In recent years, Thunderbolt has become an essential part of many laptops and PCs. Developed by Intel, the Thunderbolt protocol uses USB Type-C ports to deliver very high speeds — up to 40Gbps, as of Thunderbolt 4 — that can be used to connect all kinds of peripherals. Many of the best laptops you can buy today come with Thunderbolt ports, and the accessories you can use with them range from docking stations to external GPUs, all of which can greatly expand the capabilities of your laptop.
But if you have a Thunderbolt port, how do you make the most of it? We're here to help, so we've rounded up a ton of the best Thunderbolt accessories you can buy that make use of this high bandwidth. As we've mentioned, there are docking stations and external GPUs, but some monitors and storage devices also use Thunderbolt. And, of course, you might need Thunderbolt cables, so we have some of those as well.
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Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Best dockThe Plugable 16-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 dock comes with a whopping 16 ports in a relatively compact design, including four display outputs and 2.5Gb Ethernet. It's easily one of the best docking stations on the market, especially at this price.
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CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Premium docking stationThe CalDigit TS4 is one of the most expensive docks out there, but with 18 ports, including multiple Thunderbolt downstream ports, USB Type-A and Type-C, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and more, it's worth it. Plus, with the premium metal chassis, it's a very robust solution.
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Razer Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Sleek dockThis sleek yet premium-looking dock adds multiple Thunderbolt downstream ports, USB Type-A, Ethernet, and more, including an SD card reader. It also comes in a sleek white colorway that looks minimalistic and fits easily into any setup.
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Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock
More Thunderbolt portsIf you want to add more Thunderbolt ports to your laptop, the Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 adds three of them, plus a USB Type-A port for peripherals. It doesn't have a ton of ports, but it's cheaper than most solutions, and it still supports 85W charging.
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Lenovo ThinkVision P27u-20
Sharp 4K monitorThis 27-inch monitor comes with an extremely sharp 4K panel and it covers 99% of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. It also supports DisplayHDR 400 and features a wide range of connectivity, including an Ethernet port and a USB hub.
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Samsung ViewFinity CJ79
Ultrawide monitorUltrawide monitors are great for productivity, and this one is a solid starting point. It's sharp, has a 100Hz refresh rate, and adds extra ports, including Thunderbolt daisy-chaining. Plus, it's relatively affordable.
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LG UltraGear 27GN950-B 4K monitor
Gaming monitorThis gaming monitor has an IPS display, 1ms response time, a 144Hz refresh rate, G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility, and it supports Thunderbolt, too. If you're looking for a gaming monitor as your next Thunderbolt accessory, give this LG Ultragear laptop a look.
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Dell UltraSharp UP2720Q
For creative professionalsThe Dell UltraSharp 27 4K monitor comes in a super-sharp 4K resolution, covers 100% of Adobe RGB, and is Calman-ready for advanced color calibration. It also offers a 1300:1 contrast ratio, and it includes a hood for better visibility.
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SanDisk Professional PRO-G40
Fast rugged SSDThis professional SSD from SanDisk offers very high transfer speeds of up to 2,700MB/s, and it also supports regular USB ports. It comes in an extra durable design that resists dust, water, and up to 4,000 pounds of crushing force.
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TEKQ SuperVeloce SSD
Upgradeable SSD enclosureMore than just a portable SSD, this model is actually a full-blown enclosure for any SSD you want, so you can upgrade it later or replace the SSD if you want to sell the external drive to someone else. Speeds go up to 2,400MB/s, but it won't work unless your PC supports Thunderbolt.
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Sabrent Rocket XTRM-Q
Basic SSDThis Sabrent SSD comes in a wide range of capacities, ranging from 512GB to 8TB, though some models are unavailable. It uses Thunderbolt to deliver speeds up to 2,700MB/s, but it also works over regular USB ports at up to 900MB/s.
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Plugable Thunderbolt 3 SSD
Built-in cableThis option from Plugable has a different design with a built-in cable, so you don't have to worry about losing it. This model is slightly slower, with speeds up to 2,400MB/s, and it doesn't work with non-Thunderbolt ports, so that's something to keep in mind.
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Razer Core X Chroma
Best eGPU enclosureThe Razer Core X Chroma is arguably the best eGPU enclosure on the market. It has a 700W PSU with 500W of power for the GPU and 100W charging for your laptop, and support for up to three-slot GPUs, which should accommodate most modern GPUs. It even has RGB lighting.
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Sonnet eGPU Breakaway Box 750ex
Sleeker eGPU enclosureThis Sonnet GPU enclosure comes with a stylish design and it has a powerful 750W PSU, capable of providing up to 475W to your GPU during peak loads plus 100W to your laptop. Not every GPU will fit, but this model also includes some additional ports for your laptop.
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Plugable Thunderbolt 4 Cable
High-speed cableThis Thunderbolt 4 cable not only supports 40Gbps transfer speeds, it also offers 240W charging if you have a compatible PC and charger, making it fast enough to charge even the most demanding laptops.
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Maxonar Thunderbolt 4 Cable
Sleeved cableFor extra durability, this Maxonar cable is completely wrapped in nylon. It supports all the Thunderbolt 4 features, and it comes in lengths up to 6.6 feet. Otherwise, it supports 40Gbps speeds and 100W charging.
Best Thunderbolt accessories in 2023: Bottom line
If you're wondering if your laptop has Thunderbolt, there's something you should know first. Being a proprietary Intel technology means that Thunderbolt isn't available on almost any AMD laptop. While the technology is royalty-free, there are costs associated with delivering such high bandwidth; plus, there's a certification process that needs to be paid for, so companies often leave the feature out of cheaper laptops. You'll also find Thunderbolt support in the latest MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch, even though they don't have the Thunderbolt logo next to their ports. A few more laptops also come with USB4 now, which can often use many of the features available in Thunderbolt 4.
When it comes to buying any accessory, it's always up to your personal needs, so you may or may not find value in all of these categories. Either way, Thunderbolt accessories have capabilities that far exceed most USB devices, such as giving you ultra-fast external SSDs, allowing you to play high-end games on a lightweight laptop, and powering your whole desk setup with just one port. For all of those needs, the accessories on this list will serve you very well, and you have a few options to choose from. As we've mentioned, some laptops and devices now come with USB4 ports, which can support most Thunderbolt features, but that will vary from device to device.
If you're still looking for a laptop that can make full use of these accessories, we have a list of the best Thunderbolt 4 laptops you can buy today; all will support the accessories on this list. Make sure to check out our list of the best Thunderbolt docks, too, depending on how many accessories you plan on using. You may also want to read up on Thunderbolt 5, the next generation that will support even higher bandwidths.