Apple generally mixes up connector sorts amongst units, and that may confuse individuals much more over the variations between USB-C and Thunderbolt. The connectors look alike, work equally and settle for the identical cables. But they’re not the identical.
Let’s take a look at the important thing variations, how the ascendant Thunderbolt 5 improves on Thunderbolt 4, and which form of port and cable most accurately fits your duties like charging and information switch.
USB-C vs Thunderbolt: What’s the distinction?
USB-C and Thunderbolt are each common of their most up-to-date iterations, showing throughout several types of computer systems and different units. They give the impression of being alike and are appropriate with one another. However they’re totally different in essential methods. In a nutshell, Thunderbolt runs a lot sooner for data-transfer than USB-C, and it retains enhancing with every era, now as much as Thunderbolt 5.
Desk of contents:
Defining USB-C
USB-C, finalized in 2014 when the three.1 specification got here out, is an industry-standard, 24-pin connector that transfers each information and energy between units. It’s changing into the usual for system charging, as Apple lastly stated goodbye to Lightning connectors in its units.
USB-C’s present model is USB4, which got here out in 2019. In varied units, a USB-C connector can change (or add to) the performance of connectors like USB-A, USB-B, HDMI, DisplayPort and three.5mm audio jacks.
To confuse issues a bit extra, USB4 2.0 got here out in October 2022 with twice the bandwidth of the present model.
Defining Thunderbolt
Picture: Cult of Mac
Thunderbolt, created in 2011 by means of a collaboration between Intel and Apple and initially referred to as “Gentle Peak,” provides much more performance to at least one cable and connector than USB-C does.
It combines PCI Specific and DisplayPort alerts — information and video — plus energy, multi function cable/connector. Thunderbolt 1 and a couple of used the Mini DisplayPort connector. Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 use the USB-C connector.
What’s the distinction between USB-C vs Thunderbolt?
Thunderbolt is quicker than USB-C and clearly the higher selection for information switch. It might probably additionally ship extra energy, however that isn’t mandatory for many charging purposes.
Utilizing the identical connector, USB-C, is what makes Thunderbolt and USB-C look alike. However Thunderbolt carries extra info and goes loads sooner. In comparison with USB-C two-lane street, it’s like a superhighway with extra lanes.
Thunderbolt 3 doubled the capability of Thunderbolt 2, with 4 lanes of PCI Specific basic information and 4 lanes of DisplayPort video information.
Thunderbolt 4 caught with its predecessor’s most information switch velocity of 40Gbit/s — 4 instances sooner than USB 3.2 Gen 2 — but it surely added assist for twin 4K shows, safety enhancements and Thunderbolt Alternate Mode for USB hubs along with daisy chaining.
For those who’re constructing a pc setup, go for Thunderbolt 4 or Thunderbolt 5 connectivity wherever you possibly can for quick and strong information switch. It’s going to rely for lots everytime you’re connecting units to switch recordsdata, and particularly the place video is anxious.
Thunderbolt 5 delivers as much as 80Gbit/s of bi-directional bandwidth, successfully doubling the efficiency of each Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4.
What makes Thunderbolt 5 particular?
Picture: Intel
Thunderbolt 5 builds on the inspiration of Thunderbolt 4 with important efficiency enhancements. Intel achieved these beneficial properties by means of superior three-level Pulse Amplitude Modulation (PAM-3) signaling and upgraded PCI-E 4 addressing.
The headline function is velocity: Thunderbolt 5 delivers as much as 80Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth, successfully doubling the efficiency of each Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4. This additionally means full compatibility with the USB 4 2.0 80Gbps specification.
For demanding workflows, Thunderbolt 5 can push even greater with uneven bandwidth allocation, reaching 120Gbps in a single route whereas sustaining 40Gbps within the different. That’s significantly helpful for video-intensive purposes.
Show and energy capabilities
Thunderbolt 5’s show assist is spectacular, incorporating DisplayPort 2.1 compatibility. You possibly can drive three 4K shows at 144Hz concurrently, join a number of 8K shows, and even obtain a exceptional 540Hz refresh charge on a single monitor for gaming or specialised purposes.
Energy supply has additionally improved considerably. Whereas Thunderbolt 4 tops out at 100W, Thunderbolt 5 can ship as much as 240W with appropriate {hardware} and cables, making it appropriate for powering even probably the most demanding units.
Navigating Apple’s port arrays
Apple’s implementation of Thunderbolt 5 throughout its Mac lineup may be complicated, as assist varies considerably between fashions and even chip configurations inside the similar product line.
The Mac mini is an effective instance. The usual M4 model consists of three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the again plus two entrance USB-C ports. Nonetheless, improve to the M4 Professional chip, and people rear ports grow to be Thunderbolt 5, whereas the entrance ports stay USB-C with USB 3 speeds.
