Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Guides

What is USB 3.1?

Jon Martindale
By

Chances are that you’ve already used USB 3.1 in your daily life. USBs (which stands for “Universal Serial Bus”) are a commonly used type of cord to connect two devices, like a PC with a gaming device or camera. So, what sets USB 3.1 apart from other options, like USB 3.2 or USB-C?

Read on to find out the strengths and weaknesses of USB 3.1 and to learn more about technological advancements in current USB innovation.

Related Videos

By the numbers

USB 3.1 is a generational number that mostly refers to the data transfer speed of the USB connector, not its shape or size. Officially launched in July 2013, USB 3.1 effectively replaced USB 3.0 as the new, high-speed USB standard. It would, in turn, go on to be replaced by USB 3.2, which would refresh the naming conventions of USB as well. That has resulted in a rather confusing mess of names and speeds. Some may still refer to various USB speeds, colloquially at least, as USB 3.0, 3.1, and 3.2 individually, but the official naming convention and their respective speeds are as follows:

Related
  • USB 3.2 Gen 1 is USB 3.0. It has a maximum throughput of 5Gbps. This is also known as SuperSpeed USB.
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2 is USB 3.1. It has a maximum throughput of 10Gbps. This is also known as SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps.
  • USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 is USB 3.2. It has a maximum throughput of 20Gbps. This is also known as SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps.

All of these speeds are the theoretical maximums of the USB standard and are unlikely to be seen in everyday use, but you will certainly see an increase in transfer speed for files of most sizes when using a USB 3.2 Gen 2 (USB 3.1) device over one that is rated USB 3.2 Gen 1, or USB 3.0, only.

usb3-1a-970x0
A standard Type-A cable, used for most current PC accessories.

USB 3.2 Gen 2 isn’t supported by all modern devices but has slowly seen greater support over the past few years. A good example of a change between hardware generations is with Dell’s XPS 13 laptop. The 2017 XPS 13 9360 laptop shipped with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, while the 2018 and 2019 models replaced those with USB 3.2 Gen 2 connections of the USB-C flavor. More on that later.

Another big advantage of USB 3.2 Gen 2 is that it can support a feature known as Power Delivery 2.0. It allows compatible ports to provide up to 100 watts of power to the device they’re connected to, thereby allowing for the charging of larger devices like laptops through a single USB cable. This is most commonly seen in laptops that use the new USB-C standard.

USB-C isn’t the same as 3.1

macbook usb type c
Maurizio Pesce/Flickr

While often associated with USB 3.2 Gen 2 and Gen 2×2, USB-C is not the same thing. USB letter types, like A, B, and C, denote the shape and form of the port and connector, while the number types (3.2, etc.) denote the data transfer capabilities.

Many modern devices have moved away from the classic USB-A, USB-B, and micro-USB ports and toward USB-C — which is small, reversible, and often goes hand in hand with faster transfer speeds. While that isn’t always the case, the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 transfer speeds are only possible on USB-C.

USB-A is still offered on a number of devices for legacy support of older accessories and cables that still use that standard, but it’s becoming increasingly common for laptops and smartphones to ship with just USB-C connectivity.

Whether a laptop, tablet, or smartphone has USB-A, USB-C, or some other connection in that wheelhouse, though, it does not guarantee that it is USB 3.2 Gen 2. The Microsoft Surface Book 2 ships with two USB-A ports and a USB-C port, all of which are “USB Gen 1,” which is actually USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0), not 3.2 Gen 2 (USB 3.1). It’s confusing but shows how important it is to read between the lines if you care about your new hardware having the latest standards.

What about Thunderbolt 3?

Dell XPS 13 9370 review | Ports on the left side of the laptops
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

To make things even more confusing, USB-C ports can also be compatible with Thunderbolt 3. Thunderbolt 3 is a standard that utilizes the USB-C port and offers data transfer rates up to 40GBps — four times that of USB 3.2 Gen 2 and even two times that of the fastest USB 3.2 Gen 2×2. Although it can be cross-compatible with USB 3.2 Gen 2 cables, that’s not always the case.

Thunderbolt 3 charges, moves data, and streams video onto other screens, all at the same time. This is possible by leveraging the USB-C port to increase the device’s compatibility over all previous generations.

A USB-C port can have Thunderbolt 3 abilities, or it can only work with USB 3.2 Gen 2. Most computer brands will point out whether they include Thunderbolt 3 capabilities on their ports. 

Editors' Recommendations

The Windows 11 taskbar is getting an important new update
windows 11 taskbar third party app pinning

Microsoft is working on new experiences for Windows that will allow developers to enable pinning for third-party applications, as well as enable pinning to the Taskbar.

Microsoft recently announced the details of these upcoming functions in a blog post. This is the brand's attempt to universalize its pinning process across all apps used on Windows. In practice, it will be similar to how pinning works on the Edge browser, with the Windows 11 users being notified by the Action Center about a request for pinning to the Taskbar by the app in question.

Read more
What is 5G? Speeds, coverage, comparisons, and more
The 5G UW icon on the Samsung Galaxy S23.

It's been years in the making, but 5G — the next big chapter in wireless technology — is finally approaching the mainstream. While we haven't yet reached the point where it's available everywhere, nearly all of the best smartphones are 5G-capable these days, and you're far more likely to see a 5G icon lit up on your phone than not.

There's more to 5G than just a fancy new number, though. The technology has been considerably more complicated for carriers to roll out since it covers a much wider range of frequencies than older 4G/LTE technology, with different trade-offs for each. It's also a much farther-reaching wireless technology, promising the kind of global connectivity that was once merely a dream found in futuristic sci-fi novels.

Read more
This gorgeous, all-wood keyboard must be seen to be believed
hacoa ki board wireless wooden keyboard is a made of wood

The feeling of wood under your fingers is more comforting than plastic or metal, and there's no reason technology can't use this renewable resource. Hacoa has done just that with its new keyboard, the Full Ki-Board Wireless. It features wooden trim and keycaps made of solid wood with natural grain.

Ki is the Japanese word for spirit or energy, and Hacoa notes that the Ki-Board "adds warmth to inorganic personal computers." Underneath, the keyboard houses a 1,000mAh battery, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 2.4GHz transmitter (a matching USB receiver is included), so you can connect it to your computer, tablet, or phone without disturbing the lovely appearance with wires.

Read more