CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: The CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub provides extra Thunderbolt 5 ports to your setup
As Thunderbolt 5 gadgets develop into extra broadly obtainable, the CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub gives a compact, no-frills enlargement possibility with solely the important ports.
Thunderbolt 5 was finalized in 2024, but it surely wasn’t till January’s CES 2025 present that we began to see gadgets get introduced. CalDigit, recognized for its wonderful peripherals, was fast as all the time with its Element5 Hub.
It was quickly adopted by its extra full-featured docks, however the Aspect 5 Hub is nice for one thing extra reasonably priced and compact. Plus, it nonetheless has eight downstream ports to make the most of.
Thunderbolt 5 has many advantages over Thunderbolt 4, together with elevated bandwidth. In response to CalDigit, the Aspect 5 Hub delivers peak storage efficiency of as much as 6,200MB/s, or twice as quick as its Thunderbolt 4 predecessor.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: Design
The Aspect 5 Hub is basically the Aspect 4 Hub that got here earlier than it — Simply with Thunderbolt 5 assist as a substitute of Thunderbolt 4.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: It is compact sufficient to suit into most desk setups and has an exterior energy provide
It is moderately skinny, with the ports unfold out amongst the back and front. The shell is extruded aluminum with a matte black PVC core across the ports.
The facility provide, a surprisingly small exterior brick, connects to the again of the hub. The upstream Thunderbolt 5 port is on the correct facet, making it extra ideally located to the left of your Mac.
At present, MacBook Professional, Mac mini, and Mac Studio all assist Thunderbolt 5. For the reason that MacBook Professional has two Thunderbolt ports on the left, that orientation for the upstream port might be a sensible selection.
CalDigit does embody rubber rails within the field, which might join on the highest or backside, making the entire thing reversible if you wish to put it on the opposite facet of your machine. You will need to cope with upside-down logos, although.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: Ports
In whole, there are eight downstream ports on the CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub. There are 4 on the again and 4 on the entrance.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: The front-facing ports on the hub
On the entrance:
USB-C (10Gb/s) 7.5W of energy
USB-C (10Gb/s) 7.5W of energy
USB-A (10Gb/s) 7.5W of energy
On the again:
Thunderbolt 5 Kind-C with 15W Energy Supply
Thunderbolt 5 Kind-C with 15W Energy Supply
Thunderbolt 5 Kind-C with 15W Energy Supply
USB-A (10Gb/s) 7.5W of energy
DC Energy In 180W energy provide
The port choice right here is enough. In the event you’re on the lookout for something extra, that is why the bigger, extra succesful hubs exist.
You will discover issues like HDMI, Show Port, or card readers on these, which can be extra appropriate, relying in your wants. We’re large followers of the Kind-C ports, so the abundance is welcomed.
The rear ports on the hub, together with the facility enter
Three Thunderbolt 5 ports imply you’ll be able to simply join extra Thunderbolt equipment. For instance, an exterior SSD, a quicker CFExpress Kind-B card reader, and an exterior show.
The upstream Thunderbolt 5 port that connects to your Mac can even ship energy if utilizing it with a transportable Mac or iPad. It helps as much as 90W of PowerDelivery, simply shy of the 100W most the Kind-C ports are able to.
Our solely gripe can be charging pace for the downstream ports. We would have favored to see 15W on the front-facing USB-C ports, moderately than solely 7.5W.
The front-facing ports are those most probably for use for issues like charging a tool, be it your wi-fi mic or your iPhone, as 7.5W is unnecessarily sluggish.
The entire hub has 180W of enter. We would have favored to see additional effort put into rising that output energy by a hair so you do not have to make use of the rear ports only for quick charging.
Utilizing the hub, you’ll be able to join as much as three shows relying in your machine. For Mac customers, it is extra restricted, supporting solely two exterior shows by way of Thunderbolt.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: There are 9 whole ports on the Aspect 5 Hub
The 2 shows might be 8K at 60Hz or 4K at as much as 480Hz. Further shows can nonetheless be related on to the Mac, once more, relying in your mannequin.
Must you purchase the CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub?
There are two questions it’s a must to ask your self when contemplating the Aspect 5 Hub.
First is whether or not the ports meet your wants. Assuming they do, the second query is whether or not or not the hub is well-designed and performs as anticipated.
We will not reply the primary one for you, however we might help with the second. It is a superb design, distilling a hub right into a compact exterior brick in your desk.
The house grey colour matches Apple’s professional machines and is difficult to seek out fault with. Even the reversible design is appreciated.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: It lacks a card reader and different ports, but it surely’s cheaper and extra compact than some other Thunderbolt 5 hub
Ports are succesful and plentiful, particularly with USB-C. All too usually, we discover hubs that prioritize too many Kind-A ports on the detriment of Kind-C.
As most of our gear is USB-C lately, that is the port we search for most. Although a few legacy ports are nonetheless useful, particularly as Apple has banished them from the Mac mini.
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: Professionals
Trade-standard house grey aluminum physique
Newest Thunderbolt 5 tech
Loads of Kind-C ports on back and front
Legacy Kind-A ports on entrance
Thunderbolt 5 cable included
Reversible design
Stackable with a second hub
Double the information assist over Thunderbolt 4
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub assessment: Cons
Lacks ports of dearer hubs
PD output could possibly be larger on some ports
Solely twin show output for Mac
CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub Ranking: 4 out of 5
The place to purchase the CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub
You could find the CalDigit Aspect 5 Hub on Amazon for $279.
