everything that this connection offers available on Macs

With the arrival of the new Macs with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, it is important to mention that Thunderbolt 5 is the new connection standard available. We tell you more about it

A internal novelty of the new Mac mini and MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips is the new Thunderbolt 5 connectivity. It’s the biggest increase since Thunderbolt 3 arrived in 2015. Given its capabilities, It is a special connection in which not all computers will have accessThe 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 up to 240 W compared to Thunderbolt 4’s 100 W. The case of the most powerful computers, for example the 16-inch MacBook Pro, They will be able to charge faster when required 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 boost speed up to 120 Gbps and also keeps 40 Gbps free for other transfers. Thunderbolt 5’s bandwidth triples that of its predecessor.

By having better bandwidth, 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 both the MacBook Pro and the Mac mini with the M4 Pro chip, and also on 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 displays with 6K resolution at 60 Hz or 1 6K 60 Hz display together with 1 4K 144 Hz display with HDMI. It can also alternatively support an 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

Display settings on a Mac mini with Thunderbolt 5

By having support for an M4 Pro chip, you can Support 3 external displays up to 6K 60Hz resolution and an alternative with HDMI is an 8K 60 Hz or 4K 240 Hz display.

The 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 screens you want to connect will depend on the needs of each user.

Mac mini M4 supports up to 3 external displays

Is it mandatory to have Thunderbolt 5 to work?

The Thunderbolt 4 standard is ideal for users who are subject to light, everyday tasks. The most demanding tasks that could be photo and video editing could be supported under this standard considering that Thunderbolt 4 has 40 Gbps of bandwidth. It supports 4K video editing, which is an acceptable resolution and is already very common to see in various videos uploaded to the network.

On the contrary, Thunderbolt 5 is more aimed at professional users who adapt multiple displays to their work ecosystem. It is valuable when working with 8K video or if performing huge file transfers. It also benefits those professionals who work directly with the 3D rendering, virtual reality and demanding video productions.

If you are about to purchase a new Mac from the M4 range 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 with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chip.

However, purchasing a Mac with an M4 chip does not mean that you will be away from the best technology. Taking into account that Thunderbolt 5 will gradually reach other accessories, compatibility will take time to be noticed. How much has Thunderbolt technology on Mac benefited you? Are there reasons to immediately switch to Thunderbolt 5?

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