# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs. USB Power Delivery

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

Comparing:
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB Power Delivery
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 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

8 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB Power Delivery
Original Name
USB 3.1 Gen 2 (July 2013) —
Current Name
USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 (also marketed as "USB 10Gbps") —
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
10 Gbit/s —
Encoding
128b/132b (more efficient than USB 3.0's 8b/10b) —
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 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 3.2 Gen 2x2 → 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 →