The different versions of usb cables like usb 2 0 and usb 3 0 are concerned with the functionality and speed of the usb cable.
Usb3 cable types.
Usb 3 0 is the third major version of the universal serial bus usb standard for interfacing computers and electronic devices.
You can connect various devices such as smartphones cameras keyboards and more to.
You can use a usb 2 0 device in a usb 3 port or a usb 3 device in a usb 2 0 port but neither setup provides the extra speed benefit.
Usb cables are named in one of two ways.
Usb 3 was designed to be able to be backwards compatible with earlier versions of usb cables and ports.
Types of usb cable.
The usb 3 a and usb 3 b cables are identical to the usb a and usb b cables at the top of this article except they are coloured blue inside to distinguish them.
For example a usb type c cable.
Usb type a connectors are extremely common and will likely be at one end of a lot of usb cables nowadays.
The usb type c specification 1 0 was published by the usb implementers forum usb if and was finalized in august 2014.
Usb c formally known as usb type c is a 24 pin usb connector system with a rotationally symmetrical connector.
In july 2016 it was adopted by the iec as iec 62680 1 3.
So for example a cable with both a usb type a and a type c connector is a usb type c cable.
The usb 3 0 b type connector is found on usb 3 0 devices.
Usb c cables are always usb 3.
The below chart shows what connector types are compatible with which standards.
Older cable types like micro usb require a special connector type for usb 3 0 compatibility.
You ll frequently see this on external hard drives.
The usb 3 has different shaped connector pins so it can withstand more frequent use.
For more information about usb versions you can refer to this table.
However doing so limits you to usb 2 0 speeds.
This connector is designed to carry data and power in usb superspeed applications.
Usb c or usb type c connector is the newest usb interface came to the market along with the new usb 3 1 standard.
As a single type.
It was developed at roughly the same time as the usb 3 1 specification.
It is recommended that manufacturers distinguish usb 3 0.
With these cables the type is whichever end of the cable isn t the standard usb type a connector.
However usb 3 0 devices with this connection type can accept previous usb 2 0 and 1 1 cabling.
Cables with this connector are not backwards compatible with usb 2 0 or usb 1 1 devices.
Among other improvements usb 3 0 adds the new transfer rate referred to as superspeed usb ss that can transfer data at up to 5 gbit s 625 mb s which is about 10 times faster than the usb 2 0 standard.
Shop usb 3 0 b type.
These devices are backwards compatible so you can plug a usb 3 x cable into a usb 2 0 port or vice versa.
Many external hard drives and higher end flash drives use usb 3.