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Definition: USB 3.2


The previous USB standard (the latest is USB 4). Introduced in 2017, USB 3.2 added two dual-lane SuperSpeed+ modes when using USB Type C cables. USB 3.2 also absorbed the previous 3.0 and 3.1 specifications by adding a confusing "Gen x by x" label (see below), at which time USB 2.0 and 3.2 became the two official USB specifications. However, there are millions of ports labeled USB 3.0 and 3.1 in use on computers, hubs, storage drives and other components. With the USB 4 introduction in 2019, the naming was thankfully simplified (see USB). See USB Type C, USB 3.0 and USB 3.1.

                       Data Rate  Lanes

 USB 4 Version 2.0      80 Gbps    2**
 USB 4 Version 1.0      40 Gbps    2**

 USB 3.2 Gen 2x2        20 Gbps    2**

 USB 3.2 Gen 1x2        10 Gbps    2**

 USB 3.2 Gen 2x1        10 Gbps    1
 a.k.a. USB 3.1
 a.k.a. USB 3.1 Gen 2

 USB 3.2 Gen 1x1         5 Gbps    1
 a.k.a. USB 3.1
 a.k.a. USB 3.0 Gen 1

 USB 2.0 High Speed    480 Mbps    1
 USB 2.0 Full Speed     12 Mbps    1
 USB 2.0 Slow Speed    1.5 Mbps    1

 ** Dual-lane requires USB-C cables





USB 3.2 Gen 2x1 Cable
Identified as USB 3.1 Gen 2 on the Amazon website, the cable is nonetheless USB 3.2 Gen 2x1. (Image courtesy of Amazon.com.)