Thunderbolt 5 vs Thunderbolt 4 & USB-C: What You Need to Know for Enhanced Connectivity

In search of lightning-fast data transfer speeds? Thunderbolt 5 is the answer. This technology represents one of this year’s most significant advancements, offering exceptional capabilities particularly beneficial for gamers and content creators across India. Like many technologies, Thunderbolt’s primary strength has always been its speed, which continues to improve with each generation.

For Indian professionals managing resource-intensive workloads or seeking future-proof connectivity options, understanding these advancements is especially relevant given India’s rapidly expanding IT sector, thriving creative industries, and growing gaming community.

Thunderbolt 5, officially launched in September 2023, allows you to transfer data at twice the speed of Thunderbolt 4—that’s eight times the maximum speed of the first generation. Let’s explore how it differs from other common ports, its practical applications, and why it’s important in today’s digital landscape across India.

Learn About Thunderbolt 5 Improvements Over Previous Versions

As with other standards in the technology world, Thunderbolt specifications are updated periodically. While interest currently centres on version 4, Thunderbolt 5 is beginning its rollout with significant changes that will benefit users across India’s diverse technological landscape.

Thunderbolt 5 vs Thunderbolt 4

• Ultra-fast data transfer: Thunderbolt 5 can move more data simultaneously than Thunderbolt 4 ports and cables. Thunderbolt 4 ports have 40 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth, meaning they can send and receive simultaneously, maintaining rates of up to 32 Gbps.

  The latest version of Thunderbolt doubles the bandwidth provided by Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to utilise up to 80 Gbps in both directions. Additionally, it can provide up to 120 Gbps of bandwidth when used asymmetrically—that is, 120 Gbps bandwidth in one direction and 40 Gbps in the other.

  Unprecedented display compatibility: This technology doesn’t just focus on speed. The shift to Thunderbolt 5 means improvements in compatibility with external displays. You have the option to connect two 8K displays or three 4K displays with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. It can also handle a single external display at 540 Hz, which is truly impressive. Currently, Thunderbolt 4 can handle a maximum of two 4K displays or a single 8K display. Bandwidth limitations force users to choose between resolution and refresh rate, potentially limiting them to 60 Hz when using two 4K displays.

  Improved power delivery: Another improvement with Thunderbolt 5 is an increase in the amount of power that can be transferred through the cable. It can support up to 240W through a cable to charge devices, while Thunderbolt 4 is limited to 100W. This means that a Thunderbolt 5 connection will be able to charge your laptop or mobile phone more effectively than any Thunderbolt 4 device you currently have.

  Versatile connectivity: Like USB, Thunderbolt offers backward compatibility, even with USB itself. Of course, Thunderbolt 5 hardware works with Thunderbolt 4 devices based on that technology’s standards. Thunderbolt 5 is built upon USB 4 2.0, as well as DisplayPort 2.1 and PCI Express Gen 4, so it will work with hardware using these technologies, as well as with previous versions. Meanwhile, the previous version is compatible with USB 2, USB 3.2, and USB 4 ports.

  Improved data encoding: Thunderbolt 5 uses the PAM-3 modulation technique, which allows more data to be sent over the same bandwidth. This ensures improved performance without the need to change cables or connectors, maintaining accessibility and convenience for users migrating to the new standard. Thunderbolt 4 technology uses PAM-2 for signalling, also known as standard non-return-to-zero (NRZ) modulation, which transmits one bit per symbol.

  Thunderbolt 5 vs USB-C

  Thunderbolt 5 significantly outpaces standard USB-C connections with its impressive 80 Gbps data transmission speed, which can be configured for bidirectional transmission or a remarkable 120 Gbps unidirectional mode. By comparison, even the fastest USB-C connections (USB 3.2/USB4) typically max out at 40 Gbps, and this depends on both the cable and device specifications.

  When it comes to connecting devices, Thunderbolt 5 excels with high-performance equipment such as 8K monitors, professional workstations, and external GPUs. This makes it particularly valuable for India’s growing professional creative sector. Its ability to support up to two simultaneous 6K displays provides a significant advantage over standard USB-C, which typically supports basic devices like storage drives, audio equipment, video peripherals, and in the case of USB4, a single external display.

  Versatility and compatibility remain strong points for both technologies. Thunderbolt 5 maintains backward compatibility with USB-C and previous Thunderbolt versions (3-4), though achieving maximum performance requires devices that support the same version. USB-C offers excellent compatibility across the USB ecosystem (from USB 2.0 to USB4) and enjoys widespread adoption in current devices across the Indian market.

  Power delivery capabilities have seen significant improvements with Thunderbolt 5 supporting up to 240W—matching USB PD 3.1—which enables it to power high-demand devices efficiently. Standard USB-C supports up to 100W with USB PD 3.0, though this increases to 240W with the newer USB PD 3.1 protocol. This enhanced power delivery is particularly valuable in India’s sometimes inconsistent power environments, where efficient device charging is essential.

