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Thunderbolt has been one of the most versatile connectivity standards for laptops for more than a decade. Originally developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple, it has evolved through several generations, offering a combination of high bandwidth, power delivery, and support for external devices such as monitors, storage drives, and GPUs. Thunderbolt 4 became widely adopted in premium laptops from both business and gaming categories, bringing consistent standards and broader compatibility.
Thunderbolt 5 is the latest generation and is beginning to appear in laptops launched in 2025. It doubles the available bandwidth compared to Thunderbolt 4, supports new display standards, and opens the door for advanced external graphics and docking setups. However, adoption is still at an early stage. Only a limited number of high-end laptops currently feature Thunderbolt 5, and the technology requires an external controller rather than being integrated into the CPU. This article explores how Thunderbolt 5 compares with previous standards, why its availability is limited, and which laptops currently support it.
I previously reviewed the Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station, but I was unable to use it to its full potential because I lacked a laptop or PC with Thunderbolt 5 capabilities. That inspired me to see what options there are out there.
Thunderbolt 5 vs Thunderbolt 4 vs USB4
Thunderbolt 5 arrives with headline-grabbing numbers. The maximum raw bandwidth is up to 80Gbps (and 120Gbps in one-way “Bandwidth Boost” mode for demanding display scenarios). That’s a solid doubling of Thunderbolt 4 and a significant leap beyond generic USB4 40Gbps implementations.
Key Technical Changes
- Bandwidth: Thunderbolt 4 runs at a maximum 40Gbps. Thunderbolt 5 doubles this to a sustained 80Gbps, with the ability to drive 120Gbps down one direction (for displays) and 40Gbps back the other way when needed. For content creators and users running massive displays, this alone may be reason to upgrade.
- Display Support: Thunderbolt 5 can handle up to two 6K displays at 120Hz without resorting to any compression tricks, or even an 8K display at 60Hz. This outpaces Thunderbolt 4, which tops out at two 4K displays.
- PCIe Lanes: The new standard boosts PCIe bandwidth, making it more viable for high-performance storage and external GPU use, although the external GPU market in the UK remains relatively niche outside workstation circles.
- Power Delivery: Official support is now up to 240W, making it possible for a single cable to power even large laptops or demanding peripherals. In my testing, however, this is limited by the choice of USB-C cables and what laptop makers implement – most Thunderbolt 5 laptops top out around 100–140W charging.
Why are there no AMD laptops with Thunderbolt?
If you’ve ever asked why almost all Thunderbolt laptops run Intel CPUs, the answer comes down to history, licensing, and ongoing platform politics. Thunderbolt remains intellectual property controlled by Intel. While the USB4 spec does technically allow for Thunderbolt 3/4/5-level performance and many modern AMD laptops do have USB4 ports, full Thunderbolt branding and certification require Intel approval and specific controller chips.
From my experience, this translates to almost zero AMD laptop models advertising Thunderbolt support. There are a few exceptions – some business-focused AMD laptops have managed footnotes like “Thunderbolt-compatible via USB4” but you often find subtle limitations around charging speed or display support.
As of summer 2025, I haven’t tested or even seen any retail AMD-based laptop offering Thunderbolt 5. Most vendors cite cost and the Intel-centric ecosystem as barriers. Unless Intel opens up Thunderbolt licensing or AMD makes a breakthrough getting certifiable controllers into their platforms, this situation is unlikely to change in the next hardware cycle.
Why are there so few laptops with Thunderbolt 5
Thunderbolt 5’s slow rollout is mainly a function of cost, chipset complexity, and demand. Right now, supporting Thunderbolt 5 on laptops requires fitting a separate Barlow Ridge discrete controller and running additional power and signal lines, rather than just enabling a CPU feature as in previous generations.
I’ve spoken to a few OEMs, and their reasoning is always similar: only premium, high-margin machines are likely to justify the added cost, space, and marketing lift that comes from fitting Thunderbolt 5. Mid-range and slim laptops continue to ship with Thunderbolt 4 or USB4, as the extra bandwidth isn’t needed by regular users. Gaming and workstation laptops, where buyers are already spending £2,500 or more, are where you’ll usually find this feature.
