USB Reference
USB Standards
USB standards define how USB data connections operate across generations. Connector shape is separate from the USB data standard.
Related: USB Connectors · USB Charging · USB Adapters
Comparison
| Standard | Maximum data rate | Key change | Current position |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB 1.x | 12 Mbps | Original Low-Speed and Full-Speed USB | Legacy |
| USB 2.0 | 480 Mbps | High-Speed USB | Still widely supported |
| USB 3.0 | 5 Gbps | Introduced SuperSpeed USB | Historical revision within USB 3.2 |
| USB 3.1 | 10 Gbps | Added 10 Gbps operation | Historical revision within USB 3.2 |
| USB 3.2 | 20 Gbps | Added two-lane 20 Gbps operation | Current USB 3.x family |
| USB4 | 40 Gbps originally | USB-C architecture with data/display protocol sharing | Current family |
| USB4 Version 2.0 | 80 Gbps | Higher-performance USB4 signaling | Current USB4 specification generation |
