Thunderbolt · 2020
Thunderbolt 4
The same 40 Gbps as Thunderbolt 3, with the minimums raised so every port behaves the same.
- data: 40 Gbps (PCIe 32 Gbps)
- video: two 4K 60 Hz or one 8K
- power: up to 100 W (USB PD)
Spec card
- Link rate
- 40 Gbit/s
- PCIe tunnel
- 32 Gbit/s required
- Displays
- two 4K 60 Hz, or one 8K 30 Hz, required
- Charging
- at least one computer port charges at up to 100 W
- Hubs
- docks may have up to four Thunderbolt ports
- Cables
- universal: 40 Gbps up to 2 m, USB4 and USB 3 compatible, 100 W
- Based on
- USB4 40Gbps, with every optional feature required
Also sold as TB4
The cable you need
Any Thunderbolt 4 cable. All of them run 40 Gbps at every length up to 2 m and carry 100 W.
Watch out for
- Thunderbolt 4 cables are 100 W (5 A, 20 V). They are not rated for 240 W EPR charging.
Thunderbolt 4 is not faster than Thunderbolt 3. It is stricter. Every Thunderbolt 4 computer must support two 4K 60 Hz displays, 32 Gbps PCIe, charging on at least one port and waking from sleep through a dock. In practice, Thunderbolt 4 is USB4 40Gbps with every optional feature made mandatory and certified by Intel.
The cables are the real improvement. A Thunderbolt 4 cable runs at 40 Gbps at any length up to 2 m. It also works as a USB4, USB 3 and USB-C charging cable at up to 100 W, so it can replace every other USB-C cable you own except 240 W charging cables.
What it can carry
Computed from each link's usable bandwidth; 4K at 60 Hz and above assumes 10-bit HDR colour. How.
| Mode | Thunderbolt 4 |
|---|---|
| 1080p 60 Hz 8-bit | Fits 3.2 Gbps |
| 1080p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 8.0 Gbps |
| 1440p 144 Hz 8-bit | Fits 14.1 Gbps |
| 4K 30 Hz 8-bit | Fits 6.2 Gbps |
| 4K 60 Hz 10-bit | Fits 15.7 Gbps |
| 4K 120 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 32.3 Gbps |
| 4K 144 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 39.2 Gbps |
| 4K 240 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 68.6 Gbps |
| 8K 60 Hz 10-bit | With DSC 62.1 Gbps |