What Is the Difference Between DisplayPort and Thunderbolt? A Breakdown

When you’re setting up a new 4K monitor or connecting a high-performance dock to your laptop, it’s easy to get tripped up by all the ports and cables—especially when they look nearly identical. DisplayPort and Thunderbolt are two of the most powerful connection types out there, but they serve slightly different purposes. So, what is the difference between DisplayPort and Thunderbolt, and which one should you actually use?

Whether you’re building out a home office or gaming on a high-refresh display, this guide will walk you through the essentials. We’ll break down what each port does, how they compare, and how to choose the right one for your setup.

What Is DisplayPort?

DisplayPort is a digital display interface developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA). It’s primarily used to connect a video source—like your computer—to a display, such as a monitor. Think of it as the successor to older standards like VGA and DVI, but with much more power under the hood.

The key thing to know about DisplayPort is that it’s designed specifically for video and audio transmission. It supports high resolutions (like 4K and 8K), high refresh rates, and features like HDR and Adaptive Sync, which is great for gamers and content creators. The latest version, DisplayPort 2.1, can handle up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth—more than enough for multiple high-res monitors or ultra-smooth gameplay.

DisplayPort connectors come in two main sizes: standard DisplayPort and Mini DisplayPort. While Mini DisplayPort was popular on older Macs and some laptops, many newer devices have shifted toward USB-C connectors that can carry DisplayPort signals via something called “DisplayPort Alt Mode.”

What Is Thunderbolt?

Thunderbolt is a high-speed connectivity standard developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple. It was designed to simplify your setup by combining data transfer, video output, and power delivery into a single, ultra-fast cable.

Thunderbolt (1 and 2) originally launched with a Mini DisplayPort connector, but that changed with Thunderbolt 3, which introduced the USB-C connector we’re all familiar with today. This shift made Thunderbolt far more versatile and compatible with a wider range of devices. Since then, Thunderbolt 3 and 4 have become the most commonly used versions in laptops, desktops, and docking stations.

Now, we have Thunderbolt 5, the latest and most powerful iteration. It doubles the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4, offering up to 80 Gbps of bi-directional speed, with the ability to boost up to 120 Gbps for high-bandwidth video tasks. This makes it perfect for demanding workflows like driving multiple 4K or even dual 8K displays, transferring massive files, or connecting to high-speed storage.

Thunderbolt 5 also supports up to 240W of power delivery, making it capable of charging even power-hungry laptops and accessories more efficiently than ever.

What Are the Differences Between DisplayPort and Thunderbolt?

At first glance, DisplayPort and Thunderbolt can seem pretty similar—especially when you’re looking at Thunderbolt 1 or 2 and Mini DisplayPort, or now that both can use the USB-C connector. But under the hood, these two technologies are designed for different purposes. Here’s a clear breakdown of Thunderbolt vs DisplayPort:

Purpose and Core Function

• DisplayPort: Primarily designed for transmitting high-definition video and audio from a source device to a display. It’s a straightforward solution focused on delivering high-quality visuals and sound without additional functionalities. This means you cannot use it to transfer general data (like files between devices).

• Thunderbolt: A multi-functional interface that combines data transfer, video output, and power delivery into a single connection. Beyond supporting high-resolution displays, Thunderbolt can connect to various peripherals like external storage devices, docks, and eGPUs, facilitating high-speed data transfer and device charging.

Connector Confusion

Mini DisplayPort vs Thunderbolt 1/2

Here’s where it gets tricky: Thunderbolt 1 and 2 use the same Mini DisplayPort connector. That means a Thunderbolt port will accept a Mini DisplayPort cable for video—but a Mini DisplayPort-only port won’t support Thunderbolt devices.

How can you tell the difference? Look at the symbol next to the port:

• A Mini DisplayPort port will typically have a display icon (a small rectangle).
• A Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port will show a lightning bolt icon instead.

So even though the ports look the same, their capabilities are very different. Thunderbolt can handle high-speed data and power delivery, while Mini DisplayPort is audio/video signal-only.

Transition to USB-C

With Thunderbolt 3, the standard shifted to the USB-C connector, aligning with modern devices and enhancing versatility. DisplayPort also supports video transmission over USB-C through DisplayPort Alt Mode, allowing video signals to be sent over a USB-C connection.

Again, check the symbol:

• Thunderbolt 3, 4 or 5 ports have a lightning bolt icon.
• USB-C ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode may show a DP icon, or no symbol at all.

Data Transfer Speeds

• DisplayPort: Optimized for video, with DisplayPort 2.1 supporting up to 80 Gbps of bandwidth, facilitating high-resolution and high-refresh-rate displays.
• Thunderbolt: Offers higher data transfer capabilities. Thunderbolt 5 provides 80 Gbps of bi-directional bandwidth, with a Bandwidth Boost feature that increases it up to 120 Gbps for video-intensive tasks. It also supports PCIe data transfer, making it ideal for fast external SSDs and GPUs.

Display Capabilities

• DisplayPort: DisplayPort was purpose-built for high-performance video and audio, so it excels in this category—especially with the latest DisplayPort 2.1 standard.

• Thunderbolt: Thunderbolt doesn’t just handle video—it does a lot more—but when it comes to display support, it holds its own surprisingly well, thanks to its integration with DisplayPort protocols.

