We’ve seen Thunderbolt ports on enthusiast computers for a while now, but these days Thunderbolt is becoming the port everyone wants on a new laptop, regardless of size, form-factor or budget.
The 3rd generation of Thunderbolt is a significant upgrade over its predecessors and in many ways, the one port that could replace all others.
Physically, it’s an USB Type-C connector, thus compact and reversible. Technically, it can provide transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, it allows to connect up to two 4K 60 Hz displays while outputting video and audio signal at the same time, it supports DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 2.0 and 10 GbE fast networking, as well as charging.
In other words, Thunderbolt 3 is the compact and versatile connector you can use to charge your laptop, transfer files at fast speeds, connect external monitors and other peripherals, including PCIe compatible graphics units (like the Razer Core, which we reviewed here). This last aspect is particularly interesting, as it allows OEMs to design ultra-portable laptops able to actually handle some serious gaming once hooked up to these eGPUs.
The versatility and compact size of the Thunderbolt 3 connector also makes it ideal for slim and ultra-compact computers, which wouldn’t otherwise have the space around their sides for regular-sized ports.
We’re going to talk more about Thunderbolt 3 and its capabilities towards the end of the post. For now, let’s get to the complete list of all the available laptops and ultra-portables that offer at least one Thunderbolt 3 port at the time of this update.
Since there are many such computers out there, we’ll split them in three different groups: compact laptops (with 13-inch screens or smaller), large-screen portable laptops (15 to 17-inch screens) and full-size notebooks (15-inch screens or larger).
This list only includes laptops released in the last 2-3 years, and only the latest version of each laptop is mentioned, although the previous generations might also support Thunderbolt 3.
13-inch (and smaller) ultraportables with Thunderbolt 3 connectors | |||||||
| Model | Type | Screen | Hardware | TB3 ports | Price | ||
| Acer Aspire Switch 12S | 2-in-1 | 12.5″ touch | up to 6th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 1 | $1199 | ||
| Acer Aspire R13 | 2-in-1 | 13.3″ touch | up to 6th gen Core U w/ Intel HD | 1 x2 | $899 | ||
| Alienware 13 | Gaming | 13.3″ | up to 6th Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Asus Transformer 3 Pro | Tablet | 12.6″ touch | up to 7th gen Core U w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Asus Transformer 3 | Tablet | 12.6″ touch | up to 6th gen Y w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $799 | ||
| Asus Zenbook UX391 | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Apple MacBook Air | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | 8th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 2 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Apple MacBook Pro 13 | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel Iris UHD | 2 x4, 2 x2 | $1499 | ||
| Dell Latitude 12 7000 | Ultraportable | 12.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1079 | ||
| Dell Latitude 12 7000 2-in-1 | 2-in-1 | 12.5″ touch | up to 7th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 2 x4 | $1049 | ||
| Dell Latitude 13 7000 | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Dell XPS 12 | Tablet | 12.0″ touch | up to 6th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 2 x2 | $999 | ||
| Dell XPS 13 | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x2 | $999 | ||
| Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 | Convertible | 13.3″ | up to 7th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Huawei MateBook X Pro | Convertible | 13.9″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x2 | $1199 |
| HP Elite X2 | Tablet | 12.0″ touch | up to 7th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $899 |
| HP EliteBook 830 | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1299 |
| HP EliteBook Folio | Ultraportable | 12.5″ | up to 6th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 2 x4 | $1099 |
| HP Elitebook x360 13 | Convertible | 13.3″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $2399 |
| HP Spectre x360 13 | Convertible | 13.3″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1049 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 720s | Ultraportable | 13.3″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x2 (?) | $849 |
| Lenovo Yoga 730 13 | Convertible | 13.3″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $799 |
| Lenovo Yoga 920 | Convertible | 13.9″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1099 |
| Lenovo Yoga C930 | Convertible | 13.9″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1249 |
| Lenovo Yoga S940 | Clamshell | 13.9″ glossy | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1499 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga X380 | Convertible | 13.3″ touch | up to 8h gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x2 | $1399 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet | Tablet | 13.0″ touch | up to 8h gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 | $1299 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X 12-inch | Ultraportable | 12.5″ | up to 8h gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 | $1099 |
| Original Razer Blade Stealth | Ultraportable | 12.5″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $999 |
| Updated Razer Blade Stealth | Ultraportable | 13.3″ matte/touch | 8th gen Core U w/ MX150 | 1 x4 | $1399 |
| Samsung Notebook 9 Pro | Ultraportable | 13.3″ touch | 8th gen Core U w/ UHD 620 | 1 x4 | $1299 |
| Toshiba Portégé X20W | Convertible | 12.5″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $999 |
| Toshiba Portégé X30 | Ultraportable | 13.3″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1299 |
If you’re looking for a larger screen and faster hardware, but still want to stay within compact and portable ranges (under 4 lbs for 14-inchers, under 5 lbs for 15 inchers, under 6 lbs for 17-inchers), then these are the options to consider.
