Intel has previewed its new Thunderbolt 4 standard for USB Type-C cables. We know this isn’t the sexiest of aspects when it comes to consumer technology, but as anyone who has has a poor experience resulting from lacklustre USB cables and ports, it is rather important.

First things first, and Thunderbolt 4 is not going to be faster than its predecessor, let’s get that out of the way. It will muster the same peak speeds of 40Gbps, but the key focus for this iteration of USB Type-C cable lie in its improved support for media and multi-port hubs.

As far as media goes, Intel says the Thunderbolt 4 standard will be able to support two 4K displays or one 8K screen. Added to this will be peak PCIe data transfer speeds of 32Gbps, which is triple that of the Thunderbolt 3 version. The company adds that this standard will support docks with up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports, as well as universal cables up to two metres in length.

This will all likely be showcased in Intel’s upcoming mobile PC processors, which are currently codenamed Tiger Lake. The firm has 8000 Series Thunderbolt 4 controllers, along with making developer kits and certification testing available to OEMs.

Whether consumers reach for a Thunderbolt 4 certified UCB Type-C cable over a generic one remains to be seen, but Intel are touting the fact that its standard will work as expected, and that is ultimately what people are after.

“We expect Thunderbolt 4 products to be an inflection point for accessory makers who depend on PCs and Macs to offer an industry-leading set of product capabilities for a consistent user experience,” said Ben Thacker, VP and GM at Kensington.

“The advancements in Thunderbolt 4 will help Kensington redefine the modern workspace of the future,” he adds.

Expected to be available for purchase later this year, you can listen to Thunderbolt technical marketing manager, Lyle Warnke, preview the new standard in the video below.

[Image – Photo by Przemyslaw Marczynski on Unsplash]