How Apple’s Thunderbolt ports are different from USB-C
Not all USB-C ports are Thunderbolt and features can vary wildly.
If you’re wondering if Thunderbolt is the same as USB-C, the simple answer is “not exactly.” USB-C is not a standard or charging speed; it simply describes the shape of the port and connector. Thunderbolt is a standard that uses the USB-C connector for its modern iterations. So on a modern Mac, every Thunderbolt port is USB-C, but not every USB-C port supports Thunderbolt. (Older versions of Thunderbolt used the now obsolete Mini DisplayPort.)
Think of USB-C as a door. On a modern Mac, each door looks the same, but what’s behind each one can be very different. On a MacBook Neo, for example, there are two doors. One of them is a narrow path with enough space for just one person at a time: it’s its USB 2 port, which reaches 480 Mbps. Behind the other gate is a road with enough space for cars to pass. This is its 10Gbps USB 3 port, which can also power a display. Either can be used for loading.
However, open the door of the MacBook Pro M4 Pro and you will see a highway where all the trucks, buses and cars pass. It’s Thunderbolt 5, and it hits a blazing 120Gbps when data is moving in one direction.
A door of the same appearance can hide very different routes. Speed aside, other differences, including external monitor support, compatibility, and cost, set Thunderbolt apart from regular USB-C ports.
What makes Mac Thunderbolt ports different from USB-C
The main difference between Thunderbolt ports and regular USB-C is speed. Standard USB-C ports support speeds ranging from 480 Mbps over USB 2 to 80 Gbps over USB4 version 2.0. On the other hand, Thunderbolt 4 and 5 reach 40 Gbps and 80 Gbps respectively (up to 120 Gbps one way).
On paper, this puts USB4 version 2.0 on par with Thunderbolt 5. The difference is that manufacturers can choose to run USB4 as slow as 20 Gbps, while each Thunderbolt 5 port must support 80 Gbps. To put that difference into perspective: on the MacBook Neo’s USB 3 port, it will take about seven minutes to move a 500GB file. Thunderbolt 5 on the MacBook Pro M5 Max will do it in less than a minute. This speed also allows Thunderbolt 5 ports to support up to three 4K monitors on a single port.
Another difference is the guaranteed features. For different non-Thunderbolt USB generations, it can be difficult to know exactly what a USB-C port supports, especially since features like speed tiers, DisplayPort Alt Mode, and power delivery are optional to include. So you might have two USB 3 ports, but only one port supports video output. Then there’s USB’s confusing naming scheme: USB 3, for example, can indicate speeds ranging from 5 Gbps to 20 Gbps depending on the exact “USB 3” implemented. This isn’t a problem with Thunderbolt because each port must support a defined and mandatory list of features, including fast data speeds, displays, and charging on newer versions.
Thunderbolt ports and cables cost more than USB-C. Thunderbolt is a standard co-developed by Intel and Apple, not the USB Implementers Forum. And manufacturers must put ports and cables through a rigorous testing process to become Intel certified and officially use the Thunderbolt name and logo. This cost is passed on to buyers.
Mac Thunderbolt and USB-C compatibility
Photo by teacher/Shutterstock
Thunderbolt standards use the USB-C connector and you can plug almost any USB-C device into a USB-C port. But how it works depends on the port, cable, and device you plug in. For example, if you plug a standard USB-C drive into a Mac’s Thunderbolt port, it will work fine and simply run at the speed of the drive.
The reverse is a little trickier. For example, if you plug an external Thunderbolt SSD only into a MacBook Neo, it won’t work. Fortunately, newer accessories can usually revert to slower USB speeds to improve compatibility. The cable you use also matters. Use a Thunderbolt cable and you’ll have no problem with a regular USB-C port or connected device. Use a regular USB-C cable with a Thunderbolt device and it will limit the speed to the cable’s standards.
On MacBooks, Apple doesn’t label the ports, so it can be difficult to know which is which. The best way to check is to use Apple’s Tech Specs page: copy your Mac model name from About this Mac under the Apple menu, then paste it into the search bar on Apple’s site and click on your Mac’s specifications page. Search for “Thunderbolt” or “USB” to see what your machine has.
Thunderbolt offers higher speeds and guaranteed features, but that doesn’t mean USB-C is bad. If you don’t need the benefits of Thunderbolt, a standard USB-C port works great for charging and file transfers.