14 to 17-inch portable laptops with Thunderbolt 3 connectors | |||||||
| Model | Type | Screen | Hardware | TB3 ports | Price | ||
| Acer Swift 7 Black Edition | Convertible | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core Y w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $1499 | ||
| Acer Predator Triton 700 | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1080MQ | 1 x4 | $1899 | ||
| Alienware m15 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HK w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q | 1 x4 | $1399 | ||
| Alienware m17 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q | 1 x4 | – | ||
| Apple MacBook Pro 15 | Ultraportable | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ AMD Radeon 560 | 2 x4, 2 x2 | $2299 | ||
| Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1080MQ | 1 x4 | $1999 | ||
| Asus StudioBook S W700 | Workstation | 17.3″ matte | 8th gen Core U w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | TBA | ||
| Asus Zenbook 3 Deluxe UX490UA | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 7th gen Core U w/ Intel HD | 2 x4 | $1699 | ||
| Asus Zenbook Pro UX550 | Multimedia | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti | 2 x4* | $1299 | ||
| Asus Zenbook Pro UX580 | Multimedia | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1050Ti | 2 x4* | $1499 | ||
| Dell Precision 15 5000 Series | Workstation | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H or Xeon w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | $1549 | ||
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $1049 | ||
| Dell XPS 15 | Multimedia | 15.6″ touch | up to 8th gen Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 | Convertible | 15.6″ touch | up to 8th gen Core G w/ Radeon RX Vega M | 2 x4 | $999 | ||
| Gigabyte Aero 15 X and 15 Y | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 | 1 x4 | $2399 | ||
| HP Omen 15 | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 MQ | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| HP Omen 17 | Gaming | 17.3″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 2080 MQ | 1 x4 | $1099 | ||
| HP Spectre x360 15 | Convertible | 15.6″ touch | up to 8th gen Core G w/ Radeon RX Vega M | 1 x4 | $1299 | ||
| HP EliteBook 840 | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1249 | ||
| HP EliteBook 850 | Ultraportable | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ AMD RX540 | 1 x4 | $1249 | ||
| HP EliteBook 1040 | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 7th gen Core U w/ Intel HD | 1 x4 | $1399 | ||
| HP ZBook 14u | Workstation | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ AMD Radeon™ Pro WX 3100 | 1 x4 | $1549 | ||
| HP ZBook 15u | Workstation | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ AMD Radeon™ Pro WX 3100 | 1 x4 | $1649 | ||
| Lenovo IdeaPad 720s | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 7th gen Core U w/ Nvidia 940MX | 1 x2 (?) | $999 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad 25 | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 7th gen Core U w/ Nvidia 940MX | 1 x2 | $1899 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad T480 | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Nvidia MX150 | 1 x2 | $859 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad T580 | Ultraportable | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Nvidia MX150 | 1 x2 | $999 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad T480s | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel HD | 1 x2 | $1199 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad P1 | Workstation | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core HK w/ Nvidia Quadro | 2 x4 | $1899 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon | Ultraportable | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme | Multimedia | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core HK w/ Nvidia 1050 Ti MQ | 2 x4 | $1849 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga | Convertible | 14.0″ | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 2 x4 | $1499 | ||
| Lenovo Yoga 730 15 | Multimedia | 15.6″ touch | Core HQ w/ Nvidia 1050 | 1 x2 | $999 | ||
| Lenovo Yoga C730 | Convertible | 15.6″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1649 | ||
| LG Gram 15 | Ultraportable | 15.6″ touch | up to 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1299 | ||
| LG Gram 17 | Ultraportable | 17.3″ matte/touch | 8th gen Core U w/ Intel UHD | 1 x4 | $1699 | ||
| MSI GS43VR Phantom Pro | Gaming | 14.0″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1499 | ||
| MSI GS65 Stealth Thin | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 MQ | 1 x4 | from $2099 | ||
| MSI GS75 Stealth Thin | Gaming | 17.3″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 MQ | 1 x4 | from $2199 | ||
| MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1799 | ||
| MSI GS73VR Stealth Pro | Gaming | 17.3″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1799 | ||
| MSI P65 Creator | Workstation | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | – | ||
| Razer Blade 14 | Gaming | 14.0″ | up to 7th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1799 | ||
| Razer Blade 15 | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1070 | 1 x4 | $1899 | ||
| Razer Blade 15 Advanced | Gaming | 15.6″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 MQ | 1 x4 | $2499 | ||
| Razer Blade Pro 17 | Gaming | 17.3″ | up to 8th gen Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1080 | 1 x4 | $1999 | ||
Last but not least, if you don’t care about portability at all and simply want a powerful computer with a large screen, capable graphics and a Thunderbolt 3 port, these are the options for you.
