# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 2.0 vs. USB Power Delivery

Comparing 2 standards across 7 specifications. 7 key differences identified.

Comparing:
USB 2.0
USB Power Delivery
USB 2.0 →

USB 2.0, released in April 2000, added a 480 Mbit/s High Speed mode on top of USB 1.x's rates -- a 40x jump that made USB viable for external hard drives and other high-throughput peripherals for the first time. It remains the fallback data rate on many budget cables and low-power devices today.

View full USB 2.0 spec sheet →
USB Power Delivery →

USB Power Delivery (USB PD) is a separate negotiation protocol governing how much power flows over a USB-C cable -- independent of the cable's data speed. Standard Power Range tops out at 100W (20V/5A); PD 3.1's Extended Power Range (2021) raised that ceiling to 240W (48V/5A), requiring cables with a built-in identification chip.

View full USB Power Delivery spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

7 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 2.0
USB Power Delivery
Released
April 2000 —
High Speed
480 Mbit/s —
Backward Compatible
Yes (USB 1.x Full/Low Speed) —
PD 1.0
— 2012 -- up to 60W
PD 2.0
— 2013 -- up to 100W (Standard Power Range, 20V/5A)
PD 3.1 (EPR)
— 2021 -- up to 240W (Extended Power Range, 48V/5A)
EPR Cable Requirement
— Built-in E-Marker identification chip

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare USB 2.0 vs. Micro-USB → Compare USB 2.0 vs. Mini-USB → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 1.1 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 1 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 2 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB-A → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB-B → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB-C → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB4 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB4 2.0 →