Thunderbolt 5: A New Era of Data and Power Transfer with Doubled Speed and Power

Author: NaKmo Flow

Department: Review

AMP

Intel Introduces Thunderbolt 5 Doubled Throughput Support for Multiple 8K Monitors and Increased Power Delivery Up to 240W — What You Need to Know About the New Interface and Where to Test It in 2025.

Thunderbolt 5: A New Era of Data and Power Transfer with Doubled Speed and Power

Thunderbolt 5: What’s New in the Updated Data and Power Transfer Interface

In the fall of 2023, Intel introduced Thunderbolt 5, the latest version of one of the most popular data and power transfer interfaces. Thunderbolt 5 became available in late 2024 when Apple products, such as the Mac mini and MacBook Pro with M4 processors, started supporting this technology. Although the interface was announced more than a year ago, the first Thunderbolt 5-compatible devices are already available on the market.

What is Thunderbolt 5?

Like its predecessors, Thunderbolt 5 combines data, video, and power transfer through a single cable using PCIe, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery technologies. The interface now provides doubled throughput (up to 80 Gbps, or 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost technology) and significantly increased power delivery, supporting up to 240W. This allows users to connect, for example, a monitor with a power block, and through a single cable, not only display video but also charge the device.

Key Improvements in Thunderbolt 5

The main innovations in Thunderbolt 5 include several key features:

  • Doubled throughput — up to 80 Gbps, with the possibility of reaching 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost technology.
  • Support for multiple 8K monitors — you can now connect two 8K monitors at 60 Hz or three 4K monitors at 144 Hz.
  • Increased power delivery — Thunderbolt 5 supports up to 240W, which is significantly more than Thunderbolt 4's 140W.

Thunderbolt 5-Compatible Devices

To fully take advantage of Thunderbolt 5, both ends of the cable need to have devices that support the new version of the interface. As of early 2025, there aren’t many Thunderbolt 5-compatible devices yet, but the situation is gradually changing. Some of the first devices supporting Thunderbolt 5 include the Razer Blade 18 (2024), Maingear ML-17, and MacBook Pro 14” and 16” models with M4 processors, as well as the Mac mini with M4 Pro.

Additionally, in January 2025, LG introduced the new UltraFine 6K monitor, which is compatible with Thunderbolt 5, along with a limited selection of Thunderbolt 5-compatible docking stations, external SSDs, and graphic cards.

How to Test Thunderbolt 5?

If you want to test the capabilities of Thunderbolt 5, you should focus on devices and accessories that support the new technology. For example, you can purchase the Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable from Apple or other certified cables to connect to compatible devices. In the coming months, more Thunderbolt 5-compatible devices are expected to become available.

Thus, Thunderbolt 5 opens up new possibilities for users by offering faster data transfer, high-quality video support, and greater power delivery for charging devices.