USB 2.0 is still widely used it delivers both Hi-Speed and Full-Speed modes that operate at 480Mbps and 12Mbps respectively. In the real world, we’ve seen first generation USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (aka SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps) SSD from Crucial manages to push the real-world performance close to 800MBps (or 6.4Gbps) whereas USB 3.2 Gen 1 (aka SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps) equivalent can reach close to 400MBps (or 3.2Gbps). It can also work with either legacy USB 3.0 Type-A or USB-C cables. The maximum theoretical data transfer is 5Gbps. USB 3.2 Gen 1 is basically USB 3.0 that was superseded by USB 3.1 Gen 1.If you need 10Gbps over a longer distance, USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 might be an option (if you can find the host and device that support this particular mode). This mode, introduced as part of the new specification, boosts 10Gbps transfer rate over a passive USB-C cable of 3m in length.

USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 takes advantage of dual-lane operation capability of a certified USB-C cable, providing two lanes of 5Gbps.Note that passive cables are mostly 1m or shorter in length in order to maintain optimal signal quality transferring data in USB 3.2 Gen 2×1. This mode – marketed under SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps – is also the fastest speed that Thunderbolt 3 supports natively. Providing a single lane of 10Gbps, it can work with either USB-C cables or legacy USB 3.0 Type-A cables. USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 is alternatively known as USB 3.1 Gen 2.This speed mode requires the use of certified, full-featured USB-C cables. USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 defines data transfer rate at 20Gbps over two lanes at 10Gbps each, hence the name SuperSpeed USB 20Gbps on its official namesake logo.The latest USB specification brings us four speeds altogether and they are as follows:

Now that the original USB 3.0 has received two major updates, we are now at USB 3.2. This is largely due to the fact that each new USB standard absorbs all previous 3.x specifications and at the same time gives them new monikers. Since the introduction of USB 3.0, making sense of USB marketing names has been a source of frustration for consumers.

Usb 2 vs usb 3 power requirements