Making the announcement ahead of CES 2018, Samsung has taken the wraps off what they say is the first QLED curved monitor to feature Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. “The Thunderbolt 3 connection provides processing speed of up to 40 Gigabits per second (Gbps) – a rate nearly four times faster than USB alternatives – allowing users to enjoy connectivity across a full ecosystem of docks, displays and peripheral devices including Macs, USB type-C laptops, and other desktop accessories like storage drives or external graphics cards.”
What this means is that if you have a laptop, you could in theory keep it powered while connected to the monitor at the same time, thus reducing the need for an extra cable, and also eliminating the use of an additional power socket which could be used for something else. If this setup sounds familiar, it is because in 2016, LG launched their UltraFine monitors for Apple’s new MacBooks which ditched the MagSafe connector for a USB-C/Thunderbolt connectivity.
The launch of Samsung’s monitor means that customers now have another option if they’re in the market for a new monitor with Thunderbolt 3 connectivity, and the fact that it is curved and of the QLED variety should help with its appeal.