Moving from a corporate office with a dedicated IT setup to a full-time nomad existence forced me to think hard about what I actually needed from a docking station. My first travel dock was a cheap €30 USB-C hub that browned out whenever I connected a monitor and a hard drive simultaneously. After replacing it twice, I decided to stop economising and properly evaluate the market leaders. The CalDigit TS4 was the enthusiast favourite; the Anker 568 was the pragmatist's choice. I used both for two months at a long-term apartment base in Lisbon, running the same demanding dual-monitor, multi-device workflow through each. The results were genuinely close, which made the final decision more about priorities than performance.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
The Challenge
Budget USB-C hubs frequently fail under real work loads with multiple connected devices. Premium docking stations from CalDigit and Anker cost 4-5x more but promise reliability — the question is whether that premium is justified for nomads.
The Solution
Understanding the port count, power delivery, and stability differences between the TS4 and 568 allows remote workers to choose the dock that matches their device ecosystem and workflow intensity. See also our <a href="/blog/one-cable-desk-setup-usb-c-dock" class="text-green-600 hover:text-green-800 underline">one-cable desk setup</a> guide and our picks for <a href="/blog/best-usb-c-charging-hubs-remote-work" class="text-green-600 hover:text-green-800 underline">USB-C charging hubs</a>.
CalDigit TS4 vs Anker 568: Key Differences
Port Count and Configuration
The CalDigit TS4 is the port density champion: 18 ports including Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, USB-C, SD/microSD, 2.5Gb Ethernet, DisplayPort, and 3.5mm audio. The Anker 568 offers 12 ports including dual HDMI, USB-C, USB-A, and Ethernet. If you need Thunderbolt 4 passthrough for daisy-chaining displays or connecting Thunderbolt peripherals, only the TS4 supports this.
Power Delivery to Host Laptop
Both docks deliver 98W of power to the host laptop — sufficient to charge a MacBook Pro 16-inch while running a full load. The TS4 slightly edges the 568 in sustained delivery stability under maximum port load based on thermal measurement, but both perform well in real-world use. Neither dock has caused our test MacBooks to drop to battery power under normal working conditions.
Display Output Compatibility
The TS4's Thunderbolt 4 port enables connection to high-refresh, high-resolution displays that require the full Thunderbolt bandwidth — important for 4K@120Hz or 8K displays. The Anker 568's dual HDMI output is simpler to set up and more universally compatible with monitors that lack Thunderbolt inputs. For most remote workers running one or two standard 1080p-1440p monitors, the 568's HDMI approach is actually more practical.
Size, Weight, and Travel Suitability
The CalDigit TS4 is a full-size vertical desktop dock — it's not intended to travel with you and weighs around 330g excluding its power brick. The Anker 568 is more compact and lighter. Neither is a true travel product, but the 568 is more reasonable to pack for long-term apartment stints. For frequent movers, a compact USB-C travel hub is still the right tool; docking stations are for semi-permanent setups.
How We Evaluate USB-C Docking Stations
We test docking stations under sustained dual-monitor and multi-peripheral load conditions, measuring power delivery stability, thermal performance, and compatibility across MacBook and Windows laptop configurations.
Our Recommendations
Related Reading
Common Questions
✓
Review Transparency
Our reviews are based on real-world remote work needs including portability, power autonomy and connectivity reliability while traveling.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Related Remote Work Tools
More Guides You'll Love
Explore More Categories
Get Personalized Gear Recommendations
Stop guessing which gear to buy. Fill out our quick questionnaire and receive a custom PDF with the exact products for your setup, budget, and travel style.
Get Your Setup Audit →€18.99
Get Weekly Gear Picks