The USB Promoter Group has announced yet another standard for everyone’s favourite cable. The USB 3.2 is an iteration of USB 3.1, but mainly makes use of features found in the newer Type-C cables. For the most part, this just means that existing USB speeds can be doubled with the right devices.
Correctly manufactured USB Type-C cables contain two pairs of wires within them. For the most part, connections use one pair at a time. This difference in capabilities was apparently done in preparation for this announcement; which allows manufacturers to design products that are able to access both connections at the same time.
In terms of speed, this translates into a literal doubling of connection speed. Where regular USB 3.1 connections top out at 5Gbps and 10Gbps (depending on the generation), USB 3.2 goes up to 10Gbps and 20Gbps.
The only catch here is that both devices must be equipped with USB 3.2 ports. Of which there are none at the moment. The USB Promoter Group is aiming to make a formal release of the new standard in September 2017; and it will take a while before OEMs begin to pick up on the technology.
[Source: Businesswire]
