belkin thunderbolt dock on desk

THUNDERBOLT™ 3

Everything you need to know about Thunderbolt™ and Thunderbolt 3

WHAT IS THUNDERBOLT 3?

Thunderbolt, developed by Intel, steps up USB port technology by supporting both high‐speed data and video. Harnessing Thunderbolt through a USB-C port created in partnership with USB-IF, Thunderbolt 3 is the fastest port available. It connects Thunderbolt devices, all HD and 4K displays, and billions of USB-C devices using one compact, reversible cable.

HISTORY OF THUNDERBOLT

  • 1995
    USB 1.0 consolidates and simplifies low‐speed data ports.
    Thunderbolt technology timeline starts in 1995 with USB 1.0
  • 2000
    USB 2.0 increases data speed (480 Mbps).
    Thunderbolt technology timeline continues in 2000 with USB 2.0
  • 2008
    USB 3.0 increases data speed (5 Gbps).
    Thunderbolt technology timeline: in 2008 USB 3.0 increases data speed
  • 2010–11
    Thunderbolt consolidates and simplifies high-speed data and video ports (10 Gbps). Notebooks featuring Mini DisplayPort are announced.
    Thunderbolt technology timeline: data and video speed goes up to 10 Gbps in 2010-2011
  • 2013
    Thunderbolt 2 increases data and video speed (20 Gbps). USB 3.1 increases data speed (10 Gbps). More devices featuring Mini DisplayPort are announced.
    Thunderbolt technology timeline: more devices with Mini and DisplayPort are announced in 2013
  • 2014
    Type-C (USB-C) connector introduces a new small, reversible connector.
    Thunderbolt technology timeline: USB-C connector is introduced in 2014
  • 2015-19
    Thunderbolt 3 brings Thunderbolt and USB 3.1 (10 Gbps) to USB-C (40 Gbps).
    Thunderbolt technology timeline: with USB-C file transfer rate goes up to 40 Gbps
 
WHY IS THUNDERBOLT 3 BETTER?

The increasing mobility of the workforce coupled with the decreasing size of devices created a challenge within the tech sphere: How to support desktop speeds and applications—on mobile devices. Thunderbolt was developed as a solution to this challenge. Thunderbolt 3 supports the fastest data and most video bandwidth on a single cable.

Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock features HDMI, Ethernet, FireWire, Thunderbolt 2, VGA and USB 3 ports

1. Ethernet    2. Firewire    3. Thunderbolt 2
4. DisplayPort    5. HDMI®    6. USB-C   7. USB-A

MORE PROTOCOLS

Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, PCI Express, and USB

Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock is 80 times faster than USB 2.0

MORE SPEED

Up to 40 Gbps total bandwidth

Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock can support two 4K HD displays simultaneously

MORE PIXELS

Supports dual 4K 60Hz displays

Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock delivers Up to 85W power delivery

MORE POWER

Up to 85W power delivery

THUNDERBOLT 3 DOCKS

The new wave of Thunderbolt 3 Docks from Belkin brings fast data transfer, ultra-high definition monitor support and all the features you want from your ideal workstation.

THUNDERBOLT 3
DOCK PRO Thunderbolt
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD

USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 

Compatibility with Mac and Windows

Dual 4K 60Hz Thunderbolt + DisplayPort

40 Gbps data transfer rate

Connects 8 devices through a single cable

Gigabit ethernet for a fast, secure and reliable connection

UHS-II SD card reader

Up to 85W of power to your computer

Single-cable docking solution

 
 



Explore Belkin Thunderbolt 3 solutions
THUNDERBOLT 3
DOCK PLUS Thunderbolt
Belkin Thunderbolt 2 Express Dock HD

USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 

Compatibility with Mac and Windows

Dual 4K 60Hz 2x DisplayPort

40 Gbps data transfer rate

Connects 8 devices through a single cable

Gigabit ethernet for a fast, secure and reliable connection

Up to 60W of power to your computer

Single-cable docking solution

 
 

 
 



