:format(jpeg):background_color(fff)/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onemorething.nl%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F12%2FUSB_kabels.jpg "USB: everything you need to know about the different types")
USB cables.
(Image: Chromacables.com)
From smartphones to cameras to mini fans and from smartphones to printers, many electronic devices have USB ports for battery charging and data transfer. A wide variety of USB versions are now in use, differing in hardware and technical capabilities. As a result, many can no longer see the forest for the trees. Hence this brief overview of the different USB types and their possibilities.
The abbreviation USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and is the most famous interface type in the world. 1996 saw the introduction of the serial bus system to connect external devices to computers. That is self-evident to us today, but it was special when it was introduced at the time. You could now connect devices while using it.
Nearly 25 years later, there are various updates, new and outdated versions and significantly increased capabilities in terms of speed and data volumes. This overview introduces the currently used standards, their various names and the required hardware.
USB4
USB4 – or USB4.0 – was presented in 2019. Above all, it should simplify the confusing variety of different specifications and thus the naming jungle. Since USB3.0 and its next generations came on the market from 2019, it was easy to get lost. That was because this generation’s plugs all looked identical. Apple users know this all too well. You regularly had to purchase new cables and connectors. It was the birth of the USB Type C connector. With this, this USB standard also achieved significant improvements in speed and amount of power.
USB4.0 is based on the specifications of the Thunderbolt 3 protocol, which was jointly developed by Apple and Intel. This technology was previously reserved for more expensive devices. Therefore, USB4.0 can be called a revolution without a doubt. Data transfers of at least 20 Gbit/s and maximum 40 Gbit/s are guaranteed. This makes USB4.0 twice as fast as its predecessor.
Fortunately, new plugs are not necessary, the USB4 continues to work with USB-C connectors. New data and display protocols are also supported, allowing for a wider range of connectable devices, better transmission speeds, and better power delivery to external devices. This applies in particular to the connection of monitors.
The specifications of the third generation USB
First of all, it should be mentioned that the variety of names for the different USB standards is a bit confusing, as older standards were partially renamed when the newer ones appeared. As a result, most USB standards have different names (see the table below).
1) USB3.0 / 3.1 (1st generation)
In 2008, the USB3.0 standard was introduced. This allowed the speed of data transmission to be increased to 5 Gbit/s. In addition, the connector could also supply more current, up to 900 mA. In addition, it was new that for the first time it was possible to send multiple data streams at the same time.
The connections of this standard are easily recognized by the fact that a small blue plastic plate is incorporated in the connector. While the increased data rate of USB3.0 put new demands on hardware and software, 3.0 connections are backwards compatible with 2.0 inputs. Conversely, however, new plugs were needed. USB3.0 was later renamed 3.1 (Gen 1) because the 3.0 specification was included in the new 3.1 standard.
2) USB3.1 (2nd generation)
The USB3.1 upgrade was launched in 2013. The new standard, in turn, allowed for faster data transfer speeds. Up to 10 Gbit/s were now possible. The current can reach 5A with this specification, which should cover almost every need. After renaming USB3.0 to 3.1 Gen 1, the 3.1 version was renamed 3.1 Gen 2.
3) USB3.2
USB3.2 came into view in 2017 and the speed was doubled to 20 Gbit/s. This requires a new type of connector, the USB type C connector. It could transmit 10 Gbit/s round trip in the multi-lane method over two pairs of wires. Because the older type A USB connectors are not compatible with the USB3.2 transmission standard, all USB3.2 cables have always two USB-C connectors.
Overview
| Original name |
With the introduction of USB3.1 renamed to |
With the introduction of USB3.2 renamed to |
Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB3.0 | USB3.1 Gen 1 | USB3.2 Gen 1(x1) | 5 Gbit/s |
| USB3.1 | – | USB3.2 Gen 2(x1) | 10 Gbit/s |
| USB3.2 | – | USB3.2 Gen 2×2 | 20 Gbit/s |
| USB4.0 | – | – | 40 Gbit/s |
The suffix x1 or x2 indicates how many data streams the respective standard can transmit in parallel: for x1 is that one data stream, x2 can send two data streams in parallel.
USB hubs
Because a jumble of different USB types had now arisen and we increasingly had several different USB devices at home, a new type of device appeared on the market: the USB hub. This hub is an external device that you can connect to a USB port. USB hubs work like multiple plugs into a wall outlet, making it possible to connect multiple peripherals to one port at the same time.
The big advantage of this is that you don’t have to move or exchange the cables if you want to connect additional devices. USB hubs differ mainly in the number of ports available, but also in the type of power supply and the transmission speed. In addition, hubs increasingly offer the option to connect other connector types, such as Ethernet and HDMI, and even provide connector slots for data storage cards, such as often found in digital cameras.
Passive USB hub
On the one hand, there are USB hubs that are operated with a passive power supply. This means you don’t need a separate power supply, so in the form of an extra power supply. They are also known as bus-powered hubs.
Active USB hub
USB hubs with an active power supply are also called self powered and have their own power supply. It is therefore recommended to use these hubs to connect devices that do not have their own power supply. This means that multiple devices can be connected to the power supply at the same time, such as smartphones. In addition, an active USB hub is also indispensable if the total power consumption of the connected devices exceeds the capacity of the USB port.
Active USB hubs often have a separate port for charging a laptop, because they require much more power than, for example, an external hard drive.
Connector types
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In addition to the different generations of USB, there are different types of connectors. The type A USB connector, which can be found in USB sticks for example, is widespread. It has the familiar rectangular and flat format that many USB plugs have in everyday electronic devices. The EASY USB connector type A differs from other types because you can connect it on both sides.
The Type B USB connector is less flat and has a larger cavity in the middle. This connector is suitable for USB2.0 and 3.0.
The USB Mini-B connector heralded the compact class of USB connectors. You can still find it in older cell phones and digital cameras. In the meantime, however, this has largely been replaced by the Micro-B connector, which is integrated in many smartphones as a connection for, for example, the power cable. It supports the transfer rate of USB2.0.
The USB-C connector aims to provide a unified standard for USB connectors. Being very flat, this connector is ideal for use in small-sized devices. Thanks to the symmetrical shape with rounded corners, this plug is easily recognizable and it does not matter how you insert it into the connector socket.
For more information about USB, see this Wikipedia page.