You ll frequently see this on external hard drives.
Usb3 cable types.
However usb 3 0 devices with this connection type can accept previous usb 2 0 and 1 1 cabling.
You can use a usb 2 0 device in a usb 3 port or a usb 3 device in a usb 2 0 port but neither setup provides the extra speed benefit.
For example a usb type c cable.
Usb c formally known as usb type c is a 24 pin usb connector system with a rotationally symmetrical connector.
Cables with this connector are not backwards compatible with usb 2 0 or usb 1 1 devices.
So for example a cable with both a usb type a and a type c connector is a usb type c cable.
Usb 3 was designed to be able to be backwards compatible with earlier versions of usb cables and ports.
Different from previously mentioned usb a type and b type connector usb c type connector can be used on both host controller ports and devices which use upstream sockets.
Many external hard drives and higher end flash drives use usb 3.
With these cables the type is whichever end of the cable isn t the standard usb type a connector.
For more information about usb versions you can refer to this table.
Older cable types like micro usb require a special connector type for usb 3 0 compatibility.
As a single type.
Usb type a connectors are extremely common and will likely be at one end of a lot of usb cables nowadays.
It is recommended that manufacturers distinguish usb 3 0.
It was developed at roughly the same time as the usb 3 1 specification.
Usb c or usb type c connector is the newest usb interface came to the market along with the new usb 3 1 standard.
Usb 3 0 is the third major version of the universal serial bus usb standard for interfacing computers and electronic devices.
These devices are backwards compatible so you can plug a usb 3 x cable into a usb 2 0 port or vice versa.
Shop usb 3 0 b type.
In july 2016 it was adopted by the iec as iec 62680 1 3.
The usb 3 0 b type connector is found on usb 3 0 devices.
Whereas the type of usb cable like usb type a usb type b essentially refers to the physical design of the plugs and ports.
This connector is designed to carry data and power in usb superspeed applications.
Notice that micro usb devices that support usb 3 x have a different plug.
Among other improvements usb 3 0 adds the new transfer rate referred to as superspeed usb ss that can transfer data at up to 5 gbit s 625 mb s which is about 10 times faster than the usb 2 0 standard.
The usb 3 a and usb 3 b cables are identical to the usb a and usb b cables at the top of this article except they are coloured blue inside to distinguish them.
The usb type c specification 1 0 was published by the usb implementers forum usb if and was finalized in august 2014.
However doing so limits you to usb 2 0 speeds.
Usb c cables are always usb 3.
Usb cables are named in one of two ways.
The usb 3 has different shaped connector pins so it can withstand more frequent use.
The below chart shows what connector types are compatible with which standards.
