By PURPLELEC | 08 February 2025 | 0 Comments
Thunderbolt 4 vs. USB 4 Hubs and Docks: The New Standard for Connecting and Expanding Computers
Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 hubs and docks represent the latest technological frontier for connecting and expanding computers, replacing Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C hubs and docks while delivering significant advantages while maintaining backward compatibility with older connection standards.
These hubs and docks are especially important on devices that may have limited ports, such as laptops, to add an additional port type to the main computer. In addition, they are the best choice for connecting one or two external displays and enabling Gigabit Ethernet (or faster) wired Internet access. All tested docks and hubs support at least two 4K external displays at 60 Hz, one 8K display (Windows), or one 6K display (Mac).
Both Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 are based on the same USB-C port design that is now increasingly available on PCs, tablets, and smartphones. They offer higher bandwidth and performance than USB-C and Thunderbolt 3. USB-A ports typically have bandwidths between 5 Gbit/s (USB 3.0) and 480 Mbit/s (USB 2.0), but many modern models come with faster 10 Gbit/s USB-A ports. USB-C starts at 5 Gbps, but can reach 20 Gbps at the top end, with 10 Gbps being more common.
Thunderbolt 3 has a bandwidth of 40 Gbps, but some Windows PC manufacturers haven't fully realized all of its benefits. In contrast, Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 require manufacturers to meet all of the technology's benefits in order to be certified, making Thunderbolt 4 more attractive to PC users. Apple users are less likely to notice a significant difference between Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, but Thunderbolt 4 also brings improvements to device networking performance.
For Windows users, many hub and dock manufacturers recommend that their devices be Thunderbolt 4 or USB4 certified, as the older connection standards may not match. Mac users can use older USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 systems, but may still miss out on the advances of Thunderbolt 4. Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 also offer faster 32 Gbps PCIe storage speeds, up to 3,000 Mbps, which is twice the minimum requirement for Thunderbolt 3.
While Thunderbolt 3 computer users may also consider purchasing certified Thunderbolt 4 docks, as these devices are backward compatible with older USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 devices, Windows computer manufacturers do not always follow Thunderbolt 3 guidelines. Therefore, for most TB4 hubs and docks, PC users need a certified Thunderbolt 4 laptop. Apple does a better job of certification.
In summary, Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4 hubs and docks provide a new standard for computer connectivity and expansion. They not only provide higher performance and bandwidth, but also maintain backward compatibility, making them an ideal choice for modern computer users.
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