USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3

Thunderbolt revisions

Revision	Year released	Super set of	Top speed	Port type
Thunderbolt	2011	Mini DisplayPort	10Gbps	Mini DisplayPort
Thunderbolt 2	2013	Thunderbolt	20Gbps	Mini DisplayPort
Thunderbolt 3	2015	Thunderbolt 2 (adapter required,) DisplayPort, PCIe 3rd Gen, USB 3.1	40Gbps (Short or active cable) 20Gbps (long, passive cable)	USB-C

 

Here's how Thunderbolt 3 is different from its predecessors:

• The Mini DisplayPort connection type has been ditched in favor of a USB-C connection type.
• All Thunderbolt 3 cables will work as USB-C cables.
• All USB-C cables will work as Thunderbolt 3 cables as long as they are good quality cables.
• Thunderbolt 3 has a top data transfer speed of 40Gbps as long as the cable is 0.5m (1.6 ft.) or shorter.
• For 1m (3.2 ft.) or longer cables, Thunderbolt 3 supports passive (cheaper) ones that have a top speed of 20Gbps, and active cables (more expensive) that retain the 40Gbps speed.
• Thunderbolt 3 is backward-compatible with earlier versions of Thunderbolt, but due to the new port type, adapters are required to use legacy Thunderbolt devices.
• Any USB-C device (like a Google Pixel) plugged into a Thunderbolt 3 port will function normally.
• Since Thunderbolt 3 devices use discrete Thunderbolt chips to function, they will not function if plugged into a USB-C port.

All versions of Thunderbolt allow for daisy-chaining up to six devices together to a host and in addition to data, can also carry Hi-Def video and audio signals.

 

USB revisions

	Top speed	Max power output	Power direction	Cable configuration	Availability
USB 1.1	12Mbps	N/A	N/A	Type-A to Type-B	1998
USB 2.0	480Mbps	5V, 1.8A	Host to peripheral	Type-A to Type-B	2000
USB 3.0 / USB 3.1 gen 1	5Gbps	5V, 1.8A	Host to peripheral	Type-A to Type-B	2008
USB 3.1 / USB 3.1 gen 2	10Gbps	20V, 5A	Bi-directional / Host to peripheral (compatible)	Type-C both ends, reversible plug orientation / Type-A to Type-C (compatible)	2013

 

USB	Alias	Logo (packaging)	Logo (on-product)
USB 3.1 Gen1	SuperSpeed USB
USB 3.1 Gen1 with USB Power Delivery (USB PD)		N/A	N/A
USB 3.1 Gen2SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbps
USB 3.1 Gen2 with USB Power Delivery (USB PD)		N/A	N/A
USB 3.1 Gen 2 with DisplayPort over Type-C		N/A	N/A
USB 3.1 Gen 2 with DisplayPort over Type-C with USB PD		N/A	N/A