
You're only guaranteed for one external display with USB4, whereas Thunderbolt 4 offers dual 4K displays at 60Hz as a minimum. Minimum power through ports is also halved, with 7.5W instead of 15W. USB4's minimum speed goes as low as 20Gbps (or as high as 40Gbps), whereas Thunderbolt 4's minimum speed is stuck firmly at 40Gbps.

USB4 lacks some features and the same minimum requirements that help ensure all Thunderbolt 4 products work essentially at the same performance level. Thunderbolt 4 is not the same as USB4, though the two are compatible with each other. Cables ranging from five meters to 50 meters are also in the works, though likely for a future standard. The best Thunderbolt 4 hubs and docking stations will be able to offer up to three downstream Thunderbolt ports, as well as cables that measure up to two meters. And you'll now be able to pull your PC out of hibernation by using any device connected with a Thunderbolt docking station. Unlock more possibilities than ever with the Pro designed for a Pro like you. The first consumer laptop-to-tablet PC based on the Intel® Evo™ platform and designed to light up the best of Windows 11, Surface Pro 8 combines the power of a laptop with the flexibility of a tablet, and every angle in between, with the iconic Kickstand and detachable Keyboard* with built-in Slim Pen storage and charging.** Do great things with a larger 13” touchscreen, faster connections with Thunderbolt™ 4 ports, and extra speed when you need it.Thunderbolt 4 adds extra DMA protection via Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d) to help handle connected threats. This is great when paired with a laptop that only has 512GB of storage as it lets you keep things like video files, documents, or even backups safe while your internal system stays free for on-the-go necessities. Coming in at $600, you’ll not only score a feature-packed dock, but also a built-in 2TB SSD for you to store data on that’s only accessed at home, since it won’t be available on-the-go. If you’re wanting to use the Surface Pro 8 as a full-on desktop when you arrive home, then consider picking up the WD_BLACK D50 Thunderbolt 3 dock while it’s on sale for $80 off.


That’s a $50 savings and you’re netting an i5 processor, user-upgradable RAM, an RTX 3050 Ti GPU, and a 144Hz display. Instead, we’d recommend picking up the ASUS TUF Dash 15 Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop that’s available on Amazon for $950.

However, if you want to game on-the-go, then it’s really not the best option on the market. The Surface Pro 8 is made more for productivity than gaming, though it could likely handle some lighter titles.
