I have an old Macbook Pro which I'm looking to replace with a new M2 Macbook Pro. The new one has Thunderbolt 4 ports, but I'm using an old 27" Apple display with Thunderbolt 1, plus an external hard drive that also uses Thunderbolt 1. Is there a compatible adapter I can use?
MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 11.7
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple
This translates Thunderbolt protocol. It does not support Mini DisplayPort devices on the Thunderbolt 2 side, or USB-C (USB, USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort) devices on the Thunderbolt 3 side.
It also does not transmit power from one side to the other, so if you hook up a 27" Apple Thunderbolt display to a new Mac laptop with the aid of this adapter, the laptop won't receive any charging power through the Thunderbolt connection. You'll need a separate power source (like the USB-C power brick and charging cable that come with the Mac) to power/charge the laptop.
Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Apple
This translates Thunderbolt protocol. It does not support Mini DisplayPort devices on the Thunderbolt 2 side, or USB-C (USB, USB Power Delivery, DisplayPort) devices on the Thunderbolt 3 side.
It also does not transmit power from one side to the other, so if you hook up a 27" Apple Thunderbolt display to a new Mac laptop with the aid of this adapter, the laptop won't receive any charging power through the Thunderbolt connection. You'll need a separate power source (like the USB-C power brick and charging cable that come with the Mac) to power/charge the laptop.
Servant of Cats has the answer for the genuine ThunderBolt display, which has a lead-in cord with two component leads, a MagSafe and a ThunderBolt (identified with the ThunderBolt symbol).
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The nearly identical-looking 27-in cinema display has a lead-in cord with three component leads, MagSafe, USB-A, and Mini DisplayPort, with the DisplayPort oval-between-two-vertical-lines symbol. That one does NOT work with the US$50 Apple Thunderbolt-3 <-> ThunderBolt-2 adapter. It just needs a US$10 USB-C to Mini DisplayPort adapter.
My Thunderbolt 1 display is the kind with a power adapter that has 2 leads - Mag Safe and Thunderbolt. I did identify the adapter you referenced in the Apple Store for this purpose. The hard drive I referenced is separately powered, so I assume the same adapter will work with that for data transfer?
The display has a daisy-chain ThunderBolt-1 port where you could plug in the drive.
Thank you, you've helped confirm my conclusion.
Of course! Why didn't I think of that - that's how I have the drive connected already - so I don't need an adapter for the drive at all - just for the display.
Thunderbolt 4 to Thunderbolt 1
