Everything you need to know about USB4 - the upcoming revolutionary new USB standard

USB 3.2 has not yet appeared on the market, USB4 has been announced, promising an overhaul over the next few years.

In this article, you will be explained everything related to USB4, including improvements in speed and new capabilities that it acquired by borrowing from Thunderbolt 3, which shares the same port shape but is A different protocol with more demanding requirements, and can be integrated into USB-C ports.

If you are feeling a little confused about the above information, please also clarify it a bit. The most recently used USB standard is USB 3.1, although there are not many devices that use this standard (the latest MacBook Pro models have USB 3.1). The USB 3.2 standard has been technically confirmed, but it will not appear on consumer electronics until the end of the year.

And while we are still waiting for USB 3.2 to appear, the USB Promoter Group has published details about the new technology, while also eliminating the gap between the character and version numbers - the result is us. There is "USB4" instead of "USB 4" . To make things even more complicated, the organization also renamed USB 3.0 to USB 3.2 Gen 1, and USB 3.1 to USB 3.2 Gen 2.

The latest USB 3.2 technology is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 - "2x2 " here refers to the ability to use 2 high-speed channels on the same cable to reach a maximum throughput of 20Gbps. USB 3.1 (USB 3.2 Gen 2) currently has a maximum throughput of 10Gbps, while USB 3.0 (USB 3.2 Gen 1) is 5Gbps.

The latest USB 3.2 technology is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 - "2x2" here refers to the ability to use 2 high-speed channels on the same cable to reach a maximum throughput of 20Gbps.

It should be noted that the port shape and connection standard are different from the internal USB protocol, although they are usually developed in parallel (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 requires USB-C connection for example). In other words, not all USB-C ports have the same USB technology inside them - manufacturers can make choices based on the speed they want and the cost they are willing to spend.

To support a specific USB standard, you need a device (for example, computer or phone), a USB connector and a cable, all must support that USB standard. Otherwise, the speed will be lowered to a slower level.

So what does USB4 bring to us? According to the information, the bandwidth will be doubled, ie we will have a maximum throughput of 40Gbps. If you are new to these terms, consider bandwidth the same as the number of lanes on the highway - its capacity - while throughput is the number of cars that can actually go (or actually go). ) in the same time.

The throughput (actual speed) will always be equal to or lower than the bandwidth (theoretical speed), depending on many factors, including the device you are using. If you use a port, cable and USB4 enabled device, you will be able to reach a maximum throughput of 40Gbps that bandwidth allows.

Thunderbolt 3 will be integrated directly into USB4.

Intel will make its Thunderbolts 3 standard part of the USB4 protocol, which means you can daisy-chain 4K monitors and other devices together without using a hub - something USB has never done. before.

Basically, it means that Thunderbolt 3 will be integrated directly into USB4, providing more flexible data transfer when using multiple devices together. Apple Macs have long combined Thunderbolt 3 and USB with each other, but the technology is still relatively rare on PCs and other devices.

According to the expression of the official press release about USB4, USB4 is " a way to share a single high-speed path with a variety of terminals in a way that is best suited for data transmission. data by type and application "- for simplicity, think of connecting multiple external monitors and other devices like a hard drive through a cable or a series of cables, instead of through a hub.

The good news for you is that everything will be backward compatible with USB 2, USB 3 and Thunderbolt 3 - your existing devices will still be able to interact with USB4 hardware, only at lower speeds. .

The parameters of USB4 are expected to be complete and published in mid-2019.

Daisy-chain devices together, doubling bandwidth, more flexibility, Thunderbolt 3 integration . That's enough to see that USB4 will be a leap from 3.2 if considering the official announcement of the team USB Promoter Group.

So when will you be able to use this new, magical transmission standard? USB4 specifications are expected to be complete and announced in mid-2019 (when USB 3.2 devices start appearing on the market). During that time, the USB-C standard will probably also be updated to match USB4. Depending on the manufacturer and market demand, hardware that supports USB4 will begin to appear on the market near the end of 2020.

The USB Promoter Group is an organization with representatives from Apple, HP, Intel, Microsoft, Renesas Electronics, ST Microelectronics, and Texas Instruments, so there will be quite a number of big-name brands for the process to appear in the future. hybrid of USB4. The organization is also backed by the non-profit USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which processes and issues certification documents and other related things.

There is an unconfirmed information, which is the official name used in marketing - the product name is printed on the packaging. Currently, we have names like SuperSpeed ​​USB (USB 3.0 or 3.2 Gen 1), SuperSpeed ​​10Gbps (USB 3.1 or USB 3.2 Gen 2), and SuperSpeed ​​20Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 2x2). Don't expect these names to be simpler in the future - maybe USB-IF should learn the naming of the Wi-Fi Alliance?