# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 3.2 Gen 1 vs. USB4 2.0

Comparing 2 standards across 8 specifications. 8 key differences identified.

Comparing:
USB 3.2 Gen 1
USB4 2.0
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 →
USB4 2.0 →

USB4 2.0, released September 2022, doubles USB4's ceiling to 80 Gbit/s symmetric -- or an asymmetric 120/40 Gbit/s split favoring one direction for high-bandwidth uses like external displays. It requires new cables explicitly rated for the higher speed; existing USB4 v1 cables aren't guaranteed to reach it.

View full USB4 2.0 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

8 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 3.2 Gen 1
USB4 2.0
Original Name
USB 3.0 (November 2008) —
Current Name
USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (also marketed as "USB 5Gbps") —
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
5 Gbit/s —
Introduced
SuperSpeed signaling, full-duplex architecture, 9-pin USB-A/B connectors —
Released
— September 2022
Data Rate (symmetric)
— 80 Gbit/s
Data Rate (asymmetric)
— 120 / 40 (split favoring one direction) Gbit/s
Connector Required
— USB-C only, with cables explicitly rated for USB4 2.0 speeds

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 2 → 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 →