USB Promoter Group has announced USB4 Version 2.0. According to this naming, although this is considered to be only a second generation update to USB4, this new system is actually a huge breakthrough as it supports data transfer rates of up to 80 Gbps.
The new standard will be backward compatible with USB4 version 1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3, but not USB 1.0 and Thunderbolt 4. USB4 2.0 specifications will also be updated for USB Type-C and USB Power Delivery (USB PD).
Due to licensing issues, USB and Thunderbolt are updating in parallel. Intel laptops have a Thunderbolt port, while AMD Ryzen laptops are branded USB4. However, even after updating to Intel Thunderbolt 4, transfer rates remained roughly the same as Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 1.0. With the second release, Ryzen-based laptops may have an advantage, at least until Intel announces Thunderbolt 5.
Brad Saunders, President of USB Promoter Group, said, “Once again, we are following the tradition of USB and doubling the data performance in this new update. “The solutions that will benefit most from this speed improvement will include higher-performance displays, storage and USB-based hubs and docking stations.”
Here are the features of USB4 Version 2.0 at a glance:
- The maximum data transfer rate of 80 Gbps has arrived.
- Updates to data and display protocols to better utilize the increase in available bandwidth.
- USB data architecture updates now allow the USB 3.2 data tunnel to exceed 20 Gbps.
- Updated to be compatible with the latest versions of DisplayPort and PCIe specifications.
- Backward compatible with USB4 Version 1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3.
Later this year, we will start seeing devices using USB4 2.0.
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