# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

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

Comparing:
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
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 →
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 →

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, part of the USB 3.2 specification released in September 2017, is the only tier in the 3.2 family that's genuinely new hardware rather than a renamed predecessor -- it doubles Gen 2's 10 Gbit/s by running two lanes simultaneously, reaching 20 Gbit/s, but only over USB-C connectors and cables wired for it.

View full USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

7 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
10 Gbit/s 20 (2 lanes x 10 Gbit/s each) Gbit/s
Original Name
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (July 2013) —
Current Name
USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (also marketed as "USB 10Gbps") —
Encoding
128b/132b (more efficient than USB 3.0's 8b/10b) —
Released
— September 2017
Connector Required
— USB-C only (dual-lane wiring not present in USB-A/B)
Marketing Name
— USB 20Gbps

Other Alternatives to Compare

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