Connecting external display using Thunderbolt port from Mac studio to destination device having USB-C type port only and not having Thunderbolt for 4K display expectation?

Can I connect to an external display using Thunderbolt port from Mac studio to a destination device having USB-C type port only and not having Thunderbolt port, for example in Dell UltraSharp 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitor - U2723QE which supports USB-C type port only and not having Thunderbolt, will I be able to get display with 4K?

iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 16

Posted on Sep 2, 2023 4:00 AM

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Posted on Sep 2, 2023 2:24 PM

Yes. Apple often refers to the USB-C ( USB, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt ) ports on newer Macs as Thunderbolt ports. Presumably this is because Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are desirable features to have on a USB-C port.


But that doesn't mean that everything that you plug into one of a Mac's Thunderbolt ports must speak Thunderbolt. A Mac Studio can drive a 4K monitor using USB-C ( DisplayPort ). The computer and monitor will simply negotiate a DisplayPort ALT mode connection rather than a Thunderbolt ALT mode one.

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Sep 2, 2023 2:24 PM in response to SyedJinnah

Yes. Apple often refers to the USB-C ( USB, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt ) ports on newer Macs as Thunderbolt ports. Presumably this is because Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are desirable features to have on a USB-C port.


But that doesn't mean that everything that you plug into one of a Mac's Thunderbolt ports must speak Thunderbolt. A Mac Studio can drive a 4K monitor using USB-C ( DisplayPort ). The computer and monitor will simply negotiate a DisplayPort ALT mode connection rather than a Thunderbolt ALT mode one.

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Connecting external display using Thunderbolt port from Mac studio to destination device having USB-C type port only and not having Thunderbolt for 4K display expectation?

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