Thunderbolt 5 vs 4 vs USB SSD's - What You NEED To Know!

12/4/24 •

Summaries by topic

• English

The video benchmarks Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, and USB SSDs for speed and performance, particularly in file transfer scenarios. The tests show that Thunderbolt 5 delivers the fastest speeds but concludes that, given its high price, large size, and built-in cable, a more affordable USB SSD offers sufficient performance for most users, especially for video editing.

Thunderbolt 5 Performance

• 00:00:33 The OWC Envoy Ultra, a Thunderbolt 5 SSD, achieves impressive speeds of up to 6,000 MB/s in read and write tests, significantly faster than Thunderbolt 4 and USB SSDs. It demonstrates a substantial performance improvement in large file transfers, completing a 121.5 GB transfer in under a minute.

Thunderbolt 4/3 Performance

• 00:04:01 When connected to a laptop with only Thunderbolt 4 or 3 support, the Thunderbolt 5 SSD still provides a noticeable speed increase compared to a Thunderbolt 4 or 3 SSD. This shows that Thunderbolt 5 SSDs are future-proof and offer benefits even on older devices.

USB SSD Performance

• 00:01:30 The Sabrent Rocket Nano USB SSD, priced under $200, delivers good performance for its price point, offering around 820 MB/s read speed. Though slower than Thunderbolt 5 and 4 drives, it is significantly smaller, more portable, and represents a good value for most users.

File Transfer Comparisons

• 00:05:02 The video compares file transfer speeds of various SSDs, revealing that the Thunderbolt 5 SSD is fastest in transferring large files from a MacBook Pro to an external SSD and back. However, other SSDs, such as the USB Nano, are faster when transferring files from the SSD to the MacBook.

Overall Conclusion

• 00:08:02 Despite the impressive speed of Thunderbolt 5 SSDs, their high cost, bulk, and built-in cable make them less practical for most users. Unless speed is absolutely critical for rapid file transfers, the Sabrent Rocket Nano USB SSD is recommended as a more affordable and versatile option that offers enough speed for most tasks, including video editing.