up to 8K or Dual 4K 60Hz Displays, 60W Charging with 0.8m Cable

The CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub has been an exceptional addition to my workspace. Its sleek, minimalist design complements my setup, and its compact form factor belies the powerful performance it delivers.Performance & Connectivity:Equipped with four Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports and four USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, this hub offers impressive versatility. The Thunderbolt 4 ports provide up to 40Gbps data transfer speeds, accommodating high-resolution displays and fast external storage devices. The USB-A ports, supporting up to 10Gbps, are perfect for connecting legacy peripherals without compromising on speed.One standout feature is the consistent 60W power delivery to the host device, ensuring that my laptop remains charged even when multiple peripherals are connected. Additionally, each Thunderbolt 4 port delivers up to 15W, and each USB-A port provides up to 7.5W, allowing for efficient charging of connected devices.Design & Build Quality:The hub’s aluminum construction exudes durability and quality. Its symmetrical design allows for flexible placement, and the included rubber feet strips ensure it stays securely in place on the desk.Compatibility:Compatibility is broad, supporting macOS, Windows, iPadOS, and Chrome OS. Whether you’re using a MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, or a Windows laptop, the Element Hub integrates seamlessly. Minor Consideration:The only minor drawback is the size of the external 150W power adapter, which is somewhat bulky compared to the hub itself. While it doesn’t affect performance, it does require some consideration when organizing your workspace.Conclusion:Overall, the CalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element Hub is a robust and reliable solution for expanding connectivity. Its combination of high-speed data transfer, ample power delivery, and solid build quality make it a valuable asset for any professional setup

My iMac set-up had become an untidy tangle of cables on my desk with a mixture of USB A, USB C, Firewire and others. Initially I was reluctant to pay the price of the CalDigit just to tidy up my desk, but it has proved a good investment. It works reliably and provides enough USB 4 and USB A ports for all my needs. My desk is much tidier and productive.

I use a Dell XPS laptop for work and a M2 MacBook Pro 16” for personal tasks. So it’s really important for me to be able to unplug the Thunderbolt lead from one laptop and plug it into the other and everything ‘just works’.I bought this based on YouTube reviews. Connected to the dock I have:- A 4k monitor (I have a USB C to Displayport cable)- A 2.5 GB Ethernet cable (using a UGreen USB C to Ethernet adaptor)- A keyboard and mouse USB A receiver- A 1080P Logitech USB A webcam- Occasionally a Thunderbolt Crucial removable SSD (for offline backups etc)I’ve been working like this for about a year now so this is a long term review. I had the old M1 MacBook Pro for the first 6 months and now the M2 as described above.On the positive side, it’s exceptionally stable and works exactly as I’d hoped. I can swap my MacBook and Dell laptop and everything just works flawlessly. If you are either a Dell XPS user or a MacBook user then this is perfect - clearly the swapping is specific to me but to use it with either of these products alone it would be ideal. I have never had any speed problems when everything is connected and running.In terms of cons, I have twice had my webcam crash during calls (twice in 12 months remember) and unplugging it from the dock and plugging it back in resolved this. I’m not 100% certain whether this is the dock’s fault or the webcam so I won’t deduct a star. Furthermore, the power brick is bigger than the dock itself and the cables come out at 3 angles - if you had this whole arrangement on top of your desk it would be hideous. I bought a cheap shelf to screw to the underside of my desk to hide everything instead which works great.One neutral point is that it charges at 65W, whereas some competing products offer a faster charge. Both my Dell and my Mac can charge at 100W, so they charge slower than their potential with this. For me, I actually like this since I believe that super fast charging degrades battery longevity, but this might be an issue to others so please think carefully about this.In summary, it’s perfect for me and has worked flawlessly for 12 months now.

I have three other docks/hubs:Caldigit TS3+Wavlink TB3Generic USB C DockHow is this better than the TS3+ and Wavlink TB3? First of all it outputs a Displayport 1.4 signal, I discovered that my 34” Ultrawide monitor would only go to 144Hz and no HDR using the Displayport on the other two docks, no such issues with this, I get 165Hz and HDR using one of the 40Gb ports and a USB C to DP cable.My USB4 enclosure and 2TB Kingston Fury NVME drive hit 3000MBps on this rather than the 2,800MBps on the TS3+.The USB-A ports are Gen 3.2 giving up to 10Gbps and my Crucial X8 is faster on this port than the built in USB C ports on my M1 Mac Studio,I also added a 2.5Gb USB Ethernet adapter by Plugable as a third connection to my network (built in 10Gbe, WiFi and this, I haven’t tried using LACP (link aggregation with this yet).So it means I can use the TS3+ with my iPad Pro M1, th elements with my Mac Studio and also due to it later chipset also with my fold 4 via Dex with my mechanical keyboard and USB dongle for my MX Master meaning just plugging in the Studio or the Fold and I am ready to go.So to summarise this is a remarkably capable dock that offers more features and higher speed than the already very good TS3+. I can highly recommend it

It works well. I have it connected to my MBP M4, a screen, and an iPad Pro, which powers the MBP and iPad. My only concern with this is that it gets rather warm, with a surface temperature of around 45C - not enough to burn but certainly warm enough to notice if you touch it.