15 to 21-inch full-size notebooks with Thunderbolt 3 connectors | |||||||
| Model | Type | Screen | Hardware | TB3 ports | Price | ||
| Acer Aspire V15 Nitro | Multimedia | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 960M / 1060 | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Acer Aspire V17 Nitro | Multimedia | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 960M / 1060 | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Asus ROG GL502VM | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x2 | $1399 | ||
| Asus ROG GL702VM | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x2 | $1399 | ||
| Acer Predator 15 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 970M to 1070 | 1 x4 | $1499 | ||
| Acer Predator 17 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 970M to 1070 | 1 x4 | $1499 | ||
| Acer Predator Helios 500 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core H w/ Nvidia GTX 1070 | 2 | $1899 | ||
| Alienware Area 51m | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 | 1 x4 | $2499 | ||
| Alienware 15 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX 1050 to 1070 | 1 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Alienware 17 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX 1050 to 1080 | 1 x4 | $1499 | ||
| Asus ROG G752VT / G752VL / G752VY | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 970M or 980M | 1 | $1299 | ||
| Asus ROG G703 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ up to Nvidia RTX 2080 | 1×4 | – | ||
| Asus ROG G752VM / G752VS | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 or 1070 | 1 | $1399 | ||
| Asus ROG GX800 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX 1080 and SLI 1080 | 1 | $2499 | ||
| Clevo P750 / Sager NP9758 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX 970M to 980M | 1 x4 | $1749 | ||
| Clevo P750DM2 / Sager NP9152 / Schenker XMG U507 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core K w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 to 1070 | 1 x4 | $1799 | ||
| Clevo P775DM3 / Sager NP9172 / Schenker XMG U717 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core K w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 to 1080 | 1 x4 | $1849 | ||
| Clevo P870 / Sager NP9876 / Schenker XMG U727 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core K w/ Nvidia GTX 1080 | 2 | $2899 | ||
| Dell G7 Gaming | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core H w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 MQ | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Dell Inspiron Gaming 7577 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia 1060 MQ | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Dell Precision 15 3000 Series | Workstation | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ AMD FirePro | 1 x4 | $999 | ||
| Dell Precision 15 7000 series | Workstation | 15.6″ | Core HQ or Xeon w/ AMD FirePro or Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | $1199 | ||
| Dell Precision 17 7000 series | Workstation | 17.3″ | Core HQ or Xeon w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | $2299 | ||
| Lenovo IdeaPad Y900 / Y910 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 980M / 1070 | 1 | $1999 | ||
| Lenovo Legion Y720 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1099 | ||
| Lenovo Legion Y730 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1060 | 1 x4 | $1099 | ||
| Lenovo Legion Y740 | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 Max-Q | 1 x4 | $1599 | ||
| Lenovo Legion Y920 | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1070 | 1 x4 | $2499 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad P50 | Workstation | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia Quadro | 2 x4 | $1399 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad P52 | Workstation | 15.6″ | Core H w/ Nvidia Quadro | 2 x4 | $1299 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad P52s | Workstation | 15.6″ | Core H w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x2 | $1499 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad P70 | Workstation | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia Quadro | 2 x4 | $1899 | ||
| Lenovo ThinkPad P72 | Workstation | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia Quadro | 2 x4 | $1899 | ||
| HP ZBook 15 | Workstation | 15.6″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | $1499 | ||
| HP ZBook 17 | Workstation | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia Quadro | 1 x4 | $1999 | ||
| MSI GT63 Titan | Gaming | 15.6″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 | 1 x4 | – | ||
| MSI GT73 Titan | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX 1070 | 1 x4 | $2199 | ||
| MSI GT75 Titan | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia RTX 2080 | 1 x4 | – | ||
| MSI GT80S Titan | Gaming | 18.4″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX 980 SLI | 1 | $3499 | ||
| MSI GT83VR Titan Pro | Gaming | 18.4″ | Core HK w/ Nvidia GTX SLI 1070 or 1080 | 1 x4 | $3499 | ||
| Razer Blade Pro | Gaming | 17.3″ | Core HQ w/ Nvidia GTX 1080 | 1 x4 | $3699 | ||
*these laptops get two TB3 ports that share a 4 lane PCIe connection. That means you get the 4x speeds while only one peripheral is hooked in, but when you hook up two different ones they’ll share the lines. In other words, you don’t get two ports with two dedicated 4x lanes each, but two ports that share a single 4x line connection.
