What is Thunderbolt? A Detailed Comparison of Thunderbolt Generations and USB

Initially appearing on MacBook models, Thunderbolt has since been adopted by Apple and other laptop manufacturers to replace other communication ports. Let’s explore what the Thunderbolt port is and compare the speed between Thunderbolt 3 and its predecessors, Thunderbolt 1 and 2. Follow along!

What is the Thunderbolt Port?

Thunderbolt is a high-speed connection standard developed by Intel, originally codenamed Light Peak, and first appeared on the 2011 MacBook Pro.

Thunderbolt uses a trapezoidal interface similar to the mini DisplayPort, combining PCI Express and DisplayPort into a single serial connection, alongside power charging capabilities.

In summary, with Thunderbolt, you can charge, connect, and transfer data between your computer and other peripherals, all with just one cable.

Features of the Thunderbolt Port

• Faster Speed: It is twice as fast as USB 3.0 and 20 times faster than USB 2.0.
• Intel and Apple Collaboration: Thunderbolt is an Intel-developed technology brought to market in partnership with Apple.
• Bidirectional Data Transfer: Thunderbolt can transfer data simultaneously in both directions, utilizing the full 10Gbps bandwidth in each direction.
• Integrated PCI Express: With PCI Express integrated, Thunderbolt allows peripherals to operate as fast as the built-in devices.
• Power Supply: Thunderbolt provides 10W of power to peripherals, higher than FireWire 800’s 8W and USB 3.0’s 5W.

Types of Thunderbolt Ports Available

Thunderbolt 1

Thunderbolt 1 features four DisplayPort 5.4Gbps channels, with two channels for transmitting data and the other two for receiving data, resulting in a 10Gbps transmit channel and a 10Gbps receive channel.

Thunderbolt 2

Thunderbolt 2 doubles the transfer speed by allowing all four channels to connect in the same direction. Functionally, the first two standards are identical and both use mini DisplayPort (mini DP) connectors.

Thunderbolt 3

Thunderbolt 3 brings even more significant improvements. It doubles the bandwidth compared to its predecessor by increasing the number of available DisplayPort channels and using the PCI Express 3.0 standard. It supports USB 3.1 and uses USB Type-C instead of the mini DisplayPort connector.

As a result, Thunderbolt 3 is compatible with USB 3.1 devices, though it is limited to 10Gbps (1GB/s) - the maximum transfer speed of USB 3.1.

Speed Comparison Between Thunderbolt 1, 2, and 3

Clarifying Some Questions

1. What is the difference between Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C?  

Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C protocol but is not the same as a standard USB-C. You cannot achieve Thunderbolt speeds if plugged into a USB-C port that does not support Thunderbolt 3.

• Exterior Design: Thunderbolt 3 ports will have a lightning bolt symbol next to the USB-C port.
• Features: Thunderbolt 3 supports the aforementioned features. USB-C, however, is a specification for the plug type and can use USB 2.0, 3.0, DisplayPort, etc., so each USB-C port on a device may support different features. However, the read and write speeds will not be as fast as Thunderbolt 3 (except for USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4).

2. How does Thunderbolt 3 compare to USB 3.2?

Overall, Thunderbolt 3 is faster than USB 3.2. However, USB 3.2 accessories are generally more affordable and more accessible than Thunderbolt 3.

3. Which Devices Support Thunderbolt 3?

Thunderbolt 3 is supported on premium, lightweight laptops like the LG Gram, Apple’s MacBook lines, Dell XPS, etc. Additionally, Thunderbolt 3 is available on the 2018 iPad Pro, with the M1 iPad Pro upgrading to Thunderbolt 4.

Thunderbolt is a powerful and versatile connection technology that offers many benefits to users. If you are looking for a high-speed, multifunctional, and stable connection standard, Thunderbolt is definitely a great choice.