USB color codes — Versions & Speed
Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports and speed by color. This article explains the USB color meaning.
Over the years, a wide variety of USB versions have evolved. Most have probably seen the colors black and blue. White and red, on the other hand, is quite rare.
With so many standards, versions and colors, the question quickly arises, which color belongs to which version and which speed.
White = USB 1.0 | 1.1
Introduction: 1996
Speed: Low Speed — 1,5 Mbit/s to Full Speed — 12 Mbit/s
The white USB and sockets will be familiar to most readers. However, it has to be said that they have also been black before. With 1.5 Mbit per second, the first models were only suitable for mouse and keyboard. This is the slowest type of USB ever made.
Black = USB 2.0
Introduction: 2000
Speed: High Speed — 480 Mbit/s
Until a few years ago, USB 2.0 was available on every computer. Even some current computers are still equipped with this port. For many peripheral devices, like mouse or keyboard, USB 2.0 is still sufficient for a long time. With 17 years under its belt, the standard is also unforgettable and known to everyone. Black USBs are 20x faster then the white USB (USB 1.0).
Blue = USB 3.0
Introduction: 2008
Speed: SuperSpeed — 5 Gbit/s
USB 3 has been on the market for over 10 years now. In the early years, however, it was more likely to be found on high-end devices. That was a really slow and bumpy start.
Even in 2021, USB sticks and disks with the much slower predecessor are still coming onto the market. This is better then black and white USB. It is 10x faster then black USB(USB 2.0) and 200x faster then white USB(USB 1.0 | 1.1).
Teal, Purple and Violet = USB 3.1
Introduction: 2013
Speed: SuperSpeed+ 10 Gbit/s
The latest USB connection standard is called USB 3.1. With 10 Gbit per second really fast. The jacks and plugs wear the colors teal and often still blue, like the 3.0 version.
The colors purple or violet are used by some manufacturers for USB 3.1 cables and jacks. But also by Huawei Supercharge.
Originally, the designations “SuperSpeed USB” or “SuperSpeed USB+” were also in use.
Red = USB 3.2
Introduction: 2017
Speed: SuperSpeed+ 20 Gbit/s
When a USB port is red, it indicates the port is USB 3.2. This version supports an even faster transfer speed up to 20 Gbit/s.
This is the fastest speed USB ports have reached at the time of me writing this article (although the upcoming USB 4.0 will support double that speed:- and up 40 Gbit/s).
Many high-end motherboards come with multiple USB 3.2 ports.
NOTE:-
“Many companies do not follow these color codes they make their own colors like green and yellow. Check the specifications on the box before purchasing.”