There’s a catch about the Thunderbolt 3 connection, it can be hooked up to the motherboard via x2 or x4 PCIe lanes. The x2 TB3 port is half the speed of the x4 TB3 connection and is primarily a problem when hooking up an external graphics chip and playing on the notebook’s internal display. Hooking up the eGPU and playing on an external monitor hooked to the eGPU works fine.
Now, let’s get back to why this Thunderbolt 3 port is such a big deal. Here are a couple of thoughts:
- the USB Type-C connector is compact and reversible, so compatible cables are not going to take a lot of space. Also, unlike most other connectors like USB Type-A, DisplayPort, HDMI, etc, an USB Type-C cable not longer has a “right-way” to plug in, making it easier to use.
- the Thunderbolt 3 port could replace all the other standard connectors in the near future, that means we’ll have one universal connector and one type of cable for pretty much all basic needs.
- TB3 allows for very fast transfer speeds, which opens up space for a multitude of compatible accessories: fast external storage units, external graphics and processing units, external docking stations, etc.
- TB3 can output video, audio and power at the same time, so is a solution for connecting high-resolution external monitors or TV sets.
- TB3 is also capable of network transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, so can be a solution if you want to transfer content fast within your network.
- TB3 can also be used for charging your device, as long as it doesn’t require more than 100 W of power. So good-bye dedicated charging cables.
Thunderbolt 3 is versatile, compact and easy to use – source
One compact port can do all of these, so no wonder manufacturers are adding TB3 on the latest laptops.
But what does Thunderbolt 3 mean for ultraportable notebooks? It allows OEMs to design thinner, lighter and smaller devices which wouldn’t have the space around their sides for regular sized ports. Yes, that means you’ll need to buy adapters for your existing cables and devices, but to some extent, that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. These smaller computers can be hooked up to peripherals and transformed from the ultraportable travel companions they represent by their own, to business, multimedia and even gaming computers. You can hook up an external monitor for extra screen real-estate, a storage unit, a docking station with extra ports or those graphics units. External graphics units won’t show their true power when hooked up to an ultraportable, as these are usually built on Core M or Core U processors, but thin-and-light 15-inchers with quad-core processors and a solid amount of RAM will be good matches for the graphics capabilities of a full-size desktop card.
There is however a fair-amount of confusion around Thunderbolt 3, mostly because it’s impossible to determine whether a device is TB3 compatible or not simply by looking at the physical connector. And that’s because TB3 and regular USB 3.1 ports both use an USB Type-C connector, but have different capabilities. The Apple Macbook for instance offers an USB 3.1 port, but not Thunderbolt 3. Standard USB 3.1 Type-C connectors still support data, video and audio transfers, but are limited to a lower bandwidth, so will perform slower, can’t carry power and aren’t compatible with graphics units, among others.
As of early 2016 there aren’t many Thunderbolt 3 compatible accessories available in stores, but that’s going to change in the future (and we’ll cover them in a later article). Knowing that, having a Thunderbolt 3 port on your laptop might not sit that high on your list of priorities right now. However, if you plan to keep the laptop you’re buying today for at least 2-3 years, then you should consider something with TB3 for future proofness, especially if you plan to take advantage of the matching peripherals down the line.
With that in mind, we’ll wrap this up here. I’ll continue to update this list of Thunderbolt 3 compatible laptops as often as possible, adding the new entries as they become available, but if you spot something that should be in here and it’s not, make sure to drop a line in the comments section below, where I’ll also wait for your feedback and questions, if any.
