motion towards an exciting future just got a boost! USB4, which currently offers 40Gbps speeds, is set to double that with the introduction of USB4 2.0 cables. Officially certified by Elecom, these cables are ready to hit the market in mid-December, initially available only in Japan.

What's unique about these cables? They not only offer faster data transfer speeds of up to 80Gbps but also significant power delivery options. There will be two variants: one with a 60W power delivery and another with an impressive 240W power delivery. This means these USB cables can charge powerful devices quickly, like laptops requiring higher wattage.

Moreover, these cables support DisplayPort, allowing for high-quality video output. Users can expect 8K resolution at 60Hz, making these cables an all-in-one solution for both charging and visual displays.

However, while Elecom's cables will be ready for use, the hardware markets may take longer to adopt native USB4 2.0 ports. This new level of speed is not yet supported by current motherboards or devices. The technology was announced back in 2022 but hasn't been available in products as of yet.

Microsoft is already preparing Windows 11 for USB4 2.0 compatibility in its Insider preview builds, indicating support will be available soon. Nevertheless, to fully benefit from these speeds, hardware manufacturers need to integrate support for PCI-Express 5.0 x4. This means newer hardware will be required.

Looking forward, USB4 2.0 is theoretically capable of reaching speeds up to 120Gbps in one direction, but this requires an asymmetric setup. In this configuration, the other direction maintains a speed of 40Gbps.

Fortunately, the new specifications are backward compatible with earlier USB versions, including USB4 1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0, and even Thunderbolt 3. This ensures smoother transitions for different devices and setups.

Fast Cables Coming Soon: 80Gbps USB4 2. 0 Speeds Revealed

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