Thunderbolt Cables

Thunderbolt cable - Popular for Apple devices

You can use a Thunderbolt cable for many things such as connecting your computer to an external PC screen, for transferring large files in a short time, and also as a fast-charging cable.

A Thunderbolt cable is known as a multifunctional interface protocol, and its features are based on the protocols DisplayPort, PCI Express, and USB.

The very concept of Thunderbolt cables originated from the computer giant Intel back in the early 2000s.

A few years later, Apple came into the picture and initiated a collaboration with Intel to create the Thunderbolt cables as they are known on the market today, which can also be used for Apple devices like an iMac.

If you are in need of a Thunderbolt cable to use for your Apple devices, you have great opportunities to find a Thunderbolt cable on our site, as we offer a good selection of different Thunderbolt cables.

5 things you should consider before buying a Thunderbolt cable

If this is your first time using a Thunderbolt cable but you have no knowledge of such cables at the start, read further below.

We have created a good and user-friendly guide about Thunderbolt cables, which can lead you in the right direction with your search.

You will learn about the different types of Thunderbolt cables available in the extensive computer equipment market and their features.

We will also discuss other things regarding Thunderbolt cables such as their cable lengths and their transfer speeds.

#1 - Types of Thunderbolt cables and their features

There are several types of Thunderbolt cables available in the large market of various cables.

The development of all computer-related equipment is known to never stand still, and the same is true for the development of Thunderbolt cables, so probably more types of them will appear over time.

For example, a Thunderbolt 3 cable can be used to combine all types of transfers such as audio, power, video, and data signals into one single cable.

The characteristic of a Thunderbolt cable is that its symbol is shaped like a lightning bolt.

A Thunderbolt cable is often available in two colors, black and white.

Here is more about the various types of Thunderbolt cables available:

• Thunderbolt 1 & 2 cables. Both Thunderbolt 1 & 2 cables use the same cable and connector types and are mutually compatible. They have the same connector types as a display port for the screen on an older Mac.
• Thunderbolt 3 cables. They use the same cable and connector type as USB-C.
• Thunderbolt 4 cables. A Thunderbolt 4 cable only uses USB-C.

We recommend that you take a good look at our selection of Thunderbolt cables and read more about their features, so you can be sure to buy the right Thunderbolt cable.

#2 - Cable length of Thunderbolt cables

There is a significant difference in cable lengths of the various Thunderbolt cables, but they are all relatively close to each other across the different sizes.

This is also related to the fact that such cables are designed in compact sizes, so you also avoid dealing with excessively long cables.

Here are examples of the different cable lengths of various Thunderbolt cables:

• 0.5 m
• 0.7 m
• 0.8 m
• 0.9 m
• 2 m
• 4.6 m

#3 - Transfer speed in Thunderbolt cables

A Thunderbolt cable is generally quite fast for data transfer.

The transfer speed varies among the different Thunderbolt cables, which is worth considering when evaluating a Thunderbolt cable, especially if it should also be used for data transfer.

If it needs to be efficient for computer work, it is worth opting for the latest generation of a Thunderbolt cable.

Here is a list of the various transfer speeds (Gbps) available in different Thunderbolt cables:

• 10 Gbps
• 20 Gbps
• 30 Gbps
• 40 Gbps

#4 - Power in Thunderbolt cables

A Thunderbolt cable can also be used for charging and is quite fast at doing so in a short time.

The later versions of Thunderbolt cables can charge devices such as a laptop with up to 100 watts of power.

A Thunderbolt cable can also charge smaller devices like a smartphone with up to 15 watts.

If you want fast charging for your various devices using Thunderbolt, look for high watt output.

#5 - Thunderbolt adapter

If you have both Thunderbolt 3 devices and a Mac that has a Thunderbolt or Thunderbolt 2 port that you wish to connect with each other, it can be done using a Thunderbolt adapter.

A Thunderbolt adapter can connect Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2 devices such as some external hard drives and a Thunderbolt 3 monitor to a Thunderbolt 3 port on your MacBook.

There are also other types of Thunderbolt adapters like these:

• Thunderbolt to Displayport adapter. This makes it possible for you to connect two screens that have Displayport to a Thunderbolt 3/USB-C output on either a Mac or PC.
• Thunderbolt to HDMI adapter. With this type of adapter, you can connect your Mac to your computer screen or TV.
• Thunderbolt to DVI adapter. This version of a Thunderbolt adapter can connect DVI, VGA, and HDMI, and it is quite easy to connect to either your MacBook Pro or your MacBook Air.
• Thunderbolt to VGA adapter. With it, you can connect your Mac to either a computer screen or a projector, and it can also be used for both the traditional Displayport and a Thunderbolt port.

Advantages of Thunderbolt cables

One of the major advantages of having Thunderbolt cables available is that you can connect a Thunderbolt docking station/hub or your computer screen with just a single Thunderbolt cable.

Another benefit of using a Thunderbolt cable is particularly when transferring large computer files, as it can take some time.

It can be significantly faster with this work if you use a Thunderbolt cable.

If you are very impatient with charging your devices like your smartphone, you can save yourself some time by using a Thunderbolt cable.