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If you're unsure of the differences between USB-C and Thunderbolt or between USB 3.0 and USB 3.2 (or is that USB 3.1?), you're not alone.
But mind you, we've been in a pretty good place the past few years. Not so long ago, we also had to deal with a myriad of other peripheral connection types, like Parallel, Serial, FireWire, eSATA, etc.
This post will help you understand the current state of modern connection standards -- namely USB and Thunderbolt -- so that you can confidently plug one device into another.
The year 2023 is significant for peripheral connection standards. It's when Apple, under years of pressure from the EU, finally decided to forgo the proprietary Lightning connector. The iPhone 15 will be the first to use USB-C.
Additionally, in June, the latest USB 4 V2 standard was released, and Intel also announced Thunderbolt 5 in September.
In getting a peripheral device connected to a host, there are two things to remember: connection type and connection standard. It's impossible to talk about one without mentioning the other. But let's start with the connection type.
Dong's note: I first published this post on November 13, 2019, and updated it on September 14, 2023, with additional up-to-date information.
1. Connection type: How things fit
We generally use a cable to connect a device (like a portable drive) to a host (like a computer). This cable, like all cables, has two ends, which are male connectors or connectors for short.
One end goes into a host, and the other goes into the device. The holes the cable's ends plug into are female ports or ports for short. The configuration of a port determines its type. Each port type has its corresponding connector.
USB-C port type is the new norm
Most modern devices use USB Type-C (or USB-C for short) port type.
In this case, both ends of the connecting cable are the same: USB-C connectors. It's super convenient -- you don't need to figure out which end of the wire goes into the host and which is for the device.
The USB-C port also features reversible plug orientation, meaning you can plug the cable in without worrying about keeping a particular side up.
Moreover, the USB-C port type also works as the power connector for large devices, like a laptop -- the machine won't need a dedicated power port anymore -- and can deliver power both ways. So, for example, when connecting two smartphones using a USB-C cable, you can share data and power between them.
This convenience is available to the latest USB standards and Thunderbolt 3, which also uses the USB-C port type.
There are subsequent Thunderbolt revisions, including Thunderbolt 4, 5, and even more down the road, but Thunderbolt 3 is the most significant regarding connection type, which is USB-C. For this reason, nowadays, the term "Thunderbolt" is automatically understood as Thunderbolt 3 or later.
In other words, when all of our devices support USB-C, which is the way of the future, there's no need to worry about what cable to carry anymore since there's just one type of cable.
Well, almost. For charging, that's true -- virtually any USB-C cable will do, and the charging speed depends on the power source. Unfortunately, things are more complicated regarding data and media purposes. That's because Thunderbolt and USB are not fully compatible. At least not yet.
Port types: Thunderbolt 3 vs USB-C
All Thunderbolt 3 (and subsequent Thunderbolt revisions) ports work as a USB-C-based USB port, but the vice versa is not true. As a result, you can plug a USB portable drive into a Thunderbolt 3 port, and it will work as intended.
However, a Thunderbolt 3-only device, like the Samsung X5 portable drive, will not necessarily work when plugged into a USB-C port, even though its cable fits perfectly. The reason is that Thunderbolt 3 has more requirements than USB 3.2 (and older) standard -- more below.
As for the connecting cable, all Thunderbolt 3 cables work as USB-C ones, but only high-quality USB-C cables can also work for Thunderbolt 3 -- low-quality ones might work but at a slower speed or are unreliable.
For this reason, a Thunderbolt cable tends to come with the Lightning symbol to distinguish itself from a USB counterpart.
And then we still have to deal with other non-USB-C port types, too.
Legacy USB port types
Since billions of existing USB devices are on the market, it's essential to support them. As a result, for the foreseeable future, chances are you'll run into older USB port types.
In this case, the connecting cable has two ends: A and B.
USB Type-A
The end that goes into a host is called a USB Type-A connector.
Before USB-C, this connector and the corresponding port type, the USB-A female port, remained physically the same in all USB standards.
There are two USB Type-A versions (for different USB standards):
- USB Type-A: Used in USB 1.1 to USB 2.0 and supports speeds up to 480 Mbps.
- USB Type-A SuperSpeed: Used in USB 3.x standards -- more below -- and supports speeds up to 10Gbps. It tends to come in blue.