Explore Belkin Thunderbolt 3 solutions
THUNDERBOLT 3
DOCK CORE Thunderbolt
Belkin THUNDERBOLT 3 DOCK CORE

Tethered Thunderbolt 3 cable

Compatibility with Mac and Windows

Dual 4K 60Hz DisplayPort + HDMI

40 Gbps data transfer rate

Connects 6 devices through a single cable

Gigabit ethernet for a fast, secure and reliable connection

Up to 60W of power to your computer

Single-cable docking solution

 
 

Explore Belkin Thunderbolt 3 solutions
THUNDERBOLT 3
DOCK MINI HD Thunderbolt
Belkin THUNDERBOLT 3 DOCK MINI HD

Tethered Thunderbolt 3 cable

USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 

Compatibility with Mac and Windows

Dual 4K 60Hz 2x 2x HDMI

40 Gbps data transfer rate

Connects 4 devices through a single cable

Gigabit ethernet for a fast, secure and reliable connection

Single-cable docking solution

 
 

Explore Belkin Thunderbolt 3 solutions
THUNDERBOLT 3
EXPRESS DOCK HD Thunderbolt
Belkin THUNDERBOLT 3 EXPRESS DOCK HD

USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 

Compatibility with Windows only

Dual 4K 60Hz Thunderbolt + DisplayPort

40 Gbps data transfer rate

Connects 8 devices through a single cable

Gigabit ethernet for a fast, secure and reliable connection

Up to 85W of power to your computer

Single-cable docking solution

 
 

Explore Belkin Thunderbolt 3 solutions
Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD streamlines workspace by connecting up to 8 separate devices
THUNDERBOLT SOLUTIONS

Take full advantage of Thunderbolt technology with cables and accessories from Belkin.

Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock Pro

Ports

  1. USB-A 3.0 ports
  2. Gb Ethernet
  3. DisplayPort
  4. Thunderbolt™ 3 port
  5. Thunderbolt™ 3 port (powers up to 85W)
  6. DC in (170W)
  7. USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 port
  8. USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 port
  9. SD Card Reader
  10. Audio In/Out

Thunderbolt™ 3 Dock Plus

Ports

  1. Gb Ethernet
  2. USB-A 3.1 ports
  3. USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports
  4. DisplayPort
  5. DC in (125W)
  6. Thunderbolt™ 3 port
  7. Audio In/Out
  8. USB-A 3.1 Gen 2 port
Cheat Sheet

Gbps (stands for gigabits per second)

A unit of data transfer rate measuring bandwidth speed by the billions of bits transferred per second.

Standard USB (stands for Standard Universal Serial Bus)

The most common universal connector on the “other end” of most current USB cables, Standard USB is often suitable for use with computers, car chargers, wall chargers, and many other devices.

USB port (stands for Universal Serial Bus port)

A port designed for use with an industry standard connector to communicate data and supply electric power between devices.

USB 3.1

USB 3.1 is the updated, Gen 2 version of USB 3.0. Gen 2 successfully doubled the transfer speed rate of Gen 1(USB 3.0), taking USB from 5 Gbps to 10 Gbps.

USB-C (also known as Type-C)

A new type of USB connector, hailed as the new standard. Smaller, faster, and more user-friendly than previous USB types, USB-C has widespread support from industry leaders, meaning USB-C will come to replace all other USB types.

USB-IF (stands for USB Implementers Forum)

A non-profit organization founded by the companies that developed the Universal Serial Bus (USB) specification. The USB-IF’s mission is to support and advance USB technology.

4K (short for 4,096 pixels of resolution)

Quickly becoming the new standard for high-quality digital video, 4K refers to a horizontal resolution of 4,096 pixels, or “4K” pixels.

Mini DisplayPort

A miniaturized version of the DisplayPort interface, Apple developed audio-visual digital interface Mini DisplayPort in 2008.

 

 

  1. Belkin Thunderbolt 3 Express Dock HD only.
  2. https://thunderbolttechnology.net/sites/default/files/Thunderbolt_3_Overview_Brief_FINAL.pdf
  3. Second display must be Thunderbolt enabled.