Apple has changed its MacBook connection standard from Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 5 , but some earlier MacBook Air models had their ports name as “ Thunderbolt / USB 4 ” and “ Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 ” on its Pro and Max models .
What does all this mean ? What is the difference between Thunderbolt 5 , Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 3 ? And then what is USB 4 ?
We think that USB and Thunderbolt could n’t get any more confusing with many unlike speeds ( from 5Gbps to 120Gbps ) and functions potential using the same “ Type - one C ” connectedness .
From an Apple user ’s point of view , there is n’t a nifty deal in Thunderbolt 4 that was new or unlike from Thunderbolt 3 , with which it is backwards compatible . The large changes have arrived with Thunderbolt 5 .
Indeed , in its M1 and M2 MacBooks tech specs , to add to the confusion Apple did n’t even call it Thunderbolt 4 , heel it as “ Thunderbolt / USB 4 ” including Thunderbolt 3 . For the superior M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro models , Apple listed the ports as full Thunderbolt 4 — this is because the Pro / Max versions can underpin multiple outside cover , unlike the limited unvarnished M1 or M2 MacBooks . Without the ability to connect to two international displays , it ca n’t be label as certified Thunderbolt 4 .
What is the difference between Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5?
After much teasing in 2022 and a demo in October 2022 , Intel formally declare Thunderbolt 5 on September 12 , 2023 , and Apple started enter it into its MacBook Pro , Mac Studio and some Mac mini models from 2024 .
Thunderbolt 5 is a real whole step up from Thunderbolt 4 — unlike Thunderbolt 4 ’s minor ( Mac ) enhancements on Thunderbolt 3 .
Bandwidth is doubled from 40Gbps to 80Gbps , and display connections go as tight as 120Gbps — so up to three time more bandwidth than previous existing connectivity solutions .
Thunderbolt 5 provision up to 240W of charging great power downstream to the tie in Mac . Apple ’s 16 - in MacBook Pro supports 140W PD 3.1 through its MagSafe 3 port and now via its Thunderbolt 5 port ; Thunderbolt 4 ports are rated PD 3.0 and trammel to 100W. That means the Thunderbolt 5 MacBooks can fast - cathexis via either the MagSafe 3 connection or Thunderbolt 5 ports ( using either 240W - rated Thunderbolt or USB - C cablegram ) .
Thunderbolt 5 also support DisplayPort 2.1 — compare to today ’s DisplayPort 1.4 . DisplayPort 2.1 supports a max 10 K resolution ( 10240-×-4320 pixels at 60Hz ) on a individual presentation , compared to the 8 K resolve supported by DisplayPort 1.4 . It also include improved version of Display Stream Compression ( DSC 1.2a ) that meliorate bandwidth management .
Thunderbolt 5 offers the ability to daisy - chain up to 10 devices thanks to the dual USB Type - atomic number 6 port . It can dynamically adjust bandwidth , prioritizing one direction over the other based on usage
bolt of lightning 5 is back compatible with Thunderbolt 3 , Thunderbolt 4 , and USB4 devices , so you may upgrade without take to replace existing peripheral .
What is the difference between USB4 and Thunderbolt 4?
Intel did n’t want there to be a confusing USB 4.1 , 4.2 , etc , so it obturate the 4 right next to the USB . Apple snub this and insists , in its Apple - comparable room , on calling it “ USB 4 ” .
Both utilize the same Type - C connector , just like Thunderbolt 3 , too .
Thunderbolt 4 is ground on the same underlying communications protocol as USB4 — the two are tightly get in touch , with all Thunderbolt 4 devices support USB4 . If someone has a USB4 laptop , they can apply a TB4 gadget and the other manner around .
In fact , Thunderbolt 4 is USB4 with all the trimmings .
Not all USB4 gadget will be as powerful as the fully certify Thunderbolt 4 , however .
Just like Apple ’s version of Thunderbolt 3 , Thunderbolt 4 will always have a full 40Gbps bandwidth .
USB4 , however , starts at 20Gbps but can also reach Thunderbolt 4 ’s 40Gbps . calculate out for USB 20 or USB 40 in product marketing .
A USB4 porthole can only support one display . Thunderbolt 4 can support two 4 K displays .
The adept matter about USB4 is that it will intend that manufacturers can release more powerful hub and docks that are not Thunderbolt , at a tacky cost .
However , since Thunderbolt products are evidence , it means that they are of the highest standard . USB4 equipment do n’t call for to be certified and so finally we will see many USB4 devices flooding the mart with varying degrees of quality , as we see withUSB - C hubstoday .
What is Thunderbolt hubbing?
bombshell 4 is , in some way , just a software upgrade for Mac users . You need at least Apple ’s Big Sur operating system ( macOS 11 ) to get its new hubbing functionality .
Hubbing does off with the risks of Thunderbolt gadget daisy - chaining .