Jeff
August 17, 2017 at 10:07 am
This is actually useful. Thank you so much!
SK Lee
August 17, 2017 at 4:05 pm
Thank you. This list is legendary. As a go-to tech guy amongst my peers I will never recommend a laptop that's not in this list. Please keep this up until everything is TB3!
Mariano
May 15, 2018 at 5:26 pm
Agreed, it would be very nice to have an updated reference.
Another device to add is the HP Zbook X2
Not sure if you would count it as Tablet (which it is) since it is 14.6" Screen. Does have two Thunder Bolt 3 ports. (Currently using it to drive a couple of monitors through a Caldigit TS3 dock) Hoping to get an eGpu hooked up this Christmas.
Jeff
September 7, 2017 at 5:20 am
You might want to add the new released "Lenovo Ideapad 720s" to 14 inch list.
Andrei Girbea
September 14, 2017 at 4:59 am
Thanks, updated
Tanner
June 3, 2018 at 11:22 pm
I was reading that if the TB3 PCI-E lanes weren't direct to the CPU and was to a controller, speeds will suffer. Is it possible to add that detail to the tables?
Daniel
July 22, 2018 at 11:07 pm
I was looking for this information as well! Would be great if that info can be added, as well!
Javier
September 10, 2017 at 6:53 am
Thank you for the post, it's really useful. Please don't stop updating the list.
Lenovo IdeaPad 720S has also Thunderbolt 3 port
Cheers,
Javier
Javier
September 10, 2017 at 7:43 am
Another one with Thunderbolt 3: ASUS ZenBook Pro UX550VD
Andrei Girbea
September 14, 2017 at 5:02 am
Thanks, updated
Jacob Ahern
September 19, 2017 at 4:14 pm
Hello.
I got an Asus rog gl702vs from best buy, and though it shows on Best and Asus that it has 40gbs Tb3, I'm reading from people saying it has the JHL6240 controller that's only X2.
Does anyone have a definitive answer on the gl702vs having full Tb3 x4???
Karl
October 17, 2017 at 4:10 am
Thank you so much for this!
Jeff
October 27, 2017 at 2:10 pm
Just FYI, ThinkPad T470 and T570 can be configured with Nvidia 940MX GPU too.
Also you can add Thinkpad 25 into the 14 inch list too.
Derek
October 27, 2017 at 9:24 pm
Hi, can you please comment on the Lenovo Thinkpad 25 and Lenovo Yoga 920, and add them to the list? Thanks!
Andrei Girbea
October 30, 2017 at 5:12 am
The Yoga 920 seems likie an excellent pick, but I haven't properly reviewed it so I can't draw proper conclusions without details on the temperatures, performance under load and noise levels. If those are in check though, this would be one of the best convertibles out there, probably even better than the HP Spectre x360.
As for the ThinkPad 25, personally I'm not impressed. The screen is pretty bad and it's overpriced. Also, as a long time ThinkPad user, the classic style keyboard is a little over-hyped imo. I still have the X220 around with a very similar classic style keyboard, but these days I personally prefer some of the newer keyboards with shorter clicks. So overall I'd rather get the T470 (which is mostly the same laptop, but cheaper) or perhaps the X1 Yoga with the convertible form factor and better screen choices.
Derek
October 30, 2017 at 6:24 pm
Thanks, Andrei. In particular I am interested in knowing about whether the Yoga 920 has dual or quad channel Thunderbolt 3. Do you happen to know? I wasn't able to find such info easily.
Derek
October 30, 2017 at 6:26 pm
NM. Please ignore, I see you added the Yoga 920. Thanks!
Andrei Girbea
October 31, 2017 at 4:00 am
I'd expect 4x PCIe TB3 given Lenovo implements this faster option on the Yoga 720 and most of their other lower level laptops.
cody
March 5, 2018 at 10:59 pm
Hello, everyone seems to be saying that the yoga 720 uses 2x pcie, are you sure it is 4x?
Nick
March 18, 2018 at 6:14 pm
The list says that the Yoga 720 has Thunderbolt with 4 lanes, but I've seen sources claiming that it is using only 2. What I really want to know is this: Can you use an eGPU solution, using all 4 lines. A friend of mine suggested, that it;s using 4 lanes, only when on of the TB3 ports is in use. If this is the case, what if the other port is using just for charging and is there a way around this ?
