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21 May 2026 · #thunderbolt #usb4 #tb3 #tb4 #tb5 #compatibility
USB-C is the shape of the connector. Thunderbolt is one of several high-speed protocols that uses that shape.
That sentence is the entire answer to the headline question, and every page that ranks for this query opens with some version of it. The reason it keeps getting asked is that the visual is identical. A Thunderbolt 4 port and a basic USB-C 2.0 port look the same. The cables look the same. The plugs go in the same way. What changes is what's happening behind the connector.
Here's the breakdown.
The comparison at a glance
Standard Max data rate Video Power Delivery Daisy chain Cable needed USB 2.0 (USB-C) 480 Mbps None Up to 240W (PD 3.1) No Basic USB-C USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 20 Gbps DisplayPort Alt Mode Up to 240W No USB 3.2 cable Thunderbolt 3 40 Gbps 2x 4K @ 60Hz or 1x 5K Up to 100W Yes (up to 6) TB3-certified USB4 20 or 40 Gbps DisplayPort 1.4 Up to 240W Limited USB4 cable Thunderbolt 4 40 Gbps 2x 4K or 1x 8K Min 15W, up to 100W Yes (up to 6) TB4-certified Thunderbolt 5 80 Gbps (120 Gbps boost) 3x 4K @ 144Hz Up to 240W Yes TB5-certified active
The table is the artefact most people are looking for. The rest of this post is the why.
Thunderbolt 3 vs USB-C
TB3 was the first generation to share the USB-C connector, which is when the confusion started. Before TB3, Thunderbolt used Mini DisplayPort. After TB3, you couldn't tell a Thunderbolt port from a USB-C port without checking the lightning bolt icon next to it.
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