All you need to know about USB ports and speeds (2025)

Things become very complicated when it comes to many USB 3.0 repetitions. Since all brands have become inconsistent and unhelpful, we recommend that you ignore these stickers completely and search for actual speed classifications. The good news is that many USB manufacturers and laying stations have begun to abandon names, marks and symbols as well. These days, you will often see the maximum speed next to the outlets directly to avoid names, which is the fastest way to ensure that you get what you get.

When it comes to evaluating the USB-A port, just remember that 20 GB per second is the maximum speed you will get at all. Whether it is called USB 3.2 Gen 2 or USB 3.2 Gen 2×2, this is the same speed: 20 GB per second. Meanwhile, 10GB speeds will be named USB 3.1 Gen 2 or Superspeed Plus, and will be 5 GB USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 or Supeerspeed.

Therefore, if you use older storage devices or accessories, you may want to search for the defined generation of USB if the speed is important to you. The device that is marketed “USB 3.0” several years ago, and a device that is marketed as “USB 3.2” today, can have identical transfer speeds if the manufacturer is less than generations or transportation speeds. Even with the 25 -year -old USB 2.0 standard may collide on the oldest accessories, which was the maximum speed of data transfer 480 Mbps (megabits per second).

What is the USB (or USB-PD) power delivery?

Energy delivery, which is often written as USB-PD, is a fast charging technology used to operate or charging peripheral devices on USB, which is something that we all use every day to charge our phones and other devices. But these days, USB-PD has greatly expanded its capabilities. Instead of carrying a charger for each device you own, you can choose a shipping adapter that can juice many devices Via many USB-C Energy Delivery (USB-C PD) Ports. With USB-PD 3.1, as shown in Thunderbolt 5, it can support up to 240 watts of energy. You will find these types of ports on USB axes as well, and sometimes referred to as “firefighting”, although this is not an official term.

Ensure that the electric power of the USB-C port on the charging adapter or axis can handle what your device needs. MacBook Pro usually needs USB-C 100W Port On the shipping adapter or USB center for the best charging experience, which is supported in USB4.

How works a USB Displayport mode

Similar to Energy Delivery, USB-C also brought another important feature: Displayport mode, often classified as DPLT mode or by “D” Displayport. The most common, this is used to connect a laptop with a single USB-C cable instead of HDMI or Displayport. More importantly, DP Alt Mode provides both audio and video via this individual contact.

DP alt mode has been present since the introduction of USB-C, but the amount of data that could be sent through this one cable depends on the generation of DisplayPort. UsB 3.2, for example, DisplayPort 1.4 is used for its DP alt mode, while USB4 makes DPLT mode requirement and uses DisplayPort 2.0 to make higher decisions and update rates. For example, DisplayPort 2.0 supports three 4K HDR displays at 144 Hz, while Displayport 1.4A can only support 4K HDR terms at 60 Hz.

Thunderbolt versus USB

Not only USB standards are confusing, but ensuring those speeds and features in actual products are more chaotic. USB standards are always in ranges. Just because you see the USB4 port on something that does not guarantee that it will strike the maximum speeds of these. Not a long bullet.

This is the place where Thunderbolt comes. It is an infection-owned standard designed in cooperation with Apple that uses the same USB-C connector as Model USB devices. It usually appears in high -end devices that feature Intel or Macbooks. Due to some recent changes in the license, even some distinctive AMD laptops are now distinguished by Thunderbolt 4.