The difference between USB 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 is that USB 3.0 is 5Gb/s, USB 3.1 is 10Gb/s, and USB 3.2 is the fastest at 20Gb/s. You may have seen them branded as SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps/10Gbps/20Gbps. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the transfer speeds. Manufacturers with clever marketing can manipulate the naming schemes to make you think you’re getting a product you aren’t. Below, you can read more to find out the differences between USB 3.0 vs 3.1 vs 3.2!
FAQ about USB 3.0, USB 3.1, and USB 3.2
Are USB 3.1 and 3.2 the same?
In most cases yes, USB 3.1 and 3.2 are the same. Unless specifically mentioned, the USB 3.2 device is likely the same classification as what used to be reffered to as USB 3.1 and even USB 3.0.
Can a USB 3.2 be used in a 3.0 port?
Yes, as long as the USB 3.2 device is also a USB-A shaped connector it will be able to read and write through a USB 3.0 port. There are USB 3.2 devices that are USB-C, those types might not work in a USB 3.0 port.
How Fast is USB 3.0?
USB 3.0 is 5Gb/s, or 600MB/s. USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 are both still at the USB 3.0 speed. The only difference is the encoding and sometimes the shape of the connector. That will be talked more about later.
Data transfer speeds measure in megabytes per second (MBps). Don’t confuse this with megabits per second (Mbps). 1 byte of data contains 8 bits. So 1 megabyte is 8 megabits. For perspective, phone camera photos in late 2021 are around 2 megabytes (MB). So, 2MB transferring at a speed of 1MBps would take 2 seconds to transfer. I recommend reading this article on the difference between MBps and Mbps. It includes several examples and helpful information from the perspective of internet speed. Additionally, here’s a great article on Bytes vs Bits.
History, Encoding, and Speeds of USB 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2
USB 3.0 and USB 3.1
In 2013, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) announced that they would be increasing the speed of USB 3.0 to 1,250MBps from 600MBps. Instead, they renamed the 600MBps USB 3.0 to “USB 3.1 Gen 1” and gave “USB 3.1 Gen 2” as the name to the faster 1,250MBps standard. This makes an easy differentiation between the old encoding signal, named “8B/10B”, and the new encoding signal, named “128B/132B”. Anything with the old encoding standard is listed as USB 3.0. Any of the newer encoding standards, even if the speeds are slower, are listed as USB 3.1.
- USB 3.0 = 600MBps, 8B/10B signal
- USB 3.1 Gen 1 = 600MBps, 128B/132B signal (Formerly USB 3.0 speed, new encoding signal)
- USB 3.1 Gen 2 = 1,250MBps, 128B/132B signal (Faster speed, new encoding signal)
When you are looking at a listing for USB 3.1 devices, make sure you check the transfer speed as well. Just because the label says USB 3.1 doesn’t mean you’re getting a faster flash drive or device. Manufacturers can advertise products with the slower speed (600MBps) as USB 3.1 and not specify which generation.
Richard Garrish
USB 3.2
USB 3.2 was launched in 2017. The new transfer speeds boast an impressive 2.4GBps making it almost 2.5x faster than USB 3.0. USB 3.2 is only available on USB-C connectors because it utilizes extra pins that were designed for the reversibility of USB-C. The USB family naming system was updated again which differentiates between the new transfer modes.
- USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 = 600MBps, 8B/10B signal (Formerly USB 3.0)
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 = 1,250MBps, 128B/132B signal (Formerly USB 3.1 Gen 2)
- USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 = 2.4GBps, 128B/130B signal, Dual-Lane (USB-C Only)
Is USB 3.2 the same as USB-C?
No, in short, USB-C or USB type C is just the physical connector whereas USB 3.2 is a way to describe the signal or style of what that USB-C is carrying. Not all USB-C connectors are USB 3.2 signal, and not all USB 3.2 signal is on a USB-C connector. You can have USB-A drives that transfer at USB 3.2 speeds.
USB Connectors and Backwards Compatibility
As mentioned before, USB-C is the only connection type that can carry the new USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 rating. But, USB-A, B, and micro B can all carry the USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 and prior versions.
Although USB-C is backward compatible, it only more recently has been added to the hardware of newer computers and peripherals. So you may be in luck with your devices being equipped with USB-C and USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 I/O ports.
Note that even if the cable and connector you use are rated at a certain speed, the host and receiver of the data must also be able to send or receive at that speed. The point with the slowest rating controls the speed of the transfer. There are very few computers that support USB-C at the highest speed. Most computers and peripherals are still only using USB 10Gbps cables and I/O connectors.
Recommended Marketing Name and Logos
The USB-IF recommends these more market friendly names to the USB standards:
- SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps – USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 / USB 3.0
- SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps – USB 3.2 Gen 2×1
- SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps – USB 3.2 Gen 2×2
If you see these more friendly terms around, you know what speed you’re getting.
Final Thoughts
The differences may be confusing but the key thing to remember is that the noticeable differences are in speed. As files get larger and larger make sure you have devices that can handle the media you are creating! Shop USB Flash Drives on our Shop page.
Post Script
When referring to “USB” remember that you are referring to a bus. A bus is the way data moves between parts of a computer. Although many cables and connectors have USB in the name, unless there is a letter following it, the USB is just a bus. USB can refer to more than just what’s on a flash drive. For example, an external hard drive, a webcam, and other peripherals use USB to interface with your computer. That being said, most of the scenarios in this blog are regarding USB flash drives with either USB-A or USB-C connections.
Data encoding is the process of converting data into a string of 1’s and 0’s to be sent from a host to a receiver. Encoders use different ways to verify the information to protect it from errors. Sometimes this process can cause the data transfer to slow down. Encoding signals measure as a set of alphanumeric characters divided by a slash.