Main trade-off
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
Two TB ports supply only 15W each. Front USB-C charging does not provide video, and 8TB is supported capacity rather than verified included storage.
Head-to-head
UGREEN Maxidok U716 vs CalDigit TS5 Plus: UGREEN houses local storage, TS5 Plus joins a ready 10GbE NAS
The short answer
UGREEN includes an internal NVMe slot, while TS5 Plus offers 10GbE and higher downstream TB power. Choose UGREEN when working storage should stay inside the dock and 2.5GbE is enough. Choose TS5 Plus for a ready 10GbE NAS path, five USB-A accessories or a compatible TB device needing more than 15W. Confirm the included SSD, if any, in UGREEN’s exact seller package. Plus needs the right host and, on Windows, its network driver.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
Choose the place the files need to live before choosing the faster dock
A person editing at one desk can use UGREEN’s internal SSD slot to remove an external enclosure. A household sharing the same files between computers may benefit more from a NAS, where TS5 Plus’s 10GbE connection becomes relevant. That advantage requires the NAS, switch or direct connection, and storage to support a useful faster path. If the NAS is still on Gigabit, both dock connections hit that adjacent link ceiling. UGREEN’s internal drive also does not become a NAS when the laptop disconnects. These are different ways of organizing files, with different equipment costs.
What this is based on
UGREEN internal attached NVMe and 2.5GbE versus Plus external storage and 10GbE. On a stated 1GbE adjacent link, both negotiate at no more than 1Gb/s. No transfer-time or automatic sharing claim.
Main trade-off
CalDigit TS5 Plus
No internal SSD bay. Windows 10GbE needs a driver, and a slower switch or NAS can remove the network advantage.
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Choose it for
- You want working storage inside the dock, with the exact included storage checked and a separate backup budgeted.
- The network is 2.5GbE or slower and three ordinary USB-A sockets cover the equipment you keep.
- Main trade-off
- Two TB ports supply only 15W each. Front USB-C charging does not provide video, and 8TB is supported capacity rather than verified included storage.
CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Choose it for
- The NAS, switch, storage and allowed Windows driver make a 10GbE connection genuinely useful.
- A compatible downstream TB accessory needs up to 36W, or five USB-A devices should remain directly connected.
- Main trade-off
- No internal SSD bay. Windows 10GbE needs a driver, and a slower switch or NAS can remove the network advantage.
About this comparison
UGREEN U716 vs TS5 Plus for local files, shared NAS storage and portable screens. See which surrounding equipment makes the premium dock useful.
Both are full TB5 docks with two downstream TB ports, fixed DisplayPort and 140W host power. Their premium functions solve different storage and accessory problems for the same workstation buyer.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Working storage should sit inside the dock
UGREEN has an NVMe slot, with the exact drive inclusion and compatibility checked.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Better fit
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Caution
The whole NAS path is ready for 10GbE
Plus has 10GbE, subject to host, driver and storage checks.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Not suitable
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
A video accessory explicitly needs compatible 20W power
UGREEN TB ports offer 15W and Plus 36W. Check PD profiles.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
Five USB-A devices should remain directly connected
UGREEN has three A sockets and Plus five.
- UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- Caution
- CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Better fit
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
Choose the place the files need to live before choosing the faster dock
A person editing at one desk can use UGREEN’s internal SSD slot to remove an external enclosure. A household sharing the same files between computers may benefit more from a NAS, where TS5 Plus’s 10GbE connection becomes relevant. That advantage requires the NAS, switch or direct connection, and storage to support a useful faster path. If the NAS is still on Gigabit, both dock connections hit that adjacent link ceiling. UGREEN’s internal drive also does not become a NAS when the laptop disconnects. These are different ways of organizing files, with different equipment costs.
How we reached this conclusion
UGREEN internal attached NVMe and 2.5GbE versus Plus external storage and 10GbE. On a stated 1GbE adjacent link, both negotiate at no more than 1Gb/s. No transfer-time or automatic sharing claim.
