Difference Between USB 2.0 And USB 3.0

USB is very useful tool. Even though you are not sure what USB is and what is the function of USB, you’ve probably heard of it and even if you haven’t heard USB, probably you ever used it without you even knowing it.

The main purpose of USB (Universal Serial Bus) is communication. Basically, USB is used as tools to communicate data, information and even electricity between two devices or more. In the 90s, along with the rapid development of technology, especially computers, many devices that have begun to be used as a computer support device. And at the moment, These devices used various forms of ports and wires to connect to the computer. USB came as a solution for those devices about how they connect and communicate to the computer. 

Even now, simply imagine the different devices that are associated with your computer. This basically include the keyboard and mouse, however may likewise include a printer, camera, an external hard drive, and so on. If those devices are wired, at the same point they are using the USB. USB is likewise used to charge your phone, and additionally to duplicate and exchange information from your phone, external hard drive, and so forth.

USB is a standout amongst the most generally used protocol today. It was initially discharged in January 1996, and was created by a consortium of IBM, Compaq, DEC, Microsoft, Intel, Nortel and NEC and then developed by a consortium of Compaq, DEC, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, NEC, and Nortel. The purpose was to create a universal communication protocol to change the various different connectors which used by the different devices from many company; and they succeeded. USB 2.0 is an enhanced version, with a faster speed than the previous version, was released in April 2000, and then followed by USB 3.0 which was released in november 2008

Beside the fact that USB 3.0 is a newer version of 2.0, the other differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 is the speed.  USB 2.0 give a maximum speed of 480 Mbps, while USB 3.0 can give 10x faster transfer rates until 4.8 Gbps. Despite the fact that the speed of USB data transfer depends on the device used. 

The causes of USB 3.0 has higher data rates than USB 2.0 is USB 3.0 has more wires than USB 2.0. With more cable, USB 3.0 allows to load more data at once. Certainly this will make the data transfer will be faster. USB 3.0 has 9 internal cable while USB 2.0 only has 4.

Other difference between this two versions of USB is in the transfer data method. The transfer data method that use in USB 2.0 is the half duplex method. Which means that the data flow on USB 2.0 is only unidirectional, the user can either send or receive data but they cannot do both at the same time.The transfer data method that use in USB 3.0 is the full duplex method. Which means that the data flow on USB 3.0 is bidirectional. This allows human that use USB 3.0 to both send and receive the data simultaneously.

Another difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 is the port color. The port of USB 2.0 is usually black or grey while the port of USB 3.0 is usually blue. This is chiefly with the goal that individuals can differentiate at first look by taking a gander at the port, which appears to be indistinguishable. Likewise the amount of pin on port of USB 2.0 and 3.0 is different. The port of USB 2.0 has only 4 copper pins, while the port of USB 3.0 has 9 copper.

Keep in mind also that both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 have different port types: Type A ports are used for computers and large devices; Type B ports (mini-B), which are smaller used in smaller devices such as old smartphones, MP3 players, digital camera, etc. But nowadays, almost all mini-B has been replaced with micro-USB Port. 

In 2014, USB 3.1 was released as an upgrade to USB 3.0. Nothing significant difference between USB 3.1 and 3.0, but improves on the speed. However, currently the use of USB 3.1 is still not popular to the public. 

Difference Between USB 2.0 And 3.0 In Table Form

From the explanation above, we can conclude the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 in table form below :

	USB 2.0	USB 3.0
Chronology	Older	Newer
Date Of Release	April 2000	November 2008
Speed	High Speed, Up to 480 Mbps	Super Speed, Up to 4.8 Gbps
Function	To transfer data	To transfer data
Data Transfer Method	Half Duplex method	Full Duplex method
Data Flow	Unidirectional	Bidirectional
Power Consumption	Up to 500 mA	Up to 900 mA
Color	Usually black but sometimes grey	Almost always blue
Power Delivery	Max 2.5 watts	4.5 - 7 watts
Number of wires in the cable	4	9
Maximum Cable Length	5 meters	3 meters

Key Difference between USB 2.0 And USB 3.0 : USB 2.0 is much slower than USB 3.0. USB 2.0 give a maximum speed of 480 Mbps, while USB 3.0 can give much faster transfer rates until 4.8 Gbps. The striking difference that can be seen from both USB is USB 3.0 is usually blue while USB 2.0 is usually grey or black.