Laptop Tips

Thunderbolt 3 Laptops – The complete list of 2021

Recently, Thunderbolt 3 has become a standard port for laptops. In the meantime, more and more expansion device will support this port. A diverse variety of devices, ranging from docking station with most simple expansion function to the external graphics card which can greatly improve laptop performance, all support Thunderbolt 3.

In the future, it will be widely applied. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to buy a laptop with Thunderbolt 3 port when replacing a new one. At present, a small number of high-end laptops provide TB 3 port on the market. In the following form, we will list current Thunderbolt 3 laptops in the market.

This port only has been applied to high-end lightweight laptops and motherboard instead of most of the device owing to its cost and other reasons. Besides, only a small number of external devices support Thunderbolt 3, and it has not been widely applied to products. However, a policy from Intel may make it gradually become popular. Intel has announced that they will directly integrate Thunderbolt 3 control unit in CPU in the future and provide this technology to cooperative partners for free, and in the meantime, they will cooperate with Microsoft to make operating system directly support TB 3 and achieve hot plug.

In this way, it will be less difficult for laptop products to integrate TB 3, and it will be common to be found in products, such as lightweight laptops in the future. TB 3 has high transfer speed, which makes it easier for lightweight laptops to use an external graphics card. In addition, once it has been widely used, it will be possible for a port to replace multi ports. For example, only a Thunderbolt 3 can achieve all the functions that several USB ports and HDMI ports have in the near future. Therefore, the price will be lower as its number of docking station increases in the future.

12.5-13.3 inch ultrabooks

Please click the laptop mode to see the teardown guide of the laptop.

Model Screen Hardware Battery TB3 ports Price
Apple MacBook Air 13.3″ 2560×1600 8th gen Core / UHD 617 2 x4 $1199
Apple MacBook Pro 13 13.3″ 2560×1600 2.3GHz Core i5 / HD 640 2 x4 $1299
ASUS ZenBook S UX391UA 13.3″ UHD Touch up to i7-8550U / UHD 620 50Wh 1 x4 $1499
Dell Latitude 7285 2-in-1 12.3″ 2880×1920 Touch up to i7-7Y75 / 16G RAM 34Wh 2 x4 $1525
Dell Latitude 7290 12.5″ 1366×768 Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 60Wh 1 x4 $1509
Dell Latitude 7390 13.3″ FHD Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 60Wh 1 x4 $1669
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 13.3″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 60Wh 2 x4 $1519
Dell XPS 13 9380 13.3″ FHD Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 52Wh 2 x4 $859
Dell XPS 13 7390 13.3″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-10710U / UHD 620 52Wh 2 x4 $899
Dell XPS 13 9300 13.4″ FHD/UHD+ Touch Up to i7-1065G7 / Iris Plus 52Wh 2 x4 $1249
Dell XPS 13 9375 2-in-1 13.3″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8500Y / HD 620 46Wh 1 x4 $1079
Dell XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 13.4″ FHD Touch Up to i7-1065G7 / Iris Plus 51Wh 2 x4 $999
Huawei MateBook X Pro 13.9″ QHD+ Touch Up to i7-8650U / MX150 57.4Wh 1 x2 $1199
Huawei MateBook X Pro 2019 13.9″ QHD+ Touch Up to i7-8565U / MX250 57.4Wh 1 x4
Lenovo Yoga 730 13 13.3″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-8565U / UHD 620 48Wh 2 x4 $629
Lenovo ThinkPad X280 12.5″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 48Wh 1 x2 $1399
Lenovo Yoga 920 13.9″ FHD Touch Up to i5-8250U / UHD 620 65Wh 2 x4 $1199
Lenovo Yoga C930 13.9″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-8550U / UHD 620 60Wh 2 x4 $969
Lenovo Yoga S940 13.9″ UHD Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 2 x4
Lenovo IdeaPad S940 13.9″ FHD/UHD Up to i7-8565U / UHD 620 2 x4
Lenovo ThinkPad X380 Yoga 13.3″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 51Wh 1 x2 $1199
Lenovo ThinkPad X390 13.3″ HD/FHD Up to i7-8565U / UHD 620 48Wh 1 x4 $999
Lenovo ThinkPad X390 Yoga 13.3″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8565U / UHD 620 50Wh 1 x4
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet 13.0″ QHD+ Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 42Wh 2 x4 $1199
HP EliteBook x360 1020 G2 12.5″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 49Wh 2 x4 $1449
HP EliteBook x360 1030 G3 13.3″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 56.2Wh 2 x4 $1349
HP EliteBook 830 G5 13.3″ FHD Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 50Wh 1 x4 $1249
HP Spectre x360 13 13.3″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8550U / UHD 620 60Wh 2 x4 $1269
Razer Blade Stealth 13 13.3″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-8565U / MX150 53.1Wh 1 x4 $1299

