USB Connector Types Chart
Every USB connector shape — Type-A, Type-B, Type-C, Mini and Micro, plus the SuperSpeed (USB 3.x) variants — with the data speed, charging power, and devices each one is used on. Includes a plain-English guide to the confusing USB 2.0 / 3.2 / USB4 speed names.
How to Use
- Browse the grid — each card shows the connector shape, its name, max data speed, charging power, and typical devices.
- Search for a shape ("micro", "type-c"), a device ("printer", "camera", "phone"), or a speed ("5 Gbps").
- Filter by form factor (Standard / Mini / Micro / Type-C) and by current vs legacy; narrow by max speed in the dropdown.
- Match the silhouette on a card to the plug on your cable or the port on your device to identify it.
- Check the speed and power tables below to decode names like "USB 3.2 Gen 2x2" or "SuperSpeed".
USB speeds & generation names
The single most confusing thing about USB is that the same speed has been renamed several times. This table maps every name to an actual number.
| Marketing name | Also called | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| High-Speed | USB 2.0 | 480 Mbps |
| SuperSpeed | USB 3.0 · 3.1 Gen 1 · 3.2 Gen 1 | 5 Gbps |
| SuperSpeed+ (10 Gbps) | USB 3.1 Gen 2 · 3.2 Gen 2 | 10 Gbps |
| SuperSpeed (20 Gbps) | USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 (USB-C only) | 20 Gbps |
| USB4 | USB4 Gen 2×2 / Gen 3×2 | 20 / 40 Gbps |
| USB4 Version 2.0 | USB4 80 Gbps | 80 Gbps |
Charging power by standard
Connector shape vs. data protocol
The key to making sense of USB is to separate two things that share the same name: the connector shape and the data protocol. The shapes are physical — Type-A (the flat rectangle on your charger), Type-B (the squarish printer plug), Type-C (the small reversible oval), and the older Mini and Micro variants. The protocols are electrical — USB 2.0, USB 3.2, USB4 — and they describe how fast data moves and how the lanes are wired. A USB-C connector can run anything from 480 Mbps to 80 Gbps; the shape only guarantees it physically fits.
This is why a cable can fit perfectly and still be "slow" or "won't charge my laptop." Two USB-C cables that look identical can differ enormously: one might be a USB 2.0 charge-only cable, another a full USB4 40 Gbps cable with 240 W Power Delivery. The connector is the same; the wires and chips inside are not. When buying, match three things — the connector on each end, the data speed you need, and the charging wattage — not just the plug shape.
The SuperSpeed (USB 3.x) connectors add extra contacts to carry the faster lanes. On Type-A that's done invisibly inside the same shell, usually marked with a blue insert. On Standard-B and Micro-B it required physically larger plugs — the tall blue Standard-B on docks and the wide two-part Micro-B on external drives. Type-C swept all of that away with one small, reversible connector that scales from slow phone charging to Thunderbolt, which is why nearly all new devices have standardized on it.
This chart is a quick visual reference; it runs entirely in your browser and nothing is uploaded. For the deeper details on Power Delivery negotiation, see the companion USB-C Power Delivery tool, and for the full write-up of the speed names, the linked knowledge-base article.
About the USB Connector Types Chart
Working on electronics and circuit design? The USB Connector Types Chart is a free browser tool that gives you the answer in seconds. Every USB connector shape — Type-A, Type-B, Type-C, Mini and Micro, plus the SuperSpeed (USB 3.x) variants — with the data speed, charging power, and devices each one is used on. Includes a plain-English guide to the confusing USB 2.0 / 3.2 / USB4 speed names.
How it works
Everything is laid out so you can find what you need fast. There are no long tables to dig through. The page also works without internet once it has loaded, so you can use it anywhere.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is USB-C the same as USB 3 or USB4?
No — and this is the most common confusion. <strong>USB-C (Type-C)</strong> is the <em>connector shape</em>. <strong>USB 3.2 / USB4</strong> are the <em>data protocols</em> that may run over it. A USB-C port can be anything from slow USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) up to USB4 (40 Gbps) — the shape tells you it fits, not how fast it is. Always check the port's labeled speed, not just its shape.
What do "SuperSpeed", "Gen 1", and "Gen 2x2" actually mean?
They're marketing and revision names for speeds. <strong>USB 2.0</strong> = 480 Mbps (High-Speed). <strong>USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen 1 / 3.2 Gen 1</strong> are all the same 5 Gbps (SuperSpeed). <strong>3.1 Gen 2 / 3.2 Gen 2</strong> = 10 Gbps. <strong>3.2 Gen 2x2</strong> = 20 Gbps (USB-C only). <strong>USB4</strong> = 20 or 40 Gbps, and USB4 Version 2.0 reaches 80 Gbps. The renaming is why the speed table below exists.
Why is the USB 3.0 Type-A plug blue?
Blue (Pacific Blue) is the convention for SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports and plugs. The shell is the same shape as a USB 2.0 Type-A, but there are five extra contacts on the tongue for the higher-speed lanes. A blue plug still fits a black USB 2.0 port — it just falls back to 480 Mbps. Teal often marks 10 Gbps, and yellow/red ports usually mean always-on charging.
What's the difference between Micro-B and Micro-B SuperSpeed?
Micro-B (USB 2.0) is the small connector on pre-2016 Android phones and power banks. <strong>Micro-B SuperSpeed</strong> (USB 3.0) is the <em>wide</em> version with a second section bolted alongside — the plug you see on USB 3.0 external hard drives. They are physically different; a standard Micro-B cable plugs into the left half of a SuperSpeed port but a SuperSpeed plug won't fit a plain Micro-B port.
How much power can each connector deliver?
Base USB 2.0 supplies 2.5 W (5 V, 0.5 A); USB 3.0 raises it to 4.5 W. Battery Charging (BC 1.2) allows 7.5 W. <strong>USB Power Delivery</strong> over USB-C goes much further — up to 100 W on older PD, and up to 240 W with PD 3.1 Extended Power Range (48 V, 5 A). That's why laptops and even some monitors now charge over USB-C.
Can USB-C carry video to a monitor or TV?
Yes — via <strong>Alt Mode</strong>. A USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode (or Thunderbolt) can output video directly to a DP or HDMI display with the right cable or adapter. Not every USB-C port supports it, though; look for a DisplayPort or Thunderbolt logo next to the port.
How do I use the USB Connector Types Chart?
Simply type your numbers and read the result, which refreshes the instant you change something. There is nothing to submit and nothing to wait for.
Do I need to install or sign up for anything?
Not at all — it runs in the browser with nothing to install and no account. After it loads once, it even works without an internet connection.
Is my information private?
Yes. Everything happens in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved anywhere.
Common Use Cases
Identify a mystery cable
Match the plug in your drawer to a shape and learn exactly what it is and what it does.
Buy the right cable
Confirm both ends (e.g. USB-C to Micro-B) and the speed/power you actually need before ordering.
Understand a spec sheet
Decode "USB 3.2 Gen 2x2" or "SuperSpeed 10Gbps" into an actual number.
Pick a charging cable
See which connectors support USB-PD fast charging versus basic 2.5 W.
Sort legacy gear
Recognize the Mini-B and Micro-B plugs on older cameras, phones, and drives.
Teach the difference
A clear visual that separates the connector shape from the data protocol.
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