For CASE-04, connect the M4 Air to the TS4 Computer port, then connect one U2723QE to each downstream Thunderbolt port. Use the supplied dock power supply and evaluate the exact 4K/60 SDR conditions.
Best for
M4/M5 Air owners who want a documented two-monitor native path and one host cable.
Not for
An M1/M2 Air owner expecting two native displays; users connecting screens to ordinary data-only USB-C ports.
- Computer: host Thunderbolt cable
- 2 downstream Thunderbolt: independent display paths
- DisplayPort: alternative native display output
- USB data ports: peripherals, not screens
Logical port roles from the cited documentation. This is not to scale and is not evidence of hands-on testing.
Works-with conditions to check
| Part of your setup | Required check |
|---|---|
| Laptop and operating system | Listed 13-inch or 15-inch MacBook Air M4/M5; compatible macOS; powered TS4 and monitors; exact selected Dell input and cable records. |
| Screen mode and output pair | Reviewed pattern: two Dell U2723QE/U3223QE screens, including a mixed pair, at 3840 × 2160 / 60 Hz / SDR; separate downstream Thunderbolt ports and model-matched original cables. |
| Software and permissions | Native display path on the listed M4/M5 Air models; no DisplayLink required for this downstream-port pattern. |
| Example or decision guide | Read the relevant setup and its limitations |
One clear example: M4 and two U2723QE screens
CASE-04 is the example below: a 13-inch M4 Air and two U2723QE displays. Distinguish the TS4 host socket, its two downstream Thunderbolt sockets and its ordinary USB data sockets. Similar-looking plugs do not make those sockets interchangeable. This path uses the two downstream Thunderbolt outputs, not the front USB-C data ports or a monitor daisy chain.
- Power the TS4 with its supplied power supply and power both monitors.
- Connect the original TS4 Thunderbolt cable from the MacBook Air M4 to the dock socket marked Computer.
- Connect the first downstream Thunderbolt socket to the first U2723QE’s USB-C 90W video input using that monitor’s original USB-C cable.
- Repeat from the other downstream Thunderbolt socket to the second monitor’s USB-C 90W input.
- Select independent extended desktops and confirm 3840 × 2160 at 60 Hz in SDR on both screens.
Reviewed hosts and screens have separate records
The planner also evaluates this downstream-port arrangement for the listed 15-inch M4 and 13-inch or 15-inch M5 Air models. Apple documents the native display allowance for each exact host; CalDigit’s current TS4 documentation includes base M4 and M5 dual-display operation. Dell U2723QE and U3223QE are separate monitor choices with their own original-cable records. The two screens may use the same model or a mixed pair, provided each has its own matching cable and video-input record.
Select the actual size, chip and monitor models in the finder. Keep each display on its USB-C 90W video input with the original cable recorded for that model. A different monitor, an unidentified cable, a base M1/M2 Air or an M3 with the lid open does not inherit this result. The plan combines documented component capabilities; it is not an independently observed hardware test.
Power and the complete equipment list
CalDigit specifies host charging up to 98W with the TS4 power supply. That is a documented ceiling, not a measurement of this laptop’s consumption. The connection plan requires the original TS4 host cable, the dock supply, a documented original USB-C cable for each selected Dell model and power for both monitors. Do not select a U2723QE cable record for a U3223QE simply because the connectors look alike.
For a used dock, confirm that the correct supply and suitable host cable are present before comparing its cost with a complete bundle. A charging-only cable is not an interchangeable replacement for the Thunderbolt host connection.
When you can keep the dock out of the plan
If you already have the two reviewed USB-C monitors and do not require one cable at the laptop, investigate direct connections from the two Mac ports first. The dock is useful when its connection arrangement or other documented peripherals solve a real need. Owning a capable laptop does not itself create a reason to buy a dock.
If a display stays dark, confirm its selected input and move one cable at a time. Check that neither display is connected to an ordinary USB-C data socket on the TS4.
Evaluate the reference, then edit it
Open CASE-04 with the 13-inch M4 and U2723QE reference choices, then replace anything that differs from your equipment. Other listed M4/M5 sizes and U3223QE screens must be selected explicitly; the finder evaluates their current records. A prefilled example is not a personal verdict. Unknown details remain unknown, and changed supporting rules can withhold a result. The TS4 manual explains the Computer connection and downstream-port wiring.
Sources and limits
These are component specifications, not a measured end-to-end test. Price, seller stock and regional bundles are not checked.
- Apple: 13-inch M4 Air (2025) specifications ↗
- Apple: 13-inch M5 Air (2026) specifications ↗
- Apple: 15-inch M4 Air (2025) specifications ↗
- Apple: 15-inch M5 Air (2026) specifications ↗
- CalDigit TS4 current product documentation ↗
- CalDigit TS4 user guide ↗
- CalDigit TS4: current M5 dual-display compatibility ↗
- Dell U2723QE: official specifications and included cables ↗
- Dell U3223QE: official specifications and included cables ↗
Source availability and latest checks
- C1: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- C2: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- C4: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- A4: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- A5: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- A8: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- A9: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- D1: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
- D6: last successful automated retrieval 2026-10-08 · latest attempt 2026-10-08.
A successful retrieval confirms availability, not unchanged meaning. An editorial source review is separate.
Evidence C1 · Evidence C2 · Evidence C4 · Evidence A4 · Evidence A5 · Evidence A8 · Evidence A9 · Evidence D1 · Evidence D6
CalDigit TS4 questions before purchase
Does this profile prove my exact setup will work?
No. Component-documented connection pattern across the explicitly listed host/monitor records; CASE-04 is one example, not an independent hardware test. Check the finder’s current coverage.
What must be included in the bundle?
TS4 supplied PSU and original Thunderbolt host cable; each selected Dell monitor needs its own model-matched original USB-C cable and mains power. Confirm the regional and used-item listing before ordering.
What is the main limitation for this model?
Ordinary USB data ports are not display outputs. Unlisted hosts/monitors, unidentified cables and other screen modes do not inherit the reviewed pattern. Read the connection-path guide before changing hardware.
Check your exact equipment
A product record alone cannot confirm your laptop, output pair and cable combination.
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