First Thunderbolt 5 Cables Are Here, But Few Compatible Devices – Next Stage

The first Thunderbolt 5 cables are finally hitting the market, but the number of compatible devices remains limited. Intel revolutionizes connectivity with Thunderbolt 5 thanks to a one-way flow rate of 120Gbps and a power of 240 watts. This technology would, in theory, make it possible to connect External SSDsof the eGPUsand high-resolution monitors with high refresh rates via a single cable. However, the availability of these cables and device compatibility are still issues.

Thunderbolt 5 Cable Availability

Cable Matters has finally started shipping the first certified Thunderbolt 5 cables. Three lengths are available on Amazon: 0.3 meters for $23, 0.5 meters for $27, and 1 meter for $33. However, despite their availability, these cables do not provide any benefit without a compatible device.

To fully utilize Thunderbolt 5, you need a computer with a Thunderbolt 5 port and compatible accessories. As of today, the only known laptop with this port is the Razer Blade 18but only the $4,500 Mercury Edition. This top-of-the-line edition also includes a processor Intel i9 and a mobile graphics card RTX 4090. Although this is a significant step forward, it remains inaccessible for the majority of users.

Lack of compatible devices

The situation is even more frustrating because compatible devices are not yet ready. At CES, some brands like Belkin, J5Create, OWC And Sabrent have presented prototypes, but these products are still not available for purchase. Hyper even put a “Sign up to be notified” button on the page for its $400 dock, indicating that it's out of stock.

With only a few compatible devices, the usefulness of Thunderbolt 5 cables is limited. Until wider adoption, one could use these cables as USB4 Or Thunderbolt 4but that wouldn't take advantage of the awesome new features of Thunderbolt 5.

Many of us are expecting innovation, but without broader availability of devices and accessories, Thunderbolt 5 will remain an unfulfilled promise. The challenge now is to move from theory to practice. Consumers are hoping for rapid adoption of the technology by other computer and peripheral manufacturers.

Although the cables are available, the question remains: when will consumer-friendly devices be ready for use? Intel and other manufacturers need to speed up the delivery of compatible products to make Thunderbolt 5 truly practical. For those who already own devices with Thunderbolt 5, the wait for suitable peripherals seems endless.

In summary, while the arrival of Cable Matters Thunderbolt 5 cables is a step in the right direction, the ecosystem as a whole needs to keep up. Without wider adoption, the usefulness of these cables will remain moot for now. The market is eagerly awaiting the arrival of new compatible devices to fully exploit the full potential of Thunderbolt 5.