2023-08-20 19:30:00
Who sees a door from afar USB-C is Thunderbolt 3 or 4 you might even end up getting confused. After all, they have the same visual characteristics — that is: they can be plugged in from both sides and are slightly larger than a Lightning port (created by Apple).
However, anyone who thinks they are the same is wrong. In addition to the nomenclature, the technology behind a “simple” USB-C port is quite different from a Thunderbolt.
In the following paragraphs, check out the differences between a USB-C port, a Thunderbolt 3 or 4..
USB-C
The USB-C port ended up being quickly adopted as the standard of (almost) the entire industry when it comes to connector.
Developed by the USB Implementers Forum — which brings together several companies, including Apple — its main characteristic is that it can be used anywhere (just like Lightning).
In addition, at least in theory, it is possible to use a single cable to charge your smartphone, tablet and computer, which does away with the multitude of cables with different formats for each device.
The late 12″ MacBook was Apple’s first to have a USB-C port.
In practice, however, this is a little more complicated than it sounds. This is because there are sorts of “subtypes” of USB-C ports, that is, each one supporting a different transfer speed – which can range from 5Gbps to up to 20Gbps. In addition, they are also capable of offering up to 100W of power.
Thunderbolt 3 e Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 3 and 4 ports are visually identical to a regular USB-C. However, their specifications are quite different. Both developed by Intel (and with the help of Apple), they allow an even greater data transfer than the common USB-C ports.
Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable, identified with a lightning bolt symbol.
Even with both supporting a total bandwidth of 40Gbps, Thunderbolt 3 can have at least 16Gbps, while Thunderbolt 4 reaches 32Gbps.
Regarding the number of supported external displays, Thunderbolt 3 supports one 4K display, while Thunderbolt 4 can support two of these 4K displays or one of them at 8K resolution.
Even with these differences, it is not necessary to worry regarding backward compatibility between the two types of ports – since both use the USB-C standard.
How do I know if a USB-C port supports Thunderbolt?
When it comes to the world of PCs, companies usually signal when a port is Thunderbolt through its symbol next to the connector (represented by a lightning bolt) — something that Apple also did until a while ago.
Currently, however, Apple no longer does this in its notebooks (in Mac mini and Pro, the lightning symbol still appears on the back). Especially because all USB-C ports present on Macs are Thunderbolt 3 or 4 — with the exception of the late 12-inch MacBook.
How to know if the port is USB-C or Thunderbolt by the system?
If you’re still unsure, check the port information by going to the System Report section on macOS.
To do so, search for “System Information” in the “Others” folder of Launchpad or, if you prefer, click on the Apple menu (in the upper left corner), go to About This » Mac More Information… » System Report…. Information regarding the port(s) will be on the left side.
Which Macs count have a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port?
Macs with Thunderbolt 3 ports
13″, 15″, and 16″ MacBook Pro released between 2016 and 2020 13″ MacBook Air (2018 and later) Mac mini (2018 and 2020) 21.5″ iMac (2017 and later) and 27″ iMac ( Retina 5K, 2017 and later) Mac Pro (2019) Studio Display Pro Display XDR
In addition to the Macs mentioned above, the 11″ (3rd generation and later) and 12.9″ (5th generation and later) iPad Pros are also equipped with a Thunderbolt 3 port.
With regard to smartphones, it is very likely that Apple will also bring this connection to the “iPhone 15” line, unless it is still uncertain whether this will apply to the entire line or just to the “15 Pro” and “15 Pro Max” models. ”.
Macs with Thunderbolt 4 ports
14″ and 16″ MacBook Pro (2021 and later) Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chips (2023) Mac Studio (all generations) Mac Pro (2023)
Can you understand the differences?! ????????
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#differences #USBC #Thunderbolt
