Thunderbolt vs USB-C: Same Look, Totally Different Game

Ever plugged in a cable and thought, “Wait… is this USB-C or Thunderbolt?” You’re not alone. These two ports might look identical, but trust me — what goes on inside is a whole different story. Whether you’re just charging your phone or pushing pixels to a 6K monitor, knowing the difference could save you from a tech headache (and maybe even a few thousand rupees). Let’s settle this once and for all.

Shape & Size:

Identical. Both use the same USB-C connector — so yes, physically, they look like twins. But under the hood? Total opposites.

Main Differences:

Feature	USB-C Cable	Thunderbolt Cable
Speed	Usually 5–10 Gbps (USB 3.1/3.2), sometimes 20 Gbps	Up to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3/4)
Data Transfer	Good for regular peripherals	Great for high-speed SSDs, 4K/8K video, external GPUs
Power Delivery	Usually up to 100W	Also supports 100W, but more consistent with high-power devices
Video Support	Supports DisplayPort (varies by cable)	Dual 4K displays or one 8K — no sweat
Daisy-Chaining	Nope	Yup — connect multiple devices in a chain
Backward Compatibility	Works with USB-C ports	Works with USB-C ports, but maxes out only if Thunderbolt is supported
Price	Cheap-ish	More expensive (and rightly so)

How to Spot a Thunderbolt Cable:

• Look for a little lightning bolt icon ⚡ on the connector.

• Or, check the specs — most genuine Thunderbolt cables say it loud and proud.

So, when do you use which?

• USB-C Cable: Charging phones, connecting keyboards, regular file transfers — your daily driver.

• Thunderbolt Cable: Editing 4K video off a blazing fast SSD? Hooking up to a high-res monitor? This is your Ferrari.

TL;DR:

• All Thunderbolt cables are USB-C…

• But not all USB-C cables are Thunderbolt.

• It’s like square vs rectangle — classic geometry twist. Still Confused or Need the Right Cable?

Don’t stress it — we’ve got you. Whether you’re building a high-performance workstation or just need a solid cable for everyday use, swing by NeoStore at Mulund or hit us up online. We’ll help you pick the right cable for the right job — no overpaying, no underperforming.

Book a one-on-one consult here: http://heycharu.in/book-online

Or drop by for a chat. We speak fluent tech (and sarcasm).