Today we explain another step in the constant race towards the future. We are talking about USB 4.0 (or USB4, as experts say it should be called). This is a new transfer protocol. Does that mean you’ll have to change the cables on your chargers? Do not panic. USB-C connectors with Thunderbolt 3 technology (compatible with Apple and Intel processors) will remain. T

o understand this new environment, an important point is that Intel has released Thunderbolt 3, which will form the basis of the USB4 connection. They will now converge into a single architecture that will allow data, video and power to be transmitted at much higher speeds than previous systems.

Going into more detail about its advantages, first of all, is that USB4 will be much faster than what we are used to. The information will be transmitted with a speed of up to 40 Gbps, that means that its ports will be eight times faster than those we have with USB 3.0.

The strengths of USB4: better image quality, charging speed, data transmission

In addition, this speed is prepared to be distributed better. That is, if we have a monitor that uses 6 Gbps (for example) for its video signal, the rest of the 40 Gbps can be used at full capacity for other devices. With previous USBs, this did not always happen and part of the theoretical speed was wasted.

Another issue related to speed will be that we will notice a higher battery charging speed in devices that use a USB4 cable. This is because all of them will already have USB Power Delivery, the protocol that helps power our batteries not take forever. This shorter wait is made possible by its 100-watt capacity. This system was already present in some devices of the previous generation but it will be incorporated by all.

In addition to the aforementioned data transmission speed, another strong point of USB4 (and inherited from Thunderbolt) is that you can chain device connections. For example, you can connect the laptop to a monitor, to this you will also connect an external hard drive, and to the latter you could add another gadget.

Of course, as long as they have this new connection. Or, for example, connect several chained displays that only occupy one port on the source computer. You will no longer need a computer with a high number of connections.

The staunchest supporters of USB4 say that, in time, other connectors such as HDMI will not be necessary either. One more step to unify the types of cables we have today. They will also be the best cables for the most powerful monitor resolutions we already have on the market (4K or 5K) or those that will come before (6K) or after (8K).

A long wait to have the USB4 In Our China Flash Drive Factory

Now we go with the not so good things about USB4. It will not only work with USB-C connectors. This didn’t happen when we made the changes from USB to USB 2.0 (which had the same connector), or when USB 3.0 arrived, which sometimes also kept the same port (although the most advanced devices changed it too).

Of course, there will be adapters to ensure backwards compatibility with older devices. Of course, with the speed of the old protocol. It’s also quite possible that USB4 devices will cost more, at least initially. However, in USB memory stick we will work to have advertising flash drives with this technology at the best possible price.

For those who are afraid of making a mess with so many devices and cables, it will be necessary to have a little patience until the new standard settles. Then, we will see in its fullness all the advantages that we have explained to you. But remember: the latest USB-C will not change and will adapt perfectly to the new standard.

Finally, the USB-A connection will be totally obsolete. In fact, it was no longer incorporated into the devices that have been released on the market in recent years. That is, backward compatibility will not apply to them.

With USB 3.2 they could still be used but it will be time to say goodbye with USB4. When will we have them in stores? It seems that we will have to wait. The first gadgets will already be on the market towards the end of 2021, according to some forecasts. But most of the specialized press considers that they will not be for sale in a massive way until 2022. You can finb all these models in our China USB Flash Drive Factory and we send you the quotation the same day.

We, for our part, will be attentive to any news regarding USB flash drives that incorporate this technology and will include them in our catalog of flash drives for advertising once they are available.