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 (625MBps)
USB 3.1 USB 3.1
Gen 2
USB 3.2
Gen 2
SuperSpeed USB
10Gbps
10Gbps (1250MBps)
USB 3.2 N/A USB 3.2
Gen 2x2
SuperSpeed USB
20Gbps
20Gbps (2500MBps)
Original Name USB 3.0
First Re-name USB 3.1
Gen 1
Current Name USB 3.2
Gen 1
SuperSpeed Name SuperSpeed USB
Maximum Speed 5Gbps (625MBps)
Original Name USB 3.1
First Re-name USB 3.1
Gen 2
Current Name USB 3.2
Gen 2
SuperSpeed Name SuperSpeed USB
10Gbps
Maximum Speed 10Gbps (1250MBps)
Original Name USB 3.2
First Re-name N/A
Current Name USB 3.2
Gen 2x2
SuperSpeed Name SuperSpeed USB
20Gbps
Maximum Speed 20Gbps (2500MBps)

What is SuperSpeed?

What if I don’t have/don’t know if I have the matching USB port on my computer?

What is USB4™?

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

USB Type-C®

microUSB

Apple Lightning

Verbatim also offers some dual USB drives which allow for quick and easy data transfer between two different USB type devices.

Dual USB – micro

Dual USB – USB-C

Dual USB – Apple

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