Hands-on - CalDigit TS3 Thunderbolt 3 Dock

# Hands-On Review: Cow Digit’s Thunderbolt 3 Dock

## Introduction to the Product

The **Cow Digit TS3** is a compact yet feature-packed Thunderbolt 3 dock designed for users looking to enhance their workflows with cutting-edge connectivity. In this review, we’ll explore its design, functionality, and compatibility with devices like the 2017 iMac, which also supports Thunderbolt 3 ports.

## Design and Build Quality

One of the standout features of the Cow Digit TS3 is its sleek, compact design. Heavily influenced by Apple’s design language, this dock boasts a **trademark ridged aluminum build**, giving it a premium feel. The non-slip rubber surface on the bottom ensures stability, while the small rubber feet on the sides allow the dock to rest either horizontally or vertically on your desk.

The minimalist design makes it an elegant addition to any workspace, especially when paired with Apple devices like the iMac or MacBook Pro.

## Comprehensive Port Selection

The Cow Digit TS3 is a powerhouse in terms of connectivity:

- **Front Ports**:

- Headphone Jack

- Microphone Input

- USB Type-A Port (USB 3.1 Gen 1, supporting up to 5 Gbps)

- **Rear Ports**:

- Two Thunderbolt 3 ports for daisy-chaining devices like a 5K display (e.g., LG UltraFine 5K monitor).

- DisplayPort output for connecting up to two 4K monitors at 60Hz or one 5K monitor.

- Gigabit Ethernet port.

- **Additional Ports**:

- Two USB Type-A ports.

- Two USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports.

This extensive array of ports ensures that the TS3 can handle all your peripheral needs without cluttering your workspace.

## Power Delivery and Charging

One of the most impressive features of the Cow Digit TS3 is its ability to deliver **up to 85W of power** through Thunderbolt 3, allowing it to fully charge a 15-inch MacBook Pro while simultaneously powering external devices. The included **170W power brick** ensures that all the necessary electronics are kept outside the dock itself, contributing to its compact size.

For users with an iMac like myself, this level of charging capability is less critical but still useful for powering other peripherals.

## Connectivity and Setup

The TS3 comes with a **Thunderbolt 3 cable (A-to-M)**, which makes setup straightforward. Connecting it to your device is as simple as plugging in the cable, and you’ll immediately have access to all the dock’s ports.

While an iMac might seem redundant with its built-in ports, the TS3 shines when you need additional displays or want to free up space on your desk. For instance, accessing ports on the dock can be more convenient than reaching around your iMac for a USB cable.

## A Minor Flaw: The LED Light

As much as I love this dock, there’s one feature that leaves me underwhelmed: the **always-on LED light**. While it does indicate power status, it feels unnecessary and could have been omitted in favor of a cleaner design.

## Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The Cow Digit TS3 is an excellent solution for MacBook Pro users who want to streamline their setup with a single Thunderbolt 3 cable. It handles up to two 4K displays or one 5K display effortlessly, while also providing robust power delivery for your devices.

However, the lack of an SD card reader leaves me wanting more. Despite this minor downside, the TS3 remains a solid choice for those looking to maximize their Thunderbolt 3 capabilities.

For more detailed insights, check out our full review or leave your thoughts in the comments below!

