Are Thunderbolt 2 and Mini Displayport the Same?

Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 are not the same as Mini DisplayPort . They have the same shape, but use different symbols on the cable and port. However, this port does support Mini DisplayPort for video output, so you can use a Mini DisplayPort cable to connect a Mini DisplayPort display.

Are Mini DisplayPort and Thunderbolt the same?

The Mini DisplayPort format uses the same connector type as Thunderbolt, and there is support for one monitor or a Mini DisplayPort-to-HDMI or –VGA adapter when connected directly to the Mac's Thunderbolt port or to a Thunderbolt peripheral that is NOT a monitor and that has a pass-through Thunderbolt port.

What version of DisplayPort is Thunderbolt 2?

Thunderbolt 2 incorporates DisplayPort 1.2 support, which allows for video streaming to a single 4K video monitor or dual QHD monitors. Thunderbolt 2 is backwards compatible, which means that all Thunderbolt cables and connectors are compatible with Thunderbolt 1.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.