USB 3.1 vs 3.0 vs USB Type-C - What's The Difference?

USB, or Universal Serial Bus, is a port standard that has been around for almost 20 years and is the most widely used. With so many devices supporting USB, it is important to stay up to date on the latest developments in this port, cable and standard.

USB Type-C

There are multiple improvements to the reliable USB port that we have been using for so long. I'm sure we've all had difficulty plugging in a cable or flash drive because we had it upside down. The new USB Type-C cable and port are reversible, so there is no "up" or "down" and you can plug in either way.USB has other new features like super fast data transfer speeds up to 10Gbps, power up to 100W, enough to charge a laptop, and even the ability to add an HDMI Connector or DisplayPort to a single cable.

USB 3.1 and USB Type-C - Standards and Ports

Before we go any further, it's important to note the difference between a standard and a port or plug. the version of the USB standard indicates the speed and functionality of the cable. the USB type refers to the shape of the cable plug and the shape of its port in your computer or device. There are many types, most of which you probably already know.

USB Type-C is just a new shape for ports and cable plugs. The new USB Type-C port has many benefits. The first is reversibility. The difficulty of plugging in USB devices is a common standard on the Internet. Even it does not seem easy to insert a USB cable correctly. Since the new USB Type-C connector is reversible, it doesn't matter that you can plug it in either way, upside down or right side up.

USB Type-C is also the same size as a micro USB connection, so it can be used in even the smallest of devices. In addition, USB Type-C is great for charging. Bi-directional power means that your device can not only charge peripheral devices, but peripheral devices can also charge the host device if the device is running low on power.

This is made even more confusing by the fact that some USB 3.1 ports have 100W power and others do not, while some USB 3.0 cables have 100W power. Some newer laptops have ports for charging. This also means that devices such as hard drives and USB hubs will not require separate power cables, which reduces cable connections and confusion.

USB 3.1, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0

It's hard to believe, but USB 3.0 was introduced a decade ago in November 2008. The new USB 3.0 at that time greatly increased the speed of data transfer. Whereas USB 2.0 could only theoretically achieve a maximum data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second, USB 3.0 could achieve speeds of 5 gigabits per second, or more than 10 times faster. Not many computers came with USB 3.0 ports at the time, and some had only a handful of USB 2.0 ports. To distinguish between USB 2.0 and 3.0, USB 3.0 ports had a blue connector or tongue inside.