As if the confusion about the designations of the various USB generations is not already big enough, the interfaces are now being renamed again. From now on somehow everything is USB 3.2 or SuperSpeed and customers understand only station.
The USB Implementers Forum announced at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona that with the introduction of USB 3.2, all previous USB generations will be renamed. The logic seems to have gone completely by the wayside, at least if you had the goal to inform users quickly and easily.
Even now, it is hardly recognizable to buyers of a computer , which USB standard support the inputs of the device. The design of the socket itself says little about it. Even a modern USB-C connection does not mean that there is an interface of the latest generation behind it. What used to be called USB 3.0 was renamed to USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1st generation) with the introduction of USB 3.1.
The user can only see what is being sold to him if, in addition to the jack, an “SS” for “SuperSpeed” or an “SS” with the suffix 10 for “SuperSpeed Plus” is. The difference is significant, with a maximum transfer rate of 5 gigabits per second (Gbps), the renamed USB 3.0 is only half as fast as the new USB 3.1 at 10 Gbps.
From USB 3.0 to USB 3.2
With the introduction of USB 3.2, it gets even more confusing. For now USB 3.1 Gen 1, previously USB 3.0 was called USB 3.2 Gen 1. The twice as fast USB 3.1 second generation is now called USB 3.2 Gen 2. The really new USB 3.2, theoretically a maximum speed of 20 Gbit / s, receives the addition of gene 2×2. At least this makes sense, because at the interface data is transmitted over two lines. For USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 a USB-C port is mandatory, USB-A supports only the previous generations.
In marketing, according to ” Computer Base ” all 3-generation only to be called SuperSpeed USB. To distinguish between the two junior interfaces, the additions are 10 Gpbs (Gbps) and 20 Gbps. Theoretically, one could thus unambiguously label the USB inputs, but in the future packaging will probably only be large USB 3.2, as was already the case after the introduction of USB 3.1. Customers will probably have to look very closely to find the generation or transfer speed in the fine print.