The tech world was just starting to coalesce around a connection standard ten years ago. Being a techie back then meant holding a slew of different cables for your various devices.
Although USB 3.0 was introduced in 2008, some of us are still unaware of the inconsistencies between it and USB 2.0. Since then, USB has become the de facto norm for connecting our devices. The adoption of the micro USB in the mobile realm, which obliterated all efforts to push for custom charging ports, undoubtedly aided USB adoption.
Even if all USB ports today look and work the same, there are certain subtle distinctions that are easy to overlook. For example, you might have found that when you attach your phone to a certain USB port on your computer, it charges quicker. Alternatively, you can find that only one of your ports allows you to charge your phone while the device is switched off. What causes this to happen? You might be confused about the differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0.
USB 2.0 vs. USB 3.0: What’s the Difference?
How to Identify USB?
As opposed to USB 2.0, the USB 3.0 port can potentially transfer data ten times faster (up to 5 Gbps/s) (480 Mbps). Since the transfer speed is highly dependent on the configuration and the data cable you are using, I used the term theoretically. To be more specific, USB 3.0 achieves realistic speeds of around 300 MB/s, while USB 2.0 achieves speeds of around 40 MB/s.
In terms of power consumption, USB 3.0 is superior. Though USB 2.0 can only handle 500 milliamps, USB 3.0 can handle over 900 milliamps. If you’re pulling electricity from a PC or laptop, this can help in faster charging times for your mobile devices.
Check to see if your laptop or computer has a USB 3.0 port
If you recently bought a new computer, you almost certainly have at least one USB 3.0 slot. One USB 3.0 port and two USB 2.0 ports are common on slightly older laptops. However, before attempting to find the appropriate port, make sure you have a USB 3.0 port. Here’s how to do it:
When Using Windows
- To open a Run dialog, press Windows key + R. Hit Enter after typing devmgmt.msc.
2. Scroll down to Universal Serial Bus Controllers in Device. Manager and extend the drop-down menu. You should safely presume that you have at least one USB 3.0 port if you see a USB 3.0 entry and a Host Controller driver.
When Using Mac
- In the top left-hand corner of the screen, click the Apple icon. Then choose About This Mac from the drop-down menu.
- Select System Report from the About This Mac window.
Note: Click More Info if you’re either using OS X 10.9 (Mavericks) or older.
- Click Hardware in System Information, then extends the USB tab.
- The USB ports are classified as per their type, much as in Windows. Check if an item has “USB 3.0” in the title to see if it has a USB 3.0 port.
Identifying your laptop or computer’s USB 3.0 port
If your computer has a USB 3.0 port, it’s important to know which one can give you the best results. You can’t tell whether your USB 3.0 port is active or not by looking at the logo or the color of the port.
Identifying By Logo
SuperSpeed USB was another name for USB 3.0. To indicate that you’re working with a USB 3.0 port, most manufacturers use the SuperSpeed USB logo. You’ve successfully found the USB 3.0 port if you see the SS prefix in front of the regular USB logo.
Note: Whether you have a brand new laptop or PC, the SS prefix could have been removed from the icon by the manufacturer. This is common among newer systems with all USB 3.0 ports.
There’s also a chance you’ll see the USB logo followed by a charging icon. This means the port can take advantage of USB 3.0’s higher transfer speeds to charge your mobile devices more quickly.
If you’re fortunate, your computer will continue to power this charging port even though the device is switched off. This allows you to use this port like a wall outlet to charge your mobile devices without turning on your computer.
Note: The mobile devices can be charged even though the port does not have the lightning symbol. However, even though they are USB 3.0, their power is limited, resulting in a longer overall charging time.
Identifying By Color
The official instructions for manufactures using USB 3.0 ports state that the interior of the port should be blue. This differentiates them from USB 2.0, which has a black or white interior.
Note: Regardless of the USB 3.0 port gender, the vast majority of manufactures follow this rule ( male or female).
Final Thoughts
A USB 3.0 product is completely compatible with a USB 2.0 port if you’re concerned about backward compatibility. The USB 3.0 product, on the other hand, will be bound to the USB 2.0 port’s speed, meaning all speed or power advantages will be lost.
It’s clear that USB 2.0 is being phased out in favor of newer, more efficient USB ports. USB 3.2 was announced by the USB promoter party in 2017. This system can handle several lanes of data at the same time, resulting in even faster data transfers.
However, tech behemoths are now laying the groundwork for the next global norm. In the near future, USB-C is supposed to become the single port that can charge and connect our phones, laptops, and consoles.
Also, if you really can’t figure out which ports your machine has, go to the product page for your laptop/motherboard, which should have all the information. If your computer does not have a USB 3.0 port, you can purchase PCI cards that have USB 3.0. Simply insert one of those cards into your PCI slot, and you can now have USB 3.0 ports.
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