The front 60W label is not the power available to a video cable
UGREEN’s two higher-power front C sockets share 60W, but they do not carry video. A portable monitor connected through Thunderbolt gets up to 15W from that TB port. TS5 Plus offers up to 36W through each TB branch. If the monitor explicitly needs a compatible 20W input for its intended mode, UGREEN may need a second power cable while Plus has enough stated wattage headroom. Confirm voltage, current and cable compatibility before expecting one-cable use. For a screen fully served by 15W, this advantage can disappear. Read the power figure beside the actual video port.
How we reached this conclusion
Conditional 20W display requirement compared with 15W and 36W TB limits. UGREEN ordinary front 60W shared budget is a separate circuit and not video. Wattage alone does not establish PD-profile compatibility.
Five older plugs can be a better reason to upgrade than a faster headline
A USB microphone, webcam, input receiver and two USB drives can need five A sockets. TS5 Plus has five fast A ports, while UGREEN has three. If these exact devices should stay connected between work calls and evening editing, Plus can avoid a separate hub or several compatible adapters. That does not mean every named device needs 10Gb/s. A keyboard receiver is a low-bandwidth example. The benefit is the direct connection count. If some cables can move to USB-C or one drive is replaced by UGREEN’s internal SSD, the smaller A count may become sufficient.
How we reached this conclusion
Five example USB-A connections versus five Plus and three UGREEN sockets. Internal storage or compatible cable changes can alter the count. No simultaneous full-speed guarantee.
Choice A
UGREEN, U716 85590F
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
You want working storage inside the dock, with the exact included storage checked and a separate backup budgeted.
- Best matched use
- You want working storage inside the dock, with the exact included storage checked and a separate backup budgeted.
Checked facts
- Working storage: Internal NVMe slot up to 8TB
- Local network: 2.5GbE
- Downstream TB power: Two ports at up to 15W each
- USB-A accessories: Three 10Gb/s sockets
Choice B
CalDigit, TBT5-TS5Plus-US-AMZ
CalDigit TS5 Plus
The NAS, switch, storage and allowed Windows driver make a 10GbE connection genuinely useful.
- Best matched use
- The NAS, switch, storage and allowed Windows driver make a 10GbE connection genuinely useful.
Checked facts
- Working storage: External storage only
- Local network: 10GbE with Windows driver
- Downstream TB power: Two ports at up to 36W each
- USB-A accessories: Five 10Gb/s sockets
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1 | CalDigit TS5 Plus | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working storage | Internal NVMe slot up to 8TB | External storage only | Decide whether files should live locally in the dock or on shared storage. |
| Local network | 2.5GbE | 10GbE with Windows driver | The connected NAS and switch determine whether the extra network ceiling helps. |
| Downstream TB power | Two ports at up to 15W each | Two ports at up to 36W each | A compatible higher-power portable screen can change the cleaner cable plan. |
| USB-A accessories | Three 10Gb/s sockets | Five 10Gb/s sockets | An existing camera, audio and input setup can use all three quickly. |
| Display routes | Two TB5 plus DisplayPort | Two TB5 plus DisplayPort | Neither automatically has a third direct TB branch after two USB-C screens. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
- An internal SSD keeps files at the desk. Add an independent backup and check the exact supported drive format.
If you choose CalDigit TS5 Plus
- Include any required network upgrade. The dock alone cannot turn a Gigabit household network into 10GbE.
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
Local internal storage is useful and the surrounding gear fits
Choose UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1. UGREEN can integrate that drive without buying an external enclosure.
Ready 10GbE, higher TB accessory power or five A plugs removes a limit
Choose CalDigit TS5 Plus. Plus can solve those specific connection constraints.
What matters in practice
Before you choose
You want a more capable desk without paying for a storage path that the rest of the equipment cannot use.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- No measured throughput, charging-time or screen-brightness claim. Maximum port power does not guarantee a compatible peripheral.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current docking stations comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1 |
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| CalDigit TS5 Plus |
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
UGREEN Maxidok U716 17-in-1
You want working storage inside the dock, with the exact included storage checked and a separate backup budgeted.
The network is 2.5GbE or slower and three ordinary USB-A sockets cover the equipment you keep.
See price & reviews on AmazonCalDigit TS5 Plus
The NAS, switch, storage and allowed Windows driver make a 10GbE connection genuinely useful.
A compatible downstream TB accessory needs up to 36W, or five USB-A devices should remain directly connected.
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.