Thunderbolt™4 offers distinct advantages over USB-C with a more flexible and expansive set of capabilities. Productivity, content creation, and gaming applications can all benefit from Thunderbolt™4 technology with cleaner workspaces and more bandwidth to support more accessories.
Power, Data Transfer, and Video Display in One
Thunderbolt™4 ports and cables support the trifecta of power charging, data transfer with bidirectional movement and video display in one interface. For example, with a Thunderbolt™-enabled laptop, display, and cable, the laptop can pass a video signal to the monitor and the monitor can charge the laptop at the same time. Thunderbolt™4 delivers:
- High bandwidth
40Gbps of bandwidth dynamically allocated for data and video, ideal for heavy workloads or fast file transfers.
- Quick charging
Up to 100W of power for laptop charging and up to 15W for computer-powered accessories.
- Rich display options
Up to two 4K 60 Hz displays or one 8K 60 Hz display on a single connection.
External Graphics, Storage, and PCIe Enclosures
The high bandwidth of Thunderbolt™4 allows end users to connect their computers to external GPUs, storage drives, and PCIe enclosures. PCIe connectivity is not supported by USB3 and is optional for USB4, whereas Thunderbolt™4 offers the most flexibility in which devices you can connect.
- With external graphics, gamers can play at recommended visual settings and higher frame rates, even on thin and light notebooks. Creators can significantly reduce rendering and export times to boost their productivity and output.