(The 2x2 means it's the second generation and has two 10Gbps lanes to achieve its maximum throughput of 20Gbps.) The older USB 3.1 has a single 10Gbps channel and is called USB 3.2 Gen 2. The newest, fastest version of USB 3.2 offers a max speed of 20Gbps and is called USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. We now find ourselves in a similar spot with USB 3.2. When USB 3.1 showed up, USB 3.0 suddenly became USB 3.1 Gen 1, and the newer standard received the label USB 3.1 Gen 2. USB 1.0, 1.1 and 1.2 were absorbed into USB 2.0. This isn't the first time USB names have shifted. To help you make sense of the USB branding you'll see on current products, let's sort out what's what and how we got here. While we await the arrival of USB 4 on some distant, yet-to-be-determined date (late 2020 is the best guess), we're left to sift through the current mess that is USB 3.2. USB 4 appears to be straightforward enough: It'll use the USB-C connector and boast transfer speeds of up to 40 gigabits per second, while baking in Thunderbolt goodness. And if that's not confusing enough, the USB 3.2 flavors can also be described with a number of 'SuperSpeed USB' marketing terms. With the snap of a finger - OK, a white paper - USB 3.1 is now USB 3.2.Īnd if that's not confusing enough, the new USB 3.2 branding also encompasses the older USB 3.0 standard to create a total of three varieties of USB 3.2. The trade group USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF to those who need another USB acronym) has been busy lately, from announcing the upcoming USB 4 specification to renaming the current USB standard.

Usb 2 vs usb 3 read speed