Elecom becomes the first company to officially certify USB4 2.0 cables, signaling a major step toward the mass adoption of this next-gen interface. The Japanese manufacturer confirms that the industry is gearing up for the widespread use of USB4 2.0, which will bring higher bandwidth and power capabilities to users. Thanks to these cables, users will soon be able to power devices like mid-range gaming laptops, Mini-PCs, and even energy-efficient desktop computers such as Apple Macs with a simple USB cable.
USB4 ports first appeared in Intel’s Z790 motherboards and AMD’s X870E and X870 models. However, those USB4 ports are now considered outdated. The next generation of motherboards will introduce USB4 2.0 ports, which come with significant improvements.
The USB4 2.0 port offers an impressive data transfer speed of 80Gbps. In addition to speed, it can also supply up to 240 watts of power (48V/5A), making it possible to power a variety of devices using just a single cable. Elecom has certified two types of USB4 2.0 cables: both support 80Gbps data speeds, but the cheaper version supports up to 60W of power, while the more expensive one reaches the full 240W.
Moreover, these cables will support DisplayPort passthrough, enabling users to connect to 8K displays at 60Hz. Of course, they will also be compatible with older USB versions, ensuring users can continue to use existing devices. According to USB-IF, the governing body of USB standards, both cables will be available by the end of this year or in early 2025. At that point, we should expect to see more devices and components that are compatible with USB4 2.0.
USB4 2.0 will compete directly with Intel’s Thunderbolt 5, which has also begun to appear in new products. Both USB4 2.0 and Thunderbolt 5 support 240W power delivery and are backward-compatible with older versions. However, Thunderbolt 5 has a few extra features, like a video bandwidth of up to 120Gbps, while maintaining the same 80Gbps speed for data transfer.
Thunderbolt 5 is ideal for high-end displays, supporting resolutions up to 10K or 4K monitors at 540Hz, which makes it perfect for gaming or professional use.
The price of the new USB4 2.0 cables will likely be around 35 euros for a 1-meter version, similar to the Thunderbolt 5 cables. To offer more affordable options, Elecom is launching a lower-cost version that supports 60W of power, while still delivering the full 80Gbps bandwidth for data transfers.
In conclusion, the launch of these USB4 2.0 cables marks a significant shift in connectivity standards, as they promise faster speeds and more power for a wider range of devices.
