USB-C vs Thunderbolt: what the port can do
USB-C is a plug shape. Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 run through it. The minimums, and the ports on our laptops.
By Offerove Editorial TeamUpdated 2 min readResearch-based, not hands-on
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USB-C is the shape of the plug, not a speed. Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 are standards that run through that plug. Intel says Thunderbolt 4 always delivers 40 Gbps and supports two 4K displays. A basic USB-C port may run at 5 or 10 Gbps, so read the port's spec, not its shape.
Almost every new laptop has USB-C ports. They look identical, but one USB-C port can be eight times faster than another.
Here is what separates them, and what the USB-C ports on our devices list. Specs are from each maker’s official page, as of November 2026.
USB-C is a shape, not a speed
Short answer: USB-C (USB Type-C) is the oval connector. What runs through it can be basic USB, USB4 or Thunderbolt. Two ports with the same shape can differ in speed, display support and charging.
The USB-IF, which runs the USB standards, lists five speed labels across USB 3.2 and USB4: 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 Gbps. All of them can use a USB-C plug.
What Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 guarantee
Short answer: Thunderbolt 4 sets minimums. Intel says every Thunderbolt 4 port delivers 40 Gbps, supports two 4K displays or one 8K display, and runs PCIe at 32 Gbps for storage up to 3,000 MBps. USB4 comes in 20 Gbps and 40 Gbps versions.
Our math on raw link speed (divide Gbps by 8 for gigabytes per second):
| Port label | Raw link speed | Compared with 5 Gbps |
|---|---|---|
| USB 5Gbps | 0.625 GB/s | 1x |
| USB 10Gbps | 1.25 GB/s | 2x |
| USB4 20Gbps | 2.5 GB/s | 4x |
| USB4 40Gbps or Thunderbolt 4 | 5 GB/s | 8x |
Real file transfers run below the raw rate. Intel’s 3,000 MBps storage figure for Thunderbolt 4 shows the gap.
Read the label next to the port, not the hole itself. A Thunderbolt or “40Gbps” label tells you more than the shape.
The USB-C ports on our devices
Short answer: our MacBooks list Thunderbolt 4 on every USB-C port. Three of our Windows laptops mix fast and slower USB-C ports, so pick the right one for a dock or fast drive.
- MacBook Air 13 (M4): 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C).
- MacBook Pro 14 (M5): 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C).
- Microsoft Surface Laptop (7th Edition): 2x USB-C with USB4 and DisplayPort 1.4a.
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025): one USB4 (40Gbps) and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C.
- Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10: one Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps port and one USB 3.2 Gen 2 port with charging.
- Framework Laptop 13: four expansion slots, the rear two USB4 and the front two USB 3.2.
- Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10: one USB-C at USB 3.2 Gen 2, with DisplayPort 1.4 and charging.
Monitors use USB-C too. The Dell S2725QC lists a 5 Gbps USB-C upstream port with 65W charging. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS lists USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode and 7.5W.
For picks, see best laptops for engineering students. Then read SSD speeds explained.
The picks, side by side
| Product | Ports | Screen size | Weight | Spec score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 8-core GPU, 16 GB, 256 GB) | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 13.6 in | 1.24 kg (2.73 lb) | 6.7 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 16 GB, 512 GB) | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC card slot, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 14.2 in | 1.55 kg (3.42 lb) | 7.3 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) (GA403UP-CS96, Ryzen 9 270, RTX 5070, 32 GB, 1 TB) | USB4 Type-C (DisplayPort, power delivery, 40Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort, power delivery, G-SYNC), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, microSD reader (UHS-II), 3.5 mm combo jack | 14 in | 1.5 kg (3.31 lb) | 8.4 |
| Framework Laptop 13 (Ryzen AI 300, Base: Ryzen AI 5 340, 16 GB, 256 GB) | 4 user-selectable Expansion Card slots (rear two USB4, front two USB 3.2, all with DisplayPort and USB-PD), 3.5 mm combo jack | 13.5 in | 1.3 kg (2.87 lb) | 6.3 |
| Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 15-inch (83F00009US, Core Ultra 7 255HX, RTX 5060) | USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps, DisplayPort 2.1), USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PD 95-100W, DisplayPort 2.1), 3x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1, one always on), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet (RJ-45), 3.5 mm combo jack | 15.1 in | 1.9 kg (4.19 lb) | 7.7 |
| Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 (83JE000NUS, Core i7-14700HX, RTX 5060) | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, PD 65-100W, DisplayPort 1.4), 3x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet (RJ-45), 3.5 mm combo jack | 15.6 in | 2.4 kg (5.29 lb) | 6.7 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (7th Edition, Snapdragon X Plus, 16 GB, 512 GB) | 2x USB-C (USB4, DisplayPort 1.4a, charging), USB-A 3.1 Gen 2, Surface Connect, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 13.8 in | 1.34 kg (2.95 lb) | 6.9 |
| Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor (S2725QC) | 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB-C 5 Gbps upstream (DisplayPort 1.4 Alt Mode, 65W PD), 1x USB-C 5 Gbps downstream (15W PD), 2x USB-A 5 Gbps downstream | Not listed | Not listed | 6.5 |
| ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS | 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB-C (DP Alt Mode, 7.5W PD), earphone jack | Not listed | Not listed | 6.5 |
Specs from each maker's official page, checked Nov 9, 2026. Spec score formula: methodology.
How we chose
We explain the standards using Intel's Thunderbolt 4 announcement and the USB-IF's USB4 pages, then list the USB-C ports each maker states for the laptops and monitors in our catalog. Speed conversions are our own arithmetic. Research-based, not tested in person. Our methodology.
FAQ
Is every USB-C port Thunderbolt?
No, USB-C only describes the connector, and the speed and features depend on the standard behind the port.
Is USB4 the same as Thunderbolt 4?
Not quite, since USB4 comes in 20 Gbps and 40 Gbps versions, while Thunderbolt 4 always runs at 40 Gbps per Intel.
Does USB4 mean fast charging?
Not by itself, since the USB-IF says USB4 is not USB Power Delivery.
Do older USB-C accessories work in a USB4 port?
Generally yes, since the USB-IF says USB4 is backward compatible with USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3 devices.
Sources
- Intel: Introducing Thunderbolt 4, universal cable connectivity for everyone (opens in a new tab)
- USB-IF: USB4 specification (opens in a new tab)
- USB-IF: USB data performance language usage guidelines (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M4, 8-core GPU, 16 GB, 256 GB): Apple official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5, 16 GB, 512 GB): Apple official specs (opens in a new tab)
- ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) (GA403UP-CS96, Ryzen 9 270, RTX 5070, 32 GB, 1 TB): ASUS official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Framework Laptop 13 (Ryzen AI 300, Base: Ryzen AI 5 340, 16 GB, 256 GB): Framework official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 10 15-inch (83F00009US, Core Ultra 7 255HX, RTX 5060): Lenovo official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Lenovo LOQ 15 Gen 10 (83JE000NUS, Core i7-14700HX, RTX 5060): Lenovo official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8-inch (7th Edition, Snapdragon X Plus, 16 GB, 512 GB): Microsoft official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Dell 27 Plus 4K USB-C Monitor (S2725QC): Dell official specs (opens in a new tab)
- ASUS ROG Strix XG27ACS: ASUS official specs (opens in a new tab)
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