GoKawiilThunderbolt 5 doubles data speeds and boosts power delivery over Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 5 upgrades on Thunderbolt 4 by offering up to 120Gbps in one direction and 40Gbps in the other, compared to Thunderbolt 4's symmetric bandwidth, while also supporting 240 watts of power delivery. Both standards share USB-C connectors and support data, video and power over the same cables, and Thunderbolt 5 remains backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4, 3 and USB4 devices.
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This matters most for professionals handling multiple high-resolution displays, massive file transfers or advanced docking setups, where bandwidth and power limitations of Thunderbolt 4 become bottlenecks. Most everyday users won't need the upgrade yet, since Thunderbolt 4 already handles common tasks like backups, charging and dual-monitor setups efficiently.
- Thunderbolt 5 offers up to 120Gbps in one direction, doubling Thunderbolt 4's max bidirectional throughput.
- Thunderbolt 5 supports 240W power delivery, useful for charging demanding devices and driving multiple displays.
- Thunderbolt 5 is backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 4, 3 and USB4, though speeds are capped by the slowest connected device.
Anker Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station — If the article has you eyeing the jump to Thunderbolt 5, a dedicated TB5 dock is the easiest way to actually use that bandwidth and higher power delivery from one cable. It fans out to displays, storage and Ethernet while charging your laptop, and it stays backwards compatible with your existing Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 gear.
See Anker Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: engadget.com — Thomas Godwin, 2026-08-25
Published there as: “What's the difference between Thunderbolt 4 and 5?”
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