USB confusion: Current cables with logos for USB4 version 2.0 and Thunderbolt 5
If you want to use the highest USB speed, it is best to use certified cables. However, they are often not clearly labeled.
Three USB cables: The USB logo on the left and the Thunderbolt 5 logo on the right are certified. The logo in the middle is the manufacturer's own creation.
(Image: heise online / mma)
Clear logos for cables, docking stations and power supply units are intended to disguise the USB name chaos. After all, names such as USB4 Version 2.0 and USB3.2 Gen 2x2 are anything but comprehensible. There are now some cables that meet the current USB4 Version 2.0 standard, as well as the related Thunderbolt 5, and are guaranteed to transmit 80 gigabits per second and direction.
The responsible USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) abbreviates this as 80 Gbps. Certified Thunderbolt 5 cables, on the other hand, are adorned with a lightning bolt with the number 5.
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Logos do not cover everything
However, the new cables are not without confusion. For example, both connection types provide an asymmetrical 120 Gbps mode for multiple high-resolution displays, in which one link changes direction. However, there are no 120 Gbit/s logos. For active cables, the integrated controller must be able to handle this mode. Manufacturers typically draw attention to this in the product descriptions.
(Image:Â USB Implementers Forum)
Contrary to various media reports, the USB logos with 80 Gbit/s or Gbps are not new. The responsible USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) introduced them back in fall 2022 (announcement at the time) as an extension of the logo series up to 40 Gbps introduced a year earlier.
Pay attention to charging power
Meanwhile, the USB-IF also has logos for the maximum charging speed – in the case of USB4 version 2.0, i.e. 240 watts. Thunderbolt 5 does not have this; only 140 watts are guaranteed. Cable manufacturers sometimes simply print a "240 W" to indicate the maximum. Otherwise, take a look at the data sheet.
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If you want to make the most of connections via the shared USB Type C connector, it is best to buy a USB4 cable with 80 Gbps / 240 W certification or one with Thunderbolt 5 flash. Different logos or labels such as "16K" are unofficial and not certified.
(mma)