Again, these two types use the same port and work interchangeably (at their respective speeds). In other words, USB Type-A SuperSpeed is backward-compatible with USB Type-A.
In some older computers, for compatibility reasons, a 5Gbps SuperSpeed port might be set to work at USB 2.0 standard by default and needs to be adjusted in the BIOS to deliver higher data rates.
If you start getting confused, well, it'll get much worse.
USB Type-B
This type is the other end of the cable that goes into a device and is where things get very complicated.
There are so many variations of standard USB Type-B. That's not to mention the countless non-standard proprietary Type-B designs, of which the most notorious is the Apple Lighting connector that goes into an iPhone -- from iPhone 5 (2012) to iPhone 14 (2022).
Each variant of Type-B connectors requires a corresponding port of its own. Physically, one variant's connector won't fit into another's port. As a result, each port type requires a distinctive cable.
So, for example, if you have an iPhone and another non-Apple device, you'll have to carry at least two cables.
Following are some, out of many, Type-B standards:
- Standard-B (or Type-B): Used in USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 standards. It suits mostly large devices, like printers or scanners.
- Standard-B SuperSpeed: Available only to USB 3.x devices, this port type also works best for large devices, like a desktop external drive.
- Mini-USB (or Mini-B): Significantly smaller than Type-B, this standard is for old portable devices, such as clamshell phones and first-gen portable drives. It's mostly obsolete now.
- Micro-USB (or Micro-B): Slightly smaller than Mini-USB, this port was once the go-to type for older smartphones and tablets. It's also being phased out.
- Micro-USB SuperSpeed: The thin version of the Standard-B SuperSpeed. It's popular in portable hard drives, like the WD My Passport.
Again, as you can imagine, with so many port types, finding the correct cable for your device can be a pain in the rear, especially in a hurry. This problem is why the USB-C port type mentioned above is such a knight in shining armor.
All USB-C devices can connect to a USB Type-A port via an adapter or a Type-A to Type-C cable. So going USB-C allows you to get the best of both worlds: the out-of-the-box convenience with modern equipment and the compatibility with legacy devices when need be.
Legacy Thunderbolt port type
Even though it is much younger and more "modern" than USB, Thunderbolt once had port issues, too.
That's because, before Thunderbolt 3, the original Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 used the Mini-Display port type. This standard was one made exclusively for MAC with limited usage.
As a result, there aren't many "legacy" Thunderbolt devices, and Thunderbolt 3, which is the first revision of the standard available outside of the Apple ecosystem, generally doesn't support Thunderbolt 2 and Thunderbolt devices. Some can work via an adapter, but they don't work in most cases.
That said, Thunderbolt 3 is the first revision that breaks away from the Thunderbolt norm to merge with USB in terms of connection type via the USB-C port type.
With that, let's move on to the connection standard.
2. Connection standard: How (fast) things connect
The connection standard determines how fast a connection is and what you can use it for.
For example, the USB 2.0 standard, determined by the USB Implementers Forum, allows for a connection speed of up to 480 Mbps, and you can also use it to charge a connected device. On the other hand, even the original Thunderbolt can do data, video, and media signals.
We have two primary connection standards, USB and Thunderbolt.
Peripheral connection: Standard vs Type
A connection standard and a connection type are independent concepts.
The type determines if things fit physically, while the standard specifies whether things will work together and how well.
A Thunderbolt 3 device will fit into a USB 3.2 port -- both use a USB-C port type. However, it will not work since it requires a different standard.
Here's an analogy: A car's gas tank can hold gasoline or diesel -- both materials are of the liquid type -- but only one will work with the engine, which depends on its combustion standard.
USB standards
Due to multiple name changes of the third USB generation, USB standards can be confusing. Currently, there are the following:
- USB4: This USB standard was once called USB 4.0. It's the first USB with built-in display protocols and encompasses Thunderbolt 3. It always uses the USB-C port type. Additionally, it has the best naming convention. USB4 is available in different variants.
- USB4 20Gbps: 20Gbps a speed cap.
- USB4 40Gbps: 40Gbps speed cap.
- Future USB4 v2 variants can deliver up to 80Gbps and more.
- USB 3.2 with three variants:
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×2: Formerly USB 3.2, and is another upcoming USB standard despite the availability of USB4. Cap speed: 20Gbps.
- USB 3.2 Gen 2: Formerly USB 3.1 Gen 2, also called USB 3.1 at one point. This is the mainstream standard. Cap speed: 10Gbps.
