Thunderbolt 5 brings significant advancements to connectivity technology, introducing 80 Gbps of bidirectional bandwidth and up to 120 Gbps with Bandwidth Boost (an asymmetric operation mode where 120 Gbps is set to transmit and 40 Gbps is set to receive). These enhancements make it a powerful tool for professionals requiring high-speed data transfer, external storage, and multi-display setups. Additionally, Thunderbolt 5 supports impressive display resolutions and refresh rates, enabling configurations with 8K displays or up to three 4K displays at 144Hz.
While the technology promises enhanced capabilities for two or three external displays, the actual number supported can differ based on the device manufacturer’s implementation. Understanding these differences is crucial when planning your setup.
Display Support Variability Across Devices
The specifications above highlight the immense potential for triple-display configurations, but real-world implementation often paints a more nuanced picture. A key consideration is that triple-display functionality in Thunderbolt 5 is optional. In other words, Thunderbolt 5 only requires dual display support. System manufacturers must navigate various trade-offs when designing their devices, including hardware or chipset limitations, cost constraints, and power management challenges.
As a result, some manufacturers may opt not to include triple-display support, effectively limiting Thunderbolt 5 outputs to just two displays.
Real-World Examples
Apple’s M4 Pro Models: Despite implementing Thunderbolt 5, Apple’s latest ‘base’ M4 and M4 Pro devices only support dual displays.
Razer Blade 18: In contrast, the Razer Blade 18 is reported to support three external 4K displays.
Drawing a Parallel Back to Thunderbolt 3
This display support variability is reminiscent of the Thunderbolt 3 era, where display support was inconsistent across devices. Thunderbolt 3 was capable of up to two external displays; however, the specifications only required a single display. This led to some Windows laptops offering only a single external display output despite the technology’s theoretical support for dual 4K. Dell and Apple, for example, frequently supported dual displays, showcasing a consistent trend in their designs. In contrast, manufacturers like HP and Lenovo varied their support depending on the specific system model and family, leading to a more inconsistent user experience.
In response to the confusion caused by Thunderbolt 3 inconsistencies, Plugable created compatibility tables for our products (example) to document our findings and enhance customer confidence. Our data combines in-house testing with valuable feedback from our customers. However maintaining this sort of document is not feasible and wasn’t comprehensive enough for all customers.
Comparison of Thunderbolt Display Capabilities over the Generations
The table below outlines the required vs optional display support across the recent Thunderbolt generations.
Managing Expectations
Thunderbolt 5 enhances multi-display setups with increased bandwidth, supporting higher resolutions, refresh rates, and up to three displays. However, these video capabilities may not be fully realized on every device. Before investing in a Thunderbolt 5 docking station solution, please ensure you:
Carefully review the technical specifications of the laptop or desktop.
If you are considering purchasing a Thunderbolt 5 dock that supports triple displays, ensure your system's Thunderbolt 5 controller has this capability.
We anticipate a broader range of Thunderbolt 5-enabled devices in 2025, with potentially greater consistency in display capabilities. Stay tuned for updates as more systems enter the market and redefine what’s possible for multi-display setups.
