CalDigit TS3 Plus vs OWC Thunderbolt 3 best price & differences

Which is worth buying – CalDigit TS3 Plus Vs OWC Thunderbolt 3? What is the CalDigit TS3 Plus best price Vs OWC Thunderbolt 3?

CalDigit TS3 Plus Vs OWC Thunderbolt 3

The CalDigit TS3 Plus has the foremost useful array of connections we found, starting with two Thunderbolt 3 ports, five USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports (one USB 3.2 Gen 1, one USB 3.2 Gen 2).1 It also has an SD card slot, a DisplayPort connector (which works with HDMI via a cheap adapter), Gigabit Ethernet, audio-in and -out jacks, and an S/PDIF jack for digital optical audio—the last one a rarity in these devices. And while most docks have a horizontal orientation, you’ll also position the TS3 Plus vertically to attenuate its footprint. All current Apple laptops and desktops have Thunderbolt 3 ports, as do tons of newer PCs, like our top ultrabook picks; check your computer’s manual. If a less expensive USB-C hub or dock can’t meet your needs and you would like the additional bandwidth of Thunderbolt 3, this CalDigit model has the simplest combination of ports, size, and shape we’ve yet found.

CalDigit’s USB-C Pro Dock is a smaller amount expensive than the TS3 Plus but has most of an equivalent features. It’s also designed to be compatible with computers that have USB-C but not Thunderbolt 3, making it an honest fit if you would like a dock which will work with many different sorts of computers. This dock has three fewer USB ports (three are USB-A, and one is USB-C), an SD card slot, two DisplayPort outputs, Ethernet, and audio, and it supports an equivalent 85-watt power output. But it doesn’t have a spare Thunderbolt 3 port, so you can’t daisy-chain Thunderbolt devices. The USB-C Pro Dock is additionally larger than the TS3 Plus, except for the worth , we expect this model’s sacrifices are forgivable.

OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock full review

OWC makes two Thunderbolt 3 docks: this one, the Thunderbolt 3 Dock, and therefore the Thunderbolt 3 Pro Dock.

Docking stations are an efficient way of adding a variety of various ports to laptops that always boast only a couple of UDB-C ports onboard. instead of connecting a couple of different USB-C adapters, the dock handles it beat some place.

And laptops that have Thunderbolt 3 – the faster variant of USB-C – require a dock with T3. they will use USB-C docks but they’ll lose that 40Gbps bandwidth advantage.

Unless a T3 dock uses a Titan Ridge chipset, a USB-C laptop can’t use the T3 docking station.

The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock lacks a number of the high-level professional ports found on OWC’s T3 Pro Dock but does best its big brother during a few other areas, so it’s a wierd lineup to match , but we’ll try later.

OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock 14 ports

12- or 14-port models

There are two versions of the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock: one with 12 ports, the opposite with 14. We’ve pictured the 14-port version above.

The older 12-port T3 Dock (OWCTB3DK12PSG) lacks the front-facing microSD card reader and 10Gbps USB-C port found on the 14-port version (OWCTB3DK14PSG).

You can get an adapter to suit a microSD card into an SD card reader, in order that doesn’t matter such a lot . The 10Gbps USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port on the 14-port model is certainly appreciated, but maybe not necessary if you aren’t using one among the rear T3 ports to attach a second display.

You will likely find the 12-port model a touch cheaper than the 14.

The 14-port set is extremely on the brink of that of the Caldigit TS3 Plus, which is out there a touch cheaper and features the complete DisplayPort instead of Mini DisplayPort. Otherwise, it’s differentiated by being a horizontal design instead of a compact vertical.

Compare all the simplest Thunderbolt 3 docking stations in our comprehensive roundup.

OWC T3 Dock vs OWC T3 Pro Dock

The main difference is that the professional T3 Dock is for the top-end creative professional who works during a 10Gb Ethernet environment. aside from that, it’s hard to rate it over its cheaper sibling for the overall user. And you’ll add a minimum of 5Gb Ethernet by adding an adapter, like TrendNet’s USB-C 3.1 to 5GBASE-T Ethernet Adapter.

Both the professional and standard T3 docks can meet up to 2 external 4K displays, at full 60Hz, or one 5K display also at 60Hz.

Both can charge the laptop, as you’d expect, and here the essential T3 Dock beats the professional with an 85W charge compared to the lesser 60W of the professional . 85W is close enough to tug charging power for a 15in MacBook Pro, where the 60W will take longer to urge the laptop fully charged.

While we’re singing the T3 Dock’s praises over the professional , we’ll means its front-facing combo 3.5mm headphone/mic port and, ahem, pro-level digital audio output port on the rear . the professional weirdly features no audio ports.

The T3 Dock also has two more USB-A ports than the professional Dock, and a 10GBps USB-C port at the front (14-port model only).

It does lack the super-speedy 10Gb Ethernet for wired Internet access but its standard 1Gb (Gigabit) Ethernet should be fine for many folks .

It also lacks the CFast 2.0 (newer CompactFlash) card reader, although its MicroSD and SD card slots will do nicely as this is often a way more commonly found media today.

Ignoring the professional Dock comparisons, the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock may be a well-featured T3 dock in its title . It’s got most of the ports you would like (exception arising next) and many of them.

The one problem I even have with this docking station is its Mini DisplayPort instead of a full DisplayPort. Among all the docks we’ve tested, this is often the sole one using this old Apple oddity.

There seems to be space for a full DisplayPort, so why choose Mini DP?

There’s no real difference between the 2 sorts of DisplayPort 1.2 (Full and Mini). They share an equivalent bandwidth and may handle resolutions up to 4K’s 3840×2160 at 60Hz.

So what’s the problem? Most external displays don’t ship with a Mini DisplayPort cable. they are available with either DisplayPort or HDMI cables; sometimes even both.

That means you’ll got to buy an additional adapter to attach to a DisplayPort or HDMI monitor.

And because the second external display uses either the USB-C port or the second Thunderbolt 3 port, you’ll probably need another adapter for this too – unless the display features a USB-C connection, which alittle but growing number do.

OWC T3 Dock models

You can find the dock in two colours: Space Grey or Silver.

Verdict
The OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock features a great set of ports, and charges at a top-end 85W – powerful enough for a 15in MacBook Pro. The 16in MacBook Pro comes with a faster 96W wall charger but 85W are going to be enough to charge it pretty fast and positively not drain even when connected to multiple devices.

The five USB-A ports are all 5Gbps, and there’s a 10Gbps Gen 2 USB-C port on the front of the newest 14-port model, which not many T3 docks have.

The choice of Mini DisplayPort over DisplayPort isn’t a technical hurdle but you’ll require adapters for adding external displays. Other docks have quite one port for external displays, but this one needs adapters to attach to displays – which adds to the general cost.

That aside, the OWC Thunderbolt 3 Dock has everything a dock should have during a slick-looking slim case which will look good in any laptop setup.

Its port set rivals Caldigit’s TS3 Plus, and you would possibly plan to choose from the 2 on cost only, and if you’ve got a spare Mini DP adapter, of course.

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