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Version 3 of the Thunderbolt interface will use the same USB-C connector and offer double the bandwidth

Intel today confirmed that USB-C is here to stay: the third verse of its interface Thunderbolt use the same connector, which until then followed the Mini DisplayPorts standard.

Thunderbolt 3

According to Ars Technica UK, Thunderbolt 3 supports twice as much bandwidth as the current version, reaching 40Gbps. According to the USB Power Delivery specification, it will also be able to deliver up to 100W of power.

In practice, this means that the Thunderbolt 3 can handle up to two 4K monitors at 60Hz or a 5K monitor at 60Hz on a single cable. It will also be fully compatible with USB 3.1 devices and there will be adapters for connecting current Thunderbolt devices.

Intel predicts that Thunderbolt 3 will be released for products by the end of this year, with mass adoption scheduled for the first half of 2016.

(tip from Lucas Caton)