How Apple's Thunderbolt Ports Are Different From USB-C
Not every USB-C port is Thunderbolt, and features can vary wildly.
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If you've wondered whether Thunderbolt is the same as USB-C, the simple answer is "not exactly." USB-C isn't a charging standard or speed; it simply describes the shape of the port and connector. Thunderbolt is a standard that uses the USB-C connector for its modern iterations. So on a modern Mac, every Thunderbolt port is USB-C, but not every USB-C port supports Thunderbolt. (Older Thunderbolt versions used the now-obsolete Mini DisplayPort.)
Picture USB-C as a door. On a modern Mac, every door looks the same, but what's behind each can be quite different. On a MacBook Neo, for example, there are two doors. One is a narrow path with enough space for just one person at a time: that's its USB 2 port, which tops out at 480 Mbps. Behind the other door is a...
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