Newer Mac M1 models feature Thunderbolt 3 ports, no newer Thunderbolt 4

The new M1-equipped MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini each have two USB-C ports that support USB 4 and Thunderbolt, but it turns out Apple is still using Thunderbolt 3 rather than upgrading. the new models for Thunderbolt 4.

Intel shared details in July about Thunderbolt 4, which will be released on new PCs with Tiger Lake processors. Thunderbolt 4 offers the same maximum speeds of 40Gbps that are available through Thunderbolt 3, but it makes some notable improvements, such as support for docking stations with four Thunderbolt downstream ports. From Intel:

• Double the minimum video and data requirements of Thunderbolt 3.
• Video: Support two 4K displays or one 8K display.
• Data: PCIe at 32 Gbit / s for storage speeds up to 3000 Mbit / s.
• Support for docking stations with up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports.
• Loading the PC on at least one computer port.
• Wake your computer from sleep mode by touching the keyboard or mouse while it is connected to a Thunderbolt docking station.
• Intel VT-d based direct memory access (DMA) protection, which helps prevent physical DMA attacks.

Intel has also designed new cables that support Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4, with longer lengths that don’t compromise the speeds of 40 Gb / s. Thunderbolt 4 uses the same physical USB-C connector design, and Thunderbolt 4 ports and cables are backward compatible and crossover with USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, and other USB standards.

Apple’s Mac M1s, which include the ‌MacBook Pro, ‌MacBook Air‌, and ‌Mac mini‌, are available for purchase today and will begin arriving to customers on November 17.