The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) announces the publication of the USB4 specification-- a "major update" bringing a next generation USB architecture building on the current USB 3.2 and 2.0 architectures.
First announced back in March 2019, USB4 is based on the Thunderbolt specification, and doubles the maximum aggregate bandwidth of USB while enabling multiple simultaneous data and display protocols. As such, it promises performance reaching up to 40Gbps over appropriately certified cables, as well as two-lane operation over existing USB-C cables.
The protocol will be backward-compatible with USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3-- confirming a commitment to one of the greatest strengths of the USB interface-- while providing the ability to optimally scale allocations for display data flow.
Version 1.0 of the USB4 specification is available now for device makers, and hardware featuring the interface is set to start hitting the market sometime in 2020.
