All you need to know about USB ports and speeds (2024)

The same name, the comprehensive serial bus (or USB) is an ambitious promise: one port governs them all. The reality is unfortunately a chaos. Although your phone, tablet and laptop may all use the same USB-C port to charge and transfer data these days, they can all work differently.

What is USB4? What is Thunderbolt? Is it the same USB-C? I am here to help answer all these questions, so you can get the best performance from your devices.

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USB Conditions

First, it is important to define some terms in advance.

USB 2.x/USB 3.x/USB4

Each USB device is designed for some USB specifications version, running UsB (USB-IF) Forum. These versions are mainly characterized by the amount of data they can transfer and how much energy they can provide (at least, these are the main things that need to be taken care of). While most of these devices are mutual operating as long as they use the same type of port, the entire series will coincide with the slowest part of the series. Suppose you connect a USB 3.2 Solid State drive at the USB 3.2 port on your computer, but use A. USB 3.0 cable– You will only move Data at USB 3.0 speeds. Make sure to classify each link in your series of speed you need.

UsB Energy Delivery (or USB-PD)

Instead of carrying a charger for each device you own, you can choose a shipping adapter that can juice many devices Via many USB-C Energy Delivery (USB-C PD) Ports. Energy delivery is the fast charging method that supports up to 240 watts of energy and allows tools to speak safely to charging devices to sort the correct energy needs. You will find these types of ports USB axes as wellSometimes it is referred to as “firewalk”, although it is not an official term.

Ensure that the electric power of the USB-C port on the charging adapter or axis can handle what your device needs. MacBook Pro usually needs USB-C 100W Port On the shipping adapter or USB center for the best charging experience.

USB-C and USB-A

These terms indicate the actual form of connectors and ports on the devices. USB-C is common and it seems like a small oval elongated. It is also the opposite, so you cannot deliver it wrong. USB-A is the oldest and rectangular port that I have seen for years. there Many types of USB connectorsBut these are the two who are likely to see in shipping transformers and centers Estabble stations today.

Superspeed

You may also see some USB devices that are marketed in terms such as “Supeerspeed”, “Supespeedplus” and “Supeerspeed USB 5/10/20 GBPS.” These were the conditions At first it is supposed to be more usefulMarketable labels to refer to what was the perpetrator or speed of the USB port, but unfortunately, make things more confused. In most cases, you can ignore these stickers and consider actual speed classifications.

What happens with USB generations?

It would be great to be able to connect the USB 3.2 to the USB 3.2 port using the USB 3.2 cable and the confidence that everything works. Unfortunately, it is a more complicated way.

When the USB 3.0 was released in 2008, a maximum speed was about 5 GB (GBPS). However, when USB 3.1 was released in 2013, a maximum of 10 GB per second, 5 GB version was re -named to USB 3.1 General 1, While the new and faster specifications were USB 3.1 General 2. Your salary so far? Well, it gets worse.

After USB 3.2 came out in 2019, USB 5 GB was renamed second once again To “USB 3.2 Gen 1”, the 10 GB version of “USB 3.2 Gen 2” has become, and the specifications of 20 GB in the new second-USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. Wait, what? “2×2” indicates the operation of two 10 GB data per second at one time. You do not need to know all this. Many USB axis and Faculty manufacturing companies Sand out of names, signs and symbols. They started printing the maximum speed next to the outlets.