USB names decoder
USB renamed its speeds in 2013, in 2017 and again on its logos in 2022. None of the renames made anything faster. Find the name on your box and read across to the speed.
| Speed | First name | USB 3.1 name (2013) | USB 3.2 name (2017) | Marketing name | Logo today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 480 Mbps | USB 2.0 (2000) | — | — | Hi-Speed USB | USB 2.0 / no speed logo |
| 5 Gbps | USB 3.0 (2008) | USB 3.1 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Gen 1x1) | SuperSpeed USB | USB 5Gbps |
| 10 Gbps | USB 3.1 Gen 2 (2013) | USB 3.1 Gen 2 | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Gen 2x1) | SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps | USB 10Gbps |
| 10 Gbps (2 × 5) | USB 3.2 Gen 1x2 (2017) | — | USB 3.2 Gen 1x2 | — | rarely labelled |
| 20 Gbps | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (2017) | — | USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 | SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps | USB 20Gbps |
| 20 Gbps (USB4) | USB4 Gen 2x2 (2019) | — | — | — | USB4 20Gbps |
| 40 Gbps | USB4 Gen 3x2 (2019) | — | — | — | USB 40Gbps / USB4 40Gbps |
| 80 Gbps | USB4 Version 2.0 (2022) | — | — | — | USB 80Gbps |
Three rules that cover most boxes
- "Gen 1" is 5 Gbps, "Gen 2" is 10 Gbps, whichever USB 3.x number comes before it.
- "x2" means two lanes, so Gen 2x2 is 2 × 10 = 20 Gbps. It only exists on USB-C.
- Plain "USB 3.1" or "USB 3.2" means nothing on its own. It could be 5, 10 or 20 Gbps. Look for the Gbps figure.
Thunderbolt numbers are separate: Thunderbolt 3 and 4 are 40 Gbps, Thunderbolt 5 is 80 Gbps. See Is Thunderbolt 4 the same as USB4?