Not all USB speeds are created equal (and sure, the numbers complicate issues)

The U in USB is meant to face for Common, but you would be forgiven for pondering it was something however. Past utilizing completely different connector sorts, some USB codecs supply wildly completely different knowledge and charging speeds. Often, connections could even assist charging however not knowledge, or vice versa. You have encountered that dilemma when you’ve tried to make use of wired CarPlay or Android Autoand did not plug into the one port marked for knowledge sync.

When you’re having hassle sorting issues out, this information is supposed to be a fast and helpful primer — I am not going to enter extreme depth about every model of USB. In truth, the one main division you (normally) want to fret about is USB-A versus USB-C, except maybe you are a video editor or connecting an exterior graphics card. That’ll make extra sense in a couple of moments.

USB 1.0/1.1

The start of the expertise

USB Implementers Discussion board / Pocket-lint

The unique model of USB dates again to 1996, and was restricted to a whopping 1.5 megabits per second (Mbps) of information and 0.5W of energy supply. Extra importantly, it launched the oblong USB-A (AKA Sort-A) connector kind, which remains to be in use right this moment.

Realistically, the oldest model of USB you are prone to encounter is 1.1. That upgraded knowledge to 12Mbps, and energy to 2.5W, adequate to attach mice and keyboards. You would not wish to cost a state-of-the-art smartphone utilizing this tech — it’d take over 5 and a half hours to utterly replenish an iPhone 16 Pro.

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USB 2.0

The usual that refuses to die

That is the oldest format nonetheless in lively use. Whereas its energy supply is capped at 2.5W in most circumstances, knowledge speeds rise to 480Mbps. That is much more affordable for exterior storage drives, or syncing cell gadgets, although file sizes have grown a lot over time that it most likely will not really feel prefer it. Actually, you must keep away from utilizing USB 2.0 to again up a contemporary laptop — it could take over 9 hours to repeat a 2TB drive.

Most USB 2.0 gadgets depend on a USB-A connector, however a number of connector sorts blossomed out of the usual, together with Sort-B, Mini-A, Mini-B, Micro-A, and Micro-B. Though the primary three have fallen by the wayside, you would possibly nonetheless run into micro-USB ports in uncommon circumstances.

It is value noting that Apple nonetheless caps knowledge at 2.0 speeds typically, even when it is utilizing extra fashionable connector sorts. Particularly, I am pondering of Lightning cables, and the USB-C ports on non-Professional iPhones. The Lightning format has been utterly abolished from Apple’s latest merchandise as of 2025.

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USB 3.0

The brand new baseline, and a brand new connector

3.0 has largely supplanted 2.0 because the minimal commonplace, boosting energy to not less than 4.5W, and knowledge speeds of as much as 5 gigabits per second (Gbps). 5Gbps transfers could make an enormous distinction — that very same 2TB backup I discussed earlier would end in below an hour.

Virtually as vital because the pace increase is widespread assist for USB-C (AKA Sort-C). When you’ll nonetheless see 3.0 gear with USB-A connectors, USB-C is more and more de facto, each due to newer requirements and due to comfort. USB-C is reversible, which means there isn’t any fear a few cable failing to insert correctly. Many individuals complain that USB-A cables at all times appear to enter upside-down in your first attempt.

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USB 3.1 and three.2

Ditching the separate energy cables

The most important factor in USB 3.1 is widespread assist for USB Energy Supply (a.okay.a. USB-PD). This unlocks much more juice than earlier codecs, not less than as much as 100W. That is sufficient to energy many laptops, and absolutely recharge telephones in lower than an hour, although PD is finally held again by the capability of your machine, cable, and/or adapter setup. A 100W cable will not max out when you’re utilizing a 30W adapter, for instance.

USB 3.1 Gen 1 offers knowledge speeds of as much as 5Gbps, whereas Gen 2 doubles issues to 10Gbps. Confusingly, USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 and Gen 2×1 have the identical cut up — you must bounce to Gen 2×2 to realize 20Gbps.

Merchandise with USB-PD 3.1 assist energy of as much as 240W, sufficient for some gaming laptops. I ought to add that in some circumstances, USB-PD 3.1 may be paired with USB 3.0 and even 2.0 knowledge speeds — however since USB-PD 3.1 launched in 2021, you may normally see it related to USB 3.1 or later.

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USB 4 and 4 2.0

The most effective you will get for now

Newswire / Pocket-lint

This is not as widespread appropriately, however adoption is rising, and at this stage I would not purchase a brand new PC or Mac with out not less than one USB 4 connection. Usually, the usual helps transfers as much as 40Gbps, which is nearly a should when you’re doing 4K video modifying. Returning to that 2TB backup instance, a USB 4 configuration would possibly full the method in lower than seven minutes. USB-PD is assumed right here.

Even higher, USB 4 contains Thunderbolt compatibility by default. That is a typical utilized by quite a few high-speed equipment, although most steadily you are going to encounter Thunderbolt docks, which increase port choices with minimal congestion. {Hardware} makers are likely to not less than supply Thunderbolt 4, which absolutely exploits that 40Gbps capability. It is sufficient bandwidth to deal with two 4K60 DisplayPort displays concurrently.

On the chopping fringe of the business is USB 4 2.0 (AKA USB 4 v2). Usually, this peaks at 80Gbps, however it might obtain 120Gbps if knowledge in a single course is restricted to 40Gbps. It is also required to squeeze essentially the most out of Thunderbolt 5.

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