Kensington SD5700T vs CalDigit TS4
The TS4 has far more ports, 2.5GbE and a DisplayPort output. The SD5700T is cheaper, smaller and comes with a longer warranty.
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Quick answer
Pick the CalDigit TS4 if you want one dock for everything: 18 ports, 98W charging, 2.5GbE, SD and microSD readers and a DisplayPort 1.4 output. Pick the Kensington SD5700T if you mainly need extra Thunderbolt ports and want to spend less: it has 11 ports, 90W charging and a 3-year warranty, and Amazon often sells it for about $240.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Check Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock price (opens in a new tab)Check CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock | CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 at Kensington (list $349.99); about $240 on Amazon | $379.99 |
| Total ports | 11 | 18 |
| Thunderbolt 4 ports | 4 (1 to host, 3 downstream) | 3 (1 to host, 2 downstream) |
| Video outputs | Through Thunderbolt ports only (no HDMI or DisplayPort) | DisplayPort 1.4 plus Thunderbolt ports |
| Displays | Dual 4K60 or one 8K30 (one display on M1 Macs) | Dual displays on Windows and M-series Pro/Max Macs |
For more choices, see our best Thunderbolt 4 docks.
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock vs CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: side-by-side
| Kensington SD5700T | CalDigit TS4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total ports | 11 | 18 |
| Thunderbolt 4 ports | 4 (1 to host, 3 downstream) | 3 (1 to host, 2 downstream) |
| Video outputs | Through Thunderbolt ports only (no HDMI or DisplayPort) | DisplayPort 1.4 plus Thunderbolt ports |
| Displays | Dual 4K60 or one 8K30 (one display on M1 Macs) | Dual displays on Windows and M-series Pro/Max Macs |
| Laptop charging | 90W | 98W |
| Ethernet | 1GbE | 2.5GbE |
| Card readers | SD | SD and microSD (UHS-II) |
| Audio | 1 combo jack | 3 jacks (combo, in, out) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
| Price | $299.99 at Kensington (list $349.99); about $240 on Amazon | $379.99 |
What are the pros and cons?
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock: pros
- Four Thunderbolt 4 ports, more than the TS4
- Compact design
- 3-year warranty
- Often discounted well below the TS4
Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock: cons
- No HDMI or DisplayPort, so you may need adapters
- 1GbE Ethernet only
- Fewer USB-A ports
- 90W charging
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: pros
- 18 ports, including 5 USB-A
- 98W charging
- 2.5GbE Ethernet
- DisplayPort 1.4 output
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock: cons
- $379.99 is expensive
- Only two downstream Thunderbolt ports
- Large power brick
- 2-year warranty
Which should you choose: Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock or CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock?
The TS4 is the more complete dock and the one most reviewers recommend for a full desk setup. The SD5700T is the better value if you already use Thunderbolt or USB-C monitors and drives and don’t need legacy ports. Check how your monitors connect before you choose: the SD5700T needs USB-C or Thunderbolt displays, or adapters.
Choose Kensington SD5700T Thunderbolt 4 Dock if…
- Your monitors use USB-C or Thunderbolt
- You want more Thunderbolt ports for fast drives
- You want to spend less
- A longer warranty matters to you
Choose CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock if…
- You want every port in one box
- Your monitor uses DisplayPort
- You have fast home internet or a NAS (2.5GbE)
- You need 98W charging for a big laptop
Mac compatibility
Both docks work with Thunderbolt and USB4 Macs. Base M1, M2 and M3 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models support only one external display natively, whichever dock you choose. For Mac-specific picks, see our best docking stations for MacBook Pro.
Cheaper alternatives
If you don’t need Thunderbolt speeds, a USB-C dock costs much less. See our best USB-C docks under $150.
Frequently asked questions
Is the CalDigit TS4 worth it over the Kensington SD5700T?
Does the SD5700T have HDMI?
Which dock charges a laptop faster?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- CalDigit: Thunderbolt Station 4 (caldigit.com)
- Windows Central: Kensington SD5700T review (windowscentral.com)
- The Verge: CalDigit TS4 review (theverge.com)
- Docking-stations.info: TS4 vs SD5700T (docking-stations.info)
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