Industry News
80Gbps Is Here: USB4 v2 and Thunderbolt 5 Reach Cables, Docks and Storage
USB4 v2 doubles bandwidth to 80Gbps and Thunderbolt 5 adds a 120Gbps boost. The 80Gbps wave has reached cables, docks and storage - here is what buyers should plan for.
The next speed tier of the USB-C ecosystem has arrived. The USB Promoter Group announced USB4 version 2.0 in September 2022, doubling bandwidth to 80Gbps symmetric over existing USB-C connectors, with Thunderbolt 5 sharing the same architecture and adding an optional Bandwidth Boost of up to 120Gbps for display-heavy workloads, plus 240W charging.
The rollout is now visible across the accessory ecosystem. Elecom shipped the first USB4 v2 cables at the end of 2024, with Western availability following in 2025. Silkland launched the first USB-IF certified USB4 80Gbps cable on Amazon in March 2025. Satechi brought a compact USB4 v2 M.2 NVMe enclosure to market, and the computer industry followed: Apple's M4 Pro and Max machines carry Thunderbolt 5, LG revealed the first Thunderbolt 5 5K2K monitor, and ASUS shipped its Thunderbolt 5 dock. One requirement matters for buyers: 80Gbps operation needs newly certified USB 80Gbps cables - existing 40Gbps cables do not qualify.
For accessory buyers and distributors, the practical message is to plan a two-tier assortment. The mainstream volume remains at 10Gbps, where USB 3.2 Gen 2 hubs cover the price-sensitive majority. The premium tier - 40Gbps and 80Gbps - is where growth is heading, led by Thunderbolt 5 laptops and content-creation workstations that demand certified 80Gbps cables and higher-power docks. Sourcing partners who can develop across both tiers will capture the transition either way.
Mattzon tracks the standard closely and develops against it through its OEM program: the factory's current line already runs 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 as standard across its newer hub and powered-hub families, with 89%+ private mold designs, no minimum order quantity and lead times from 3 to 25 days.
To discuss 80Gbps-ready development for your brand, or to line up samples from the current range, contact Mattzon through mattzon.com or WhatsApp +86 186 8146 2886.
