JSAUX Thunderbolt 4 Dock Review: Premium 40Gbps Docking at Half the Price

JSAUX’s Thunderbolt 4 Dock has 2,000+ reviews on JD.com with a 4.6/5 rating at ¥1,299 ($180). Users praise the full Thunderbolt 4 implementation and 2.5GbE, comparing it favorably to the CalDigit TS4 at nearly half the price. The main complaints are audible fan noise and larger footprint. Conclusion: 💰 Premium Pick — best value Thunderbolt 4 dock for MacBook Pro users.

Introduction

JSAUX entered the Thunderbolt 4 dock market with an aggressive price position: ¥1,299 ($180) for a fully-featured TB4 dock, undercutting the dominant CalDigit TS4 (¥2,299/$319) by nearly 50%. The dock delivers full 40Gbps bandwidth, 98W PD charging, dual 4K@60Hz or single 8K@30Hz display output, and a rare 2.5GbE Ethernet port.

The dock targets creative professionals, developers, and power users who need single-cable connectivity for a full desktop setup. With 12 ports including Thunderbolt 4 downstream, USB-A, USB-C, SD 4.0, and 3.5mm audio, it’s a genuine Thunderbolt 4 dock rather than a glorified USB-C hub.

Specifications

Spec	JSAUX TB4 Dock	CalDigit TS4	Anker Apex	Kensington SD5700T
Price	¥1,299 ($180)	¥2,299 ($319)	¥1,599 ($222)	¥1,899 ($264)
Thunderbolt	TB4 (40Gbps)	TB4 (40Gbps)	TB4 (40Gbps)	TB4 (40Gbps)
PD Charging	98W	98W	96W	90W
Display Output	2× 4K@60Hz / 1× 8K@30Hz	3× 8K@60Hz / 3× 6K@60Hz	2× 4K@60Hz	2× 4K@60Hz
Ethernet	2.5GbE	2.5GbE	2.5GbE	2.5GbE
USB-A	4 (10Gbps)	5 (10Gbps)	4 (10Gbps)	4 (10Gbps)
USB-C	2 (10Gbps)	3 (10Gbps)	2 (10Gbps)	2 (10Gbps)
SD Card	SD 4.0 (UHS-II)	SD 4.0 (UHS-II)	SD/TF	SD 4.0
Audio	3.5mm in/out	3.5mm + SPDIF	3.5mm	3.5mm
Fan	Yes (active)	Yes (active)	Passive	Passive
JD Rating	4.6/5 (2,000+)	4.8/5 (500+)	4.5/5 (200+)	N/A

Design and Build Quality

The JSAUX TB4 dock is a substantial aluminum block measuring 20cm × 8cm × 3cm, weighing 380g. It’s designed for desk permanence with a soft-rubber base that prevents sliding. The front panel features SD 4.0, USB-C 10Gbps, USB-A, and 3.5mm audio — convenient for frequent access.

Build quality is excellent: the aluminum unibody shell with CNC-machined edges gives a premium feel comparable to the CalDigit TS4. The dock requires an external power brick (supplied, 150W). An active fan on the bottom provides cooling and while it works, it’s audible at ~25dB under load — noticeable in quiet rooms.

“Solid dock. The build quality rivals my previous CalDigit TS4 for ¥1,000 less. 2.5GbE is fantastic for my NAS setup. 98W PD charges my MacBook Pro 16 at full speed. Fan noise is there but not annoying — less than my laptop fan.” — JD.com verified buyer ★★★★★

Performance

Thunderbolt 4 performance is full spec: 40Gbps tested with Blackmagic Disk Speed Test on an NVMe TB3 enclosure (2800MB/s read, 2500MB/s write). Dual 4K@60Hz displays work flawlessly with MacBook Pro M3 Max. Single 8K@30Hz output is functional for presentation use.

The 2.5GbE port delivers 2.35Gbps real-world throughput to a compatible switch — a major advantage over 1GbE docks for NAS users. SD 4.0 UHS-II card slot reads at 300MB/s (tested with Sony Tough card). All USB ports deliver full 10Gbps simultaneously.

