USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, how can you tell the difference?

I know the speeds would obviously be a key factor, but is there any spot on way to tell if a device is USB 2.0 or 3.0 such as a USB flash drive?

user88311

Posted 2013-01-03T22:22:39.797

Reputation: 1 646

USB stick itself or port? Stick: http://askubuntu.com/questions/604158/how-do-i-tell-if-a-usb-thumb-drive-is-usb-3-0

– Ciro Santilli 新疆改造中心法轮功六四事件 – 2015-09-11T07:06:54.820

It would be handy if you specified whether you are trying to work this out via software or by looking at the hardware. If the former then could you also specify what OS you are using? – KNejad – 2018-02-16T16:08:41.603

This sight actually shows the plugs "such as a flash drive" like you are asking rather than the female side that everyone is posting: http://www.moddiy.com/pages/%28Reference%29-USB-2.0-%7B47%7D-3.0-Connectors-%26-Pinouts.html

– user142485 – 2013-01-03T23:07:49.930

Answers

On the hardware side, I have been noticing that the plastic in the plug is generally blue for USB 3.0 and white for USB 2.0.

I also believe there is a special USB “symbol” that denotes a USB 3.x connector.

mdpc

Posted 2013-01-03T22:22:39.797

Reputation: 4 176

It seems the question is about the pen-drive, not about the port... – Rodrigo – 2017-05-18T20:40:14.007

In my experience, USB 2.0 tends to be black, but white can also be seen. – Palec – 2017-06-16T14:59:30.490

Whilst this answer is mostly correct it is not a guarantee. Manufacturers often change the colour. I think @Hennes answer is a better way of checking since it is always correct. – KNejad – 2018-02-16T16:11:57.417

Can you provide any pictures to make it clearer, as I just bought a USB 3.0 flash drive at the source, and judging by it's write speeds, I've been jipped, that's aside from the fact it's branded nexxtech but in my computer displays as danelec. – user88311 – 2013-01-03T22:30:35.570

1An USB3 device does not have to be fast. I got plenty of flash drives which top at 5MB/second, and are equally fast if equipped with USB2 or an USB3 interface. Putting USB3 on them makes as much sense as selling SATA-3 mechanical harddrives. (As in, barely any technical sense, but they do sell a lot better). – Hennes – 2013-01-03T22:39:36.587

USB3 has more pins than USB2.

USB1 and USB2 have four pins, two for power, one pair for data. USB3 has those four in the standard place, and two extra pairs for 'superspeed' communication.

Wikipedia has two pictures of this, though I must admit is is not clear when you look at them. It should be much easier when looking at a physical device. (Note that both USB3 ports are blue in the pictures below, which matches @mdpc answer.)

enter image description here

Added the picture from Scott's link here: enter image description here

Hennes

Posted 2013-01-03T22:22:39.797

Reputation: 60 739

Here is a better image http://pinoutsguide.com/connectors/usb_3_plug.gif, also as I was researching the answer to a similar USB3 question I discovered that, while recommended, they are not required to be blue.

– Scott Chamberlain – 2013-01-03T22:42:43.767

On macOS, System Information indicates the USB speed, per this answer on askdifferent

For reference, USB speeds/specs are as follows:

USB 1.x - 12Mb/sec
USB 2.0 - 480Mb/sec
USB 3.0 - 5Gb/s
USB 3.1 - 10Gb/s

On Linux, lsusb per this answer on askubuntu:

which USB ?

...and I haven't confirmed it, but apparently this is the lsusb equivalent with Powershell:
gwmi Win32_USBControllerDevice

Mr. Kennedy

Posted 2013-01-03T22:22:39.797

Reputation: 635

I find looking at the color of the port is an ok rule of thumb, but I have had it be wrong more then once, so it doesn't really give you the answer. I have usb sticks with blue connectors that are usb 2, and I have pc ports that are USB 3.0 that are black, so its kind of a crap shoot

I have noticed, most usb 3.0 devices that I have, actually say USB 3.0 right on the male port, etched into the metal.

If you want to know definitively, you can use the USB Device Tree Viewer (http://www.uwe-sieber.de/usbtreeview_e.html#download) to view in depth information about the device, including the USB specification.

I realize this is a kind of old post, but it was still on the first page of google search results when trying to find how to identify usb 2 vs 3. Hopefully this info is helpful to someone else.

Patrick

Posted 2013-01-03T22:22:39.797

Reputation: 209