# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 3.2 Gen 2 vs. USB4

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

Comparing:
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB4
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 →

USB4, released August 2019, is built on Intel's Thunderbolt 3 protocol, donated to USB-IF as the new foundation -- up to 40 Gbit/s, a mandatory USB-C connector, and tunneling that lets a single port carry USB, DisplayPort, and PCIe traffic at once. Thunderbolt 3 compatibility is required; Thunderbolt 4 compatibility is optional for device makers.

View full USB4 spec sheet →

Specification Comparison Table

7 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 3.2 Gen 2
USB4
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
10 Gbit/s Up to 40 (Gen 3x2) or 20 (Gen 3x1) 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
— August 2019
Connector Required
— USB-C only
Protocol Foundation
— Intel Thunderbolt 3 (donated to USB-IF)

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 2.0 →