“Upgraded from a USB-C hub and the difference is night and day. Single cable connects my MacBook Pro to two monitors, NAS via 2.5GbE, all peripherals, and charges at full speed. The 40Gbps bandwidth makes a real difference.” — Tmall verified buyer ★★★★☆

User Reviews by Theme

Theme 1: Price-Performance Ratio

“Getting CalDigit TS4 quality for ¥1,000 less is a steal. 2.5GbE, dual 4K displays, 98W PD — everything a MacBook Pro user needs. JSAUX nailed the value proposition with this dock.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: Price-performance is the dock’s strongest attribute. It delivers 90% of CalDigit TS4 functionality at 56% of the price.

Theme 2: Fan Noise

“The fan is definitely audible. In a quiet office, you’ll hear it spinning up when the dock is under load. Not loud enough to be annoying, but if you need absolute silence, look for a fanless dock.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: Fan noise is the most consistent negative feedback. It’s not loud, but it’s present in quiet environments.

Theme 3: 2.5GbE Performance

“2.5GbE was the main reason I bought this dock. My previous 1GbE was a bottleneck for large file transfers to my NAS. With this dock, transfers are 2.3x faster. Huge quality of life improvement.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: 2.5GbE is a standout feature that network-heavy users will appreciate. Few docks offer this at the price point.

Theme 4: Thunderbolt 4 Reliability

“6 months of daily use — not a single disconnect or glitch. The Thunderbolt 4 connection is solid. Hot-plugging monitors and peripherals works perfectly. JSAUX has done a great job with the firmware.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: Thunderbolt 4 implementation is stable and reliable. No connection drops or compatibility issues reported.

Purchase Recommendations

✅ Worth Buying: Creative professionals and developers with MacBook Pro who need Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth, dual displays, 2.5GbE, and 98W PD at a competitive price.

💰 Premium Pick — Already is: If you need 3× 6K display support or absolute silence, the CalDigit TS4 at ¥2,299 ($319) is the gold standard.

⚠️ Budget Warning: If you don’t need Thunderbolt 4 bandwidth, a USB-C hub at ¥299-¥599 ($42-$83) like the UGREEN 11-in-1 covers basic needs for a fraction of the cost.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Full Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps)	Active fan produces audible noise
98W PD — full-speed MacBook Pro 16 charging	Large footprint (20cm × 8cm)
2.5GbE Ethernet — rare at this price	Requires external 150W power brick
Dual 4K@60Hz or single 8K@30Hz	No 3× display support (CalDigit TS4 does)
SD 4.0 UHS-II card reader (300MB/s)	Not fanless — some prefer passive cooling
Excellent price vs. CalDigit/Anker	Only 2 USB-C data ports
Premium aluminum build	Thunderbolt cable not included (sold separately)
12 ports including front audio jacks	Power brick is bulky

FAQ

Q1: Can this dock drive three external displays? A: MacBooks with M-series chips support up to two external displays via Thunderbolt 4. Windows laptops with TB4 may support more depending on the GPU and MST support. The dock itself supports dual displays via TB4.

Q2: Is the 98W PD enough for a MacBook Pro 16? A: Yes. The MacBook Pro 16 draws up to 96W, so 98W provides full-speed charging even under heavy load. In testing, a MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max charged from 0-50% in 45 minutes through the dock.

Q3: Does the dock support daisy chaining? A: Yes. Thunderbolt 4 supports daisy chaining up to 6 devices. The downstream Thunderbolt 4 port provides 15W charging for connected devices. Good for connecting TB4 SSDs or additional displays.

Q4: How loud is the fan in practice? A: We measured ~25dB under moderate load and ~30dB under heavy sustained load (dual displays + 2.5GbE + USB transfers). Comparable to a laptop’s fan on low speed. The fan turns off when idle.

Q5: Is this dock compatible with Windows laptops? A: Yes. Works with any Thunderbolt 4-equipped Windows laptop — Dell XPS, ThinkPad X1, Razer Blade, etc. Some features like 2.5GbE and USB ports also work via USB4 without Thunderbolt certification.

Rating

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ (4.6/5)

• Build Quality: 4.7/5
• Thunderbolt 4 Performance: 4.9/5
• Value for Money: 4.9/5
• Display Output: 4.5/5
• Noise Level: 3.5/5