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Baseus 13-in-1 vs CalDigit TS4
Which should you actually buy? Here's our verdict.
The case for each
Baseus 13-in-1 USB-C Docking Hub
Why it wins
Thirteen ports — dual HDMI, Ethernet, audio, three USB-A, card readers, 100W PD — for the price of a nice dinner. It's the only sub-$60 hub that genuinely replaces a docking station for a multi-monitor desk setup.
Watch out for
Base M-series MacBooks only drive one external display over USB-C, no matter how many HDMI ports this has — that's an Apple limitation, not a defect, but it's the #1 reason for returns. Check your laptop's display-out spec before buying.
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Why it wins
The Thunderbolt 4 dock professionals settle on. The TS4's 18 ports — including 98W laptop charging, 2.5G Ethernet, and full-speed Thunderbolt/USB — turn a single cable into an entire desk, with the bandwidth to drive dual displays and fast external SSDs at once. The no-compromise docking endgame.
Watch out for
Expensive, and it only makes sense with a Thunderbolt/USB4 host — a basic USB-C laptop can't use the bandwidth you're paying for. It's also a large, heavy desk unit, not portable.
Our verdict
This is really 'do you need Thunderbolt or not' in product form. The Baseus does dual HDMI, Ethernet, and a full card-reader spread for around $50; the CalDigit costs 7x more and earns it only if you push dual 4K@60Hz, 10Gbps drives, and 98W charging through one cable every day. Most people who buy the TS4 needed the Baseus. The ones who actually need the TS4 already know who they are.
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