Thank you in advance !
Jeff
November 1, 2017 at 6:02 am
Another laptops with thunderbolt 3 port:
Thinkpad P51
Thinkpad P51s
Thinkpad P71
Kyamil
November 2, 2017 at 8:57 am
Hello,
toward the end of this article, you said that hooking up an eGPU to a x2 TB3 is not a problem if you're using an external monitor as well. Is there a difference in GPU perfomance between a x2 to extrenal monitor vs x4 to an external monitor? Or does the external monitor connection nullify the speed difference between x2 and x4 TB3 ports? I am considering purchasing a new ultrabook and want to combine it with an eGPU, coz I prefer buying an eGPU + a monitor than getting a whole another machine for occassional gaming.
Thanks in advance, Adrei! ^^
Andrei Girbea
November 2, 2017 at 9:02 am
As far as I know, there isn't a significant difference in that case (eGPU hooked to the laptop + external monitor connected to the eGPU), but I'd further dig into this, I don't have a lot of experience with eGPUs.
Kyamil
November 2, 2017 at 10:02 am
Dave Lee talks about it, but doesn't test further. He mentions there's going to be a difference in his video about the new XPS 13 and tests the Asus Transformer with Razer's eGPU box + a 1080 from Nvidia but that's just one device and the thing he tests is if there's a difference if you're using an external monitor or not – not if there's a difference if you're using an external monitor with a x2 or a x4 TB3 port. Please update if you get the chance. It could be the difference for an year or two of gaming. ^^
LDecem
November 10, 2017 at 8:44 am
Hello Andrei,
As you mentionned in the paragraph at the bottom of those tables, a TB3 hooked with only x2 lanes PCI-E halves the speed. Is it to say that such a port has only 20 Gbps?
But I notice that, on Dell's website, they describe the TB3 of their product XPS 13 9360 (which is an x2 lanes one) has 40 Gbps double directions speed. Are they wrong?
THX
Josh
November 13, 2017 at 9:51 am
Some of Dell's marketing materials are deceiving; I've posted the definitive list from Dell below. The XPS 9365 convertible does have x4 lanes, but the 9360 and 9560 have only x2. This does not mean that external graphics performance is halved however; if you are using an external monitor with an eGPU and a 10XX series nVidia graphics card, and no other devices are connected to the Thunderbolt port, you will likely only notice a small loss of performance between x2 and x4. The post below shows one publication's tests of x2 vs x4 PCI graphics performance, though it was directly connected to a computer's motherboard rather than an eGPU.
The performance difference will become much more noticeable if you were to use the laptop's display with an eGPU, as data has to be transmitted both ways across the Thunderbolt port.
Dell has an updated list at https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/qna44089/thunderbolt-3-40gbps-data-transfer-rate?lang=en
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/5otmir/an_approximation_of_the_difference_between_x2_x4/
Stanley
November 14, 2017 at 10:57 am
Hello Andrei–since this list now includes older and now the newer 8th Gen quad-core U-Series chips, could we add a column or designation for these much higher performance (but still ultraportable) devices?
Andrei Girbea
November 15, 2017 at 4:28 am
Thanks for the suggestion. Not sure how to do that other than specify the exact family of CPUs used, like: up to KabyLake-R Core U. Would that help?
Stanley
November 20, 2017 at 3:05 pm
Yeah, that would definitely help. Also, in the table, the XPS 13 2-in-1 9365 is listed as a U-series processor, but the latest I've found is that it's a Y-series chip.
Andrei Girbea
November 21, 2017 at 6:14 am
Thanks, I'll do that in the next update, can't tell for sure when though, will take a few weeks. Sry, I'm caught up with a lot of other articles and the site is mostly a one man show :)
blakev
November 20, 2017 at 11:25 am
How about dual or quad core? Or watts? 8th gen (like the 8550U) is only 15W (not sure if every 8th gen is so….) – then we could tell at a glance based on the form factor.
Andrei Girbea
November 21, 2017 at 6:12 am
It's 15W for now, but there will be other SKUs launched in the months to come.
jacob
November 21, 2017 at 4:20 pm
I can confirm that the MSI GS73 7RE (NOT GS73VR), but MSI GS73 7RE (without VR) 100% has 4 pcie lane Thunderbolt 3. I confirmed this with many devices.
