What are the most important USB types, formats and transfer speeds? 2022 list

The “Universal Serial Bus” is defined as a communications bus that follows a standard. Thus, it delimits both the cables and the connectors and protocols that work for the connection, power and communication between different electronic devices.

In this way, USB has something to do with all electronic devicesthanks to simplifies data exchange and operations development. Hence, the relevance of knowing the most important types, formats and transfer speeds of the USB.

In this post, you will get all this information in detail and you will even be able to show how USB standards have evolved over time; so, adapt to different keyboards, mouse, external memories, headsets, etc..

What are USB standards?

While it is true, a USB standard refers to the type of connector intended to charge the battery of electronic devices. which, at the same time, is capable of allowing the transit of information between different types of electronic system, basically. Over time, USB standards have evolved remarkably. This, in order to increase its capabilities and adapt to the requirements of the new computer hardware. thus revealing, higher data transfer speed.

Difference between a standard and a type of USB

In short, a USB standard It is the one that determines the speed at which the data is transferred. While, a type of USB It consists of the types of connector used by USB. So, the main difference between a standard and a type of USB is that the former uses a speed-based classification to transport data from one device to another. Unlike the types of USB that are segmented by connector classes containing various electronic devices.

In addition to that, both USB ratings they can also be distinguished by their denotations. Since by default the USB standards are encrypted by numbers (for example: 1.0, 1.1, 2.0, etc.). On the other hand, the types of USB are identified through letters (for example: Type A, Type B, Type C etc.).

List of all existing USB standards

Based on data transfer speeds, here are all the USB standards known to date:

• Standard 1.0 (USB 1.0): It is the oldest of all and the slowest. Which is usually used in human interfaces (such as mice, keyboards and webcams) and guarantees a transfer rate of up to 5Mbit/s (or 188 Kbps). Therefore, it is considered as “low-speed”.
• Standard 1.1 (USB 1.1): It emerges as the improvement of USB 1.0 and is qualified as “Full/Speed”because your transfer rate goes up to 12Mbit/s (or 1.5MB/s). Consequently, it is also called “Plug and Play” or full speed USB.
• Standard 2.0 (USB 2.0): This is the most widespread USB standard of all and is identified as “Hi-Speed” because it increased the speed of data transfer remarkably compared to versions 1.0 and 1.1. Thus, it exceeds transfer rates of up to 480Mbit/s (or 60 MB/s) and has two data lines and two high-speed power lines. In addition, it has the ability to charge devices from 5W of power.
• Standard 3.0 (USB 3.0): The “SuperSpeed” USB 3.0 provides a transfer speed up to 10 times faster than USB 2.0, since it has a transfer rate of 8Gbit/s (or 600MB/s). Which is possible thanks to its five additional contacts through which it managed to discard the traditional optical fiber. With this, it facilitates the transfer of large files (software images, series, movies, etc.) in a short time.
• Standard 3.1 (USB 3.1): This is distinguished as a super high speed USB+ and doubles the speed of its predecessor, that is, the 3.0 standard. Therefore, it ensures a transfer rate of up to 10Gbit/s (or 1.25GB/s). As usual, USB 3.1 “SuperSpeed” It is used by Type C connectors.
• Standard 3.2 (USB 3.2): One of the most current USB standards of all because it began to be implemented since 2020. Basically, it optimizes the particularities of USB 3.1; thus, it provides transfer rates of up to 20Gbit/s (or 2.5 GB / s) and thus, in addition, triples the speed of the 3.0 standard.
• Standard 4.0 (USB 4.0): Definitely the USB standard fastest of all, till the date. Since, it shows the ability to reach transfer rates of up to 40Gbit/s (or 5 GB/s) and in such a way, it adjusts to the requirements of the equipment designed from the year 2021.

List of all types of USB that exist

In this case, physical characteristics of the USB connector They are given by the types that exist.

Thus, below, we emphasize the types of connectors used by USB and their main characteristics:

• USB Type A: Over time, this has been the most frequent or predominant arrangement. Which is usually used between peripherals and main computers, as well as in removable memory units and concentrators (hubs). Physically, it is flat and is usually medium in size.
• USB Type B: It is a USB elongated and square which is typically used in large devices (such as scanners and printers) and has two subtypes. But, more than anything, it is used to provide food.
• micro USB: Refers to the first type of USB that decreased in size to be able to connect smaller peripherals. Therefore, more than anything it has been used in mobile phones, cameras, MP3 players and GPS navigators.
• MicroUSB: It is the successor to the Mini USB and thus, it became the most used type for small devices. So, it applies to both different types of peripherals and lower-end mobile devices.
• USB Type-C: It is characterized by being reversible (it connects both on one side and the other) and is one of the standards that it supplies higher power supply and data transmission speed. Thus, it is distinguished as the most modern type of connector, being the successor of the Micro USB.

How is each standard related to USB types?

Through this section, we will emphasize how the types of connectors complement the main USB standards, based on the data transfer rate:

• Type A > USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1: Since USB type A is the most predominant of all, it can be used with USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 standards without any limitation. But, in this case, the type A connectors that use the USB 3.0 are different because they contain a blue inner tab to highlight their high speed.
• Type B > USB 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0: Connector type B or “conventional” can be used with standards 0 and 2.0, specifically. While, the other subtype that exhibits a blue tab inside and has a different shape, is complemented with USB 3.0 exclusively.
• Type C > USB 3.1 and 4.0: Due to its high power and transmission speed, the USB Type-C supports different standards and various uses. However, more than anything, it is used with the 3.1 and 4.0 standards because they are the most recent and capable of all.

Future of USB transfers What standards are being developed?

Until now, the latest USB standard released is 4.0 and after its arrival in 2021 to reach 40 Gbps, the appearance of a new standard that exceeds this transfer rate is not forthcoming. So, from its debut, it is not possible to specify what standards are being developed or what their successors will be. However, it is estimated that the future of USB transfers will bring with it the expansion of the democratization of all possibilities.

Which translates into a bandwidth greater than 40 Gbps, the load of more than 100 watts and the possibility of connecting 5K monitors. Additionally, improvements at the level of compatibility and support with various devices, will increase significantly to remove the limitations that still exist today. Which, at the same time, could implement the creation of new USB connectors that improve data transfer and other newer actions.