The perfect Mac isn’t there yet, the cable is already there: Apple’s Thunderbolt 5 cable

Last week, Apple began selling cables for the new Thunderbolt 5 transmission standard for the first time. The strips are already present in the group’s stores as well available online – Interestingly, even before the corresponding computers came into the market. The Mac mini M4 Pro and MacBook Pro M4 Pro and M4 Max will be released on Friday this week and are the first Macs with the new ports. The new iMac or Mac mini and pure M4 models like the MacBook Pro without the Pro (or Max) still come with Thunderbolt 4.

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cheap, but small

Apple charges 79 euros for the new cable. It is 1 meter long and is black, with no other colors. The price is relatively cheap – by Apple standards. The older “Pro” cables with Thunderbolt 4, which are still available, retail for 149 and 179 euros, but at 1.8 and 3 meters, respectively, they are longer than the newer cables. The outer material is braided – that means no “tangle”, as Apple writes – and the plugs are as usual. Thank you possibly more expensive amplifier electronics Huge.

Thunderbolt 5 uses the usual USB-C connector, and fallback to slower standards is also supported. It now promises a theoretical throughput of 120 Gbit/s with full compatibility on computers and other hardware; Thunderbolt 3, 4 and USB 4 reach a maximum of 80 Gbit/s. USB 3 data connections reach a total of 10 Gbit/s. Apple promises DisplayPort 2.1 video output instead of DisplayPort with HBR3, and up to 240 watts of charging instead of just 100 watts as before.

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not easy to distinguish

Is it Thunderbolt 4 or is it already 5? At first glance, Apple’s Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable looks very similar to its predecessor. So professionals will have to mark the strip after removing it from packaging to avoid confusion, although Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 models are always longer, as mentioned.

It remains to be seen whether there will also be extra-length Thunderbolt 5 Pro cables; But then redrivers will probably have to be used to boost the signal. Apple also states that up to six Thunderbolt devices can be connected in series using the strip. The cable is inactive.

(B.Sc.)