USB 3.2 Gen 1 vs. USB4
Comparing 2 standards across 7 specifications. 7 key differences identified.
Originally released as USB 3.0 in November 2008, this 5 Gbit/s "SuperSpeed" tier was retroactively renamed USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 when the USB 3.2 specification arrived in 2017 -- the first step in a naming scheme many found more confusing than clarifying, since the underlying hardware and speed never actually changed.
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 | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Max Bandwidth / Data Rate
|
5 Gbit/s | Up to 40 (Gen 3x2) or 20 (Gen 3x1) Gbit/s |
|
Original Name
|
USB 3.0 (November 2008) | — |
|
Current Name
|
USB 3.2 Gen 1x1 (also marketed as "USB 5Gbps") | — |
|
Introduced
|
SuperSpeed signaling, full-duplex architecture, 9-pin USB-A/B connectors | — |
|
Released
|
— | August 2019 |
|
Connector Required
|
— | USB-C only |
|
Protocol Foundation
|
— | Intel Thunderbolt 3 (donated to USB-IF) |