USB-IF: USB 3.0, USB 3.1 and USB 3.2 become USB 3.2 Gen x

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Let's not make the USB naming more complicated than it already is figured the boys behind the naming, so what do they do? USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 will in the future be considered as generations of USB 3.2, just as it was already the case with USB 3.0 when USB 3.1 was introduced.



The USB Implementer Forums appears to have decided that USB 3.1 gen 1 and USB 3.1 gen 2, which initially were released as USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 were illogical names and therefore decided to call them USB 3.2 gen 1 and USB 3.1 gen 2, once USB 3.2 will become available.

USB 3.2,  the 20Gbit/s variant of Superspeed USB, will be named USB 3.2 gen 2×2. The 2×2 suffix should make clear that USB 3.2 is able to use two 10 Gbit/s lanes to achieve a 20 Gbit/s throughput. Although the new name is likely to avoid confusion, it could confuse consumers even more. USB 3.1 was announced in 2017 and uses existing USB-C cables for the 20 Gbit/s bandwidth, but only if there are certified for SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbit/s. This year the USB 3.2 2×2 hardware should be ready and by next year the first products should become generally available.


OriginalCurrentNewMarketed as
USB 3.2 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps
USB 3.1 USB 3.1 Gen 2 USB 3.2 Gen 2 SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps
USB 3.0 USB 3.1 Gen 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 SuperSpeed USB

So let's recap:

USB 3.0 alias USB 3.1 Gen 1 with 5 Gbit/s becomes USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB 3.1 Gen 2 with 10 Gbit/s becomes USB 3.2 Gen2 and USB 3.2 with 20 Gbit/s becomes USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. 2x2 stands for the use of both pairs of wires in the USB type C connector for data transmission, while in USB 3.1 Gen 2 alias USB 3.2 Gen 2 only one wire pair is used. 

USB-IF: USB 3.0, USB 3.1 and USB 3.2 become USB 3.2 Gen x


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