Since USB4 came out, we have been publishing a lot of articles and links to share related information, but it is too hot. Everywhere I ask whether USB4 comes out. In fact, it is just an upgrade interface. It is not so high, let alone ourselves.  His own son, USB3.2, is not yet commercially available, let alone the kids they picked up. I want to tell you that do n’t worry, USB4 is still on the road. USB is the most successful data interface in the world.  Since the early USB 1.0 era and the 1.5Mbps interface for data transmission, USB has gone through multiple generations.  Various specifications such as USB 1.0, USB 2.0, and USB 3.0 have appeared, and the appearance and design of the interface have also appeared in USB Type-A, USB Type-B, and the most common USB Type-C. Now, the USB-IF organization  It also announced the new USB 3.2 standard and the future USB 4, and some changes have occurred in speed and specifications. Today we will sort out these contents with you.

The main advantages of USB4 worth looking forward to

The new USB 4 standard has three main advantages over previous USB versions.

40 Gbps maximum speed:

By using a dual channel cable, some devices will be able to operate at speeds up to 40 Gbps, the same speed as Thunderbolt 3.

Compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices:

Some (but not necessarily all) USB 4 implementations also work for Thunderbolt 3 devices.

Better video resource allocation:

If you use a USB 4 port to transfer both video and data, the port will allocate bandwidth accordingly.  So if video only needs 20% of the bandwidth to drive your 1080p display (also a hub), then another 80% of the video will be able to transfer files from external SSD.

Type-C port will be used

USB4 can only run on Type-C connectors.  Don't expect to see USB 4 devices or hubs with older Type-A ports.  Because other recent standards, such as USB Power Delivery, only apply to Type-C, for example, if you use an adapter to connect to a Type-A 3.1 port, speed and power will drop to the lowest common denominator.

All USB4 hosts support USB PD

Some USB Type-C devices currently support the USB Power Delivery (USB PD) standard for powering high-power devices, but not all devices can.  Every USB 4 device and host must comply with USB PD, which can achieve higher power and better power management.

USB PD can theoretically provide up to 100 watts of power, but the charging device does not have to support that much power.  Therefore, there is no guarantee that a given USB 4 port will be able to provide or take up the number required for a particular notebook.

Backward compatible with older devices

The best thing about all USB products is how they work together.  USB 4 works with USB 3 and USB 2 devices and ports.  But you can only get the speed and ability of the weakest link in the connection.  When a USB 4 device is attached to a USB 3.2 port, the USB 4 device will not be able to transfer at 40 Gbps, and the old USB 2 port will not suddenly become faster by connecting it to a brand new USB 4 backup drive.

Higher manufacturing cost than USB 3.2

Another obstacle to large-scale adoption is the increased cost of USB 4.While the exact cost of adding USB 4 connectivity to PCs and device vendors is unknown, it is known that it requires more expensive components than the latest current standard, USB 3.2

Why is USB 4 officially spelled "USB4"

Unlike all other versions of USB, the new specification is formally spelled before the version number, with no spaces.  Although we think most people might write it as USB 4, the official name is USB4, and Brad Saunders, CEO of the USB Promoter Group, explained that his goal in removing space is to focus on  Put on the version number and brand name, USB 3.x specifications have been filled with different version numbers, including USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 3.1 Gen 2 and four different versions of USB 3.2, in addition to USB PD, etc.  Presence or absence of optional functions in standby mode.  But Sanders said those numbers really suit developers, and he hopes that OEMs will use simpler terms like "SuperSpeed USB" when marketing their products.

Perhaps because he was concerned that marketers are putting too many numbers into consumers, Saunders said the organization does not plan to use version numbers for specification updates.  So, even if iteration is faster in two years, it may still be called USB 4, but the speed number is behind it (such as USB 4 80 Gbps).  He and his team haven't decided on a brand strategy yet, so USB 4 may still have a marketing name.  Just like USB 3.x is called "SuperSpeed USB", USB 4 may eventually have its own name.

Although the USB Promoter Forum released the USB 4 specifications in September, don't expect to see any products based on this standard before 2020. Saunders said that the typical development cycle of new products is 12 to 18 months  But for laptops and desktops that support USB 4, 18 months ... is also very optimistic.

▲ The USB organization will officially incorporate the Thunderbolt 3 specification into USB 4

Overall, the official release of USB 3.2 and the disclosure of USB 4 related news have greatly promoted the development of this high-speed interface that is widely used in our lives, making data transfer and copying more convenient. It is foreseeable that  When USB 3.2 and even USB 4 become mainstream interfaces, the era of "one interface goes global" is likely to come, and the display can be completed with only one line