Thunderbolt 3 the same as usb c

SAN DIEGO- (July 24, 2017) No matter how tech savvy you are, there is one thing that makes everyone scratch their head...the difference between Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C. Thunderbolt has evolved over the years (Thunderbolt, Thunderbolt 2, and Thunderbolt 3). The newest version- Thunderbolt 3- has now integrated USB-C in order to provide consumers with a universal port, making Thunderbolt 3 the internal capability and USB-C the shape of the port . Because of this upgrade, many are confused about the difference between the two. Let's take a look at the capabilities each in order to grasp a clear understanding of the differences between the two.

 Thunderbolt 3

Thunderbolt 3 travels at 40Gbps, making it twice as fast as Thunderbolt 2 for data connection. Thunderbolt 3's swift connection between a laptop or desktop monitor and an external graphics card allows for enhanced performance in activities such as gaming, with little to no delay. It also provides a boost in signal reception and high definition quality when interacting with Virtual Reality headsets for optimal performance. 

Thunderbolt 3 can present video content on two 4K displays or one 5K display at 60Hz for a heightened visual experience. Not only does it allow data transfer, video and audio output- it can charge devices and give power from any port!

 USB-C

There are many USB types and versions. USB types refer to the shape and design of the cable and port. USB versions refer to their capabilities (such as speed/ power) and cable compatibility. The types and versions have evolved over the years like that of Thunderbolt. USB types include USB Type-A, USB Type-B, and now USB Type-C (USB-C). USB versions include USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0., USB 3.1 Gen 1, and USB 3.1 Gen 2. 

USB-C ports are used by almost all devices that support USB 3.1, some deliver power outputs of 100 watts at 20 volts and speeds of 10Gbps. USB-C provides unique charging capabilities. The power output allows larger devices to be charged as well as your everyday smartphone- eliminating excess charging wires.

  Differences

Thunderbolt 3 has the capabilities of USB-C, but USB-C does not have the capabilities of Thunderbolt 3. The Thunderbolt 3 port has the same design as the USB-C port. However, if you were to connect a Thunderbolt 3 cable to a USB-C port you would have restrictions on capabilities.

Thunderbolt 3 has greater performance when it comes to speed and video display. It's speed allows for quicker access more data when compared to USB-C. Thunderbolt 3 works at 40Gbps while USB-C works at 10 Gbps. Thunderbolt 3 can present video content on two 4K displays or one 5k display while USB-C can present one 4K display. 

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• Thunderbolt 3 has adopted the USB-C format, so all Thunderbolt 3 ports are able to use ordinary USB-C cables.
• Thunderbolt 3 has higher performance requirements than USB-C, so not all USB-C cables are of sufficiently high quality to work at Thunderbolt speeds. 
• USB-C does a lot of things other than Thunderbolt 3, including high-wattage charging using the Power Delivery (PD) standard.
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Thunderbolt is a connectivity standard that can transfer large amounts of power and data.

While older versions of Thunderbolt used the Mini DisplayPort connector, the latest version – Thunderbolt 3 – uses a USB-C-style connector.

So while all Thunderbolt 3 cables and ports use USB-C, not all USB-C connections are also Thunderbolt 3. 

What you need to know about Thunderbolt connectivity

Because the USB-C connection is proving to be very popular, the latest version of the connectivity specification called Thunderbolt has formally adopted USB-C as its physical hardware. That means you can use any Thunderbolt 3 cable as a USB-C cable, and any Thunderbolt 3 port can use a USB-C cable. 

But USB-C cables vary. Thunderbolt 3 can transfer data up to 40 Gbps – you can get this speed with official Thunderbolt 3 cables or a good-quality USB-C cable that's less than about 1.6 feet in length. USB-C cables longer than 1.6 feet may top out at 20 Gbps, depending on their quality. 

USB-C isn't automatically Thunderbolt 3

USB-C has become incredibly popular, found in many phones, tablets, laptops, and other mobile devices. For the most part, USB-C cables and ports are not designed to be Thunderbolt 3, and so they'll work as regular USB-C connections unless otherwise indicated. 

USB-C can do a lot of things, including delivering power and charging devices, transferring data, audio, and even video. Depending on your device, USB-C may transfer data at USB 2.0 speeds of 480 Mbps (though that's uncommon) or 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps (much more common). When it comes to bandwidth, USB-C is designed to deliver up to 10 Gbps if it's not a Thunderbolt port.

But making this just a little more confusing, if the USB-C port is considered a Power Delivery (PD) connection, it can supply 100 watts of power, which is enough to run high-wattage devices like laptops. 

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Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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