USB
New versions of USb appear as often as new smartphones. We are no longer trying to remember all the names – after all, they can be changed at any time, as it once again happened with the third-generation USB. According to USB-IF (an organization that certifies new USB standards), USB 3.2 will be the latest in USB 3.0 class. However, so far there has only been more confused.
To begin with, a small digression into history. Initially, there was a USB 3.0 standard. Then came USB 3.1, the speed of which increased to 10 Gb / s. Soon, both formats were renamed: USB 3.0 became USB 3.1 Gen 1, and USB 3.1 was named USB 3.1 Gen 2. And now at MWC 2019 a new version of USB 3.2 was introduced.
Speed up to 20 Gbps
A key improvement in the standard is higher speed. Between devices that support USB 3.2, you can transfer data at speeds up to 20 Gb / s. So far, USB has a maximum speed of 10 Gb / s.
Using USB 3.2, you can copy data from a 1 TB hard drive in less than seven minutes!
Only works with USB-C
USB 3.2 will exist only in the USB-C form factor, which is already used in modern laptops and smartphones. But unlike previous versions of USB 3.0 and 3.1, the new standard is not compatible with the old ones. This means that both devices must have a USB-C port in order to use high-speed USB 3.2. That is, in a bunch of USB-A – USB-C you will not achieve the promised 20 Gb / s – only with a similar USB-C. And this is good, as it eliminates unnecessary confusion with the available form factors.
Difficulties in wording
As for the names, the matter was not limited to numbering. Now the name USB will indicate generation. In the future, the original USB 3.0 standard will be called USB 3.2 Gen 1, and the previous USB 3.1 – USB 3.2 Gen 2. The new standard with a speed of up to 20 Gb / s is called USB 3.2 Gen 2 × 2 (how to multiply by two, that is, two times faster).
To make it easier for ordinary users to remember new standards, the guys from USB-IF came up with another set of notation – in it the speed indication is added to the main names. USB 3.2 Gen 1 can be called SuperSpeed USB, USB 3.1 Gen 2 – SuperSpeed USB 10 Gb / s, and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 – SuperSpeed USB 20 Gb / s.
Many experts believe that in all this it is difficult to see at least some kind of logic. Therefore, when buying USB devices, we advise you to look not at the name of the standards, but at the indicated data transfer rate. If this value reaches 20 Gb / s, this is the device with the latest features.