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Differences Between 2nd and 3rd Gen USB Cables


 

There’s no denying the popularity of USB devices. Statistics show that nearly 3 billion USB ports are shipped annually. Considering the popularity of these ports, it’s important to ensure that you’re utilizing the right type of USB cables. You’ve probably heard about the various types of USB cables that are available. With that in mind, it’s easy to be slightly confused in regards to these items. Considering that, here are the main similarities and differences between various types of USB cables.

USB 2.0 Cables

In the year 2000, USB 2.0 was introduced. It was during this time that maximum bandwidth was increased from 12 to 480 megabits per second. That being said, there were similarities between this item and USB 1.0 cables. Both USB 1 and 2 versions utilize a four pin standard connection and five for micro devices. In most cases, USB 1 cables should be able to work with most USB 2 devices.

USB 3.0 and Beyond

In 2008, the official third version of USB cables and ports were released. Known as USB 3.0, these cables maintained an astonishing transfer speed of 5 gigabits per second. This is important to note as this speed is nearly ten times faster than USB 2.0 cables. In addition, USB 3 cables are compatible with USB 2.0 devices. That being said, you will only receive the maximum speed seen at 2.0 levels.

Currently, the third version of USB cables have the fastest transfer speeds. USB 3.1 was released in 2007 and nearly doubled the maximum transfer speeds from 5 to 10 gigabits per second. In 2017, USB 3.2 cables were released and once again doubled transfer speeds. Considering these amazing recent boosts in terms of transfer speed, there is no official release date for the fourth version of USB cables.

In closing, it’s understandable to wonder about the differences between multiple versions of USB cables. While USB technology has existed for some time, it became more popular during the 2000s. Many devices utilizing USB 2.0 technology remain popular. Currently, the third version of these wires and ports are often utilized. While no official date is set, it’s expected that USB 4.0 will possibly be released by the year 2020.