Side-by-Side Comparison
USB
USB 1.1 vs. USB4
Comparing 2 standards across 7 specifications. 7 key differences identified.
Comparing:
USB 1.1
USB4
USB 1.1, released in September 1998, was the first widely adopted USB standard -- 12 Mbit/s Full Speed for most peripherals, with a 1.5 Mbit/s Low Speed mode for mice and keyboards. The original USB 1.0 from January 1996 saw little real-world adoption before 1.1 quickly superseded it.
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.
Specification Comparison Table
7 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Released
|
September 1998 | August 2019 |
|
Full Speed
|
12 Mbit/s | — |
|
Low Speed
|
1.5 Mbit/s | — |
|
Predecessor
|
USB 1.0 (January 1996, limited real-world adoption) | — |
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
— | Up to 40 (Gen 3x2) or 20 (Gen 3x1) Gbit/s |
|
Connector Required
|
— | USB-C only |
|
Protocol Foundation
|
— | Intel Thunderbolt 3 (donated to USB-IF) |
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