The Mac Studio provides complexity. The M4 Max configuration options 4 Thunderbolt 5 ports on the again with two 10Gbps USB-C ports on the entrance. Curiously, the M3 Extremely Mac Studio additionally has 4 Thunderbolt 5 ports on the again, however consists of two further Thunderbolt ports on the entrance as an alternative of USB-C.
A sensible problem emerges right here: Apple doesn’t clearly label entrance ports on many fashions, so that you’ll have to know your particular configuration or check connections to know their capabilities.
Understanding Apple’s ‘Thunderbolt/USB 4’ labeling
Throughout the Apple Silicon transition, Apple launched “Thunderbolt/USB 4” labeling that left many customers unsure about their port capabilities. This designation merely means the port helps each Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4.
When Apple labels a port as Thunderbolt, it genuinely helps the total Thunderbolt specification. Since Thunderbolt requires USB 4 performance as a basis, these ports deal with each connection sorts seamlessly.
Apple has largely moved away from the “Thunderbolt/USB 4” terminology throughout most Mac fashions, apart from sure 24-inch iMac configurations that also use it for two-port variants.
What connectors and cables must you use?
Picture: Satechi
The query above is basically answered by which kind of connector you’ve gotten. When you’ve got a Thunderbolt connector — it should have a lightning-bolt image above or beside it — then you’ve gotten Thunderbolt, not plain USB-C.
If there isn’t a Thunderbolt image, then it’s a USB-C connector. The identical cables will work with each, however when units with totally different capabilities are related, you solely get the bottom frequent data-transfer charge.
For USB-C, cables and connectors marked USB 3.1 or “SS” (for Tremendous Velocity) would be the quickest. USB 2.0 cables may also work, however they gained’t switch information or cost a tool as quick. In truth, they’re as sluggish as Lighting connectors, at 480Mbps.
When you’ve gotten Thunderbolt units to attach, be sure you use a Thunderbolt cable. Identical to the ports, it should have a lightning bolt image on its USB-C connector at every finish. Solely a Thunderbolt cable will get you Thunderbolt velocity and strong information and energy switch.
And have in mind, simply because you could have Apple units, you don’t want to purchase (doubtlessly dear) Apple cables. Each USB-C and Thunderbolt are common, and so are the cables that work with them.
Which Apple units have which connector: USB-C vs Thunderbolt?
We’re not going to call each Apple system with USB or Thunderbolt ports, however the lists under embrace current units as Apple lists them.
USB3
- 2015 12-inch MacBook Retina
- 2016 12-inch MacBook Retina
- 2017 12-inch MacBook Retina
- 2021 24-inch iMac, 4 ports
- 2022 Mac Studio
- 2023 Mac Studio
Thunderbolt 3
- 2016 13-inch MacBook Professional, 2 ports
- 2016 13-inch MacBook Professional, 4 Ports
- 2016 15-inch MacBook Professional, 4 ports
- 2017 iMac fashions, 2 ports
- 2017 iMac Professional, 4 ports
- 2018 13-inch MacBook Air Retina, 2 ports
- 2018 Mac mini, 2 ports
- 2019 Mac Professional fashions, as much as 12 ports
- 2019 Professional Show XDR, 1 port
- 2021 11-inch iPad Professional (third era), 1 port
- 2021 12.9-inch iPad Professional (fifth era), 1 port
- 2022 Studio Show, 1 port
Thunderbolt/USB4
- 2020 M1 MacBook Air, 2 ports
- 2020 13-inch MacBook Professional, 2 ports
- 2020 M1 Mac mini, 2 ports
- 2021 24-inch iMac, 2 ports
- 2022 M2 MacBook Air, 2 ports
- 2022 13-inch M2 MacBook Professional, 2 ports
- 2023 15-inch M2 MacBook Air, 2 ports
Thunderbolt 4
- 2021 14-inch MacBook Professional, 3 ports
- 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional, 3 ports
- 2022 Mac Studio, as much as 6 ports
- 2023 Mac mini fashions, 4 ports
- 2023 Mac Professional, 4 ports
- 2023 14-inch MacBook Professional, 4 ports
- 2023 16-inch MacBook Professional, 4 ports
- 2024 iMac
- 2025 MacBook Air
Thunderbolt 5 (as of July 2025)
- 2024 Mac mini (M4 Professional), 3 ports (rear)
- 2024 MacBook Professional (M4 Professional/M4 Max), ports fluctuate by configuration
- 2025 Mac Studio (M4 Max/M3 Extremely), 4 ports (rear)
Sources: Wikipedia, Apple
We printed this put up on USB-C vs Thunderbolt on September 10, 2023, after which up to date it with information of upcoming Thunderbolt 5 on September 12, 2023 and rather more Thunderbolt 5 info on July 21, 2025.
