The USB Promoter Group has approved USB4, a new USB standard that supports data transfers of up to 40 gigabits per second.

The new USB standard is an upgrade from USB 3.2, which supports transfers of up to 20 Gbps and sees the next generation of USB plugs fully embracing the Thunderbolt 3 standard designed by Intel Corp. and Apple Inc.

Fortunately, the new standard doesn’t dictate the form factor of the USB connector and will most likely be implemented in USB Type-C cables.

USB Type-C was officially released in 2014 as the first USB standard that broke away from the original design of USB launched in 1996. Five years later, USB Type-C has become the standard connection for high-end smartphones as well as appearing in more and more computers, though traditional USB connections remain standard outside of Apple Inc. products.

“The new USB4 architecture defines a method to share a single high-speed link with multiple end device types dynamically that best serves the transfer of data by type and application,” the USB Promoter Group said today in a statement. “As the USB Type-C connector has evolved into the role as the external display port of many host products, the USB4 specification provides the host the ability to optimally scale allocations for display data flow.”

The group added that compatibility with existing USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3 hosts and devices is supported. “The resulting connection scales to the best mutual capability of the devices being connected,” it said.

One positive out of the new USB4 standard is a clear name.

The USB Promoter Group has previously tried its hardest to confuse all and sundry as to what standard is which. For example, the last USB standard approved was USB 3.2, which was different from USB 3 and more importantly was implemented by USB Type-C versus the USB 3 ports, usually colored blue, that many will be familiar with.

For end-users, USB4 will be a do-all connector. Whereas USB Type-C introduced high-grade power charging and support for video, USB4 takes that to the next level.

“The primary goal of USB is to deliver the best user experience combining data, display and power delivery over a user-friendly and robust cable and connector solution,” the USB Promotion Group noted. “The USB4 solution specifically tailors bus operation to further enhance this experience by optimizing the blend of data and display over a single connection and enabling the further doubling of performance.”

Photo: pestoverde/Flickr