14.0-17.3 inch laptops

Model Screen Hardware Battery TB3 ports Price
Acer Predator Triton 700 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-7700HQ / GTX 1060 54Wh 1 x4 $1899
Acer Predator Helios 500 15.6″ FHD Up to i9-8950HK / GTX 1070 74Wh 2 x4 $1799
Alienware m15 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2080 Max-Q 60Wh 1 x4 $1399
Alienware m17 17.3″ FHD/UHD Up to i9-8950 / RTX 2080 Max-Q 60Wh 1 x4 $2349
Alienware 15 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to i9-8950HK / GTX 1080 68Wh 1 x4 $1499
Alienware 17 17.3″ FHD/UHD Up to i9-8950HK / GTX 1080 68Wh 1 x4 $1499
Apple MacBook Pro 15 15.6″ 2880×1800 Up to Core i9 / Radeon 560 83.6Wh 2 x4, 2 x2 $2399
Asus Zenbook 3 UX490UA 14.0″ FHD Up to i7-8550U / UHD 620 46Wh 2 x4 $1699
ASUS ROG Zephyrus GX501 15.6″ FHD 120Hz Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1080 50Wh 1 x4 $2899
Asus Zenbook Pro UX580 15.6″ FHD 60Hz Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1050Ti 71Wh 2 x4 $1589
ASUS ROG G703GS 17.3″ FHD 144Hz Up to i9-8950HK / RTX 2080 71Wh 1 x4 $2199
ASUS ZenBook Pro UX550VE 15.6″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1050Ti 73Wh 1 x4 $1499
Dell G5 15 Gaming 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2060 60Wh 1 x4 $859
Dell G7 15 Gaming 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2060 60Wh 1 x4 $999
Dell G7 17 Gaming 17.3″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2070 Max-Q 60Wh 1 x4 $859
Dell Precision 15 3000 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / Nvidia Quadro P600 68Wh 1 x4 $899
Dell Precision 15 5000 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8706G / Radeon Pro WX Vega M 56Wh 1 x4 $1599
Dell Precision 17 7000 17.3″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / Nvidia Quadro P4200 91Wh 2 x4 $1329
Dell XPS 15 15.6″ FHD Up to i9-8950HK / GTX 1050Ti 97Wh 1 x4 $1499
Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 15.6″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8705G / Radeon RX Vega M 75Wh 2 x4 $1599
Dell Latitude 7490 14.0″ 1366×768 Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 60Wh 1 x4 $1659
Dell Latitude 5491 14.0″ FHD Up to i7-8850H / UHD 620 68Wh 1 x4 $1609
Dell Latitude 5591 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8850H / UHD 620 68Wh 1 x4 $1609
Lenovo ThinkPad T480 14.0″ FHD/WQHD Up to i7-8650U / MX150 48Wh 1 x2 $1199
Lenovo ThinkPad T480s 14.0″ FHD/WQHD Up to i7-8650U / MX150 57Wh 1 x2 $1199
Lenovo ThinkPad T490 14.0″ HD/FHD/WQHD Up to i7-8565U / MX250 50Wh 1 x2 $1129
Lenovo ThinkPad T490s 14.0″ FHD/WQHD Up to i7-8565U / MX250 57Wh 1 x2 $1229
Lenovo ThinkPad T580 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8650U / MX150 56Wh 1 x2 $1199
Lenovo ThinkPad T590 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to i7-8565U / MX250 57Wh 1 x2 $1179
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 14.0″ FHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 54Wh 1 x4 $1499
Lenovo ThinkPad P52 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to i7-8850H / Quadro P3200 90Wh 1 x4 $1399
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 14.0″ FHD Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 57Wh 2 x4 $1139
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme 15.6″ FHD/UHD up to i7-8850H / GTX 1050 Ti 80Wh 2 x4 $1399
Lenovo ThinkPad P1 15.6″ FHD/UHD up to i7-8850H / Quadro P2000 80Wh 2 x4 $1569
Lenovo Yoga 730 15 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to i7-8565U/ GTX 1050 51.5Wh 1 x4 $829
Lenovo Yoga C730 15.6″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-8565U/ UHD 620 1 x4 $1569
HP EliteBook x360 1040 G5 14.0″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-8650U / UHD 620 56.2 Wh 1 x4 $1399
HP ZBook Studio G5 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to Xeon E-2186M / Quadro P1000 95Wh 2 x4 $1999
HP EliteBook 840 G5 14.0″ FHD 72% sRGB Up to i7-8550U/ UHD 620 50Wh 1 x4 $1569
HP EliteBook 850 G5 15.6″ FHD 45% sRGB Up to i7-8550U/ UHD 620 56Wh 1 x4 $1499
HP Omen 15 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2080 Max-Q 63Wh 1 x4 $999
HP Omen 17 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2080 Max-Q 63Wh 1 x4 $1099
HP ZBook 15 G5 15.6″ FHD/UHD Up to Xeon E-2186M / Quadro P2000 50Wh 2 x4 $1649
HP ZBook 17 G5 17.3″FHD/UHD Up to Xeon E-2186M / Quadro P5200 96Wh 2 x4 $1899
MSI GT75 Titan 17.3″FHD/UHD Up to i9-8950HK / RTX 2080 90Wh 1 x4 $2399
MSI GT83 Titan 18.4″FHD Up to i9-8850H /GTX 1080 75Wh 1 x4
MSI GS75 Stealth 17.3″FHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2080 Max-Q 82Wh 1 x4 $2199
MSI GS65 Stealth 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2080 Max-Q 82Wh 1 x4 $2099
MSI GS73 Stealth 17.3″FHD/UHD Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1070 51Wh 1 x4 $1799
MSI GS63 Stealth 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1060 65Wh 1 x4 $1599
MSI P65 Creator 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1070 Max-Q 82Wh 1 x4 $2199
Razer Blade 15 15.6″ FHD Up to i7-8750H / GTX 1060 Max-Q 65Wh 1 x4 $1599
Razer Blade 15 Advanced 15.6″ FHD/UHD Touch Up to i7-8750H / RTX 2080 Max-Q 80Wh 1 x4 $2299
Razer Blade Pro 17 17.3″FHD/UHD Up to i7-7820HK / GTX 1080 70Wh 1 x4 $1999

