# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs. USB4 2.0

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

Comparing:
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB4 2.0
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 →
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 2
USB4 2.0
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) —
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 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 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 →