USB 4.0 is out! How is it better than other Types of USB?

People are very much excited about the new USB 4. But, it comes only in USB Type C. So, what is USB Type C? Why is USB 4 better than the older versions?

To understand that, you should understand How many Types of USBs are there. And what's the difference between USB Types and Versions?

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What is a USB? Universal Serial Bus is a Technology introduced in 1995 to connect two devices. USB Can be Classified by its Types & Versions.

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7 Companies (Microsoft, Intel, Compaq, IBM, NEC, DEC & Nortel) came together to create a Universal Connector that can connect several devices. Not only for connecting devices but it is also used for Charging & Data Transfer.

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These days, USB is used to connect mouse, keyboard, printer, hard disk, pen drive, webcam, and other devices to the PC. It is also used for charging mobile phones, gamepads, headphones, ear pods, etc.

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USB can be classified into 6 Types, based on the shape of the connector. – USB Type A – USB Type B – USB Type C – Micro USB (5 Pin) – Micro USB (9 Pin) – Mini USB

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USB A is the most common type of USB. You will see USB Type A Plug on Pen Drive, Keyboard, Mouse, etc. It is rectangular. Even most cables have USB A on one side and other Types of USB on the other side.

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You will find USB Type B Port only in a few devices like Printers, Modems, etc. It is in Square Shape. However, USB Type B is rarely used these days as people have adapted to Type C.

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In USB Type C, they have reduced the size & changed the shape to oval. Most importantly, USB Type C can be plugged upside down unlike Type A & B. You can find USB Type C on most smartphones, headphones, and other devices.

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Micro USB (5 Pin) was the standard connector for Mobile Phones, Headphones, Gamepads, and other devices before the Type C cable was introduced.

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Micro USB (9 Pin) was introduced after USB Version 3.0 was released. We will explain more about it while talking about USB 3.0

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Mini USB is also rarely used thesedays. But, a decade ago, it was used in Digital Cameras, MP3 Players, Gamepads, External Hard Disks and some other devices.

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Some companies like to design their own USB Types. Apple used Lightening Port for its devices, but it works on the same concept as Type C. Old Samsung Mobiles used to have a flat version of Micro USB.

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What is the Different Between Types & Versions? The USB Types are classified by the Size & Shape of the Connector. Whereas, Versions are an improvement in Technology to enhance performance and stability.

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Before we talk about the USB Versions, we have some more information on USB Cables. USB Cables mostly have a USB Type-A on one end and other types of USB on the other end.

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You will find cables like Type A to Type A, Type A to Type B, Type A to Type C, Type A to Micro USB, etc. However, in the future, you will mostly find Type A to Type C & Type C to Type C Cables only.

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The USB Technology has been improving from time to time. So, we have different versions of USB like USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, etc. Every version is better and faster than the previous ones.

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In 1996, USB 1.0 was introduced with a max speed of 12 Mbps. It was the fastest at that time. Moreover, it also made connecting devices much more convenient.

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After 4 years (in 2000), USB 2.0 was released as the better and improved version of USB 1.0. It had 4 Pins and was able to Transfer upto 48 Mbps.

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The USB 3.0 was introduced in 2008, with a max transfer speed of 5 Gbps. USB Version 3.0 had 9 Pins and was identified using the Blue Color Port/Plug.

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Micro USB has only 5 Pins, but USB 3.0 had 9 Pins. So, they manufactured an Advanced Micro USB Type with 9 Pins.

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Later, USB 3.1 & 3.2 were also introduced that offered transfer speeds of 10 Gbps & 20 Gbps. USB 3.2 were marked in red color. It was the fastest until USB Version 4.0 was announced.

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The Latest USB 4.0 is getting popularity now. But, it was released in 2019 itself. USB 4.0 offers speeds upto 40 Gbps. However, USB 4.0 only comes in Type C Connectors.

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Conclusion: A Type A Connector can have USB Version 1, 2, or 3. The USB Plugs should be inserted into the same Ports due to their physicality. However, the USB Versions are backward compatible.

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