This model is the gtx 1050 4gb model. I believe its the cheapest of these.
Alex
November 29, 2017 at 8:33 am
Can you confirm which 17" Hp Omen has the Thunderbolt 3 port.
Looking at two here: Hp 17-an018na and Hp 17-an019na
On the product page for both, it says:
"Level up to the latest hardware and make upgrading a breeze with single panel access to internals. A Thunderbolt 3-certified USB-C™ port[3], 3 USB Type A ports, and an HDMI port lets you easily adapt to all the action."
But having read through these pages, one is saying that the an019na has the thunderbolt 3 port and the an018na does not. And the other page, the hp Support agent is saying HP do not have Thunderbolt 3 port on any of there laptops. Very confusing because they have actually on their specs sheet for the an019na but not on the an018na but both have same description.
Andrei Girbea
November 30, 2017 at 5:30 am
As far as I can tell the an019na has TB3 and the other doesn't according to the specs, like you're saying. I wouldn't trust the support agents, they sometimes don't know such fine details.
Jeff
December 12, 2017 at 1:30 am
Another laptop with thunderbolt 3 port: Asus ROG Zephyrus
mystiq
December 21, 2017 at 12:22 pm
hello andrei,
i saw asus gl502vm on the list, is that skylake version(6700hq) or kabylake version (7700hq) ?
please need the information
Andrei Girbea
December 23, 2017 at 6:53 am
Both have Tb3, as far as I remember
C
December 30, 2017 at 2:08 am
Lenovo Miix 720 has thunderbolt 3
Darrell Roberts
December 30, 2017 at 3:54 pm
i want to buy a laptop and docking station for home and travel for my small business. what is your suggestion for a system with laptop capable of remaining closed, using my display and keyboard, etc. at home and being able to just unplug laptop whenever i travel. i want a 14-15 inch display for laptop
Vince
January 11, 2018 at 2:01 pm
The HP Zbook 15 G4 and 7 G4 actually have two thunderbolt 3 ports.
Scott
March 26, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Are these x2 or x4 ports?
Keith Hubbard
February 7, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Also, the Eve V (eve-tech.com) is not in the under 14" list.
Adiran
February 28, 2018 at 11:33 pm
Samsung Notebook 9 have one thunderbolt 3 port. Not sure if it has 4 lanes inside it.
NP900X5T-X01US
NP900X5T-K01US
NP900X5N-X01US
KS
May 18, 2018 at 1:57 pm
well the title is about thunderbolt 3, but in the article you also explained that "The Apple Macbook for instance offers an USB 3.1 port, but not Thunderbolt 3." Will it be better if you change the title or the main theme to "usb tpye c" instead? Just a suggestion. Thank you and this article is amazing!
IS
May 22, 2018 at 6:59 am
Lenovo Yoga 730 15-inch please?
Jun Gumabay
June 12, 2018 at 9:42 am
Thank you for keeping this updated. It's a good list that many people will reference.
It would be cool if there were a column of data that stated which quarter of the year the laptop was first sold.
Thanks for your consideration.
Andrei Girbea
June 12, 2018 at 12:51 pm
Thanks, will consider that for the next update
DK
June 20, 2018 at 10:59 pm
There is a mistake in the chart. The Yoga 720 13.3" only has ONE Thunderbolt, not two. There was, for a short time, a Yoga 720 that had two, but Lenovo changed the name (its now the Yoga 730). So only the Yoga 730 and 920 have two Thunderbolts, not the 720.
I purchased the Yoga 720 because I wanted two TB3 and regret it now. I blame this in part on this error on your chart, but more on the vendor's intentionally vague website which was worded to mislead people into thinking both USB-C ports had TB3. Lenovo has since clarified the language on their website. I recommend that you do as well.
Brad
August 23, 2018 at 8:00 am
A Lenovo sales rep confirmed to me tonight via chat that the ThinkPad P52, Part Number: 20M9000FUS (but I would assume all the 8th gen processer P52's….), has 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C Thunderbolt 3 ports hooked up to the motherboard via x4 PCIe lanes.
Brad
October 10, 2018 at 11:55 am
I asked a different sales rep the other day (october '18), and this second rep said it wasn't true, one was x2 and the other x4. Goodness me…..
