There are significant differences between USB4 and USB-C in many aspects, mainly reflected in their definition, functions, speed, compatibility and application scenarios.
1. Definition and function
USB4:
USB4 is the latest version of the USB standard. It is the latest generation of USB standard released by the USB-IF organization in September 2019.
Not only does it provide a major update to the next generation USB architecture, it also enables the highest available USB bandwidth and extends the performance of USB Type-C.
USB4 adopts Intel’s fully disclosed Thunderbolt 3 protocol specification as the basic protocol and supports a variety of data protocols and functions, including USB, Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort and PCI Express (PCIe).
It represents the highest level of future connection technology, providing ultimate speed and flexible connection methods, and is expected to be used in edge devices that support artificial intelligence computing.
USB-C:
USB-C, the full name of USB Type-C, is a physical appearance of the USB interface.
It has a smaller size than Type-A and Type-B, and can be applied to both PC (master device) and external devices (slave devices, such as mobile phones).
The USB-C interface supports multiple protocols, including USB, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt, etc., and can realize multiple functions such as data transmission, video output, audio output, and power transmission.
2. Speed and performance
USB4:
USB4 supports extremely high data transfer speeds, up to 40Gbps, which is twice the speed of USB 3.2 Gen 2x2.
It is also compatible with USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3, providing backward compatibility, but transfer speeds will be limited by the mini-mum standards of the connected device.
USB-C:
The USB-C interface itself does not directly determine the transmission speed, but depends on the protocols it supports.
For example, when the USB-C interface supports the USB 3.1 protocol, its maximum transmission rate can reach 10Gbps; if it supports the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 protocol, it can theoretically reach a transmission speed of 20Gbps.
It should be noted that the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 transfer speed can only be achieved on USB-C.
3. Compatibility
USB4:
USB4 is backward compatible and compatible with earlier versions of USB devices (such as USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, etc.).
It also supports a variety of data protocols and functions, such as Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort and PCI Express (PCIe), allowing the USB4 interface to connect more types of devices.
USB-C:
The USB-C interface also has backward compatibility and can be compatible with traditional USB interfaces (through adapters).
But its actual functionality and performance depend on the connected device and the protocol used.
4. Application scenarios
USB4:
Due to its high speed, versatility and compatibility, USB4 is very suitable for scenarios that require high-speed data transmission and connection of multiple devices, such as high-end laptops, workstations, data centers, etc.
USB-C:
The USB-C interface has become a standard interface for many smartphones, tablets and laptops due to its compact size, bidirectional plug-in design and multiple protocol support.
It is widely used in fields such as data transmission, charging and connecting external devices.
There are obvious differences between USB4 and USB-C in terms of definition, function, speed, compatibility and application scenarios. As the latest version of the USB standard, USB4 provides higher data transmission speed and more functional support; while USB-C, as a physical interface form, has the characteristics of compactness, bidirectional plug-in and unplugging, and multiple protocol support. In actual applications, users can choose the appropriate interface standard according to specific needs.
