Choosing between the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock (18 ports) and the Kensington SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Dock (K33040NA) is a same-protocol fork, not a USB-C-versus-TB4 mismatch. Both are native Thunderbolt 4 docks with a 40Gb/s host link, roughly 96 to 98W host Power Delivery, 2.5GbE, and dual high-res display headroom on capable hosts. The trade is denseness and CalDigit's forever-desk port count versus Kensington's native HDMI 2.1, DockWorks / TAA angle, and a lower street price. Specs and prices below come from manufacturer sheets and current Amazon listings, not a lab shootout.
This page is a different pairing than the live CalDigit TS4 vs Anker Prime 160W (TB4 versus USB-C PD) and CalDigit TS4 vs Plugable (another TB4 twin). For a TS4-only deep dive, see the CalDigit TS4 review. For a wider shortlist that includes Thunderbolt 5 options, see Best Thunderbolt 5 docks 2026 and Best Thunderbolt cables 2026.
| Attribute | CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock | Kensington SD5780T Thunderbolt 4 Dual 4K Dock (K33040NA) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1 | 3.7 |
| Price | $379.99 checked Sep 2026 | $256 checked Sep 2026 |
| Connection | Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) |
| Power Delivery to laptop | 98W | Not listed |
| Total ports | 18 | Not listed |
| Display support | Dual 4K 60Hz / 8K 30Hz / dual 6K 60Hz (via DisplayPort + TB4) | Not listed |
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE | 2.5GbE |
| Cable | 0.8m TB4 certified, included | 1m TB4 included |
| Ports | Not listed | 11 (3x TB4, 4x USB-A Gen2, HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE, SD, audio) |
| Host Power Delivery | Not listed | 96W USB-C PD 3.0 |
| Displays | Not listed | HDMI 2.1 + TB4; dual 4K/6K@60 on capable hosts |
| Warranty | Not listed | 3-year limited; TAA-compliant |
| Buy | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Quick verdict
Most people shopping two Thunderbolt 4 docks should buy the Kensington SD5780T. It keeps the native TB4 uplink, adds HDMI 2.1, ships 2.5GbE and ~96W host PD, and typically lands well under the CalDigit street price. Pick the CalDigit TS4 when 18 ports, dual card readers, and the densest single-cable desk layout matter more than HDMI convenience and sticker savings.
Price and value
Winner: Kensington SD5780T. Recent Amazon anchors put the SD5780T near $256 (about 3.7 stars across hundreds of ratings) and the TS4 near $380 (about 4.1 stars). Kensington's maker list price sits near $300, still under CalDigit denseness money. Pay the TS4 premium when you want every port on the chassis and a longer CalDigit catalog track record. Pay Kensington when HDMI plus TB4 basics close the job without the $380 ask. Confirm live street pricing; Kensington.com marks the SD5780T discontinued even while third-party Amazon stock remains.
Host link and Thunderbolt basics
Winner: tie (both native Thunderbolt 4). Both docks advertise a 40Gb/s Thunderbolt 4 host path with downstream Thunderbolt ports for chaining SSDs and other TB devices. Kensington calls out Intel VT-d DMA protection and optional DockWorks software for connection monitoring. CalDigit ships an included 0.8m TB4 cable; Kensington includes a 1m TB4 cable. If the brief already says Thunderbolt 4, either chassis qualifies. The fork is ports, video connectors, and price, not protocol class. For hub-versus-dock framing, see USB-C hub vs docking station.