- USB 3.2 Gen 1: Formerly USB 3.1 Gen 1, also widely called USB 3.0. This is the most popular USB standard, with almost all existing devices supporting it. Cap speed: 5Gbps.
- USB 2.0: This older standard is still quite popular. Cap speed: 480 Mbps.
- USB 1.1: An ancient standard that's obsolete. Cap speed: 12 Mbps.
To recap, so far, we've had USB 1.1 (obsolete), then USB 2.0 (fading away), then USB 3.2 (mainstream), then USB4 (latest). USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps) is almost always called USB 3.0. Forget about USB 3.1, and you'll be less confused.
Now, remember that USB 3.2 doesn't exist just by itself but in one of three variations, including Gen 1, Gen 2, and Gen 2x2. (Gen = Generation.)
Note that the cap speeds mentioned above are theoretical -- real-world sustained USB speeds are generally about two-thirds at best. USB has crazy overheads, and the real-world sustained rates depend on the application. That's partly because the USB cable has relatively loose requirements.
Via special software or driver, USB 3.2 and older can also deliver sound and video signals but only at certain quality levels, much less than Thunderbolt.
USB can also deliver power to a connected device. For this reason, most, if not all, portable drives don't require a separate power adapter; they draw juice from the host.
Thunderbolt standards
Relatively young, Thunderbolt has been through four main revisions. Thunderbolt 4 was first announced in July 2020, with devices supporting it being available starting in late 2021.
That said, here is the state of Thunderbolt:
- Original Thunderbolt: This standard uses the Mini DisplayPort port type and has a cap speed of 10Gbps.
- Thunderbolt 2: It also uses Mini DisplayPort and has a cap speed of 20Gbps.
- Thunderbolt 3: Uses USB-C port type. Cap speed: 40 Gbps.
- Thunderbolt 4: Largely the same as Thunderbolt 3 with some minor improvements. Going forward, newer revisions (TB5, etc.) will also use USB-C port type but with higher bandwidth.
Thunderbolt can do much more than the original USB from the get-go. It can deliver ultra-Hi-Def video/audio signals with high-speed data signals and is a high-wattage power delivery. You can also daisy-chain up to 7 devices together without signal degradation.
| Data Transfer Speeds | Cable Length | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passive Thunderbolt Cable (regular wires) | 40Gbps (and faster) or 20Gbps | Under 2.6ft (0.8m) or over 0.8m | plug-n-play |
| Active Thunderbolt Cable (with an integrated electronic chip) | 40Gbps and faster | up to 6.6ft (2m) | Draws extra power from the host |
You can expect the sustained real-world speeds of Thunderbolt to be near 90% of the specs -- it's much more efficient and reliable than USB. However, again, things depend on the particular application and the cable type/length.
USB vs Thunderbolt
Over the years, these two standards have started to merge by sharing many similarities and overlaps in performance and features.
At launch, a Thunderbolt 3 port also works as USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps). Slowly, the USB standard can replace Thunderbolt in most cases. However, USB is generally one step behind Thunderbolt in performance and features.
Specifically, USB 4 encompasses Thunderbolt 3, and USB 4 V2 is like Thunderbolt 4, etc. Most importantly, USB still has fewer and less stringent requirements than Thunderbolt. Consequently, it delivers slower sustained speeds and is considered less reliable. But it's cheaper to implement.
Most general consumers won't notice the difference between USB and Thunderbolt, but professional users will likely benefit more from the latter.
In September 2023, Intel released the specs for Thunderbolt 5, which encompasses the latest USB 4 V2 specifications. The new standards have a ceiling speed of up to 80Gbps, which can be boosted to 120Gbps. You can start to expect to see Thunderbolt 5 devices in 2024.