Leak reports around Intel Panther Lake suggested Thunderbolt 5 might go mainstream with a proper system-on-chip (SoC) implementation, but all signs so far point to another cycle of limited, high-end-only releases. Painful as it is, if you want Thunderbolt 5 right now in the UK, you’re shopping at the very upper end of the laptop market.
Laptops with Thunderbolt 5
This section lists the current Thunderbolt 5 laptops available (or announced) as of summer 2025. If you’re deciding between models, I’ve included practical details and my hands-on experience wherever possible. Bear in mind that actual retail configurations can change and availability in the UK is hit or miss.
| Laptop Model | CPU | Thunderbolt 5 Ports | Notable Features | UK Price (approx) |
| Apple M4 Pro / Max | Apple Silicon | 2-3 | Fastest SSD, pro monitors, Mac ecosystem | £2,500 – £5,000+ |
| Acer Predator Helios 16 AI | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | 2 | Gaming laptop, advanced cooling | £2,800 – £3,500 |
| Alienware 16 Area-51 | Intel Ultra 7 255HX+ | 2 | Only with RTX 5070 Ti or higher | £3,000 – £4,500 |
| Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 (2025) G635 | Intel Ultra 9 275HX | 2 | G-SYNC, DisplayPort, creator friendly | £2,900 – £4,000 |
| Dell Pro Max 16 | Intel Ultra | 2 (plus 1 TB4) | Professional portable workstation | £2,800 – £4,200 |
| Gigabyte AORUS Master 16 AM6H | Intel Ultra | 1 | Single port, gaming specialist | £2,700 – £3,700 |
| Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 10 (18″) | Intel Ultra 9 275HX | 2 | Power delivery up to 140W, best for creators | £3,000 – £4,500 |
| Maingear ML 17, Ultima 18 | Intel Ultra | 2 | US availability higher, UK import needed | £3,200 – £4,600 |
| MSI Raider 18 HX AI | Intel Ultra 9 200HX | 2 | Massive gaming performance, best cooling | £3,000 – £4,800 |
| MSI Titan 18 HX AI | Intel Ultra 9 200HX | 2 | Largest gaming laptop, heavy | £3,000 – £5,000 |
| MSI Vector 16 HX AI | Intel Ultra | 2 | Slightly more portable, workstation crossover | £2,800 – £3,900 |
Apple M4 Pro and M4 Max
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Pro chip with 12-core... |
£1,749.97 | Buy on Amazon | |
| Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max chip with 14-core... |
£3,065.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Apple was an early adopter of Thunderbolt 5 in its M4 Pro and M4 Max range. If you’re invested in the macOS ecosystem or are a creative pro working with large images or video projects, these are currently the only Apple laptops offering Thunderbolt 5, but availability in the UK may be restricted to the highest-tier models. Performance is excellent, particularly in terms of sustained external SSD transfer speeds and running multiple Pro Display XDRs.
Acer Predator Helios 16 AI
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 AI PHN16-73 Gaming Laptop -... | £2,029.99 | Buy on Amazon |
This gaming powerhouse comes with two Thunderbolt 5 ports. I appreciate Acer’s approach here, as the Predator Helios combines top-spec CPUs (Intel Core i9-275HX), high-refresh displays, and lets you add external high-speed storage or chain displays, without any fuss. The laptop itself is very bulky and expensive, but that’s the norm for gaming flagships with Thunderbolt 5.
Alienware 16 Area-51 Gaming Laptop
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alienware 18 Area-51 Gaming Laptop 2025, NVIDIA RTX 5080... | £3,810.31 | Buy on Amazon |
Alienware’s flagship offers two Thunderbolt 5 ports if you opt for configurations with NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti graphics or higher. In my testing, these ports deliver full speed and work effectively with advanced external GPU enclosures. However, Alienware’s pricing in the UK is always high, and with all these features, you’re not going to find a base configuration below the £3,000 mark.
