USB-C

Thunderbolt vs USB-C: what is the difference?

USB-C is the shape of the plug. Thunderbolt is a faster standard that uses the same plug. Every Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 port is a USB-C port, but not every USB-C port is Thunderbolt. Look for the lightning bolt.

By Cords®Updated 3 November 20263 min read

Cords® USB-C Cord A1 in Pale Pink coiled on a marble table

40 GbpsThunderbolt 3 and 4

80 GbpsThunderbolt 5, each way

120 GbpsThunderbolt 5 with Bandwidth Boost, one way

2011the first Thunderbolt, from Intel with Apple

Same plug, a different promise

USB-C is the shape of a plug and a port. It says nothing about speed. More in What is USB-C?

Thunderbolt is a standard from Intel, developed with Apple, for fast data, displays and power over one cable. Since Thunderbolt 3, it uses the USB-C connector. So a Thunderbolt port looks like any other USB-C port.

A USB-C port, and a Thunderbolt port of the same shape with a lightning bolt beside it — A USB-C port and a Thunderbolt port, face on. Only the lightning bolt beside the port tells them apart.

The lightning bolt beside the port marks Thunderbolt. A Thunderbolt 5 port carries a small 5 next to the bolt.

Every Thunderbolt port takes ordinary USB-C devices and cables. An ordinary USB-C port does not run Thunderbolt.

Five generations

2011: Thunderbolt 1, on the Mini DisplayPort connector, 10 Gbps per channel.
2013: Thunderbolt 2, still Mini DisplayPort, 20 Gbps.
2015: Thunderbolt 3 moves to USB-C, at 40 Gbps.
2020: Thunderbolt 4, still 40 Gbps, with higher minimums: two 4K displays and 32 Gbps for PCIe.
2023: Thunderbolt 5, shown in September: 80 Gbps each way, in computers from 2024.

Thunderbolt is backwards compatible. A Thunderbolt 4 cable works in a Thunderbolt 5 port, at Thunderbolt 4 speed.

How fast, against USB

0.48 Gbps

USB 2.0, as on many charging cables

20 Gbps

USB 3.2, at its fastest

40 Gbps

USB4, Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4

80 Gbps

USB4 version 2 and Thunderbolt 5, each way

120 Gbps

Thunderbolt 5 with Bandwidth Boost, one way

In March 2019, Intel gave the Thunderbolt 3 protocol to the USB Promoter Group, and USB4 was built on it. USB4 runs over USB-C and works with Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 5 builds on USB4 version 2. The two families now share a plug and a protocol.

Thunderbolt 4 and Thunderbolt 5

What sets Thunderbolt apart from plain USB4 is a set of minimums every certified computer must meet. Intel lists them side by side:

	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 5
Data, each way	40 Gbps	80 Gbps, or 120 Gbps one way
PCIe	32 Gbps	64 Gbps
Displays	Two 4K	Two 6K
Charging, on at least one port	Up to 100 W	Up to 140 W
Charging, possible	Up to 140 W	Up to 240 W
Connector	USB-C	USB-C

Data

Drives, docks and files, up to 80 Gbps

Picture

Two displays from one port

Power

Charging the laptop on the same cable

The cable decides

A Thunderbolt cable is also a USB-C cable: it works in any USB-C port. The reverse is not true. A charging cable with USB 2.0 data carries power at full rate, and data at USB 2.0 speed, even in a Thunderbolt port.

USB-C Cord A1 is a charging cable: 100 W with USB Power Delivery, and USB 2.0 data at 480 Mbps. In a Thunderbolt port it carries up to 100 W to the laptop. For a dock, a display or a fast drive, use a cable rated for Thunderbolt.

Cords® USB-C Cord A1 in Jet Black: its two USB-C plugs, seen from above — USB-C Cord A1100 W with USB Power DeliveryUSB 2.0 data, 480 MbpsBraided, 1 m or 2 mSee USB-C Cord A1

Cords® Cylindric UX1 in Sand on a desk beside a monitor — Cylindric UX1 in Sand, and USB-C Cord A1 in Jet Black.

A hand holding Cords® USB-C Cord A1 in Jet Black — Cylindric UX1 in Sand, and USB-C Cord A1 in Jet Black.

Charging a Thunderbolt laptop

A Thunderbolt port is a USB-C port, and in the EU a laptop covered by the common charger rules that charges by wire above 15 W must support USB Power Delivery. So a USB-C charger with Power Delivery charges a Thunderbolt laptop through its Thunderbolt port.

Cylindric UX1 gives up to 100 W from one port, with 165 W across four, over USB Power Delivery 3.1. More in How to choose a USB-C charger

Cords® Cylindric UX1 in Sand, front, with its four USB-C ports — Cylindric UX1Up to 100 W from one port165 W across fourUSB Power Delivery 3.1See Cylindric UX1

Questions

Is Thunderbolt the same as USB-C?

No. USB-C is the connector. Thunderbolt is a standard that uses it, from Thunderbolt 3 on. Every Thunderbolt port is a USB-C port; not every USB-C port is Thunderbolt.

Can I plug a USB-C device into a Thunderbolt port?

Yes. A Thunderbolt port takes ordinary USB-C devices and cables, at the speed of the device or cable.

Can I use a Thunderbolt cable as a USB-C cable?

Yes. A Thunderbolt cable works in any USB-C port.

Is Thunderbolt 4 the same as USB4?

They share the protocol and the 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt 4 adds minimums every certified computer must meet: two 4K displays, 32 Gbps for PCIe, and charging up to 100 W on at least one port.