The table below shows the brief history of these two popular peripheral standards.
| Official Name | Year Released | Port Type at Host | Port Type at device | Compatibility (backward) | Ceiling Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB 1.1 | 1998 | Type-A | Type-B | None | 12 Mbps |
| USB 2.0 | 2000 | Type-A | Type-B, USB-C, proprietary | USB 1.1 | 480 Mbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 (formerly USB 3.0 or USB 3.1 Gen 1) | 2008 | Type-A, USB-C | Type-B, USB-C, proprietary | USB 2.0, USB 1.1 | 5 Gbps |
| Thunderbolt | 2011 | Mini DisplayPort | Mini DisplayPort | None | 10 Gbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 (formerly USB 3.1 or USB 3.1 Gen 2) | 2013 | Type-A, USB-C | Type-B, USB-C | USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB 2.0, USB 1.1 | 10 Gbps |
| Thunderbolt 2 | 2013 | Mini DisplayPort | Mini DisplayPort | Thunderbolt | 20 Gbps |
| Thunderbolt 3 | 2015 | USB-C | USB-C | USB-C devices | 40 Gbps |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (formerly USB 3.2) | 2019 | USB-C | USB-C | USB 3.2 Gen 1/2 USB 2.0, USB 1.1 | 20 Gbps |
| USB4 20Gbps (formerly USB 4.0) | 2019 | USB-C | USB-C | Thunderbolt 3 USB-C devices | 20 Gbps |
| USB4 40Gbps (formerly USB 4.0) | 2019 | USB-C | USB-C | Thunderbolt 3 USB-C devices | 40 Gbps |
| Thunderbolt 4 | 2020 | USB-C | USB-C | Thunderbolt 3 USB-C devices | 40 Gbps |
| Thunderbolt 5/USB4 V2 | 2023 | USB-C | USB-C | Thunderbolt 3 Thunderbolt 4 USB-C devices | 80Gbps/120Gbps |
The takeaway
With many capabilities, the Thunderbolt's initial intention is to replace all other wired peripheral connections, including HDMI, DisplayPort, and even USB. But USB has held its ground thanks to its affordability and ease of use.
Slowly, the two peripheral standards have become one in most real-world applications. And that makes sense since they share the same USB-C connection type.
Eventually, from the consumers' perspective, there will be no difference between these two. And as a result, the USB-C port type is the only thing you need to care about. As for which cable to carry on the go, get passive Thunderbolt (3 or later) for best performance and compatibility, but any with USB-C will do in getting your devices charged.
And that's a good thing.
First of all, I read you constantly and apppreciate the way you make the information easier to understand. Do you have anything (or did i miss it) on the different capabilities of the USB-C cables themselves. I run into issues where a cable doesn’t work with one device (or power supply) while it may work on another. Am i having spradic issues with a bad cable or two or is there actually a difference in what I use to charge devices? Thank you…
If the cable doesn’t charge consistently, it’s generally bad cable, George. There are a lot of bad USB cables out there since, as mentioned, the standard is less stringent. A good USB-C cable should work with anything USB-C-related. One thing to note is that when a cable is plugged in, don’t make other end wet, that will render the cable bad if not useless.
This is such an informative and timely post! The world of peripheral connection standards can indeed be a confusing maze, but your breakdown of USB-C and Thunderbolt, as well as the evolution of USB standards, is a welcome guide for anyone trying to make sense of it all.
👍
Wow. Amazing article. I have wasted days of my life on the internet trying to find a laptop that would support fast video editing on my sandisk extreme pro ssd’s I purchased. I believe you have already answered this, but please humor me with an answer and I will buy you a coffee.
If I purchased a laptop such as the Razer Blade 15 with thunderbolt 4 ports, would this take advantage of the advertised 20Gb/s of the Sandisk Extreme pro with it’s included cable, or is that only thunderbolt 3?
Thankyou sir!!
Read the post again, and keep your coffee, Adam, or shove it. And you’re welcome!
Okay, so if I have a device (Raid Storage Unit) that says Thunderbolt 3 for the main connection type and I have a Windows 11 computer with a USB-C port that is USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (20Gbps) can I assume that it will now work at the higher speed (with the understanding of overhead speed issues mentioned in the article)?
No, Joel, physically, they will fit, but in terms of “working,” it’s the other way around. A USB-C device (port type) will work with a TB 3 port (connection type — because TB 3 includes USB 3.2), but the other way around depends. Your device will not work with that port unless the device also supports USB 3.2 or the port on your laptop is USB 4. The “Compatibility” colume of this table will explain what works (is compatible) with what.
Thanks!!!
Sure, Joel! 🙂
I just found out that my new PC is going to have a USB 3.2 2×2 Type “C” port and I have been looking for a 4, 5, or 6 bay raid storage device using this higher speed connection. So far, I cannot find one.
Also, I want to thank you for being so kind and generous with your help answering questions and providing a source of reliable information!
