Sunday, February 2nd 2025
CalDigit Unveils Thunderbolt 5-based Element 5 Hub
CalDigit has unveiled a brand-new Thunderbolt 5 dock dubbed the Element 5. The features on offer are pretty decent, which is to be expected considering that the product starts at a cool $249.95 in the US. The hub rocks a total of nine ports, along with up to 90 watts of passthrough to keep connected devices alive. As the title mentions, the Element 5 hub utilizes the shiny new Thunderbolt 5 standard, allowing for excellent transfer speeds and capabilities.
The hub sports four Thunderbolt 5 ports, sporting up to a maximum bandwidth of 120 Gb/s. Dual USB-C (10 Gbps) and triple USB-A (10 Gbps) ports are also on offer, and the included 180-watt power supply allows for the aforementioned 90 watts of passthrough. As expected from a CalDigit product, the hub sports an attractive design on the exterior, and should boast decent build quality as well. Its predecessor, the CalDigit Element Thunderbolt 4 hub, received mostly positive reviews, which surely does inspire confidence in the Element 5 as well.
Windows users can utilize a single Thunderbolt 5 port to enable up to three external displays, whereas Mac users are limited to only two - but that is a limitation of M4 Macs, not the dock itself. Speaking of external displays, the CalDigit Element 5 can support dual 4K 240 Hz, dual 6K 60 Hz, or even dual 8K 60 Hz displays. The Element 5 hub will be available starting today from CalDigit's online store in the US, and mid-to-late February for customers in the UK and EU.
The hub sports four Thunderbolt 5 ports, sporting up to a maximum bandwidth of 120 Gb/s. Dual USB-C (10 Gbps) and triple USB-A (10 Gbps) ports are also on offer, and the included 180-watt power supply allows for the aforementioned 90 watts of passthrough. As expected from a CalDigit product, the hub sports an attractive design on the exterior, and should boast decent build quality as well. Its predecessor, the CalDigit Element Thunderbolt 4 hub, received mostly positive reviews, which surely does inspire confidence in the Element 5 as well.
6 Comments on CalDigit Unveils Thunderbolt 5-based Element 5 Hub
I have the Element 4 and absolutely love that dock. All of my peripherals are split between 2 powered USB-C hubs that plus into 2 of the 3 downstream USB-C ports while the last one has PCIE m.2 Nvme drive plugged in. I just have to switch one cable between my personal desktop and my work laptop. You do need a high quality USB4 or USB5 cable for the uplink port, or downstream devices start to drop out/not get recognized.
To me, it's akin to how wifi routers label themselves with "AX11000" and put "11000Gbps" on the box while nowhere mentioning that they've reached that figure by adding together the bandwidth from every frequency and band and that a single user has nowhere near that bandwidth....in fact, it's basically impossible to find out how much bandwidth a single connection can achieve anywhere on the product packaging, heck even many review never provide this figure.....it's ridiculous
As a "cheap - bargain" smartwatch owner myself I state the following. Of course I leave my swartwatch on the table 90 % of the day. (sarcasm)
I want to sell a docking station and therefore I showcase a wireless keyboard. I keep my external storage close to myself where it blocks important space.
Again - marketing pictures which makes no sense - give no use case. When i look at that marketing picture the first thing I would get rid of is the smartwatch, than the two external docking stations. The external USB storage enclosure I would move close to the table edge.
-- By just checking pictures it is obvious. Companies to not stick to common power connetors
In 2023 or later I expect only USB-C power bricks and usb-c power connectors. Or atx power connector from any atx power supply. Common cables / standards.
Hello CalDigit, this is 1994 calling, and we want ALL our antiquated, old-school/90's-era power cords back, like, yesterday....:D
There's NO way in hades I'm gonna pay $250 for that nonsense.... :(
If you have 120GB bandwidth, anything les than 10GB lan is DOA in my eyes.