Thunderbolt 4 vs 5: Speed, Power & Features Compared

You've probably noticed the “Thunderbolt 4 vs 5” debate popping up in spec sheets and launch events. If you rely on fast file transfers, multiple 4K monitors, or a single-cable laptop dock, that label isn't just marketing fluff—it decides how smoothly your day runs.

Thunderbolt 4 already feels quick, but Thunderbolt 5 promises even more bandwidth, smarter power delivery, and headroom for tomorrow's gear. In the next few minutes, you'll see exactly what each version brings to the table and where an upgrade could save you frustration later.

What Is Thunderbolt 4?

Thunderbolt 4, introduced by Intel in 2020, is a versatile connectivity standard you'll find on most premium laptops and docks today—and for good reason. It uses the USB-C connector you already know but guarantees a lot more under the hood.

Every certified Thunderbolt 4 port delivers 40 Gbps of bandwidth, supports dual 4K-60 Hz displays or one 8K monitor, and offers at least 32 Gbps of PCIe throughput. That's a big deal if you're using external SSDs, high-res monitors, or an external GPU.

You can run a 2-meter cable without losing speed, daisy-chain up to six devices, and expect solid performance every time. It also improves security with DMA protection (Intel VT-d), which helps block malicious devices from accessing your system memory.

Power-wise, it supports up to 100W charging for laptops and delivers at least 15W to accessories like portable drives or capture cards. And with support for features like wake-from-sleep on docked setups, Thunderbolt 4 makes life easier whether you're working from home or the office.

What Is Thunderbolt 5?

Officially unveiled by Intel in 2023, Thunderbolt 5 takes everything you just read and floors the accelerator. It keeps the USB-C connector, but behind the scenes, things get a serious upgrade. You now get 80 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth, and with something called Bandwidth Boost, it can dynamically shift up to 120 Gbps toward displays when needed.

Display-hungry workflows see the biggest payoff: Thunderbolt 5 can drive three 4K panels at 144 Hz, two 6K screens, or a pair of 8K monitors through DisplayPort 2.1 alt-mode, all from one port. It's built for creators, gamers, and power users who demand serious screen real estate and performance.

Charging also gets a bump. With USB PD 3.1 Extended Power Range, Thunderbolt 5 can push up to 240W of power—plenty for charging powerful workstations or gaming laptops through a single cable. Certified passive cables now stretch up to 3 meters without compromising speed, which gives you more flexibility for desk setups or production environments.

Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5: What's the Difference?

Thunderbolt 5 doesn't just edge past Thunderbolt 4—it leaps over it in raw speed, display horsepower, and charging headroom while keeping the same USB-C plug you already use.

Below you'll see exactly where the specs diverge, why they matter in daily work, and when you'll actually feel the upgrade.

Bandwidth & “Bandwidth Boost”

• Thunderbolt 4 locks every certified port at 40 Gbps bidirectional, which is more than enough for most current peripherals like external SSDs, docking stations, and dual-monitor setups.
• Thunderbolt 5 doubles that ceiling to 80 Gbps, and when your system needs more video headroom it can swing into Bandwidth Boost mode for up to 120 Gbps transmit while still accepting 40 Gbps back the other way.
• In practice, that extra headroom means faster NVMe RAID performance and smoother 8K workflows without stutter.

Display Muscle

• Thunderbolt 4 guarantees two 4K @ 60 Hz or one 8K @ 60 Hz—great for most desk setups today.
• Thunderbolt 5 taps DisplayPort 2.1 to drive three 4K panels at 144 Hz, two 6K displays, or dual 8K monitors from a single port—plus niche options like one 4K at up to 540 Hz for esports rigs.

PCIe & Data Throughput

When it comes to data-heavy tasks like video editing or working with large 3D models, throughput matters.

• Thunderbolt 4 carries 32 Gbps of PCIe 3.0—enough for an external SSD but limited for high-end GPUs.
• Thunderbolt 5 bumps that to 64 Gbps of PCIe 4.0, doubling lane bandwidth for external GPUs, AI accelerators, and multi-disk enclosures.

Power Delivery

• The spec for Thunderbolt 4 tops out at 100W charging (with a required 15W for bus-powered gear).
• Thunderbolt 5 adopts USB-PD 3.1 “Extended Power Range,” scaling up to 240W and making one-cable charging realistic even for 17-inch workstations or gaming laptops.

Cable Length & Simplicity

• Passive Thunderbolt 4/USB4 cables run full speed out to 2 m; beyond that you need active cables.
• Passive Thunderbolt 5 copper can stretch to 3 m at 80 Gbps—handy for routing across a sit-stand desk or production bench without buying pricey optical leads.

Security & Certification

Intel's VT-d DMA protection—first mandatory in Thunderbolt 4—carries straight into Thunderbolt 5, so hot-plugging in public doesn't expose system memory to a malicious dock. Both generations also require full Intel/USB-IF certification, meaning you can trust the lightning-bolt logo to behave as advertised.

Backward Compatibility

In terms of compatibility, Thunderbolt 5 still plays nice with all your existing Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB4, or plain USB-C devices, automatically running each at its best-possible speed. It just delivers more when you pair it with newer, Thunderbolt 5-certified gear.