Owing to the development of broadband, it can support two 4K displays or a 5K display, and successfully transfer a 4K video within 30 seconds. In the meantime, it can utilize new USB Type-C port to achieve such a high transfer speed instead of MimDisplay port. Undoubtedly this will greatly benefit both device manufacturer and host computer manufacturer.
ThunderBolt 3 speed
The transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps. Source

Compared with first and second generation products, the port owns better performance. It adopts the technology which has made a big breakthrough, and its compatibility and adaptability have been greatly improved. To provide maximum speed, it owns bandwidth reaching 40Gb/s, which is eight times faster than the USB 3.0 port and four times faster than USB 3.1 port.

In addition, the port also provides a device with more power, supporting 100W power supply and proving device with a maximum charging power reaching up to 15W. Intel also offers the same alternate mode which makes ThunderBolt’ signal passes PCIe. It also fully supports USB 3.1 since control unit of USB 3.1 10Gbps has been integrated into the Thunderbolt control unit.

Generally speaking, a Thunderbolt 3 can handle many tasks which require many ports. That’s why an increasing number of laptops which pursue perfect lightweight feature only provides a USB Type-C which supports TB 3. After all, lightweight laptops’ lightweight and thickness also depend on expansion port except drive, keyboard, and motherboard.

As a computer protocol, Thunderbolt can be regarded as a transfer technology instead of the port of laptops. Thunderbolt 3 technology is achieved mostly depending on the USB Type-C port. Differing from other hardware which adopts USB Type-C port, the plug and port of USB Type-C which supports TB 3 are printed with the symbol- a small flash, which represents TB 3.

David Tian

David is the editor @ MyFixGuide. He loves technology, especially good at laptops and mobile phones. In his free time, he loves to take apart the latest mobile phones and laptops.

27 Comments

  1. please add clevo laptops :
    “N350TV/TW”
    “P751TM/DM / P750TM/DM”
    “P775TM/DM”
    “P870TM/DM”
    “N150ZU/N151ZU”
    “N141ZU”
    thnx and great list if updated accordingly .

  2. Hey, good list, but can you put whether they have x2 or x4 if PCIe lanes? It’s hard to tell whether it’s “okay” to pair with an external GPU. Thanks, Nick.

      1. I have a 20N2000KGE TP490 with only Intel i7-8565UCPU onBoard UHD620 Graphics. I also own an eGPU Razer X Chroma hosting an AMD RX580.
        GPU-Z reports ” PCIe x16 3.0 @ x4 3.0″ which leads to the assumption that TP490 without the MX250 have 4lanes attached to the Thunderbolt Port.

  3. Hi David,
    The above list is very helpful. Thanks much for the same.
    I have a question with regard to PCle lanes number shown for each laptop in above chart. For example for Dell XPS 13 9380, TB3 ports shown in above chart is 2X4. Now, does that mean Total 8 PCle Lanes (4 lanes for each port)? OR it means Maximum 4 PCIe lanes (Means 2 ports sharing Max 4 lanes )? Why I am masking this question is, for Dell XPS 13 9380, there are Max 4 PCIe Lanes for two ports, sharing 2 lanes during simultaneous usage ( Not 8 lanes, 4 each per port). You can check in below reference for the same.
    Reference: https://www.ultrabookreview.com/24336-dell-xps-13-9380/
    I think based on your clarification we need to have one more column indicating Maximum available PCIe lanes for the ports, if the chart actually meant 2×4=8 lanes. The additional column will give a complete picture, giving an exception to 2×4=8 rule.
    Thank You!!

  4. Can you add an update history? It would be nice to know wich are the newes updates to this list. Awsome work!

  5. Hey,
    the list says 1×2 about the Lenovo T490 and T590. x390 and x390 Yoga, however, are listed as 1×4. That would be cool, but are you sure?

  6. Does Asus UX410UA-GV410T has thunderbolt 3 ?
    There is a Usb-C port on it but I don’t know if that’s thunderbolt.
    Thanks

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