Here’s a more detailed side-by-side comparison between the latest DisplayPort 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, and Thunderbolt 5 in terms of their display capabilities:

Power Delivery

• DisplayPort: Primarily focuses on video and audio transmission and does not inherently support significant power delivery capabilities. DisplayPort over USB-C can provide some power (up to 35W), but it’s not meant for charging laptops or powering docks.

• Thunderbolt: Designed to handle both data and power, with Thunderbolt 4 supporting up to 100W of power delivery and Thunderbolt 5 up to 240W, allowing it to charge laptops at full speed and power high-performance peripherals through a single cable.​

Device Chaining and Docking

• DisplayPort supports daisy-chaining in some cases using Multi-Stream Transport (MST), but it depends on your monitor and GPU.
• Thunderbolt was built for chaining from the start. You can daisy-chain multiple devices—like a monitor, external SSD, and a dock—off a single port, with full bandwidth and power across the chain.

DisplayPort vs Thunderbolt: How to Choose?

As you’ve seen, choosing between DisplayPort and Thunderbolt really comes down to how you plan to use your setup. While both are powerful in their own right, they serve slightly different needs. Here’s how to figure out which one makes the most sense for you.

Choose DisplayPort if…

• You’re connecting external monitors only
• You need high refresh rates (great for gaming)
• You’re working with professional monitors that support color calibration, 10-bit color, HDR, etc.
• You want a simple, reliable video/audio connection without extra features
• You’re using a desktop GPU, which almost always comes with full-size DisplayPort outputs
• You want to daisy-chain multiple monitors (and your hardware supports DisplayPort MST)

Best for: Gamers, video editors, digital artists, and anyone who prioritizes pure display performance.

Choose Thunderbolt if…

• You want a single cable for everything — video, data, and charging
• You want to use a dock and plan to connect multiple devices through one port
• You need fast external storage (like NVMe SSDs or RAID arrays)
• You work with multi-monitor Mac or Windows setups
• You want to future-proof your workstation with the most flexible connectivity
• You need to charge your laptop through the same cable (especially on the go)

Best for: Power users, creatives, professionals, or anyone building a streamlined, clutter-free setup with maximum flexibility.

But Sometimes, You Don’t Have to Choose…

If you’re looking to expand your setup with both Thunderbolt and DisplayPort capabilities, a well-designed docking station can give you the best of both worlds.

If you’ve got a Thunderbolt 4-compatible laptop, check out the Anker 778 Thunderbolt Docking Station (12-in-1, Thunderbolt 4). With a 100W max Thunderbolt 4 upstream port, plus an additional Thunderbolt 4 downstream port, it also includes two USB-C ports (10 Gbps, 30W), two USB-A 5 Gbps, and two USB-A 480 Mbps ports, along with an Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1, and two DisplayPort outputs. That’s a whole lot of expansion from a single cable.

It’s powered by Thunderbolt 4, meaning you can transfer data at up to 40 Gbps while simultaneously running an 8K display, or even connect up to four 4K monitors—a dream setup for creative professionals, multitaskers, or remote workers who want serious screen real estate.

On top of that, the Anker 778 delivers 100W of charging to your laptop, and up to 30W for other devices via its USB-C ports. It even includes a Kensington NanoSaver security slot to help physically secure your investment.

In the box, you’ll get the Anker 778 Docking Station, a 180W power adapter, and a 0.7-meter Thunderbolt 4 cable—everything you need to supercharge your workspace with minimal clutter. Just a quick heads-up: this dock isn’t compatible with M1/M2 MacBooks or Asus laptops with AMD CPUs, so double-check your device specs before ordering.

Conclusion

So, what is the difference between DisplayPort and Thunderbolt? In short: DisplayPort is built for driving high-resolution monitors with clean, reliable video output, while Thunderbolt is more of a do-it-all connection that handles video, data, and power in one sleek cable. If you need a fast, no-fuss display connection, DisplayPort gets the job done. If you’re running multiple devices—think external drives, displays, and power—Thunderbolt offers unmatched versatility.

Ultimately, it’s less about which one is “better” and more about what you need. Now that you know the key differences, you’ll be in a much better position to pick the right port for your gear—and avoid the classic “wrong cable, wrong port” frustration.

FAQs

Is Thunderbolt the same as DisplayPort?

Thunderbolt and DisplayPort are different. DisplayPort is mainly for video and audio output, while Thunderbolt does that and also supports data transfer and power delivery. Thunderbolt can carry DisplayPort signals and offers more versatility by charging devices and connecting multiple devices with a single cable.

Can you plug DisplayPort into Thunderbolt?

Yes, you can—but it depends on the version. If you’re using a Thunderbolt 1 or 2 port (which uses the Mini DisplayPort connector), you can plug in a Mini DisplayPort cable and it will work for video output. With Thunderbolt 3 or 4 (which use USB-C), you can also connect to DisplayPort monitors using a USB-C to DisplayPort cable or adapter, thanks to a feature called DisplayPort Alt Mode. Just make sure your device supports it (most modern laptops do).

Can I plug a USB-C into a Thunderbolt port?

Yes. All Thunderbolt 3, 4, and 5 ports use the USB-C connector, and they’re fully backward-compatible with regular USB-C devices. That means you can plug a USB-C charger, drive, or accessory into a Thunderbolt port, and it will work just fine—it just won’t take advantage of Thunderbolt’s full speed or features.