For those who’re shopping for a USB docking station, particularly one with USB4, maintain an eye fixed out for an up to date USB labeling scheme that may assist you to establish the USB expertise getting used.
In 2019, the names utilized by the USB Implementor Discussion board’s engineering groups to explain the assorted speeds of USB acquired leaked, and the backlash (together with our personal) was harsh. Names like “USB 3.2 Gen 2” imply nothing to customers — however neither do marketing-style phrases, corresponding to “SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps.”
It’s the latter speed-only designation that grew to become the default commonplace, the place customers cared much less about numerical gobbledygook and extra about simply how briskly a cable was. (Our opinions merely seek advice from the port by its form, corresponding to USB-A, and its velocity, corresponding to 5Gbps.) In 2022, the USB world settled upon an up to date brand scheme that principally lower out every little thing however the velocity of the system or cable.
Fortunately, the USB-IF has taken the additional step and prolonged its brand scheme to the newest variations of the USB specification, together with USB4. It additionally removes “USB4v2” from shopper branding.
USB-IF
For those who’re shopping for a USB4 or USB4v2 docking station, you’ll merely see a “USB 80Gbps” or “USB 40Gbps” brand on the aspect of the field now. Whereas it might be a bit disconcerting to see a brand new brand like this, no less than you’ll know precisely what you’re shopping for.
This can be a welcome transfer on a number of fronts. For one, USB-C ports sometimes go unlabeled on PCs, so you possibly can’t make sure whether or not the USB-C port is an older 10Gbps port or a extra fashionable USB4 or Thunderbolt port. (Thunderbolt 4 and USB4v2 are basically similar, although Intel has its personal certification course of. Thunderbolt ports aren’t recognized by velocity, both.) USB-IF representatives informed me that they’d heard a rumor that Dell would start figuring out its ports like the first picture above.
Lastly, the up to date USB logos may also apply to cables. Jeff Ravencraft, president of the USB-IF, stated that was completed to obviously talk the one issues customers cared about: what information speeds the cable supported and the way a lot energy it might go between two units.