  One distinct advantage of Thunderbolt 5 is its support for daisy-chaining multiple devices, creating streamlined multi-monitor environments without the clutter of additional cables. USB-C, by contrast, doesn’t offer daisy-chaining capabilities, necessitating a hub or docking station when connecting multiple peripherals—an important consideration for professionals working in India’s space-conscious office environments.

  Applications of Thunderbolt 5: Beyond Connectivity

Thunderbolt 5 isn’t just about specifications; it’s about improving how users work and play. For the 8K video editing community in India, Thunderbolt 5 provides the essential bandwidth needed to handle massive files and maintain smooth 8K sequence performance. This technology ensures video editors can connect to high-speed external storage and maintain workflow fluidity, significantly reducing rendering times and allowing creative professionals to focus on their artistic vision rather than grappling with technical limitations.

High-performance laptops like the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop 14-eu0558TU with Intel® Arc™ Graphics provide the computational power needed for demanding video workloads, and when paired with Thunderbolt technology, create an exceptional video editing environment that meets the needs of India’s thriving film and television industry.

For India’s rapidly expanding gaming community, Thunderbolt 5 enables connection to high refresh rate displays, providing a substantial advantage in fast-paced competitive games. The exceptional refresh rates ensure smoother gameplay and faster response times, potentially making the critical difference between winning and losing in competitive gaming—a sector that has seen tremendous growth across major Indian cities and towns. The technology’s ability to support displays with refresh rates up to 540 Hz represents a significant leap forward for serious gamers looking to maximize their competitive edge.

Serious gamers will appreciate pairing Thunderbolt 5 with powerful systems like the OMEN gaming laptop 16-wf1096tx featuring Intel® Core™ i7-14650HX processor and NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060 8GB. This combination creates an exceptional gaming experience capable of handling the most demanding titles popular among Indian gamers, from fast-paced esports to visually stunning AAA releases.

Content creation and live streaming have experienced exceptional growth in India, with creators frequently using multiple cameras and sophisticated editing software while simultaneously interacting with their audience. Thunderbolt 5’s enhanced 120 Gbps bandwidth facilitates the management of multiple 4K or even 8K monitors, ensuring performance remains smooth throughout broadcasts. Indian streamers can seamlessly switch between live editing, gameplay, and audience interaction in real-time, without concerns about bandwidth constraints or latency issues affecting their production quality.

For Indian professionals in the rapidly expanding IT, finance, and design sectors, Thunderbolt 5’s ability to connect up to three 4K displays simultaneously transforms how they visualize and interact with complex data. Financial analysts can display detailed market models alongside trading platforms, software developers can arrange multiple coding environments and virtual machines across screens, and designers can separate their tools, references, and projects for optimal workflow efficiency. This capability is particularly valuable in India’s growing IT services and business process outsourcing sectors, where screen real estate directly impacts productivity.

Thunderbolt 5 in the Indian Market: Adoption and Availability

As India continues its technological advancement, the adoption of Thunderbolt 5 presents both opportunities and challenges unique to the market. The technology’s superior capabilities make it particularly valuable for India’s growing professional creative sector, high-end gaming community, and enterprise environments, where data transfer speeds and display capabilities directly impact productivity and performance.

The HP premium laptop range available in India is expected to incorporate Thunderbolt 5 in upcoming models, providing users with access to this cutting-edge connectivity. Currently, consumers can find excellent Thunderbolt 4 options like the HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 laptop 14-eu0558TU, which offers a foundation for understanding the benefits of Thunderbolt technology.

For professionals looking to future-proof their setups, Thunderbolt 5 docking stations and external drives are anticipated to become available in the Indian market throughout 2025. These peripherals will allow even those without Thunderbolt 5-equipped devices to prepare their workspaces for eventual upgrades, investing in infrastructure that will support next-generation connectivity when they’re ready to transition.

It’s worth noting that in the Indian context, where price sensitivity often influences purchasing decisions, Thunderbolt 5 will likely initially appear in premium devices before gradually becoming more accessible across mid-range products. For professionals whose work demands the highest performance standards, however, the productivity benefits may well justify the investment in this advanced technology.

Conclusion

Thunderbolt 5 represents a significant leap forward in connectivity technology, offering substantial improvements in data transmission and overall performance. As with most technological advances, “more is better,” and this standard delivers greater bandwidth and connection speed, allowing users to charge devices faster, transfer data at an impressive 80 Gbps, and simultaneously connect multiple high-resolution displays with refresh rates of up to 540 Hz.

For content creators, gamers, and graphic professionals across India looking to enhance both workflow efficiency and multimedia experiences, Thunderbolt 5 presents compelling advantages that align with the country’s growing technology needs. The future of Thunderbolt technology appears promising, with a continued trajectory toward increasing both speed and connection capacity. Through its innovative features, Thunderbolt 5 not only establishes a superior standard for data transfer but also drives product development in emerging fields such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and competitive gaming—all sectors experiencing rapid growth in India.

Indian professionals and enthusiasts eager to remain at the cutting edge of technology should explore HP’s premium laptop range which offers models with advanced connectivity options, ensuring readiness for the next generation of high-performance computing demands. As India continues its technological evolution, embracing standards like Thunderbolt 5 positions users to take full advantage of tomorrow’s innovations.