*This Is Jeff with 95 Mac.*

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enhands on with the ts3 Doc from caldigithands on with the ts3 Doc from caldigithands on with the ts3 Doc from caldigita thunder boat 3 enabled howeverthe ts3 is cow digits flagship dockthe ts3 is cow digits flagship dockthe ts3 is cow digits flagship dockfor thunderbol 3 enabled workflows It is afor thunderbol 3 enabled workflows It is afor thunderbol 3 enabled workflows It is avery as you can see Compact Doc thatvery as you can see Compact Doc thatvery as you can see Compact Doc thatis heavily influenced by cow digitsis heavily influenced by cow digitsis heavily influenced by cow digitsdesign language so you're going to havedesign language so you're going to havedesign language so you're going to havethe same type of Design that you find onthe same type of Design that you find onthe same type of Design that you find onother cow digit Products with thatother cow digit Products with thatother cow digit Products with thattrademark ridged aluminum build nowtrademark ridged aluminum build nowtrademark ridged aluminum build nowobviously These thunderbol 3 docs becameobviously These thunderbol 3 docs becameobviously These thunderbol 3 docs becamepopular because of the Macbook Pro withpopular because of the Macbook Pro withpopular because of the Macbook Pro withits thunderbol 3 ports but in thisits thunderbol 3 ports but in thisits thunderbol 3 ports but in thisexample I'm going to pair it with a 2017example I'm going to pair it with a 2017example I'm going to pair it with a 2017Imac that also has Thunder boat 3 That'sImac that also has Thunder boat 3 That'sImac that also has Thunder boat 3 That'sBecause I actually traded my 2016Because I actually traded my 2016Because I actually traded my 2016Macbook Pro for a 2017 Imac now as IMacbook Pro for a 2017 Imac now as IMacbook Pro for a 2017 Imac now as Ialluded to earlier you see thatalluded to earlier you see thatalluded to earlier you see thattrademark cow digit design the Ridgetrademark cow digit design the Ridgetrademark cow digit design the Ridgedesign in the aluminum there on thedesign in the aluminum there on thedesign in the aluminum there on thebottom of the device you have a non-slipbottom of the device you have a non-slipbottom of the device you have a non-sliprubber Surface but You'll also noticerubber Surface but You'll also noticerubber Surface but You'll also noticeThese Little rubber feet on the side of theThese Little rubber feet on the side of theThese Little rubber feet on the side of thedock as well meaning The Dock wasdock as well meaning The Dock wasdock as well meaning The Dock wasdesigned to rest either horizontally ordesigned to rest either horizontally ordesigned to rest either horizontally orvertically on the front of the ts3vertically on the front of the ts3vertically on the front of the ts3you'll find a headphone Jack ayou'll find a headphone Jack ayou'll find a headphone Jack amicrophone input and a USB Type a Portmicrophone input and a USB Type a Portmicrophone input and a USB Type a PortThis is USB 3.1 Gen 1 5 gigabit perThis is USB 3.1 Gen 1 5 gigabit perThis is USB 3.1 Gen 1 5 gigabit persecond now There are many more ports on thesecond now There are many more ports on thesecond now There are many more ports on therear of the device you have couplerear of the device you have couplerear of the device you have coupleof thunderbol 3 ports you have a displayof thunderbol 3 ports you have a displayof thunderbol 3 ports you have a displayPort output for 4K at 60 Herz you canPort output for 4K at 60 Herz you canPort output for 4K at 60 Herz you canactually pair up to two 4K monitors withactually pair up to two 4K monitors withactually pair up to two 4K monitors withthis device or one single 5K monitorthis device or one single 5K monitorthis device or one single 5K monitorWe'll talk about that a little bit youWe'll talk about that a little bit youWe'll talk about that a little bit youhave gigabit ethernet a pair of USB Typehave gigabit ethernet a pair of USB Typehave gigabit ethernet a pair of USB Typea ports a pair of es ports and of coursea ports a pair of es ports and of coursea ports a pair of es ports and of courseyour power input and There's a hugeyour power input and There's a hugeyour power input and There's a hugePower Brick that goes along with thisPower Brick that goes along with thisPower Brick that goes along with thisWe'll show you that later but the realWe'll show you that later but the realWe'll show you that later but the realStar of the show here is thunderbol 3Star of the show here is thunderbol 3Star of the show here is thunderbol 3Connectivity So you have your computerConnectivity So you have your computerConnectivity So you have your computerPort Which goes to your thunderbol 3Port Which goes to your thunderbol 3Port Which goes to your thunderbol 3enabled Imac or Macbook Pro and then youenabled Imac or Macbook Pro and then youenabled Imac or Macbook Pro and then youhave that second thunderbol 3 Port Whichhave that second thunderbol 3 Port Whichhave that second thunderbol 3 Port Whichcan be Daisy chained connected to othercan be Daisy chained connected to othercan be Daisy chained connected to otherdevices including 5K display like the LGdevices including 5K display like the LGdevices including 5K display like the LGultrafine 5K display Now you also as Iultrafine 5K display Now you also as Iultrafine 5K display Now you also as Imentioned earlier get