Thunderbolt vs USB-C docks: why the connector is not the answer
A USB-C-shaped port can carry several different feature sets. The physical connector therefore tells you less than the protocol and capabilities behind it.
USB-C with DisplayPort Alt Mode
A laptop may support video over USB-C using DisplayPort Alt Mode without supporting Thunderbolt. A compatible USB-C dock can still provide monitors, USB and possibly charging, but display bandwidth and monitor count depend on the host and dock implementation.
USB4
USB4 can provide high bandwidth and may work with many modern docks, but exact tunnelling and display capabilities remain host-dependent. Check the laptop's documentation rather than assuming every USB4 port behaves identically.
Thunderbolt 4
Thunderbolt 4 provides a more tightly specified high-bandwidth host path. It is still not a promise that every dock/OS/display topology will produce the same monitor count or refresh rate.
Do not forget the cable and dock mode
The host cable is part of the connection path. A cable that only supports lower USB data rates or limited Power Delivery can prevent a capable laptop and dock from reaching their intended mode. Use the dock manufacturer's supplied cable or a cable explicitly rated for the required Thunderbolt/USB4 generation and charging power.
Also check whether the dock is operating in a fallback mode. A Thunderbolt dock connected to a plain USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode host may still provide useful displays and USB devices, but it can lose Thunderbolt bandwidth or support fewer displays. A successful connection therefore does not prove that the dock is operating at its maximum specification.