Apple has finally released its own Thunderbolt 5 cable, promising creative professionals serious performance gains over Thunderbolt — with the right peripherals. The company quietly released a new accessory to go along with the newly announced M4 Mac mini on Tuesday, just as it did with the new iMac on Monday. Apple now is offering its own Thunderbolt 5 cable, available from Apple's online store for $69.00. The 1-meter long, black braided cable can be used for up to 240 watts of power delivery, as well as significant data transfer speeds over its predecessors. This is the first Mac that can take advantage of the new standard, as the M4 Pro Mac mini features three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the rear. Thunderbolt 5 was officially launched in September 2023 and promised to be a massive improvement for creative professionals and people with sizable bandwidth requirements. Thunderbolt 5 on the M4 Pro Mac mini offers up to 80 gigabits per second of bi-directional bandwidth by adopting PCI-E 4 addressing versus PCI-E 3 on Thunderbolt 4. By comparison, Thunderbolt 4 manages 40Gbps. It also doubles the PCI Express data throughput, enabling both faster storage connectivity and improving the bandwidth available for external graphics systems. Thunderbolt 5 is backward compatible with both Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4, though speeds will be reduced to 40Gb/s. Thunderbolt 4 is capable of running two 4K monitors at 60Hz. In comparison, Thunderbolt 5 can manage multiple 8K displays, or up to 540Hz displays, or three 4K displays running at 144Hz. This makes the Thunderbolt 5 cable a significant upgrade for creative professionals and anyone who needs to move large files quickly or work with high-resolution displays. Apple is marketing the cable to connect a Mac with Thunderbolt 3, 4, or 5 (USB-C) ports to Thunderbolt (USB-C) and USB displays and devices such as Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, docks, and external drives. You can also use this cable to connect iPhone and iPad models with USB-C to your Mac.
Performance Boost for Professionals
The new Thunderbolt 5 cable promises a significant performance boost for users, especially those working with large files or high-resolution displays. The cable can handle up to 120Gb/s data transfer speeds, which is more than double the speed of Thunderbolt 4.
Thunderbolt 5's Capabilities
Thunderbolt 5's capabilities are not limited to high-speed data transfer. The cable can also be used to power devices up to 240W. This makes it a versatile option for users who need to power their Mac and other devices from a single cable.
Future Implications
The release of the Thunderbolt 5 cable is a sign that Apple is committed to the Thunderbolt standard. With Thunderbolt 5, Apple is providing a platform for the future, making it easier for users to connect to the latest devices and displays.
Thunderbolt 5 vs Thunderbolt 4
Here's a quick comparison of Thunderbolt 5 and Thunderbolt 4:
- Thunderbolt 5: Up to 120Gb/s data transfer speed; supports multiple 8K displays
- Thunderbolt 4: Up to 40Gb/s data transfer speed; supports two 4K displays
The Future of Thunderbolt 5
The release of the Thunderbolt 5 cable is likely just the beginning of what we'll see from this new technology. Apple may announce more products and accessories that take advantage of Thunderbolt 5's capabilities in the future.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the new Thunderbolt 5 cable is a welcome addition to the Mac ecosystem. It is a powerful and versatile cable that offers a significant performance boost. With Thunderbolt 5, Apple is providing a platform for the future, making it easier for users to connect to the latest devices and displays. The new Thunderbolt 5 cable is a must-have for any creative professional who needs to move large files quickly or work with high-resolution displays. It is a testament to Apple's commitment to the Thunderbolt standard and the future of computing.