Quick Side-by-Side Recap

Feature	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 5
Maximum Bandwidth	40 Gbps (bidirectional)	80 Gbps (bidirectional), up to 120 Gbps transmit with Bandwidth Boost
Display Support	Two 4K @ 60 Hz, one 8K @ 60 Hz	Three 4K @ 144 Hz, two 6K, or two 8K @ 60 Hz
PCIe Throughput	32 Gbps (PCIe 3.0 x4)	64 Gbps (PCIe 4.0 x4)
Power Delivery	Up to 100W charging (15W minimum for accessories)	Up to 240W charging (140W minimum for host)
Passive Cable Length	Up to 2 meters at full speed	Up to 3 meters at full speed
Security	Intel VT-d DMA protection (required)	Intel VT-d DMA protection (required)
Compatibility	Fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3, USB4, and USB-C devices	Fully compatible with TB3, TB4, USB4, and USB-C devices

Is It Time to Upgrade?

Thunderbolt 5 clearly brings major improvements, but that doesn't mean everyone needs to upgrade right away. If your current setup works well, Thunderbolt 4 still holds up strong. That said, Thunderbolt 5 opens the door for serious gains, especially if you're planning to future-proof your gear or push the limits of external performance.

Here's a quick guide to help you decide:

Upgrade to Thunderbolt 5 if...

• You use multiple high-resolution monitors: You want to run three 4K displays at high refresh rates, or push dual 6K/8K setups from a single port without lag or limitations.
• You work with massive files or fast external drives: You're a video editor, 3D artist, or data-heavy pro moving large files across external NVMe drives and need faster PCIe and USB speeds.
• You want more charging power through one cable: You use a high-performance laptop and want to charge it up to 240W without carrying a bulky power brick.
• You're building a future-ready workstation: You want ports that won't feel outdated in a year or two, and you're investing in top-end peripherals, external GPUs, or Thunderbolt docking stations that benefit from the extra bandwidth.

If you've decided that Thunderbolt 5 really is worth the jump, one of the first—and most complete—solutions is the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station (14-in-1, 8K, Thunderbolt 5).

It slips neatly under a laptop stand or beside a Mac mini–sized desktop, yet folds fourteen ports and a full power supply into a single block, so one cable tidies up the entire workspace.

What makes the dock stand out is the integrated 232W GaN power supply. Because the power brick lives inside the chassis, you lose the chunky adapter that usually sprawls across the floor. Out of that total budget, the upstream Thunderbolt 5 port can fast-charge a notebook at up to 140W (USB-PD 3.1), leaving plenty in reserve for phones, tablets, or bus-powered drives.

Everyday I/O hasn't been forgotten: two 10 Gbps USB-C, three 10 Gbps USB-A, 2.5 Gb Ethernet, SD and micro-SD slots, and a 3.5 mm audio jack round out the sides, covering storage, networking, and legacy peripherals without extra dongles.

Stick with Thunderbolt 4 if...

• You mainly browse, stream, and do light productivity: For emails, spreadsheets, and occasional media consumption, Thunderbolt 4 is already more than fast enough.
• You use a standard dual-monitor setup: If you're running two 1080p or 4K displays at 60 Hz, you won't see much gain from Thunderbolt 5.
• Your accessories and dock are all Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C: Upgrading won't magically make them faster; they'll still run at their original speeds, even if plugged into a Thunderbolt 5 port.
• You're not ready to upgrade your laptop or dock: Thunderbolt 5 devices are just starting to roll out, and you'll only see the full benefits if both ends—your host and accessories—support the new standard.

Conclusion

After weighing Thunderbolt 4 vs 5, the takeaway is simple: stick with Thunderbolt 4 if your current workflow rarely maxes out 40 Gbps, or you value broad compatibility above all else. But if you move giant media files, juggle high-refresh-rate 4K displays, or just want a port that won't feel old in two years, Thunderbolt 5 is the smarter splurge. Either way, you now have a clear roadmap—match the port to the way you work, and your setup will keep pace with everything you plug in next.

FAQs

What is the difference between Thunderbolt 5 and 4?

The main difference is performance. Thunderbolt 5 supports up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth with a peak of 120 Gbps using Bandwidth Boost, while Thunderbolt 4 is capped at 40 Gbps. Thunderbolt 5 also offers higher PCIe throughput, better display support, and increased power delivery, ideal for high-performance setups.

Can I use Thunderbolt 5 on Thunderbolt 4?

Yes, Thunderbolt 5 is backward compatible with Thunderbolt 4. You can use a Thunderbolt 5 device or accessory with a Thunderbolt 4 port, but you'll be limited to Thunderbolt 4 speeds and features. To access the full performance of Thunderbolt 5, both your device and accessories must support it.

Is Thunderbolt 5 the same as USB-C?

No. USB-C refers to the physical connector used across various technologies, including USB and Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 5 is a specific technology developed by Intel that utilizes the USB-C connector but offers significantly higher performance. It supports data transfer speeds up to 80 Gbps, enables dual 8K or single 16K display output, and provides up to 240W of power delivery. In contrast, standard USB-C ports' capabilities vary depending on the USB version they support (e.g., USB 3.2, USB4).

Can I plug a USB-C into Thunderbolt 4?

Yes, you can plug a USB-C device into a Thunderbolt 4 port, and it will work. Thunderbolt 4 supports USB4 and USB-C devices, but performance will depend on the specs of the connected accessory. You won't get Thunderbolt speeds or features unless both ends support it.