# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 3.2 Gen 1 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 2

Comparing 2 standards across 5 specifications. 5 key differences identified.

Comparing:
USB 3.2 Gen 1
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 1 →

Originally released as USB 3.0 in November 2008, this 5 Gbit/s "SuperSpeed" tier was retroactively renamed USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 when the USB 3.2 specification arrived in 2017 -- the first step in a naming scheme many found more confusing than clarifying, since the underlying hardware and speed never actually changed.

View full USB 3.2 Gen 1 spec sheet →
USB 3.2 Gen 2 →

Originally released as USB 3.1 in July 2013, this 10 Gbit/s tier used more efficient 128b/132b encoding than USB 3.0's 8b/10b. It was renamed USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 in 2017 alongside USB 3.0's rename to Gen 1x1 -- both generations kept identical real-world hardware, with only the marketing name changing.

View full USB 3.2 Gen 2 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

5 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 3.2 Gen 1
USB 3.2 Gen 2
Original Name
USB 3.0 (November 2008) USB 3.1 Gen 2 (July 2013)
Current Name
USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (also marketed as "USB 5Gbps") USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (also marketed as "USB 10Gbps")
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
5 Gbit/s 10 Gbit/s
Introduced
SuperSpeed signaling, full-duplex architecture, 9-pin USB-A/B connectors —
Encoding
— 128b/132b (more efficient than USB 3.0's 8b/10b)

Other Alternatives to Compare

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