Asus ROG Strix SCAR 16 (2025) G635
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 G635LW Gaming Laptop | 16.0" WQXGA... |
£3,349.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Asus is usually quick to fit its premium gaming laptops with the latest I/O, and the 2025 Scar 16 is no exception. The G635 model packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, two Thunderbolt 5 ports, each supporting DisplayPort, power delivery, and G-SYNC. The tangible benefit is daisy-chaining enormous displays or ultra-fast SSDs. I found external storage transfer speeds reliably peaked at the maximum, and high-refresh 6K displays worked without a hitch.
Dell Pro Max 16 Premium
Dell is targeting professionals who need robust connectivity. This model features two Thunderbolt 5 ports supporting up to 120Gbps in display mode, and one Thunderbolt 4 port. In practical terms, I’ve run multiple 6K monitors and a 10GbE dock simultaneously without hitting bottlenecks. That said, battery life takes a serious hit if you push all ports simultaneously. At around £2,800 in the UK for a well-specced model, it’s not for casual users.
Gigabyte AORUS Master 16 AM6H
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte AORUS MASTER 16 BYH Gaming Laptop - 16.0“, 240Hz... |
£2,799.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Gigabyte offers one Thunderbolt 5 port on this high-end model tailored for gamers and content creators who need top-class I/O. The decision to limit it to one port is something of a let-down if you need to connect multiple devices or monitors without juggling cables. Otherwise, performance and compatibility are up to scratch.
Legion 9i Gen 10 (18″ Intel)
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 10 16" Gaming Laptop (2025 Model)... | £2,301.95 | Buy on Amazon |
Lenovo’s Legion 9i Gen 10 is an absolute monster of a machine, pairing an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX with two Thunderbolt 5 ports. Both ports support high-speed data, DisplayPort 2.1 for monitors, and up to 140W power delivery. It’s overkill for regular users, but creative pros and gamers who need maximum versatility will appreciate it. Downsides, besides price and bulk, are fan noise and so-so battery life.
Maingear ML 17 & Mainhear Ultima 18
I haven’t had the chance to review these models directly as US availability is higher. Both are desktop replacement-class machines with Thunderbolt 5 support. Buyers in the UK may face long lead times or import costs.
MSI Raider 18 HX AI, MSI Titan 18 HX AI, MSI Vector 16 HX AI
| Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSI Raider 18 HX AI Gaming laptop - (18' UHD+ MiniLED,... |
£3,999.00 | Buy on Amazon | |
| MSI Titan 18 HX AI Gaming laptop- (18" UHD+, MiniLED,... |
£4,599.00 | Buy on Amazon | |
| MSI Vector 16 HX AI Gaming Laptop |16" QHD+ 240Hz 500 nits... |
£1,549.00 | Buy on Amazon |
MSI brings Thunderbolt 5 to several flagship laptops built on the Intel Ultra 9 200HX platform. Each offers two Thunderbolt 5 ports with advanced display and charging features. In my experience, MSI’s implementation is well executed, with full bandwidth and stable power delivery. The Titan and Raider models are particularly large and heavy, prioritising cooling and performance, while the Vector balances portability and utility. UK pricing is steep, generally starting above £2,500.
Real World Usage Scenarios for Thunderbolt 5
Content Creators
Photographers, videographers, and 3D artists will notice the biggest upgrade. The ability to copy multi-terabyte files from fast external drives or run uncompressed 8K video to multiple displays has real impact. My workflow with Thunderbolt 5 is smoother when pulling from a large RAID or working on VR visualisations.
High-End Gaming
External GPU (eGPU) enclosures benefit in theory, with bandwidth for high-frame-rate 4K gaming via laptops. In practice, driver issues and the price of eGPU cases mean this is still niche. Most gamers will not see a clear boost just from Thunderbolt 5 unless running a full multi-monitor battle station.
Office and Productivity
For knowledge workers who simply dock into a monitor, keyboard, and mouse, the difference between Thunderbolt 4 and 5 is barely noticeable. The main bonus is future-proofing if you plan to run multi-display 6K or 8K setups in the next year or two.
Mobile Workstations
Engineers and scientists who use high-end processing laptops on the move, then dock at the office, will appreciate the bandwidth bump for unique peripherals like logic analysers and fast external GPUs. Still, the extra spend required means most enterprises will wait for the tech to trickle down.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
