Probably. USB4 ports typically appear on laptops with AMD Ryzen processors inside. USB4 and Thunderbolt 4 are compatible and functionally equivalent. (Though Thunderbolt is an open standard, Intel declines to certify non-Intel hardware. That means that Ryzen laptops end up with USB4 ports, and Intel Core laptops include Thunderbolt.)USB4 is essentially a subset of Thunderbolt 4, mainly designed as an I/O specification.As a subset of Thunderbolt 4, a USB4 device will run just fine plugged into a Thunderbolt 4 port. But dock makers tell us that a Thunderbolt 4 device may not work as expected whe
These are the best Thunderbolt docks you can buy right nowThe Thunderbolt 5 spec pushes I/O bandwidth from 40Gbps in Thunderbolt 4 to 80Gbps in Thunderbolt 5, and even to 120Gbps in some cases. Another good way to think of Thunderbolt 5 is in the context of what it can do. Thunderbolt 4 allows enough bandwidth for two 4K displays, running at 60Hz. Thunderbolt 5 will offer enough bandwidth to connect to three 4K displays, at 144Hz apiece. That helps make Thunderbolt 5 a gaming-class technology, rather than just for office work.Thunderbolt 5 will also allow for 64Gbps of dedicated bandwidth for storage and external GPUs, double the 32Gbps on Thunderbol
These are the best Thunderbolt docks you can buy right nowThunderbolt Share is a new way of connecting two PCs via a Thunderbolt cable. Plug one end of the cable into one Thunderbolt port, and the other into a Thunderbolt port on another laptop, and voila! They're connected. Thunderbolt Share allows you to use one PC to control another, sync files, share files, and more, all at Thunderbolt speeds. I explain Thunderbolt Share and test it, here.It sounds simple, easy, and powerful, but it's more complicated than that. Both PCs have to run Intel's Thunderbolt Share software, and you'll only be able to get that from a licensed PC or Thunderbolt dock. Thu
These are the best Thunderbolt docks you can buy right nowAs a Windows user, you’re largely limited to laptops with Thunderbolt 4 connections. That pushes a Thunderbolt 5 dock — and a pricy one — a little out of reach for most people. The runner-up in my list of the best Thunderbolt docks is a Thunderbolt 5 docking station, but it’s under $300. Support for three displays, additional adapter cables, and the useful though still niche Thunderbolt Share technology certainly justify a bit of the additional cost — well, if you own a Thunderbolt 5 laptop. But for me, this dock is priced too high for what it offers to the majority of Windows PC users. I just
My testing revealed the catch in Targus' sexy-sounding Thunderbolt 5 Triple Video dock… This mini PC is also user-upgradeable—up to 128GB RAM and 4TB of storage—so it's future-proofed. The Geekom A7 Max comes with a slew of ports, including dual 40Gbps USB4 ports and dual HDMI 2.0 ports. …
… The spare HDMI port can be used for a third extended display on Windows PCs. Power delivery to the laptop is 96W, enough for a lightweight content-creation laptop. There’s a handy 30W USB-C charging port at the front, which also supports 10Gbps data transfer. …
… But we can be assured that Thunderbolt 5 will eventually become mainstream on Windows PCs, and overspending now to future-proof your PC remains a viable choice. …
… But most PCs that support active pen input also have touchscreens. This is the killer feature that makes Windows tablets feel useful, yet even so, most people aren't using a pen very often. I know too many who have bought 2-in-1 PCs with pen support and rarely ended up using it. …
… Graphics outputs will apparently support four independent displays, too. VideoCardz is also claiming that there will be two Thunderbolt 5 connections, which I'm also modestly excited about. Desktop PCs tend to have a wide variety of I/O ports, and hopefully desktop PCs will continue the trend. …
… We're getting support for displays with up to 1,000Hz refresh rates, making the operating system somewhat more future-proof against high-end monitors with crazy speeds for gamers. …
… Nothing against KYY, but I don’t like loading random software onto my PC. Being able to download it from a site I know reassures me a bit. Actually, my Lenovo laptop with two Thunderbolt ports worked without having to download any drivers at all. …
… To the right, two 5Gbps and two 10Gbps USB-A ports appear, perfect for legacy devices. Next to them is the dock’s only 10Gbps USB-C port. There is also a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and the four display ports: two HDMI 2.1 ports and two DisplayPort 1.4 ports. …
The most exciting hardware for PC gamers this decade is the Steam Deck, a portable handheld gaming PC that's almost singlehandedly created a product category. …
… However, the 2026 laptop platforms for all three PC processor makers, including Intel’s Panther Lake, will not support Thunderbolt 5 except via a more expensive discrete chip. That likely makes Thunderbolt 5 a niche technology. Yes, you can future-proof your desk with this dock. …