The name of the new USB standard changes to USB 3.2 Gen 2x2

2023-10-29

The tech industry has a chronic problem when it comes to naming things – it starts confusing and keeps getting worse. This brings us to USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. The standard was announced in 2017 but this change in branding is a new plot twist.

USB 3.1 is no more, just like USB 3.0 doesn’t exist. Instead there’s USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps, formerly USB 3.0), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps, USB 3.1 originally) and USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. So not only is the USB-IF erasing the names of the old standards from existence, it can’t even count up to 3 without getting weird.

Okay, in some ways it makes sense. USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 is “Gen 2” times 2, in other words 10Gbps x 2. Plus, any USB 3.2 port should support the new refinements to the standard, even if it does only 5Gbps.

      Standard	Speed	Original name
      USB 3.2 Gen 1	5Gbps	USB 3.0 "SuperSpeed"
      USB 3.2 Gen 2	10Gbps	USB 3.1 "SuperSpeed+"
      USB 3.2 Gen 2x2	20Gbps	USB 3.2 "SuperSpeed+" (note: not ++)

The good news is that it doubles the maximum speed of the previous standard, reaching up to 20Gbps. That’s mightily impressive over a single USB-C cable. This is achieved by borrowing some of t he wires typically reserved for other protocols that use the USB-C connector (e.g. Thunderbolt).

You don’t even need new cables – old 5Gbps cables will do 10Gbps when connecting two compatible devices (this is USB 3.2 Gen 1x2 mode, because of course it is). 10Gbps cables will be able to run at the full 20Gbps speed.

Source (PDF)