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Thunderbolt 3 uses a USB-C Connector. Thunderbolt and Thunderbolt 2 uses the Mini DisplayPort connector.
On https://thunderbolttechnology.net/tech/faq they explain that Tunderbolt 3 has backwards compatibility if you use adapters. The only adapter I could find was for $100 plus: https://www.startech.com/Cables/thunderbolt-3-cables/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-thunderbolt-adapter~TBT3TBTADAP But it seems that this device translates Thunderbolt 3 data to Thunderbolt/Thunderbolt 2 data and vice versa. So it is not a native compatibilty similar to USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. This translation results in addition of latency and power consumption.
So my guess is that Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 2 are not directly compatible and it could get difficult to connect an "old" Thunderbolt 2 device to a new Laptop Model with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C.
Is there a simple way to connect a Thunderbolt 2 Device to a Thunderbolt 3 Host without latency impact or translation? And without the need to buy additional gear for every "old" device?
It seems that this is still an unknown issue as Thunderbolt 3 computers or notebooks barely exist at the moment. But as soon as Apple is going to release a new MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 3, telling their users that they can't use their beloved "Thunderbolt Displays" anymore, people will start to complain...
rimshot
Posted 2016-06-07T21:03:52.393
Reputation: 51
You need an adapter but there is no impact in using one – Ramhound – 2016-06-07T21:18:52.037
Please explain: Why no impact at all? In my understanding, Thunderbolt 2 needs to be convertet to Thunderbolt 3 somehow. Or am I wrong? – rimshot – 2016-06-08T21:13:08.260
It does but there is no performance impact for that conversion. – Ramhound – 2016-06-08T22:03:05.540
Could you please explain why there is no impact? Sources, Articles? – rimshot – 2016-06-09T07:01:02.167