'Thunderbolt 5' Would Enable Dual 8K Display Support and More on Macs

[MacRumors]

Intel today previewed the next generation of Thunderbolt, which would enable ultra-fast data transfer speeds and improved external display support on future Macs that incorporate the standard when it launches in 2023 or later.

The next generation of Thunderbolt will deliver up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth in each direction, allowing for up to 2× faster data transfer speeds between future Macs and external storage drives that support the standard compared to current speeds. The next generation of Thunderbolt will also have a mode that allows for up to 120 Gbps bandwidth for external displays, which would allow a Mac to support up to dual 8K displays at 60Hz.

The latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are equipped with Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports with up to 40 Gbps of bandwidth in each direction.

Currently, no Macs support 8K displays on a plug-and-play basis. The latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models support up to two or three external displays at up to 6K@60Hz depending on whether the laptop is configured with the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip.

The next generation of Thunderbolt is based on the newly released USB4 version 2.0 and DisplayPort 2.1 specifications, and it is backwards compatible with previous versions of Thunderbolt, USB, and DisplayPort. Intel plans to share more details about the next generation of Thunderbolt's official name, features, and capabilities in 2023.

Article Link: 'Thunderbolt 5' Would Enable Dual 8K Display Support and More on Macs

 

[Freida]

Probably 2024 to get it in Macs, right?

 

[Realityck]

Seeing 8K on Macs that will be the day.

 

[Moonlight]

I just read that Harrison Ford is playing Thunderbolt 5, wait...

 

[vegetassj4]

Jeez. I don't even have a Thunderbolt 3 cable yet. Just a dongle to convert TB2 to TB3 (USB C) for my Pegasus2 R6.

 

[jayducharme]

I’ve never gotten anywhere close to 40 Gbps with Thunderbolt 4. So while I’m sure TB 5 will be an improvement, I doubt many people will see much difference in day-to-day use (unless you’re running two 8k displays).

 

[R3k]

If im in the Apple Store and I move the pointer on a Mac Studio with Pro Display XDR and compare it to moving the pointer on a M1 MacBook Pro, the XDR feels like the pointer is underwater- slow and sluggish. Same for all 4k screens I try and exacerbated if MacOS is performing scaling. Now we're cueing up 8k.

Wonder if that will ever be worked out? "Supporting" a screen is one thing, but I still have to pass if it feels sluggish. Is it just me?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Hopefully, Apple does not take too long to implement this on Mac’s. 🤞

 

[1557750]

Pfffft…. I’ll wait til it supports 24k.

Cause more K’s the better.

 

[VampyricGentleman]

So there’s another thing most of won’t be able to afford Apple 8k monitors 😳

 

[icanhazapple]

Really hoping the next iterations of 'Pro' iPhone and iPad devices in 2023 have Thunderbolt support (via USB C connector )

 

[ThomasJL]

Thunderbolt is one of the standards supported by USB-C, but thanks to Tim Cook’s mediocrity, even the latest iPhone 14 Pro models are still stuck on Lightning, which delivers USB 2.0 speeds. See the thread in the link below for more details:

Will iPhone 14 be USB 2.0? Probably, since Cook is mediocre.

Apple computers have had USB 3.0 since mid-2012. That is 10 years ago. Despite that, Tim Cook, being the mediocre beancounter MBA suit that he is, has still not done anything to upgrade the connectivity on the latest iPhones. The latest iPhones use the same USB 2.0 connectivity that shipped with...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Thunderbolt and lightning very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo
(Galileo) Galileo
Galileo Figaro
Magnifico-o-o-o-o

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Jeez. I don't even have a Thunderbolt 3 cable yet. Just a dongle to convert TB2 to TB3 (USB C) for my Pegasus2 R6.

May as well not get one now.

 

[Jensend]

If im in the Apple Store and I move the pointer on a Mac Studio with Pro Display XDR and compare it to moving the pointer on a M1 MacBook Pro, the XDR feels like the pointer is underwater- slow and sluggish. Same for all 4k screens I try and exacerbated if MacOS is performing scaling. Now we're cueing up 8k.

Wonder if that will ever be worked out? "Supporting" a screen is one thing, but I still have to pass if it feels sluggish. Is it just me?

An M1 MacBook Pro has a 120Hz display, while the Pro Display XDR is 60Hz. Could that make the difference?

 

[schneeland]

Hopefully, Apple does not take too long to implement this on Mac’s. 🤞

This would be great indeed!
And then, maybe, 5K-8K retina displays with ProMotion/120Hz soon (yes, they will probably cost you another body part on top of the usual kidney, but I still want them ).

 

[SactoGuy18]

I wonder Thunderbolt 5 cables also support USB-IF Power Delivery 3.1 charging with up to 240 watts initial charging rate.

 

[fwmireault]

Apple has always been an early adopter of new Thunderbolt standards. I hope they will add Thunderbolt 5 quickly, as it will finally allow to daisy-chain two 5K or 6K displays, or to bring promotion to 5K displays

 

[b656]

Oh boy... I just finished setting up my Thunderbolt 4 hub and am happy with it. 😰
Ok, TB5 uses the same port and is backward compatible 🥲

 

[dennis laska]

WOW!

SPEED KILLS.........my wallet

 

[verniesgarden]

they already want $130 bucks for a thunderbolt 4 cable, can't even imagine how expensive this'll be

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

If im in the Apple Store and I move the pointer on a Mac Studio with Pro Display XDR and compare it to moving the pointer on a M1 MacBook Pro, the XDR feels like the pointer is underwater- slow and sluggish. Same for all 4k screens I try and exacerbated if MacOS is performing scaling. Now we're cueing up 8k.

Wonder if that will ever be worked out? "Supporting" a screen is one thing, but I still have to pass if it feels sluggish. Is it just me?

60hz vs 120hz

 

[Moonlight]

If im in the Apple Store and I move the pointer on a Mac Studio with Pro Display XDR and compare it to moving the pointer on a M1 MacBook Pro, the XDR feels like the pointer is underwater- slow and sluggish. Same for all 4k screens I try and exacerbated if MacOS is performing scaling. Now we're cueing up 8k.

Wonder if that will ever be worked out? "Supporting" a screen is one thing, but I still have to pass if it feels sluggish. Is it just me?

Did you try adjusting the mouse tracking speed in system preferences? They could be set at different settings.

 

[schneeland]

I wonder Thunderbolt 5 cables also support USB-IF Power Delivery 3.1 charging with up to 240 watts initial charging rate.

According to German news on the subject (article on heise.de), the power delivery part of the specification has not been finalized yet.

 

[tribaltek]

I'd much rather have 4k/120hz or 5k/120hz than 8k/60hz.