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The Retina MacBook’s USB Type-C port is here to stay… and you’ll totally love it

Updated Dec 19th, 2018 9:00PM EST
Intel USB-C Thunderbolt 3 Cable Specs
Image: Apple Inc.

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Apple’ Retina MacBook and Google’s newest Chromebook come with a new USB Type-C port that can be used both for charging purposes and for file transfers. Of the companies adopting USB-C ports so far, Apple made the boldest move yet by packing just the one port on its new 12-inch laptop. However, the USB-C port is here to stay, and it’s only getting better.

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Intel announced that it’s already working on Thunderbolt 3 cables that’ll feature USB-C reversible connectors and which will enable transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.

That’s twice what Thunderbolt 2 cables can offer, four times the theoretical transfer speed of USB 3.1 ports, and eight times the speed of USB 3.0 ports.

Thunderbolt 3 cables will be able to transfer a 4K movie in 30 seconds, which is certainly an amazing accomplishment.

Finally, Thunderbolt 3 cables will incorporate various other protocols, including USB 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, PCI Express, and Ethernet.

Intel’s adoption of USB-C connectors further indicates that more and more devices will soon pack USB-C connectors. Thus, it’s likely that Apple’s future MacBooks, including Pro and Air models, will also feature USB-C support to take advantage of Intel’s new high-speed data cables.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.