| Axis | CalDigit TS4 | Kensington SD5780T |
|---|---|---|
| Host link | Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 (40Gb/s) |
| Ports | 18 | 11 |
| Host PD | 98W | 96W |
| Displays | Dual 6K@60 on capable hosts; DP + TB paths; no native HDMI | Dual 4K/6K@60 on capable hosts; HDMI 2.1 + Thunderbolt 4 video |
| Ethernet | 2.5GbE | 2.5GbE |
| Card readers | SD + microSD | UHS-II SD 4.0 |
| USB-A | Dense mix | 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen2 (10Gbps), one front charging |
| Cable | 0.8m TB4 included | 1m TB4 included |
| Extra | Forever-desk denseness | TAA-compliant; DockWorks; 3-year warranty |
| Typical street price | ~$380 | ~$256 to $300 |
| Best fit | Max ports on one cable | HDMI + TB4 value |
Host power delivery
Winner: CalDigit by a hair on paper; practical tie for most ultrabooks. CalDigit rates 98W to the host. Kensington rates 96W (USB-C PD 3.0) and stresses full-powered downstream Thunderbolt behavior so other ports do not starve the laptop. Both clear the usual 14-inch creator / ultrabook bar. Keep the OEM brick nearby for 16-inch workstations under peak CPU+GPU load either way. Neither is a multi-device 160W charging pool story like some USB-C PD docks; the win here is single-cable laptop PD plus TB4 data/video.
Dual-display reality (HDMI vs DisplayPort paths)
Winner: Kensington for HDMI convenience; CalDigit for dual high-res denseness on capable hosts. The TS4 leans on DisplayPort plus Thunderbolt video and can push dual 6K@60 (or dual 4K / 8K30 depending on host and cable). It has no native HDMI, so HDMI-only panels need an adapter. The SD5780T puts HDMI 2.1 on the chassis alongside Thunderbolt 4 video ports and lists single 8K@60 (DSC hosts), single 4K@120, or dual 4K / 6K@60 on capable Thunderbolt 4 hosts. Kensington explicitly notes base M1/M2/M3 MacBooks (and USB-C Alt Mode laptops) still drive one native external display; Pro/Max and newer base chips that allow two externals are where dual claims get a fair test. Neither dock invents a second independent panel on a one-external silicon budget.
Ports, Ethernet, and desk layout
Winner: CalDigit TS4. Eighteen ports including downstream Thunderbolt 4, a denser USB-A/C mix, SD and microSD, audio, and 2.5GbE beat Kensington's eleven-port mix on paper. Kensington still covers the common forever desk (three Thunderbolt 4 ports, four USB-A Gen2, HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE, UHS-II SD, audio combo) with a cleaner HDMI story and optional mounting / Kensington lock slots. On multi-gig ISP plans or a 2.5GbE NAS uplink, both avoid a USB Ethernet dongle. If you routinely fill every USB and card slot, CalDigit is the denser chassis.
Warranty, IT features, and availability
Winner: Kensington on warranty and IT checkboxes; CalDigit on buy-it-today catalog confidence. Kensington lists a three-year limited warranty, TAA compliance, Nano / Kensington lock slots, and DockWorks WiFi Auto-Switch plus MAC pass-through for managed desks. CalDigit remains the easier Amazon buy with a long-running TS4 listing and strong owner volume. Kensington.com currently marks the SD5780T discontinued with a replacement SKU path, so treat Amazon stock as the live buy path and confirm the K33040NA model before you order.
Who should buy which
Buy the Kensington SD5780T if you want a native Thunderbolt 4 dock with HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE, ~96W host PD, and a street price often $100+ under the TS4, and you can live with 11 ports instead of 18.
Buy the CalDigit TS4 if you want the densest single-cable Thunderbolt 4 chassis (18 ports, dual card readers, 98W PD) and you accept DisplayPort / Thunderbolt video paths without native HDMI.
Skip both if you only need USB-C PD with dual HDMI under ~$150 (see TS4 vs Anker Prime 160W), or you are already shopping Thunderbolt 5 docks in Best Thunderbolt 5 docks 2026.
Bottom line
CalDigit TS4 and Kensington SD5780T are both real Thunderbolt 4 docks. The SD5780T is the overall pick for most buyers in this pair: HDMI 2.1, 2.5GbE, and near-parity host PD at a much lower street price. The TS4 wins when every port on the desk must live on one cable. Specs here are from maker sheets and Amazon listings, not a lab shootout. Confirm your laptop's display and PD limits, then View on Amazon for the Kensington or the CalDigit before you order.
For protocol basics, see Thunderbolt. For more TB4 / cable options, see Best Thunderbolt cables 2026.
