Thunderbolt 5 in 2025: what it is, what it does, and what you can buy now. Intel’s newest Thunderbolt raises the bar on bandwidth, displays, PCIe, and charging, while staying backward compatible with your Thunderbolt 3/4 and USB-C gear. The headline numbers are 80 Gbps bi-directional bandwidth with a smart “Bandwidth Boost” mode up to 120 Gbps for displays, DisplayPort 2.1 support, doubled PCIe throughput to 64 Gbps, and USB PD up to 240 W on certified cables.
Intel’s discrete Thunderbolt 5 controller (code-named Barlow Ridge) is launched and in market, and we are finally seeing real laptops and docks with TB5 ports, with early design wins showing up on halo systems like Razer Blade 18 and next-gen docks from OWC.
Table of Contents
Quick summary: Thunderbolt 5 vs 4 vs 3
- Bandwidth: TB5 does 80 Gbps bi-directional, with Bandwidth Boost up to 120 Gbps for displays. TB4 and TB3 are 40 Gbps.
- PCIe data: TB5 doubles the tunneled PCIe from 32 Gbps to 64 Gbps. Better for fast NVMe, capture, and eGPU use.
- Displays: TB5 incorporates DisplayPort 2.1 so it can drive multiple 8K displays or up to three 4K at 144 Hz, and very high refresh at lower resolutions. TB4 uses DP 1.4.
- Charging: TB5 rides on USB PD 3.1 EPR so certified cables advertise up to 240 W
- Compatibility: Backward-compatible with TB4/TB3/USB4 devices over USB-C.
How Thunderbolt 5 achieves its speed
Thunderbolt 5 keeps the four-lane architecture and moves to PAM-3 signaling. The link is 40 Gbps per lane in each direction for an aggregate 80 Gbps. For demanding display scenarios, the controller can dynamically borrow lanes for upstream video and reach 120 Gbps. That is how TB5 handles multi-8K or high-refresh multi-4K setups over a single USB-C cable.
Display performance in 2025
Because TB5 incorporates DisplayPort 2.1 tunneling, it supports multiple 8K displays, up to three 4K at 144 Hz, and very high refresh rates like 540 Hz at lower resolutions when the display pipeline requests Bandwidth Boost. For creators, that means headroom for HDR grading, 10-bit pipelines, and future-proof multi-monitor desks. For gamers, it means high refresh without dropping to lower quality chroma modes.
Data performance: doubled PCIe for real workflows
TB5 doubles tunneled PCIe to 64 Gbps. External NVMe arrays, pro video capture cards, and eGPUs benefit directly. In practice, you cut ingest and backup times nearly in half compared to TB4-class links when the storage can keep up, and you reduce bottlenecks on PCIe-bound devices.
Vendors are already leaning in. OWC’s Thunderbolt 5 dock advertises DP 2.1-class display support and the 80/120 Gbps link behavior that creators need for multi-display color work while moving big files.
Charging and cabling
Thunderbolt 5 ports and certified TB5 cables support USB PD 3.1 EPR up to 240 W, which finally covers many workstation and gaming laptops. Intel-certified 80 Gbps TB5 cables are widely available in 0.3–1 m passive lengths today, with active longer cables emerging. If you buy for high-refresh displays, look for TB5 certification and PD 3.1 on the cable spec sheet.
Real products you can buy or expect
CPUs and controllers: Intel’s JHL9580 Thunderbolt 5 controller launched in Q3’24 and is the chip behind most 2025 TB5 laptops and docks.
Laptops: Early TB5 laptops led with flagship designs. Razer’s Blade 18 lists Thunderbolt 5 on its 2024 and 2025 product pages, and we expect broader adoption as new Intel and USB4 v2 platforms roll out through late 2025 into 2026.
Docks, cables, storage, eGPU gear: OWC has announced a TB5 dock. Intel-certified TB5 cables with 240 W charging are on the shelves from multiple vendors. New TB5 eGPU enclosures that expose PCIe Gen 4 x4 over Thunderbolt are appearing as well.
Thunderbolt 5 vs Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 3: at a glance
| Feature | Thunderbolt 5 | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Total link bandwidth | 80 Gbps, up to 120 Gbps for displays (Bandwidth Boost) | 40 Gbps | 40 Gbps |
| PCIe tunneling | Up to 64 Gbps (PCIe Gen 4 x4) | Up to 32 Gbps | Up to 32 Gbps |
| Display standard | DisplayPort 2.1 tunneling | DisplayPort 1.4 tunneling | DisplayPort 1.4 tunneling |
| Typical monitor configs | Multiple 8K, or 3×4K@144 Hz, or very high refresh at lower res | 2×4K@60 Hz or 1×8K@60 Hz (with DSC) | 2×4K@60 Hz |
| Charging | USB PD 3.1 up to 240 W (cable dependent) | Up to 100 W host charging typical | Up to 100 W host charging typical |
| Backward compatibility | Yes, with TB4/TB3/USB4 devices | Yes | Yes |
Who should upgrade now
Upgrade now if you push lots of pixels or PCIe. Examples include multi-monitor 4K editing, HDR color suites, esports-grade refresh targets, camera-to-RAID ingest, or external GPUs for pro apps. You get tangible wins from DP 2.1, 64 Gbps PCIe, and 240 W charging.
Wait a bit if your workflow is single 4K at 60 Hz with a few USB drives. TB4 already handles that well, and broader TB5 adoption through late 2025 into 2026 will improve device choice and pricing.
FAQs
Is Thunderbolt 5 the same as USB4 v2?
Thunderbolt 5 builds on the USB4 v2.0 spec, then layers Intel’s certification, requirements, and feature set on top. Think of TB5 as a stricter, fully-tested superset that guarantees performance targets across displays, PCIe, and power.
Does Thunderbolt 5 really do 120 Gbps?
Yes, for video-heavy scenarios. The controller can re-allocate lanes to push up to 120 Gbps to displays. For balanced data transfers, the link runs 80 Gbps bi-directionally.
Will my Thunderbolt 3/4 gear still work?
Yes. TB5 ports talk to TB4, TB3, and USB4 devices and negotiate the highest common feature set. Your existing docks, drives, and displays will function at their spec.
What about cables and charging?
Look for Intel-certified TB5 cables. Many advertise up to 240 W PD 3.1 EPR and support Bandwidth Boost for displays. Most passive certified TB5 cables are up to 1 m today, with active longer cables arriving.
Sources
- Intel Newsroom: Intel Introduces Thunderbolt 5. Specs, Bandwidth Boost, DP 2.1, PCIe Gen 4, PAM-3.
- Intel ARK: JHL9580 Thunderbolt 5 controller. Launch Q3’24, DP 2.1 support, PCIe Gen 4 x4.
- USB-IF: USB4 v2.0 specification page.
- Razer Blade 18 product page listing Thunderbolt 5 on shipping systems.
- OWC Thunderbolt 5 Dock preview page.
- Vendor examples of Intel-certified TB5 240 W cables.
