Micro-USB vs. USB4
Comparing 2 standards across 8 specifications. 8 key differences identified.
Micro-USB (Micro-B) was the dominant charging and data connector on non-Apple smartphones and small electronics from the late 2000s through the mid-2010s. Its USB 3.0 variant added a second, wider tab beside the standard 5-pin plug for extra SuperSpeed pins -- a design most phone makers skipped, keeping plain USB 2.0 Micro-B nearly universal in practice.
USB4, released August 2019, is built on Intel's Thunderbolt 3 protocol, donated to USB-IF as the new foundation -- up to 40 Gbit/s, a mandatory USB-C connector, and tunneling that lets a single port carry USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe traffic at once. Thunderbolt 3 compatibility is required; Thunderbolt 4 compatibility is optional for device makers.
Specification Comparison Table
8 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Pin Count
|
5 (USB 2.0) or 10 (USB 3.0, wider stepped shape) | — |
|
Standard Base Dimensions
|
~6.85 x 1.8 mm | — |
|
Reversible
|
No | — |
|
Status
|
Largely superseded by USB-C | — |
|
Released
|
— | August 2019 |
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
— | Up to 40 (Gen 3x2) or 20 (Gen 3x1) Gbit/s |
|
Connector Required
|
— | USB-C only |
|
Protocol Foundation
|
— | Intel Thunderbolt 3 (donated to USB-IF) |