Introduction
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and it's an industry standard for cables, connectors, and communication protocols used for connections, communications, and power supply between electronic devices. The latest USB standard is USB 3.2 Gen 2x2, but we will discuss the differences between USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2.
USB 3.1 Gen 1
USB 3.1 Gen 1, previously known as USB 3.0, was introduced in 2008 and offered a significant increase in data transfer speed compared to its predecessor USB 2.0. With a theoretical speed of 5 Gbps, it's ten times faster than USB 2.0 that reached a theoretical maximum speed of 480 Mbps.
USB 3.1 Gen 2
USB 3.1 Gen 2, released in 2013, has a theoretical maximum speed of 10 Gbps, twice the speed of USB 3.1 Gen 1. Although USB 3.1 Gen 2 has twice the speed, the real-world performance is often lower due to various factors. USB 3.1 Gen 2 uses better encoding and has improved efficiency, resulting in a slightly better real-world performance.
Differences Between USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2
The difference between USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2 is the data transfer speed. USB 3.1 Gen 2 has a theoretical maximum speed of 10 Gbps, while USB 3.1 Gen 1's theoretical maximum speed is 5 Gbps. USB 3.1 Gen 2 also has better efficiency, which would result in slightly better real-world performance. Other than that, there is no significant difference between the two.
Which One Should You Choose?
USB 3.1 Gen 2 is the newer and faster standard, but it also costs slightly more than USB 3.1 Gen 1. If you’re running a business where transfer speed is of the utmost importance, then USB 3.1 Gen 2 will be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you're a home user or don’t regularly transfer large files, you can go for USB 3.1 Gen 1 since it's capable of handling most everyday tasks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, USB 3.1 Gen 2 is better than USB 3.1 Gen 1 due to its theoretical doubling in speed in terms of data transfer. But, USB 3.1 Gen 1 is more suited to regular and everyday tasks, and it's also more affordable. When selecting the appropriate USB, choose one that meets your specific needs.