Diego Vargas
October 2, 2018 at 11:13 pm
Hi Andrei. I've got a couple of questions: why isn't the Acer Predator Helios 500 included on this list? As far as I'm concerned, it not only has one Thunderbolt 3 connection but two of them. Could you please review it and add it to the list? Also regarding that same laptop, do you know exactly what type of Thunderbolt ports does it have? are they dual-lane or four-lane ports? Thank you so much for this effort.
Andrei Girbea
October 3, 2018 at 11:38 am
Hi. I added the Helios 500 to the list. We haven't reviewed it though and I can't find any good info on the TB3 configuration. I would expect x2 each, like on the Zenbook Pros, but I can be wrong. Perhaps you can find some owners on the forums or on reddit and ask them about it. Sry I can't be of more assistance.
Cyrus
November 3, 2018 at 4:11 am
Can I buy a laptop with USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt connections and then plug in my audio interface for my guitar or for my keyboard my USB cable with an adapter of some sort and still be able to use them? Another words right now I have an audio interface and music keyboard which are able to use USB. But it would be great to have zero latency so I was wondering about upgrading my laptop and getting faster connections. Will they work with tools that otherwise would plug into a USB port?
Kousuke
November 13, 2018 at 4:08 pm
Thinpad T480 only has 2 lanes THunderbolt
LevelPlayingField
November 25, 2018 at 12:52 am
Why do you have the "LG Gram 15" listed as a "Convertible?" This was an error, correct? I searched everything I could and could not find an LG laptop 2-in-1??
Andrei Girbea
November 25, 2018 at 1:45 pm
Yes, that was an error. Updated and sry for the confusion.
Gonzalo
November 25, 2018 at 6:36 am
Thinkpad P72 de17.3 pulgadas tiene 2 puertos thunderbolt 3; pero desconozco si son 2x o 4x. Alguien con información?
Andrei Girbea
November 25, 2018 at 1:51 pm
I'm working on a review of the P72, will update with more information in the near future
Roberto
November 28, 2018 at 2:04 pm
Are you sure for the matebook x pro? because i found many post that explain the 2-lines tb3.
Andrei Girbea
November 28, 2018 at 3:05 pm
You're right, it's only x2. Corrected and sry for the confusion.
Rayhan Rabbani
December 3, 2018 at 4:12 pm
I get aorus X5 has Thunderbolt 3 port, this useful x4 PCI-e lanes
William
December 16, 2018 at 6:49 pm
Asus Ux391 is also providing the Thunderbolt 3 port
Andrei Girbea
December 17, 2018 at 1:50 pm
thanks, missed that one, updated
AA
December 18, 2018 at 5:32 pm
A lot of the Lenovos are incorrect regarding number of lanes. It seems the only ones with 4 lanes are Thinkpad X1 and P series, and possibly late 2018 Yoga 7x. Worth checking lenovo forums and reddit (thinkpad/egpu)
Anton
December 27, 2018 at 11:04 am
Hi. I also was inspired by idea of futureproof by installing eGPU. But recently descided not to wait for superlaptop and bought 730 15". Seems that 4GB GTX 1050 will do the job most time and I've got this laptop for very low price so no problems with limits.
I am writing here to correct some info. Yoga 730 15 definitely has hardwire of 2x TB3, not 4x. Description: 12 lanes total, x1 WLAN, x1 something else, x4 SSD, x4 GTX 1050, and only x2 remains physically.
I was considering HP Spectre (Dell 9575 is very expensive) with 8705g but the price point as well as many problems with throttling and size / weight made me change my mind. I also was looking for datasheet and found that 8705G has only 8 lanes free. Consider, x4 SSD, x1 WLAN and x1 peripheral we again have only x2 remaining. Maybe someone who have lap with 8705g will post screenshot from HWInfo with lanes quantity allocated to TB3?
Andrei Girbea
December 29, 2018 at 1:28 pm
You're right, sry for the error, the 15-inch 730 gets x2 TB3, as you're saying and as stated in our detailed review. It was brought to my attention that there are some errors concerning Lenovo laptops in this list, I will address them all early into 2019.
Sidney Wong
January 10, 2019 at 3:20 am
how about Lenovo Thinkpad E580 for multiple external monitors?
Denton
January 11, 2019 at 3:47 am
What about Alienware's Area 51m Gaming
Dom
January 24, 2019 at 7:56 pm
Can you look into adding the 'Asus Zephyrus M GM501' version?
Starks
February 4, 2019 at 9:23 am
Are all variants of the Yoga 730 15" only x2? What about the one without the GTX 1050?