
To make things even more confusing, USB-C ports can also be compatible with Thunderbolt 3. What about Thunderbolt 3? Bill Roberson/Digital Trends It’s confusing but shows how important it is to read between the lines if you care about your new hardware having the latest standards. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 ships with two USB-A ports and a USB-C port, all of which are “USB Gen 1,” which is actually USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0), not 3.2 Gen 2 (USB 3.1). Whether a laptop, tablet, or smartphone has USB-A, USB-C, or some other connection in that wheelhouse, though, it does not guarantee that it is USB 3.2 Gen 2. USB-A is still offered on a number of devices for legacy support of older accessories and cables that still use that standard, but it’s becoming increasingly common for laptops and smartphones to ship with just USB-C connectivity. While that isn’t always the case, the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 transfer speeds are only possible on USB-C. Many modern devices have moved away from the classic USB-A, USB-B, and micro-USB ports and toward USB-C - which is small, reversible, and often goes hand in hand with faster transfer speeds. USB letter types, like A, B, and C, denote the shape and form of the port and connector, while the number types (3.2, etc.) denote the data transfer capabilities. While often associated with USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 2×2, USB-C is not the same thing.

USB-C isn’t the same as 3.1 Maurizio Pesce/Flickr This is most commonly seen in laptops that use the new USB-C standard. It allows compatible ports to provide up to 100 watts of power to the device they’re connected to, thereby allowing for the charging of larger devices like laptops through a single USB cable. More on that later.Īnother big advantage of USB 3.2 Gen 2 is that it can support a feature known as Power Delivery 2.0. The 2017 laptop shipped with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, while the 20 models replaced those with USB 3.2 Gen 2 connections of the USB-C flavor. A good example of a change between hardware generations is with Dell’s XPS 13 laptop. USB 3.2 Gen 2 isn’t supported by all modern devices but has slowly seen greater support over the past few years.
#THINGS 3 VS OMNIFOCUS 2 PC#
A standard Type-A cable, used for most current PC accessories. This is also known as SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps.Īll of these speeds are the theoretical maximums of the USB standard and are unlikely to be seen in everyday use, but you will certainly see an increase in transfer speed for files of most sizes when using a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB 3.1) device over one that is rated USB 3.2 Gen 1, or USB 3.0, only.

This is also known as SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps. Some may still refer to various USB speeds, colloquially at least, as USB 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 individually, but the official naming convention and their respective speeds are as follows: That has resulted in a rather confusing mess of names and speeds. It would, in turn, go on to be replaced by USB 3.2, which would refresh the naming conventions of USB as well. Officially launched in July 2013, USB 3.1 effectively replaced USB 3.0 as the new, high-speed USB standard. USB 3.1 is a generational number that mostly refers to the data transfer speed of the USB connector, not its shape or size.

Read on to find out the strengths and weaknesses of USB 3.1 and to learn more about technological advancements in current USB innovation. So, what sets USB 3.1 apart from other options, like USB 3.2 or USB-C?
#THINGS 3 VS OMNIFOCUS 2 SERIAL#
USBs (which stands for “Universal Serial Bus”) are a commonly used type of cord to connect two devices, like a PC with a gaming device or camera. Fitbit Versa 3Ĭhances are that you’ve already used USB 3.1 in your daily life.
