The USB standard these days is a bit difficult to understand, and computer manufacturers aren't helping clear up the confusion. What is the difference between USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2, and why is Gen 2 better than Gen 1?
ContentsGoodbye USB 3.0USB 3.1 Gen 1USB 3.1 Gen 2What about USB Type C (USB-C)?Finally, a truly universal standard
This is where much of the nomenclature confusion begins. USB 3.1 Gen 1 is identical to USB 3.0. In fact, with the release of USB 3.1 Gen 1, all existing USB 3.0 connectors have been renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1. So these cables and devices, thanks to the power to rename the standard, now support the USB 3.1 Gen 1. The standard introduced a few changes, such as the USB Type C (USB-C) connector seen on newer MacBook Pros.
Despite the new name, the data transfer and power capabilities remained the same as specified in USB 3.0. USB 3.1 Gen 1 supports speeds of up to 5 Gbps or 625 megabytes per second (MB/s) and power up to 900 mA at 5 V. All of this is supported by the connector USB 3.1 Gen 1 which looks like a blue USB 2.0 A connector inside. Unlike Generation 2, Generation 1 also includes several types of connectors. There's the bulky Type-B connector (aka "printer"), as well as the slim Micro-B connector seen above. These connectors are not capable of supporting the full power of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 specification.
This standard was launched much more recently in July 2013. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is where the upgrade is. This standard preserves the 5 Gbps transfer rate of USB 3.1 Gen 1 and also allows for a higher maximum speed of 10 Gbps (1.25 gigabytes per second).
Only the USB Type C (USB-C) connector can handle the full power and bandwidth of Gen 2. This more powerful data and power transfer comes at a cost:cable length is more limited in Gen 2 Additionally, devices and cables that support the newer Gen 2 standards are less common. Buyers should look for the Superspeed trident logo with a small 10.
USB Type C (USB-C) deserves its own mention here. This is only a type of connector, not a USB standard. Although the construction of the connector enables some of the cooler features of USB 3.1 Gen 2, the type of connector itself does not determine speed or power transfer. Rather, it's determined by the devices at each end of the cable. But because marketing materials are often non-specific, some buyers confuse USB 3.1 with USB-C. Online listings can be a bit confusing, but if you buy a quality cable with USB Type-C connectors on both ends, it should support all USB 3.1 Gen 2 functionality.
Despite the confusion, USB-C is an impressive connector. It replaces all connectors that came before it, creating a universal connector type and removing the Mini and Micro versions from the USB 2.0 and 3.0 specifications. The connection is robust, able to transfer Up to 5000 mA at 20 V safely.
When USB 1.0 came out, it was a revelation. A computer no longer needed a jumble of input ports just to get off the ground. Now a computer could just have six USB ports and consider most of its connectivity tasks covered. This greatly increased connectivity as well as the number of ports on computers. And USB has become more popular; this tendency towards fusion has only increased.
But despite its many improvements, USB never really became the one connector to rule them all. Connectors were fragmented into several different connector types for different applications, with varying degrees of durability and popularity. USB Type C and USB 3.1 Gen 2 finally remove the last obstacle to complete universality. The One True Port can transfer tons of data and tons of power. And as a result, we might finally see a world of truly uni-connector devices.
Image credit:Amine, Photo B&H, Maurizio Pesce
