# item.guide
Side-by-Side Comparison USB

USB 2.0 vs. USB4

Comparing 2 standards across 6 specifications. 6 key differences identified.

Comparing:
USB 2.0
USB4
USB 2.0 →

USB 2.0, released in April 2000, added a 480 Mbit/s High Speed mode on top of USB 1.x's rates -- a 40x jump that made USB viable for external hard drives and other high-throughput peripherals for the first time. It remains the fallback data rate on many budget cables and low-power devices today.

View full USB 2.0 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

6 Parameters
Parameter / Spec
USB 2.0
USB4
Released
April 2000 August 2019
High Speed
480 Mbit/s —
Backward Compatible
Yes (USB 1.x Full/Low Speed) —
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)

Other Alternatives to Compare

Compare USB 2.0 vs. Micro-USB → Compare USB 2.0 vs. Mini-USB → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 1.1 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 1 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 2 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB Power Delivery → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB-A → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB-B → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB-C → Compare USB 2.0 vs. USB4 2.0 →