In the world of tech, connectivity is king. Whether you’re charging your mobile device or linking a peripheral to your PC or Mac, USB-C and Thunderbolt ports play pivotal roles in our daily tech interactions. But as technology evolves, so do these ports, making it increasingly challenging to discern between them.
The emergence of USB Type-C (USB-C), Thunderbolt 3, and Thunderbolt 4 interfaces has further blurred the lines, as they all share the same physically compatible connectors and cables. This guide aims to untangle the web of confusion, helping you differentiate between Thunderbolt and USB-C and understand when to use each.
What Is USB-C?
USB-C, short for Universal Serial Bus Type-C, represents an industry-standard connector for seamless data and power transmission through a single cable. Unlike its predecessors, the USB-C connector boasts an oval shape, making it reversible—no more fumbling to plug it in the right way. Both ends of the standard USB-C cable feature the same connector, eliminating the guesswork of orientation.
The USB-C connector was developed by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), a consortium of over 700 companies, including tech giants like Apple, Dell, HP, Intel, Microsoft, and Samsung. This widespread adoption has led to USB-C ports gracing a multitude of devices, from external hard drives to smartphones and smart home gadgets.
What Is Thunderbolt?
A Thunderbolt port is a high-speed hardware interface developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple. It allows for the transfer of data, audio, and video signals between computers and external devices at incredibly fast speeds. Thunderbolt ports are typically found on laptops, desktops, and other devices, as well as on various external peripherals.
Thunderbolt technology uses a small, compact connector that looks identical to a USB-C connector. In fact, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 ports use the same physical connector as USB-C, making them physically compatible. This means you can often plug USB-C devices into Thunderbolt ports and vice versa.
How Do The Two Differ?
The most confusing aspect of Thunderbolt 3 and 4 is that they use USB-C connectors. So physically, a Thunderbolt port looks exactly the same as a USB-C port! But there are crucial differences under the hood.
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In simple terms, Thunderbolt is built on top of USB-C, so all Thunderbolt ports are also USB-C. But not all USB-C ports offer Thunderbolt compatibility. The key factors that set them apart are speed and capabilities.
Lightning-Fast Transfer Speeds
The biggest advantage Thunderbolt enjoys over USB-C is transfer speed. Thunderbolt 3 offers a blistering 40 Gbps bandwidth, while Thunderbolt 4 doubles it to an incredible 80 Gbps. In comparison, USB 3.2 caps out at 20 Gbps even on cutting-edge USB4 ports. This makes Thunderbolt over 4 times faster for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering or running external GPUs.
For perspective, you can transfer a full 4K movie in under 30 seconds over Thunderbolt 3 versus over 2 minutes on USB 3.2. This blistering speed amplifies productivity.
Multi-Purpose Ports
Thunderbolt ports are incredibly versatile as they can carry both data and display signals. You can connect superfast external storage, high-resolution monitors and accessories using just one compact Thunderbolt cable.
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USB-C ports used exclusively for data require a separate HDMI or DisplayPort connection for sending video signals. Thunderbolt consolidates connections making it perfect for minimalist, cable-free workstations.
Power Delivery Support
Both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C ports support USB Power Delivery for charging devices. Thunderbolt 4 ports can supply up to 100W power vs USB-C’s 100W max. This allows charging larger devices like laptops using the same Thunderbolt cable.
Daisy Chain Multiple Devices
A key benefit of Thunderbolt is the ability to daisy chain multiple devices together in a connected chain. This means driving two 4K displays from a single port or connecting five storage drives in a series.
USB doesn’t offer daisy chaining capabilities. Every USB-C device needs its own port for plugging in. This significantly limits the number of devices you can use together, especially on laptops with scarce ports.
Distinguishing Between the Ports
Visually telling apart Thunderbolt and USB-C ports is extremely difficult as both use the same reversible connector design. Here are some tips:
- Thunderbolt ports are marked with a lightning icon on supported laptops and devices.
- USB4 ports can support Thunderbolt with an inactive controller. Enable Thunderbolt in BIOS settings to activate the port if available.
- Connecting to a Thunderbolt dock will also indicate if the port is Thunderbolt compatible.
- Check your laptop’s specifications to identify if it has Thunderbolt support to begin with.
Choosing Between Thunderbolt and USB-C
The decision between Thunderbolt and USB-C isn’t always straightforward. Some situations allow you to use either port interchangeably. For instance, when charging a laptop that supports USB-C recharging, both USB-C and Thunderbolt ports will suffice.
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Similarly, connecting a Thunderbolt-supported computer to a non-Thunderbolt device with a USB-C cable will work, though data transfer speeds won’t exceed USB-C limits. Peripherals like printers, mice, and keyboards typically don’t require the full speed of USB, let alone Thunderbolt.
Nonetheless, media professionals frequently transferring large files will benefit from Thunderbolt’s enhanced speed. Choosing Thunderbolt for tasks like data transfers can significantly reduce waiting times.
In the grand scheme, neither Thunderbolt nor USB-C emerges as the clear victor. They cater to different needs and use cases. History suggests that these interfaces will eventually give way to new standards, like the evolving USB4. As technology marches forward, we’ll continue adapting and learning about these differences and subtleties.
