Everything You Need to Know About USB Ports and Speeds (2025)

Things get highly analyzable erstwhile it comes to nan galore iterations of USB 3.0. Because each nan branding has go inconsistent and unhelpful, we urge ignoring these labels altogether and conscionable searching for nan existent velocity ratings. The bully news is that galore USB hub and docking position manufacturers person started to springiness up connected names, labels, and symbols too. These days, you'll often spot nan maximum velocity adjacent to ports straight to sidestep nan names, which is nan quickest measurement to guarantee you cognize what you're getting.

When it comes to evaluating a USB-A port, conscionable retrieve that 20 Gbps is nan apical velocity you'll ever get. Whether it's called USB 3.2 Gen 2 aliases USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, it's each nan aforesaid speed: 20 Gbps. Meanwhile, 10-Gbps speeds will beryllium branded USB 3.1 Gen 2 aliases SuperSpeed Plus, and 5-Gbps speeds will beryllium USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, aliases SuperSpeed.

So, if you're utilizing older retention devices aliases accessories, you whitethorn want to look up nan circumstantial procreation of USB if velocity matters to you. A instrumentality marketed arsenic “USB 3.0” respective years agone and a instrumentality marketed arsenic “USB 3.2” coming could perchance person identical transportation speeds if nan shaper is little than forthcoming pinch procreation names aliases transportation velocity ratings. You whitethorn moreover tally into nan 25-year-old USB 2.0 modular connected older accessories, which had a maximum information transportation velocity of 480 Mbps (megabits per second).

What Is USB Power Delivery (or USB-PD)?

Power Delivery, often written arsenic USB-PD, is simply a fast-charging technology utilized to powerfulness aliases complaint peripherals complete USB, which is thing we each usage each time to complaint our phones and different devices. But these days, USB-PD has greatly expanded its capabilities. Instead of carrying a charger for each azygous instrumentality you own, you mightiness opt for a charging adapter that tin juice up aggregate devices via respective USB-C Power Delivery (USB-C PD) ports. With USB-PD 3.1, arsenic seen successful Thunderbolt 5, it tin moreover support up to 240 watts of power. You'll find these kinds of ports connected USB hubs arsenic well, sometimes referred to arsenic “pass-through charging," though that's not an charismatic term.

Make judge nan wattage of a USB-C larboard connected a charging adapter aliases hub tin grip what your instrumentality needs. A MacBook Pro typically needs 96 watts during aggravated workloads (though you tin still complaint it astatine little wattage), truthful you'd astir apt request a 100-watt USB-C port connected nan charging adapter aliases USB hub for nan champion charging experience, which is supported successful USB4.

How USB DisplayPort Alternate Mode Works

Similar to powerfulness delivery, USB-C has besides brought successful different important feature: DisplayPort Alternate Mode, often branded arsenic DP Alt Mode aliases pinch a “D” DisplayPort logo. Most commonly, this is utilized to link a laptop to a show complete a azygous USB-C cablegram alternatively than HDMI aliases DisplayPort. Importantly, DP Alt Mode delivers some audio and video complete that azygous connection.

DP Alt Mode has been astir since nan preamble of USB-C, but nan magnitude of information that tin beryllium sent complete this 1 cablegram depends connected nan procreation of DisplayPort being employed. USB 3.2, for example, uses DisplayPort 1.4 for its DP Alt Mode, whereas USB4 makes DP Alt Mode a request and uses DisplayPort 2.0 for higher resolutions and refresh rates. For example, DisplayPort 2.0 supports 3 4K HDR displays astatine 144 Hz, while DisplayPort 1.4a could only support 2 4K HDR displays astatine 60 Hz.

Thunderbolt vs. USB

Not only are USB standards notoriously confusing, but guaranteeing those speeds and features successful existent products is moreover messier. USB standards are ever successful ranges; conscionable because you spot a USB4 larboard connected thing doesn't guarantee it'll deed those max speeds. Not by a agelong shot.

That's wherever Thunderbolt comes in. It's an Intel-owned modular made successful collaboration pinch Apple that uses nan aforesaid USB-C connector arsenic emblematic USB devices. It usually appears successful higher-end devices featuring Intel chips aliases MacBooks. Due to immoderate caller licensing changes, moreover immoderate premium AMD laptops now characteristic Thunderbolt 4 ports.