By PURPLELEC | 07 May 2025 | 0 Comments
Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, and USB 4.0 explained
Purplelec have docking and hub solutions in our portfolio that support Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB 4 alike. This article is aimed at helping you to better understand the differences between these solutions.
COMPARING THE DIFFERENT THUNDERBOLT SPECIFICATIONS
| Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 3 | |
| Port | Type-C | Type-C |
| Max transfer rate | 40Gbps | 40Gbps |
| Min video support | Dual 4K | Dual 4K |
| Data transfer requirement | PCIe 32 Gbps USB3 – 10Gbps | PCIe 16 Gbps USB3 – 10Gbps |
| Charging capability requirement | 100W min 140W max | 100W |
| Min PC port power for accessories | 15W | 15W |
| Thunderbolt Networking | 32 Gbps | 10 Gbps |
THUNDERBOLT CONNECTIVITY OPTIONS
Thunderbolt offers the most versatile connectivity options at the fastest transfer rates. It utilizes USB Type-C ports for best compatibility and Thunderbolt 4 is downwards compatible to Thunderbolt 3 and even USB 4 and lower. It is not compatible to Thunderbolt 2 and original Thunderbolt. Another feature is that you can connect any USB devices to it.
WILL THUNDERBOLT CHARGE MY DEVICE?
Yes, typically Thunderbolt 3 and 4 docks will charge your devices, but it is not that simple unfortunately. Depending on the device, it will need a certain amount of power to charge and perform at its full potential at the same time. While Purplelec’s DS018R, TB036 DP and TB020 do offer 85W for the first two models and 96W for the latter, there are high performance laptops out there with an even higher demand. Thunderbolt 3 and 4 limits won’t be able to cover this. In the future, with Thunderbolt 5, we will see charging capabilities of up to 240W. This means, that depending on your device, you might need to plug in the power brick of your device additionally when using a Thunderbolt 3 or Thunderbolt 4 dock.
COMPARING USB SPECIFICATIONS
| USB 4 | USB 3.2 | USB 3.1 | USB 3.0 | |
| Port | Type-C | Type-C | Type-C | Type-C / Type-A |
| Max transfer rate | 40Gbps | 20Gbps | 10Gbps | 5Gbps |
| Also referred to as | Gen 3x2 Version 1.0 | 3.2 Gen 2x2 | 3.1 Gen2 / 3.2 Gen2 | 3.1 Gen1 / 3.2 Gen1 |
| Min video support | 1 Monitor | 1 Monitor | 1 Monitor | 1 Monitor |
| Charging capability requirement | 100W min 140W max | 100W | - | - |
| Min PC port power for accessories | 15W | 7.5W | 7.5W | 4.5W |
| Compatibility | Thunderbolt 3 | USB | USB | USB |
USB 4 derived from Thunderbolt 3. In theory Thunderbolt 3 devices should work when connecting to USB 4 devices and it should not matter if you are using a USB 4 or Thunderbolt 3 compliant cable. There is always the possibility that devices may not work.
DOES THE CABLE MATTER?
Yes! There are multiple cable variants available. For connecting docks with your computer, it is important to use the cable that is supplied with the dock. If you should need a longer cable, you must pay close attention to the one you purchase. If you can, use a cable that is either Thunderbolt 4 certified or a high quality USB 4 cable that supports 100W of charging at the same time. You can always use a Thunderbolt 4 certified cable for USB 4 and lower equipped devices.
WHICH DOCK SHOULD I CHOOSE?
Choosing the right dock for your specific use case is essential. First and foremost, you should check what you want to connect and which type of port your computer or laptop has. If you have a Thunderbolt 4 compatible computer or laptop. Your best choice is the TB020. Too hook up a monitor straight to your dock, you will need to convert one of the Thunderbolt 4 ports to the input that your monitor offers. Should your computer or laptop have a Thunderbolt 3 port only, you can choose the DS018R or TB020 DisplayPort model. Either of these have HDMI or DisplayPort connectivity included and you can connect to monitors directly from the Dock without the need for any Type-C to HDMI or Type-C to DisplayPort adapters. The Docks are compatible to devices that have Thunderbolt connectivity, and it does not matter if it is an Apple Mac or a Windows laptop or PC.
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