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

Abstract

There’s a wide range of USB codecs on the market, using completely different connectors, knowledge charges, and charging speeds. It is advisable match like equipment to get probably the most out of your units.
The largest break up is between USB-A and USB-C connectors, the latter often enabling sooner knowledge and energy, although not all the time. Verify specs earlier than shopping for something.
The perfect USB format is USB 4 2.0, which peaks at 120Gbps and helps Thunderbolt 5. It is exceptionally uncommon, so you may most likely be superb with the bottom 40Gbps USB 4 spec.

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 provide wildly completely different knowledge and charging speeds. Often, connections might even assist charging however not knowledge, or vice versa. You have encountered that dilemma in case you’ve tried to make use of wired CarPlay or Android Autoand did not plug into the one port marked for knowledge sync.

For those who’re having bother sorting issues out, this information is supposed to be a fast and useful primer — I am not going to enter extreme depth about every model of USB. In actual fact, the one main division you (often) 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 just a few moments.

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USB 1.0/1.1

The beginning 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 Kind-A) connector kind, which continues to be in use at the moment.

You’ll be able to, in concept, plug a USB 1.0 peripheral into a contemporary laptop computer with none points.

Realistically, the oldest model of USB you are prone to encounter is 1.1. That upgraded knowledge to 12Mbps, and energy to 2.5W, ample 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 fully replenish an iPhone 16 Pro.

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USB 2.0

The usual that refuses to die

A USB stick on an old wooden storage box.

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 cheap for exterior storage drives, or syncing cell units, 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.

It is price noting that Apple nonetheless caps knowledge at 2.0 speeds generally, even when it is utilizing extra trendy connector sorts.

Most USB 2.0 units depend on a USB-A connector, however a number of connector sorts blossomed out of the usual, together with Kind-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 price noting that Apple nonetheless caps knowledge at 2.0 speeds generally, even when it is utilizing extra trendy connector sorts. Particularly, I am pondering of Lightning cables, and the USB-C ports on non-Professional iPhones. The Lightning format has been fully abolished from Apple’s latest merchandise as of 2025.

Five Lightning port cables in a row in different colors.

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USB 3.0

The brand new baseline, and a brand new connector

A red USB-C cable on an old cedar chest.

3.0 has principally supplanted 2.0 because the minimal commonplace, boosting energy to a minimum of 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 velocity enhance is widespread assist for USB-C (AKA Kind-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, that means there is not any fear a few cable failing to insert correctly. Many individuals complain that USB-A cables all the time appear to enter upside-down in your first attempt.

A white iPhone 16e getting charged over USB-C on a red gradient background.

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USB 3.1 and three.2

Ditching the separate energy cables

The largest factor in USB 3.1 is widespread assist for USB Energy Supply (a.ok.a. USB-PD). This unlocks much more juice than earlier codecs, a minimum of 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 system, cable, and/or adapter setup. A 100W cable will not max out in case you’re utilizing a 30W adapter, for instance.

USB 3.1 Gen 1 supplies 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 break up — you need to leap 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 instances, USB-PD 3.1 might be paired with USB 3.0 and even 2.0 knowledge speeds — however since USB-PD 3.1 launched in 2021, you may often see it related to USB 3.1 or later.

All variations of USB-PD require USB-C.

A pair of gaming laptops, one showing Xbox PC Game Pass.

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USB 4 and 4 2.0

The perfect you will get for now

A Thunderbolt 5 cable. — Newswire / Pocket-lint

Newswire / Pocket-lint

This is not as widespread correctly, however adoption is rising, and at this stage I would not purchase a brand new PC or Mac with out a minimum of one USB 4 connection. Sometimes, the usual helps transfers as much as 40Gbps, which is nearly a should in case 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.

USB 4 consists of Thunderbolt compatibility by default.

Even higher, USB 4 consists of Thunderbolt compatibility by default. That is a typical utilized by various high-speed equipment, although most ceaselessly you are going to encounter Thunderbolt docks, which increase port choices with minimal congestion. {Hardware} makers are inclined to a minimum of provide Thunderbolt 4, which absolutely exploits that 40Gbps capability. It is sufficient bandwidth to deal with two 4K60 DisplayPort screens concurrently.

On the reducing fringe of the trade is USB 4 2.0 (AKA USB 4 v2). Usually, this peaks at 80Gbps, however it could obtain 120Gbps if knowledge in a single path is proscribed to 40Gbps. It is also required to squeeze probably the most out of Thunderbolt 5.