By PURPLELEC | 26 May 2025 | 0 Comments
USB4: Redefining the new standard for high-speed connectivity
In today's rapidly developing technology, the connection standards between devices are constantly iterating and upgrading. USB (Universal Serial Bus), as the most widely used connection standard, has undergone multiple updates and upgrades since its inception in 1996, each bringing about innovations in speed, functionality, and connection methods. And USB4, as the latest generation USB specification, has redefined the new standard for high-speed connectivity with its outstanding performance.
The Evolution Path of USB Standard
The USB standard has a history of more than 20 years since its introduction. Since USB 1.0 in 1996, efforts have been made to standardize the connection of peripheral devices. At that time, USB 1.0 used a traditional irreversible A-type connection on the host, with a transfer speed of only 12Mbps. In 2001, USB 2.0 was introduced, significantly increasing the speed to 480Mbps and introducing the Micro B port, commonly found in older phones and external hard drives. In 2011, USB 3.0 made another breakthrough with a transfer speed of 5Gbps, followed by iterative versions such as USB 3.1 (10Gbps) and USB 3.2 (20Gbps), while supporting multiple connector types, including the widely used C-type connector today. Each generation of USB standard updates brings users a more efficient and convenient connection experience.
Core features and advantages of USB4
USB4 was first released in August 2019, developed based on the Thunderbolt 3 protocol, inheriting many advantages of Thunderbolt 3 while also having its own unique innovations.
Faster data transmission speed
One of the biggest highlights of USB4 is its amazing data transfer speed. The initial USB4 specification had a maximum performance of 40Gbps, which is the same as the Thunderbolt 3 protocol. With the development of technology, the USB Developer Forum has launched 80Gbps certification, and some active USB4 cables can achieve this ultra-high speed, which is twice the transfer speed of Thunderbolt 4. In contrast, before the release of USB4, the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 could only reach 20Gbps. USB4 has achieved a qualitative leap in speed and can easily meet the needs of large file transfers, high bandwidth data processing, and more.
Flexible bandwidth allocation
In the past, the USB specification had the problem of unreasonable bandwidth allocation when transmitting data and displaying information. Usually, bandwidth was evenly distributed between connected devices, which may limit the transfer rate of storage devices. USB4 has dynamic bandwidth allocation function, which can monitor the bandwidth requirements of the connected display in real time and flexibly use the remaining bandwidth for data transmission. The design of this data and video sharing channel breaks the traditional limitation of independent data and video channels, greatly improving the efficiency of connecting multiple devices through docking stations.
Powerful compatibility
In order to avoid the inconvenience of device incompatibility caused by interface updates, USB4 has excellent backward compatibility and can be compatible with all specifications from USB 2.0 to the latest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. This means that even old USB devices can be connected to the USB 4 port through an adapter, although the transfer speed may be limited by the standards supported by the device itself, undoubtedly extending the lifespan of the old device. In addition, USB4 is also backward compatible with Thunderbolt 3, but it should be noted that not all USB4 devices are mandatory to support Thunderbolt 3, and only devices certified as "Thunderbolt 4 certified" by Intel can use the Thunderbolt logo.
Efficient power transmission
Power Transfer (PD) is an important feature of USB4, which supports the transmission of power through a single USB-C cable, up to 100W, sufficient to meet the charging needs of large devices such as laptops. With the release of the USB4 2.0 specification, the power supply has been increased to 240W, allowing even the most high-end laptops to achieve fast charging. In addition, the power supply of USB4 is bidirectional, for example, when connecting an external monitor, the monitor can use the main power source to charge the laptop, bringing more convenience to users.
Advanced video output
In terms of video output, USB4 supports advanced protocols such as DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1, which can transmit high-definition video signals through a single USB-C cable, meeting the needs of high-quality video output for video editing, gaming, and multimedia presentations. Moreover, USB4 also supports the use of adapters to convert DisplayPort signals to HDMI, providing greater flexibility and device compatibility. It can even daisy chain multiple external displays through the DisplayPort Alt mode.
USB4 v2: Performance Upgrade Again
The USB4 v2 released by the USB Developer Forum is another major breakthrough in USB technology. It increases the maximum bandwidth to 80Gbps, further speeding up data transmission speed, enhancing video output capability, and increasing power supply to 240W. At the same time, USB4 v2 maintains backward compatibility with previous USB standards and has more complete support for the latest display protocol DisplayPort 2.1, making it easy to perform professional video editing or enjoy high frame rate game graphics.
Selection Guide: How to Choose USB4 Cable
With the increasing popularity of USB4 cables, it is crucial to purchase high-quality cables from reliable channels. For example, the USB4 cable launched by Cable Matters not only supports 40Gbps data transmission and 100W USB power supply, but will also introduce products that support 80Gbps specifications and 240W charging power in the future. When making a purchase, users should pay attention to whether the cable has passed USB-IF certification, and cables with corresponding speed and power markings can ensure the best performance of USB4.
USB4 is an ideal choice for connecting devices due to its high-speed data transmission, flexible bandwidth allocation, strong compatibility, and advanced features. Whether for ordinary users or professionals, USB4 can bring them a more efficient and convenient user experience, leading high-speed connectivity technology to new heights.
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