CalDigit
CalDigit E5 - Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub - 9 Ports, 4 x Thunderbolt 5/USB4 v2, 3 x USB-A & 2 x USB-C 10Gb/s, Single 8K, Dual 6K/8K, or Two 4K@240Hz Displays, 90W Charging, 0.8m Cable 180W PSU
Bottom line: The CalDigit E5 - Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub - 9 Ports, 4 x Thunderbolt: Four Thunderbolt 5 ports at 80Gb/s, each with 64Gb/s PCIe for ~6,200MB/s SSDs; main trade-off: triple 4K@144Hz output is Windows-only; macOS caps at two displays.
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Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ Four Thunderbolt 5 ports at 80Gb/s, each with 64Gb/s PCIe for ~6,200MB/s SSDs
- ✓ Auto Bandwidth Boost shifts to 120Gb/s for high-refresh displays, no manual switching
- ✓ Sustained 90W laptop charging backed by the bundled 180W PSU, even with 9 devices attached
- ✓ Offline Charging keeps devices topped up with no host computer connected
Cons
- ✗ Triple 4K@144Hz output is Windows-only; macOS caps at two displays
- ✗ Base M1-M3 Macs cannot drive dual displays through it at all
- ✗ Full 80Gb/s features need a Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 v2 host; TB4/TB3 gets less
- ✗ USB-A and secondary USB-C ports top out at 10Gb/s, not 20Gb/s or 40Gb/s
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored CalDigit E5 - Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub - 9 Ports, 4 x Thunderbolt… using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the power supplies category. CalDigit's power supplies lineup sits within the broader category mid-tier; price and specs are the deciding factors over brand loyalty here. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for power supplies of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- Works with Thunderbolt 5, USB4 v2, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, Mac Thunderbolt 3, and some USB-C computers, including Apple M1-M5 (Max, Pro & Ultra), Windows laptops, and Chrome OS devices. It is also compatible with USB-C iPhones and tablets, including iPads and Windows tablets that feature Thunderbolt or USB-C. *Thunderbolt 5 or USB4 v2 is required for unrestricted functionality of the Element 5 Hub. Please visit our website for more details.
- 80Gb/s Performance & 120Gb/s Bandwidth Boost - The Element 5 offers unparalleled 80Gb/s performance when transmitting and receiving files. This makes it ideal for the unmatched 20 ports of connectivity this dock delivers. When users connect ultra high-refresh rate displays to the Element 5, this device will shift its allocation and provide up to 120Gb/s to the displays without the user ever thinking about it.
- 90W Power Delivery - Charge your laptop, tablet, or phone with up to 90W sustained power delivery. The Element 5 Hub’s compact and powerful 180W power supply allows the device to provide sustained power delivery at all times regardless of how many devices are connected to the hub. In total, you can connect 9 devices, all of which will be provided with full power. No slow drain, loss of charge, or incompatibility. In fact, the hub also features Offline Charging which allows you to charge devices even when the Element 5 Hub is not connected to a host computer.
- Windows: Connect up to THREE 4K@144Hz displays on compatible Windows Thunderbolt 5 host computers.* macOS: connect up to TWO 6K@60Hz or 8K@60Hz displays, or dual 4K@240Hz displays on Macs that support these resolutions. NOTE: Base M1-M3 Macs do not support dual displays. *Triple displays are not supported on macOS, Thunderbolt 4/3, or USB-C PCs. High-refresh rates require a host Mac or PC that supports high-refresh rates.
- All FOUR Thunderbolt 5 (80Gb/s) ports support 64Gb/s PCIe technology which means that these ports provide up to 6,200MB/s performance for use with ultra-fast Thunderbolt SSDs. The rest of USB-A and USB-C ports are all 10Gb/s, and are ideal for connecting various USB accessories to the Element 5 Hub.
Full Specifications
| Brand | CalDigit |
|---|---|
| Color | Space Gray |
| Wattage | 180 |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Compatibility | PC, Mac |
| Input Voltage | 120 volts |
| Mfr Part Number | TBT5-ELEMENT5-US-AMZ |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Number of Packs | 1 |
| Number of Ports | 9 |
| Total USB Ports | 5 |
| Total Usb Ports | 5 |
| Compatible Devices | MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, iPad Pro 2 |
| Hardware Interface | Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.1 Type A, USB 3.1 Type C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 |
| Warranty Description | 2 Year Manufacturer |
| Item Dimensions L x W x H | 4.5"L x 2.75"W x 1.12"H |
Ready to buy?
CalDigit E5 - Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub - 9 Ports, 4 x Thunderbolt 5/USB4 v2, 3 x USB-A & 2 x USB-C 10Gb/s, Single 8K, Dual 6K/8K, or Two 4K@240Hz Displays, 90W Charging, 0.8m Cable 180W PSU is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
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