Sure, Joel. Unless you have SSDs, your RAID storage device will likely caps at 5Gbps anyway. USB 3.2 2×2 can do 20Gbps — you’ll get over 10Gbps after overhead.
You know your stuff. Thank you. I buy various connections including Ethernet, hdmi and usbc into via lightning cable amongst others. I just hark at the amount I spend in order to use the ever changing technology. One day I hope to see less competition amongst these commercial giants. Meantime, until you have your ideas taken up on a large scale, you might produce, promote and sell a variety of connections. Seriously. You might be surprised at the amount of people who don’t use hardware due to being unaware of solutions. I’d rather rewards went to a technically aware individual whom I admire for freely disseminating well researched knowledge. Thank you again. L
Sure, Lynda. I feel you. 🙂
I have a macbook pro 16 inch 2019. There is 4 thunderbolt 3 ports.
I want to run vms from a external drive. I’m debating if I would get the maximum performance from a Sandisk Portable SSD Extreme PRO (as pictured in the article) or if i’m better with a Thunderbolt 3 ssd case and a normal nvme ssd in it ( WD black 750).
Should i get the same performance from a USB 3.2 gen 2×2 than from a thunderbolt.
TB is ALWAYS better in performance, Samuel.
It seems that Thunderbolt 3 doesn’t support USB 3.2 gen 2×2. It only supports USB 3.2 gen 2, which is one lane at 10Gbps.
That’s correct, Peter. USB 3.2 gen 2×2 came out much later than TB3.
Hi Dong
I’d never heard of TB until buying a new Dell laptop and didn’t realise Type-C was so good (I’ve got it on my Samsung phone)
So for me this was a brilliantly helpful article!
Many thanks
Sure, Scott. 🙂
Dong,
I have a laptop that has TB3 can I attach a TB4 hub in it. It looks like it wouldn’t work, but TB4 says it’s compatible with TB3?
It should work, Frank, unless your TB3 port doesn’t have the requirements of the TB4 hub (such as the power output) *and* the hub doesn’t have a compatibility mode. This is where TB has become convoluted, as I mentioned in the post.
Great stuff, Dong.
But it isn’t all about data rate, it’s also about charging rate. I’m on my third (and apparently last) LG vXX phone, the v60. It supports Qualcomm’s proprietary QC 3 which will take a charge rate of as high as 2.5 A as verified by the excellent AccuBattery app. I also use a Uni-T USB charge tester for a sanity check which is a great, cheap device and with it I can see what other devices without the QC pull, and it’s typically <1.0A (depending on the age of the device.
I agreed, Chuck. Totally. And that’s where TB is problematic because the cable itself requires power for itself — it is a device — it’s quite hard to factor it in. That said, USB is a much better alternative, up to USB 3.2.
Small thing, but this new version still says “USB 3.2 Gen 2×2: Formerly USB 3.2, and is the upcoming USB standard. Cap speed: 20Gbps.”
That’s because it is still an upcoming standard, Jon. Most computers don’t even have it yet. 🙂 But nice catch, nonetheless. I rewrote that part for better clarity.
A quick question: I am planning on getting a new laptop as soon as Windows 11 comes preinstalled. Is it important to get Thunderbolt 4 as opposed to 3? What are the advantages of 4 over 3?
Thanks
Reuven
As I mentioned in the post, Reuven, the two are pretty much the same. It doesn’t hurt to get TB4, but you might have to pay extra for it without much in return. I wouldn’t bother, especially when you’re using Windows.
I realize this article was written 2 years ago, but I still wanted to say THANKS! It was helpful and written in a way which was easy to understand. Thank you for knowing there are plenty of us out here who are NOT tech savvy and appreciate you ‘dummying it down’ for us.
You’re welcome, Jane. Glad you found it. By the way, I decided to update it just now in your honor. 🙂
I know you know this, but just as a reminder since it wasn’t mentioned in the article: USB4 is coming!! With 10, 20, and 40 gbps speeds. USB4 will be type C only, and some manufacturers may (or may not) include thunderbolt 3 into their USB4 solutions. Also, thunderbolt 3 has seen a tepid adoption in the industry in part because intel was charging a royalty for the technology. But intel has changed its mind and donated thunderbolt 3 to the USB-IF for implementation in USB4.
Thanks for the input, JJ. I’m aware of that but I’ll believe it when it happens. 🙂