Developed by Intel in cooperation with Apple , under the name of Thunderbolt we find an interconnection technology , which combines PCI Express and DisplayPort in a single connection, offering the possibility of achieving a combination of up to six different peripherals, among which are monitors and storage devices. It is also possible to connect USB and FireWire peripherals, as long as they have the right adapter.
It is a technology that has existed since the late 2000s. However, when USB-C officially appeared, thus becoming the last USB standard, the Thunderbolt developers decided to develop the third version (introduced in 2015), abandoning the old DisplayPort docking station and replacing it with a USB-C connection, combining both technologies to create a truly powerful hybrid .
One of its main advantages is its enormous versatility , especially compared to other connectors, in addition to achieving a much higher speed than USB 3.1 . But we must be careful. And it is that although Thunderbolt 3 uses a USB-C port (its appearance from an external point of view is practically the same), it is necessary to take into account that not all USB-C are Thunderbolt , mainly due to certain differences that we find inside, which means they have different specifications.
The transmission speed achieved by Thunderbolt 3 is up to 40 Gbps (5 GB / s) , which means that it is four times faster than USB 3.1 and traditional Thunderbolt, which offered 10 Gbps. It is, it is true, an amazing speed, especially when compared to SSDs , which range between approximately 200 and 550 MB / s. And not only that, it is also capable of supporting a wide variety of diverse connections, such as HDMI 2.0, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and DisplayPort 1.2.
How to connect an iPhone or iPad
In case you are still using the USB-A to Lightning cable (or 30-pin, especially if you are using a much older iOS device) that originally came with the device, it is possible to use a USB-C to USB adapter. .
If not, especially if you don’t want an adapter, just get a Lightning to USB-C cable , which generally tends to be cheaper.
How to connect a monitor (or external display)
Everything will depend on the screen or monitor that is going to be connected, and especially, on the type of connector they have. It is even possible that you need to have several adapters, so it is best to keep reading.
HDMI
Apple offers the ability to get a USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter , which also provides a USB-A port and a USB-C port (for charging only). Of course, you should bear in mind that there is a new version (model number A2119), which supports HDMI 2.0, while the previous version (model A1621) is compatible with HDMI 1.4.
It is also possible to go for a USB-C to HDMI adapter , which is generally a bit cheaper. Although, at least, the ideal is to opt for 1080p support, or even support for 4K video.
VGA
If you need to connect a VGA screen, Apple also available a USB-C VGA multi-port adapter , which in addition to VGA to USB-C connection, also provides a USB-A port in order to connect a USB device, and a charging port. USB-C to charge our laptop.
DVI
This time you need a USB-C to DVI adapter , although its final price will depend on the length of the cable.
How to connect an external hard drive
It is quite likely that USB-A is the USB connector with which you are most familiar, while USB Micro A or USB Micro B is one of the most common on portable or external hard drives.
In any case, if our external hard drive has a USB-A connector, the key is to opt for a USB-C to USB adapter , which, for example, has been developed by Apple itself.
How to connect a printer with USB-B
Although it is true that, today, most of the printers that we can find in the market have wireless support (in such a way that it is not necessary to use a cable), it is possible that in the office or at home we have a printer a little older. If so, most printers have a square-shaped USB-B port , very different from USB-A or USB-C.
In these cases we need a USB-C to USB-B connection adapter cable.
Is it possible to differentiate the Apple Thunderbolt 3 from the rest of the USB-C connectors?
As we have mentioned in the odd previous section, it is true that, at first, especially for users with little experience in the sector, it is certainly difficult to differentiate between a Thunderbolt 3 cable and the rest of USB-C. But the reality is that the answer is simpler than it might seem at first.
And it is that in general most Thunderbolt 3 cables incorporate the drawing or logo of a lightning bolt on the end where the connector that we use to connect it to the device is located. While other types of USB-C will incorporate other different drawings or logos, while others will not carry anything at all.
Of course, in case you cannot find this drawing anywhere, it is essential to carefully read the description of the product in question that you are going to buy, especially to check if there are specific mentions of Thunderbolt 3.