this huge 170 watmentioned earlier get this huge 170 watmentioned earlier get this huge 170 watpower supply unit and that is whatpower supply unit and that is whatpower supply unit and that is whatallows the cow digit ts3 to be so smallallows the cow digit ts3 to be so smallallows the cow digit ts3 to be so smallBecause all the Electronics for theBecause all the Electronics for theBecause all the Electronics for thepower supply are outside of the devicepower supply are outside of the devicepower supply are outside of the deviceso the downside is that you have theso the downside is that you have theso the downside is that you have thehuge Power Brick but the Upside is thathuge Power Brick but the Upside is thathuge Power Brick but the Upside is thatthere's a very small dock that rests onthere's a very small dock that rests onthere's a very small dock that rests onyour desk The Nice thing about the ts3your desk The Nice thing about the ts3your desk The Nice thing about the ts3and really the headlining feature isand really the headlining feature isand really the headlining feature isthat it's able to supply up to 85 Wattsthat it's able to supply up to 85 Wattsthat it's able to supply up to 85 WattsPower to your MacBook Pro So it canPower to your MacBook Pro So it canPower to your MacBook Pro So it canfully charge a 15-inch Macbook pro atfully charge a 15-inch Macbook pro atfully charge a 15-inch Macbook pro atFull Speed ​​ via thunderbol 3 butFull Speed ​​via thunderbol 3 butFull Speed ​​via thunderbol 3 butobviously I don't have a Macbook Pro inobviously I don't have a Macbook Pro inobviously I don't have a Macbook Pro inthis example So I'm going to connect tothis example So I'm going to connect tothis example So I'm going to connect tomy Imac This is the 2017 Imac withmy Imac This is the 2017 Imac withmy Imac This is the 2017 Imac withthunderbol 3 So I'm going to connectthunderbol 3 So I'm going to connectthunderbol 3 So I'm going to connectusing the included thunderbol 3 cableusing the included thunderbol 3 cableusing the included thunderbol 3 cableyou get A5 M cable inside the box Soyou get A5 M cable inside the box Soyou get A5 M cable inside the box Sothere it is looking slim and trim nowthere it is looking slim and trim nowthere it is looking slim and trim nowYou may be thinking Why would you useYou may be thinking Why would you useYou may be thinking Why would you usethis with an Imac it's kind of redundantthis with an Imac it's kind of redundantthis with an Imac it's kind of redundantthe Imac has plenty of ports that isthe Imac has plenty of ports that isthe Imac has plenty of ports that isright to some degree Although You don'tright to some degree Although You don'tright to some degree Although You don'thave display Port on the Imac You don'thave display Port on the Imac You don'thave display Port on the Imac You don'thave esata and it may be easier tohave esata and it may be easier tohave esata and it may be easier toaccess the ports on the dock than it isaccess the ports on the dock than it isaccess the ports on the dock than it isto reach around the Imac and try to plugto reach around the Imac and try to plugto reach around the Imac and try to plugin a USB a cable for instance just just ain a USB a cable for instance just just ain a USB a cable for instance just just afor instance but obviously with powerfor instance but obviously with powerfor instance but obviously with powerdeliverydeliverydeliveryit is designed with the Macbook Pro init is designed with the Macbook Pro init is designed with the Macbook Pro inmine I do wish though that it had an SDmine I do wish though that it had an SDmine I do wish though that it had an SDcard reader that is the most glaringcard reader that is the most glaringcard reader that is the most glaringdownside to this device in my opiniondownside to this device in my opiniondownside to this device in my opinionand as I've stated in other reviews I'mand as I've stated in other reviews I'mand as I've stated in other reviews I'mnot a fan of the always own LED Lightnot a fan of the always own LED Lightnot a fan of the always own LED Lightjust seems unnecessary in my opinionjust seems unnecessary in my opinionjust seems unnecessary in my opinionThat's said the ts3 Doc is a solidThat's said the ts3 Doc is a solidThat's said the ts3 Doc is a solidSolution for Macbook Pro Owners Who justSolution for Macbook Pro Owners Who justSolution for Macbook Pro Owners Who justwant to plug in a single Thunderbolt 3want to plug in a single Thunderbolt 3want to plug in a single Thunderbolt 3cable and have everything fire up thatcable and have everything fire up thatcable and have everything fire up thatincludes up to 2 4K displays or singleincludes up to 2 4K displays or singleincludes up to 2 4K displays or single5K display Power deliveries Taken care5K display Power deliveries Taken care5K display Power deliveries Taken careof and all of your other accessoriesof and all of your other accessoriesof and all of your other accessorieslike external sat drives instance comelike external sat drives instance comelike external sat drives instance comeonline read more in our full post linkedonline read more in our full post linkedonline read more in our full post linkedin the description and let me know whatin the description and let me know whatin the description and let me know whatyou think in the coms This Is Jeff withyou think in the coms This Is Jeff withyou think in the coms This Is Jeff with95 Mac\n"