You ’ve always been able to tie in multiple Thunderbolt devices but in a potentially longsighted chain , which think that if you remove any one of them ( except the last one in the range of mountains ) all the others became unuseable until the Ernst Boris Chain was re - plant .
Now , with Thunderbolt hubbing , you may have up to four Thunderbolt ports in a hub or dock — each a freestanding ” offset ” that can be disconnected without affecting any other Thunderbolt equipment connected in the other port .
Up to six Thunderbolt 4 gimmick can be smartly daisy - chained .
What is the difference between Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4?
Thunderbolt 4 is only importantly different for Windows PCs , whose Thunderbolt 3 variations were often limited in feature — where Apple always give its user the full Thunderbolt 3 feature solidification .
Thunderbolt 3 on a Windows laptop could lack the full 40Gbps bandwidth , or maybe not put up multiple display or power delivery .
pitiful PC exploiter , you ’ve got to feel for them .
bolt of lightning 4 requires mandatory corroboration for all computers , which means Windows users finally get all the majuscule features Apple users got with Thunderbolt 3 . So Thunderbolt 4 standardize Thunderbolt 3 for all computer users .
It ’s backward compatible , but bribe Thunderbolt 4 or 5 devices will also next - proofread your setup .
So if your Mac has “ just ” Thunderbolt 3 , do n’t concern . It ’s just that Windows PCs can now join in the play without limitations , where in the past PC manufacturers could exact theoretic eyeglasses but not deliver the good they could by being merely “ compatible ” rather than “ certified ” .
It should be noted that the MacBooks with Apple ’s own M1 or M2 chips had a significant limitation : they ca n’t run more than one external display natively . However , there is aworkaround that take into account M1 and M2 MacBooks to run more than one outside display .
In fact , Thunderbolt 3 was required to bear out only one external 4 K monitoring machine , whereas every Thunderbolt 4 laptop computer has to back two 4 K presentation or one 8 KB display .
bombshell 4 and 5 insure that you’re able to stir up a computer with the shake of a mouse or the tap of a keyboard on Thunderbolt 4 or 5 docks . This was n’t always the case with Thunderbolt 3 . This is possibly why Apple is n’t specifically calling its Thunderbolt variation 4 , due to the M1 / M2 display limitation .
TB4 and TB5 are also a more information - safe technology , as they require Intel VT - viosterol - free-base direct memory approach ( DMA ) protection , also known as DMA remapping .
What else ? Well , Thunderbolt 4 patronise PCIe ( peripheral constituent interconnect express ) at 64Gbps for faster storage speeds than TB4 ’s 32Gbps and TB3 ’s 16Gbps . Some of the early Thunderbolt 3 MacBooks had less bandwidth uncommitted on the proper - hand - side Thunderbolt ports . fast PCIe is important if you ofttimes channelise very large files between storage devices .
Here we are talking about the dowry of total Thunderbolt bandwidth apportion for PCI Express data transfer . With Thunderbolt 4 and 5 , you ’re assured to have all four lane of PCI Express available — so PCIe can exhaust up to 32 or 64Gbps of the total 40Gbps/80Gbps Thunderbolt bandwidth . With Thunderbolt 3 , depending on your laptop manufacturer and model , some implementations tender only 16Gbps of PCIe bandwidth .
Other reward of Thunderbolt 4 and 5 include that hubs and dock can now have more than two Thunderbolt larboard ( up to four ) and that TB4 and TB5 line can be up to 2 measure recollective and still handle the 40Gbps bandwidth . Previously , inactive TB3 cable had to be 0.7 thousand or under to care full bandwidth .
bolt of lightning 4 and ( most ) USB4 support the previous USB PD 3.1 standard that allows for maximum charging of 240W compared to USB PD 3.0 and Thunderbolt 3 ’s 100W. think that you demand the right type of cable length for the higher charging rate : read our roundup of thebest Thunderbolt 4 cables .
Thunderbolt docks
We have tested thebest Thunderbolt hubs and tying up station .
The TB4 and TB5 hubs generally feature four Thunderbolt port ( one upstream to connect to the reckoner , and three downstream to external devices ) . dock sometimes swap out one or two downstream Thunderbolt ports for more traditional display connectors ( such as HDMI and DisplayPort ) .
you’re able to learn more about the most to the full featured hub we ’ve tested in ourCaldigit Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub inspection . This hub boast four Thunderbolt 5 , two 10Gbps USB - C and three 10Gbps USB - A ports .
Foundry
TheCalDigit Thunderbolt 4 Element hubfeatures four Thunderbolt 4 and four 10Gbps USB - A embrasure .
Intel
Who owns Thunderbolt? Intel or Apple?
Apple and Intel have cooperate on Thunderbolt technology since 2010 , put out its first Thunderbolt MacBook in 2011 .
Apple even registered the earmark “ Thunderbolt ” although it passed this on to Intel , in return for “ unrestricted use of the technology ” . But Intel is the prescribed owner of the Thunderbolt technology .
Before this agreement , the technology was known by Intel as “ Light Peak ” .
