Understanding USB Standards
Understanding USB Standards
Technology is always changing. This can sometimes lead to confusion about what a term actually means.
In this article, we’ll answer some of the frequently asked questions about USB standards and types so that you can find the product that best suits your needs.
What's the difference between USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1?
Nothing! These terms, along with SuperSpeed USB, all refer to the same USB standard.
As faster speeds and new standards were introduced, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) introduced new naming conventions. This forced the old standards to change their names, though the technology remained the same.
As you can see in the below chart, USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1 all refer to same technology with a maximum speed of 5Gbps.
USB Standard Chart
Original Name | First Re-name | Current Name | SuperSpeed Name | Maximum Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
USB 3.0 | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 | SuperSpeed USB | 5Gbps (625 MBps) |
USB 3.1 | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 | SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps | 10Gbps (1250 MBps) |
USB 3.2 | N/A | USB 3.2 Gen 2X2 | SuperSpeed USB 20 Gbps | 20 Gbps (2500 MBps) |
What is SuperSpeed?
SuperSpeed is a marketing term that some companies use to refer to the USB standards. You can use the chart above to see which term refers to which standard.
What if I don’t have/don’t know if I have the matching USB port on my computer?
Luckily, all these USB standards are backwards compatible! You won’t necessarily get the benefit of the higher transfer speed but your devices will still work with any compatible port.
What is USB4™?
USB4 is the latest USB standard announced by the USB-IF. Based on the Thunderbolt™ protocol, it will use the USB Type-C® connector and have a theoretical maximum speed of 40Gbps (5000MBps). And it will still be backwards compatible with old USB ports.
What are the USB types?
A USB type refers to the actual physical shape of the USB connector. Some of these you’ve likely seen hundreds of times, without even knowing the name! The 4 most common USB types currently are USB Type-A, microUSB, USB Type-C®, and Apple Lightning. Below are pictures of the connectors and some common devices you might associate them with.
Note: to get the maximum performance from your device, be sure match the USB type to your USB port.
USB Type-A
Standard computers, USB drives, charging cables
USB Type-C®
New computers and cell phones
Apple Lightning
Apple devices such as iPhones and iPads
Verbatim also offers some dual USB drives which allow for quick and easy data transfer between two different USB type devices.
