With the arrival of the new Macs featuring the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, it is important to mention that Thunderbolt 5 is the new connection standard available. We tell you more
A internal novelty of the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips is the new Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. This is the most significant increase since the arrival of Thunderbolt 3 in 2015. Given its capabilities, This is a special connection that not all computers will have access toThe clear example is the Mac with a normal M4 chip. What does Thunderbolt 5 offer compared to its predecessors?
What Thunderbolt 5 improves on Macs with M4 Pro and Max chips
In terms of energy, Thunderbolt 5 increases it to 240W from Thunderbolt 4’s 100W. The case of the most powerful equipment, for example the 16-inch MacBook Pro, They will be able to charge faster when needed in the minimum possible time.
In terms of transfer speeds, Thunderbolt 5 doubles what was done by previous generations where the standard transfer reaches 80 Gbps in both directions. For demanding video tasks, there is a special mode that increase speed up to 120 Gbps and also keeps 40 Gbps free for other transfers. The bandwidth of Thunderbolt 5 triples that of its predecessor.
By having better bandwidth, the connections in terms of screen configurations are much better. 4K displays can be connected with refresh rates up to 240Hz. It is possible to use products with older versions of Thunderbolt and USB.
Thunderbolt 5 performance is spectacular
Display configurations on a MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 5
There are 3 Thunderbolt 5 ports on the MacBook Pro and Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip, as well as the laptop with the M4 Max chip. In terms of display configuration, it’s amazing what the new connections can support.
- MacBook Pro with M4 Pro chip supports up to 2 external displays: 2 screens with 6K resolution at 60 Hz or 1 6K 60 Hz screen associated with 1 4K 144 Hz screen with HDMI. It can also support 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz display via HDMI.
- Macbook Pro with M4 Max chip supports up to 4 external displays : 3 6K 60 Hz displays with Thunderbolt and 1 4K 144 Hz display via HDMI. It is also possible to have a 3 screen configuration: 2 6K 60 Hz screens with Thunderbolt and 1 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz screen via HDMI.
MacBook Pro M4 and connected display combination
View settings on a Mac mini with Thunderbolt 5
By supporting an M4 Pro chip, you can Supports 3 external displays up to 6K 60Hz resolution and an alternative with HDMI is an 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz display.
Mac mini with M4 chip supports up to 3 external displays: 2 6K 60 Hz displays and 1 5K 60 Hz or 4K 60 Hz display via HDMI. Another possible configuration is 1 5K 60 Hz display with Thunderbolt 4 and 1 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz display with Thunderbolt 4 or HDMI.
The quality of the displays you want to connect will depend on the needs of each user.
Mac mini M4 supports up to 3 external displays
Is it required to have Thunderbolt 5 to work?
Thunderbolt 4 is ideal for users with light, everyday tasks. The most demanding tasks which could be editing photos and videos could be supported by this standard given that Thunderbolt 4 has 40 Gbps of bandwidth. It supports 4K video editing, which is an acceptable resolution and is already very common in various videos uploaded to the network.
On the contrary, Thunderbolt 5 is aimed more at professional users who fit multiple displays into their work ecosystem. This is valuable when working with 8K video or if you’re doing large file transfers. It also benefits professionals who work directly with the 3D rendering, virtual reality and demanding video productions.
If you are about to buy a new Mac from the M4 series You must be aware of what each equipment offers you with its specifications. We have previously recommended how to choose a Mac using RAM, in this exclusive case of Thunderbolt 5 you must remember that it is only available with Macs equipped with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chip.
However, buying a Mac with an M4 chip doesn’t mean you’ll be moved away from the best technology. Knowing that Thunderbolt 5 will gradually reach other accessories, compatibility will take time to be noticed. How has Thunderbolt technology on Mac benefited you? Is there any reason to upgrade to Thunderbolt 5 immediately?
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