USB4 vs Thunderbolt 4: An In-Depth Guide to Next-Gen Connectivity Standards - Crave Direct

In the battle for connectivity standard supremacy, Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 emerge as strong contenders, both offering 40Gbps speeds, a Type-C connector, and support for power and video passthrough. Despite these similarities, their distinctions are noteworthy. USB4, building upon the legacy of USB technology, now matches Thunderbolt 3's 40Gbps speeds, but some features are optional, allowing manufacturers to choose what to support. Thunderbolt 4, although not faster than USB4, boasts stricter minimum requirements, necessitating 40Gbps speeds and support for dual 4K displays or a single 8K display from all devices. While USB4 may become mainstream faster due to fewer implementation costs, Thunderbolt 4 ensures reliable performance with its robust specifications. It's essential for consumers to verify the supported features of USB4 products before purchasing. Both Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 will be prevalent in devices integrating 11th generation "Tiger Lake" processors.

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USB4 Architectural Explainer: USB4's (and Thunderbolt 4's) key improvements over Thunderbolt 3: Native SuperSpeed USB Tunneling, Native USB 1.1/2.0 through hubs, and better Active Cables : r/UsbCHardware