You may have heard or already encountered the new USB plug, called USB-C. At the same time, you may be less familiar with the Thunderbolt 3 (T3), a plug that looks exactly the same. Here we will outline the differences between them.
What’s the Situation?
Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard introduced 20 years ago intended to simplify and improve the connections between computers and accessories. USB-C is the new standard for USB, and more and more devices will feature it. All of Apple’s desktops feature USB-C and the new laptops only have USB-C type connecters. It is currently not as prevalent on PC desktops, but Windows laptops are featuring it more and more.
Which one is the real Thunderbolt 3?
(Answer: the middle cable)
At the same time, these new devices may not be Thunderbolt 3 enabled. T3 and USB-C share the same physical connector, so it is easy to be confused. Just because the physical connection looks the same does not mean it will work in the same way; it depends on the device and the data controller at the point of connection. You may get a “device not supported” error message when you plug a T3 into a USB-C. Some manufacturers are good about identifying the connection type, and others not so much.
USB-C vs. Thunderbolt 3
The differences between them are important. Generally speaking, the T3 does everything the USB-C does and more. Specifically, the USB-C connection type can support a number of different features, including:
- Alternate modes for sending and receiving data, including running video signal;
- Up to 100 watts of power (that’s up from 2.5 watts on older USB connectors); and,
- It has a symmetrical connection, so it doesn’t matter which way the plug is facing when you insert it.
Meanwhile, the Thunderbolt 3 uses offers these same features plus a few additional ones:
- A faster connection, up to 40 Gbs;
- Support for bi-directional data transfer (rather than alternate modes for sending and receiving data); and
- This allows you to daisy-chain up to six devices.
What You Need to Know
From the perspective of the casual end-user, there are a few key things you need to know. Going forward, you should pay attention to the whether the devices you purchase have USB-C or T3 connectors and be aware of these features and differences. For your existing devices, the good news is that USB-C is backwards compatible, so, as long as you have an adapter for your device, the data connection will be seamless and you will connect error-message free. There is no harm to your computer or accessories if you plug a T3 into a USB-C, as the smart data controller will make sure nothing bad happens. Hopefully, the new USB-C style connector will help reduce the number of different cables you need to keep on hand.
Additional Information
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