OWC recently announced the launch of the new OWC Thunderbolt 4/USB-C cable, a universal cable that provides full capability for all Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, and USB4 devices. This new backward-compatible cable replaces the Thunderbolt 3 cable and takes all the guesswork out of identifying the cables you need for your technology setup.
This innovative solution is lab-tested and certified with 100% universal USB-C compatibility and performance. Whatever device you use to do your thing, Type-C to Type-C connection solution ensures you’ll always have the right cable that simply works.
But what is the difference between USB-C, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and USB 4? Can Thunderbolt 3 devices be connected using a Thunderbolt 4 cable, and vice versa? What happens when you use a Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect a Thunderbolt 4 Hub/Dock to a host?
We will try to answer some of these questions with this latest blog…
USB-C is a connection type. USB-C is not Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4. It is just the connection that those technologies use. To understand the difference between each of the aforementioned technologies, you have to look beyond the USB-C connector that each solution uses to plug in.
Thunderbolt and USB4 are a communication standard or protocol. They provide a set of features for a computer to interact with devices through its USB-C connection. Thunderbolt 3, 4, and USB4 are basically 3-in-1 wrappers that tie PCIe, USB 3, and DisplayPort standards into a single do-it-all package. All three of these technologies use a USB-C connection to connect to computers and devices.
Thunderbolt 4 guarantees certain specifications that are optional with the Thunderbolt 3 standard. Thunderbolt 4 is always 40 Gigabits per second, while Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 can operate at either 20 or 40 Gigabits per second.
The difference between Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4 is mostly in the name. The actual standards are very similar, though there are some exceptions like signal frequency. For example, Thunderbolt 4 is 10.3125/20.625 Gbps while USB4 is 10/20 Gbps.
With Thunderbolt 3, PC users were often limited in features, whereas Apple provided full Thunderbolt 3 feature set support. PC users regularly lacked the full 40 Gbps, couldn’t support multiple displays or deliver power. Fortunately, with today’s Thunderbolt 4 standardization and certification, PC users get the full feature stack that Apple users got with Thunderbolt 3.
Thunderbolt 4 does add some new features, too (both host and device-based), such as:
Thunderbolt 3 capable devices can be interconnected using a Thunderbolt 4 cable. Since Thunderbolt cables are backward compatible, users can expect Thunderbolt 3 performance from this connection.
But what happens when you use a Thunderbolt 3 cable to connect a Thunderbolt 4 Hub/Dock to a host?
In some instances, and depending on the devices being connected, you may not see any issues at all. Some specifications that were optional with Thunderbolt 3 are now guaranteed to work with Thunderbolt 4 – so your device may or may not work with a Thunderbolt 3 cable. Or in other instances—for example with active cables longer than 1 meter—you will see display issues and may not have full Thunderbolt 4 feature support.
Regardless of whether the device is USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, or Thunderbolt 4, it’s best to purchase a Thunderbolt 4 cable to guarantee full compatibility.
OWC has earned a reputation as the leading developer of Thunderbolt solutions through an unwavering commitment to quality. Each OWC Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C Cable is manufactured with premium materials and certified by multiple testing labs to ensure 100% reliability. Your complete satisfaction is guaranteed and each solution carries a 3-year warranty. Whether you’re a creative pro or performance enthusiast, OWC is the name you can trust to deliver the high-performance capabilities of your Thunderbolt and USB-C devices.