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Electronics

USB4 Version 2.0 unveiled with double the transfer speeds

By Michael Irving
September 04, 2022
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USB4 Version 2.0 has been unveiled, offering faster data transfer rates than the first version of the technology
Depositphotos
USB4 Version 2.0 has been unveiled, offering faster data transfer rates than the first version of the technology
Depositphotos

USB devices are set to become much faster in the near future. The USB Promoter Group has now announced the USB4 Version 2.0 specification, which will double data transmission rates to a blistering 80 Gbps.

The first version of USB4 was detailed in 2019, offering a data throughput of 40 Gbps, which was double that of the previous USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. Three years on and that speed is about to double again.

The USB Promoter Group, which consists of companies like Apple, Intel and Microsoft, has outlined the specification for USB4 Version 2.0. A new physical layer architecture will allow upcoming USB Type-C active cables to transmit data at speeds of up to 80 Gbps. Most intriguing though is that the speed boost will also apply to existing USB-C passive cables that are currently capable of 40 Gbps. Exactly how that will work hasn’t yet been specified.

This isn’t the only existing tech to benefit from a retroactive boost. The USB Promoter Group says that updates to the USB data architecture will allow USB 3.2 devices to exceed their current maximum of 20 Gbps for data tunneling rates. DisplayPort and PCI Express devices should also be able to hit higher performance peaks, too.

“Once again following USB tradition, this updated USB4 specification doubles data performance to deliver higher levels of functionality to the USB Type-C ecosystem,” said Brad Saunders, USB Promoter Group Chairman. “Solutions seeing the most benefit from this speed enhancement include higher-performance displays, storage, and USB-based hubs and docks.”

USB4 Version 2.0 will also of course be compatible with USB4 Version 1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3.

The specifics of the new tech have yet to be announced, but the USB Promoter Group says that it will publish this info before the USB DevDays events in November. The first commercial devices using USB4 Version 2.0 will start to arrive in the next few years.

Source: USB Promoter Group (PDF) via Businesswire

Tags

ElectronicsUSBUSB Type CDataData TransferCableComputerComputers
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Michael Irving
Michael has always been fascinated by space, technology, dinosaurs, and the weirder mysteries of the universe. With a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and several years experience under his belt, he joined New Atlas as a staff writer in 2016.
3 comments
TechGazer
Why are they still using a symmetrical form? Haven't any of the designers actually used USB cables, and cursed when they tried inserting them the wrong way? Is there any valid reason for not making it obvious which way to insert it?
Aross
Given the content of the previous article about garbage in the ocean do we really need another cable even if it is faster? This constant upgrading by the electronics industry is so polluting.
christopher
Pity there's not even more co-operation in the tech world. One cable (USB-C) with one (reversable) plug (and same on both ends) that drives and charges and communicates with everything (at least in Europe) - all phones of all brands, all laptops, TVs, external devices, etc - even my soldering iron!! It's a get-rid-of-useless-redundant-waste dream come true!!

Imagine if manufacturers of hardware and software could all "get along" on other topics, like security and authentication, backups, privacy, global identity, clouds protocols and APIs, etc... If they ever could do that, it would be a get-rid-of megafest of eradicating fraud and crime, making it safe and easy to use everything online (and choose which ones you trust to use), and so forth. But no. Too many arrogant profit mongers refusing to give-a-damn about their end users in preference for short-term profits...
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