The differences between Thunderbolt 5 and USB-C are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Technical background and standards
Thunderbolt 5: Intel’s latest fifth-generation Thunderbolt interface, designed to provide a faster, stronger, and more extreme connection experience. Thunderbolt technology was originally developed by Intel in partnership with Apple and has gone through multiple iterations since its launch in 2011. Thunderbolt 5 has significantly improved performance and is the latest achievement of Thunderbolt technology.
USB-C: It is a type of USB interface, also known as USB Type-C. It is a new interface standard launched by the USB Standardization Organization (USB-IF) in 2014. It aims to replace traditional USB interfaces (such as USB-A, USB-B, etc.) and provide higher transmission speed and greater power transmission. capabilities and greater device compatibility.
2. Performance differences
Data transmission speed: Thunderbolt 5’s two-way bandwidth is twice that of Thunderbolt 4, reaching 80Gbps, and can support video bandwidth up to 120Gbps through the bandwidth enhancement function (Bandwidth Boost). In contrast, the data transfer speed of USB-C depends on the protocol version it runs, such as USB 3.1, USB 3.2 or USB4, etc., and can theoretically be up to 40Gbps (under the USB4 protocol).
Display support: Thunderbolt 5 can support multiple 8K or three 4K@144Hz displays, while USB-C (under the USB4 protocol) can also support high-resolution displays, but specific support may vary depending on the device and protocol version.
Power transmission: Thunderbolt 5 supports PD3.1 and has a charging power of up to 240W, which is significantly higher than Thunderbolt 4’s 100W. The USB-C interface also supports power transmission, but the specific power depends on the device and protocol version.
3. Compatibility and Application
Compatibility: Thunderbolt 5 supports industry standards including USB4 V2 and is fully compatible with previous generation Thunderbolt and previous versions of USB. The USB-C interface is widely used in various devices due to its wide compatibility, including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc.
Application scenarios: Due to its excellent performance and compatibility, Thunderbolt 5 is particularly suitable for professional application scenarios that require high-speed data transmission, high-resolution display and high-power charging, such as video creation, game entertainment, high-performance computing, etc. The USB-C interface is more common in daily use because of its convenience and versatility.
4. Physical form and identification
Physical form: Thunderbolt 5 and USB-C are very similar in physical form. Both use 24-pin connectors with reversible insertion methods. However, Thunderbolt ports and cables are usually identified by a small lightning bolt symbol to distinguish them from regular USB-C ports.
Logo: Thunderbolt 5 cables may be marked with "5" to indicate their version information, while USB-C is usually marked with the USB symbol or the logo of the relevant protocol version.
To sum up, there are significant differences between Thunderbolt 5 and USB-C in terms of technical background, performance, compatibility and physical form. The choice of interface depends on specific application requirements and device compatibility.
