The USB Implementer Forum today announced the USB 3.2 specification will be used for all USB 3 generations, including earlier versions such as USB 3.0 and USB 3.1. The new names can be confusing for consumers.
During the Mobile World Congress, currently held in Barcelona, the changes were announced, according to German website Computerbase. The USB Implementer Forums appears to have decided that USB 3.1 gen 1 and USB 3.1 gen 2, which initially were released as USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 were illogical names and therefore decided to call them USB 3.2 gen 1 and USB 3.1 gen 2, once USB 3.2 will become available.
USB 3.2, the 20Gbit/s variant of Superspeed USB, will be named USB 3.2 gen 2×2. The 2×2 suffix should make clear that USB 3.2 is able to use two 10 Gbit/s lanes to achieve a 20 Gbit/s throughput. Although the new name is likely to avoid confusion, it could confuse consumers even more.
USB 3.1 was announced in 2017 and uses existing USB-C cables for the 20 Gbit/s bandwidth, but only if there are certified for SuperSpeed USB 10 Gbit/s. This year the USB 3.2 2×2 hardware should be ready and by next year the first products should become generally available.
