The USB Promoter Group has now released the new USB4 Version 2.0 specification, which doubles the previous version’s maximum transfer speed to 80 Gbps.

The new active 80 Gbps Type-C cables are backwards compatible, allowing you to use them with connectors supporting Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 1.0, 3.2, and 2.0. Older USB-C cables will still function on USB4 Version 2.0 ports even though they won’t deliver the high speeds.

High-performance screens, storage, hubs, and docks can all benefit from the new protocol’s major advantage. You might be able to attach an external GPU to a laptop with 80 Gbps of bandwidth and enjoy desktop-style gaming with little to no performance loss. Additionally, the new standard works well with PCIe and DisplayPort’s most recent iterations.

On November 1, at the meeting known as USB Developer Days 2022, more information regarding the new protocol will be disclosed.