Hands on with Apple's new $70 Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable
by Andrew O'Hara · AppleInsiderApple has introduced a new Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable to coincide with the addition of the new IO to its latest Macs. We picked one up and wanted to also compare it to Apple's last-gen Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable.
The newly-released Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable isn't cheap. It will run you $69 for only a meter in length.
As we've seen in the past though, Apple's professional cables are no joke. Just like with its chargers, Apple puts in a significant amount of engineering to make sure its cables are up to the highest standards compared other the cheaper alternatives.
Thunderbolt 5 is a big upgrade
Compared to Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 5, the fifth-generation of Thunderbolt technology was a significant upgrade. It was big enough that we already did a detailed comparison between them.
Some of the highlights though include a big increase in bandwidth. Bidirectional bandwidth has doubled from 40Gb/s to 80Gb/s and asynchronous tripod to 120Gb/s.
For displays, three 4K-resolution monitors can be run at 144Hz. Plus, multiple 8K displays can be run at the same time.
Finally, Thunderbolt 5 boosts power. It will now deliver up to 240W. Thunderbolt 4 capped at 100W while Thunderbolt 5 has a minimum supported rate of 140W.
Apple's new Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable meets all these requirements.
Apple's pro cable
The new cable is a meter long. Currently, it is not available in the 1.8m or 3m length that Apple offers in its Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable.
It's braided and feels like a sturdy, hefty cable. It doesn't feel cheap by any means.
Since it's braided, it also resists any kinks or tangles. It's very easy to unspool and connect.
One difference from Apple's old cable is that it now has metal overmolds on the connectors versus plastic. It's black metal and gives it an even more premium feel.
There's a big problem with Thunderbolt cables, and we'll lump USB-C cables in there too, in knowing what they actually support. Or even what version of USB or Thunderbolt they are.
With USB-C cables, you always have to worry about data speed, display support, charging speed, the and more. Apple wanted to get rid of this issue.
They opted to support the maximum capabilities of Thunderbolt 5. They also etched a very tiny "5" on the end of the cable, making it easier to identify which version of the Thunderbolt spec is supported.
There will be other Thunderbolt 5 cables on the market and they may not support the full power bandwidth or may not be as durable. If you want to ensure that your cable is meeting all the requirements, Apple's Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable is the one to choose.
Available to order now
Thunderbolt 5 is brand new. There are very computers, accessories, or cables that support this latest spec as of now.
Overtime, this will likely grow. We saw a handful of prototype Thunderbolt 5 devices at CES earlier this year and more will start shipping in the months ahead, especially as Apple is on board.
Apple's new Thunderbolt 5 Pro cable can be ordered from Best Buy for $69. It only comes in black and one meter.
Eventually, we expect Apple to launch other lengths, but for now, the short one is all that's available. It's compatible with the new 2024 MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chip as well as the M4 Pro Mac mini.
The cable is also fully backwards compatible with Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 machines and peripherals.
3 Comments
jvm156 33 comments · New User
About 2 hours ago
Not much point in buying one now. No drive enclosures or monitors exist
cougarmeat 18 comments · 1 Year
About 26 minutes ago
Seems like all you mentioned was the cosmetics. A wire is a wire. Perhaps you can add a bit about why the electrons like the Thunderbolt 5 wire more than the Thunderbolt 4 wire. What is it - not the external braid or the plastic or molded cover on the plug - that makes the electrons travel faster (trick question)? And why does that process cost $70?
apple4thewin 265 comments · 3 Years
About 20 minutes ago
cougarmeat said:
Seems like all you mentioned was the cosmetics. A wire is a wire. Perhaps you can add a bit about why the electrons like the Thunderbolt 5 wire more than the Thunderbolt 4 wire. What is it - not the external braid or the plastic or molded cover on the plug - that makes the electrons travel faster (trick question)? And why does that process cost $70?
Umm build quality? For that price it better be fiber optic (although for that length you wouldn’t notice too much difference).
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