Thunderbolt may also mean you can avoid a hub or dock. That’s faster than USB-C 3.1 and 3.2 and USB4 support hasn’t arrived in monitors at this point. So what’s the difference between Thunderbolt and USB-C monitors? The primary difference for the end-user is the ability to daisy chain up to 6 devices with Thunderbolt at up to 40 Gbps speeds (connecting one peripheral directly to the next). That’s why you see all the companies below – even Apple with its Studio Display and Pro Display XDR – use Thunderbolt 3. While Thunderbolt 4 is available, it’s more of a rebrand of Thunderbolt 3 with the same 40 Gbps bandwidth. Thunderbolt (3 and 4) use the same physical connector as USB-C which offers single-cable connectivity and charging for Macs with monitors. We’ll update this guide as soon as we learn more. We’re still waiting on launch and pricing details for Samsung’s ViewFinity S9 Monitor and Dell says its 6K UltraSharp Monitor will land in the first half of 2023 (price still unknown). And Dell detailed its first 6K monitor with Thunderbolt and IPS Black technology that may be an interesting Apple Pro Display XDR alternative. Update 2/20/23: New options arriving in the months ahead: Samsung announced its first Thunderbolt 5K monitor (pictured above) which will compete with Apple’s Studio Display.

Below we’ll cover the best Thunderbolt monitors for Mac as well as what you get with a Thunderbolt monitor vs a USB-C monitor. Luckily there are some great choices that are more affordable from LG, BenQ, and more. While Apple is in the game again, its displays at $1,600-$5,000+ won’t be the right fit for everyone. In 2023, there’s more variety of Thunderbolt monitors than ever.

Thunderbolt adaptor to hdmi