Okay, so picture this: a lazy Wednesday afternoon, a desk that’s more chaos than order, and this slick little gadget lands in my lap. It’s the CalDigit Element 5 Hub—a name that sounds more like a sci-fi movie character than something you plug into your laptop. But what do I know? Let’s dive into the mess of wires and screens.
Right, so CalDigit, they’re like the rockstars in the world of laptop thingamajigs—hubs, docks, those doodads you connect to your computer to make it slightly less annoying. They’ve got this shiny reputation, sort of like that uncle who can actually cook the turkey without burning it.
Enter the Element 5 Hub, fresh from February 2025—what a time to be alive, right? Now, it’s meant to tackle Thunderbolt 5 and all that USB4 v2 jazz. If you’ve got the latest laptops, you’re pretty much in the future already.
Nine ports. Nine! Imagine a tiny gadget hosting its own little concert of USBs and Thunderbolts. It’s kind of impressive, maybe kind of overwhelming too. Personally, I dig it because my desk is a disaster and anything that promises order is like my new best friend. It’s got USB-As, USB-Cs, and more Thunderbolt ports than I know what to do with. Sidebar: why do Thunderbolt ports sound like they should shoot lightning?
Anyway, after a few weeks of this thing living among my clutter, I’ve got to say, it’s holding its own. It’s like that silent partner who, out of nowhere, brings ice cream when you’re having the worst day ever. Worth your dough? Maybe—depends if you prefer your gadgets to be flashy or functional.
As for me, I’ve seen these toys for about a decade now, testing and sometimes breaking them, but always stealing time to figure out what’s hot and what’s not. So yea, my two cents might mean something here. The fine print? CalDigit gave me this to try, but they peaced out before I typed a word.
Now, cheat sheet time. Imagine a nifty, compact little device that doesn’t want all your desk space, yet wants to power your laptop fantasies. Priced at a sweet $279.99 on Amazon (skip buying direct; it’s robbery at $392 or so). It’s got a Thunderbolt 5 cable, rubber feet—don’t underestimate the value of not sliding off your desk!—and a 180W power supply just to keep the magic going. It’s a little powerhouse, no lie.
But, let’s not kid ourselves. Is it perfect? Nah. Nothing is, especially when it’s a box trying to be all things to all devices. You might need a dongle for HDMI or be miffed the plastic faceplate gets scuffed. But hey, it’s man’s best friend until they invent wireless charging from Marrs.
At the end of the day, if you’ve got a Thunderbolt 5 laptop and hunger for more ports than your teenage self would for the last video game console, this isn’t a bad bet. But, if your scene is more USB-based or if you’re married to ports they don’t have, maybe wander elsewhere. It’s compact, charges at 90W, practically fixes all the nags I had with the old Element.
So here we are, ready to conclude. This is a solid pick if you’re planning to spend days typing away or maybe, sneaking in a movie night at your desk. Trust issues? Don’t worry, I’ve got an eight-year streak with CalDigit stuff; they rarely let me down. And that says more than words can—especially words from a guy whose desk is an organized mess. Cheers.
