Earlier this month, the USB promoter group, the body that’s concerned with the development and standard specification of USB protocol announced USB4. The announcement almost coincides with USB 3.2 which tops data transfer speeds of up to 20Gbps.
USB 4 is expected to even double USB 3.2 bandwidth to 40Gbps and enable multiple simultaneous data and display protocols. This will be achieved through the use of two 20 Gbps channels. With this bandwidth, USB 4 will now be similar to Intel’s proprietary Thunderbolt 3 spec popularly used in the latest Macbooks and premium Windows PCs.
You can read more on on the differences between USB-C and Thunderbolt. Now because USB 4 vendors won’t be required to pay hefty loyalty fees. This means USB 4 devices are expected to be much cheaper than their Thunderbolt 3 counterparts.
Update: Intel announced that they will be making the Thunderbolt 3 spec royalty-free to chip makers. Intel also plans to implement Thunderbolt 3 spec to upcoming CPUs starting with the 10nm processor code-named “Ice Lake”.
“Today, Intel announced that it contributed the Intel Thunderbolt protocol specification to the USB Promoter Group, enabling other chip makers to build Thunderbolt compatible silicon, royalty-free.”
The chip maker said it’s working closely with Microsoft to deliver built-in Windows 10 support for Thunderbolt 3, optimized for plug and play, platform power management, system charging and system wake features. This means Thunderbolt 3 will become USB 4 and vice versa.
USB 4 will combine data, display and power over a single robust cable and connector while being backward compatible with older USB standards.
Key characteristics of the USB4 solution include:
- Two-lane operation using existing USB Type-C cables and up to 40 Gbps operation over 40 Gbps-certified cables
- Multiple data and display protocols to efficiently share the total available bandwidth over the bus
- Backward compatibility with USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3
Related posts:
Guide to USB-C Hubs and Adapters
USB 4 Release date
The USB promoter group said USB4 specification is on track to be published around the middle of 2019. The group is expected to hold USB Developer Days in the second half of this year covering detailed technical training on the USB4 specification and the latest for USB Type-C, USB Power Delivery, and other topics. So with the draft spec out by mid this year, it won’t be until at least 2020 that we shall begin to see USB 4 out in the wild.
About David Okwii
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he's not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
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