USB-C Ports Can Drop to 480Mbps as USB4 Reaches 80Gbps
Updated
Updated · Engadget · Jul 6
USB-C Ports Can Drop to 480Mbps as USB4 Reaches 80Gbps
3 articles · Updated · Engadget · Jul 6
Summary
USB-C devices can range from USB 2.0 at 480Mbps to USB4 at 80Gbps, because the connector shape does not define the underlying data standard.
Apple’s MacBook Neo shows the gap: the $700 laptop carries two identical-looking USB-C ports, but one runs at 480Mbps and the other at 10Gbps.
That mismatch grew out of years of overlapping USB revisions, optional features and weak certification uptake, letting manufacturers market generic USB-C products with widely different capabilities.
USB-IF now allows clearer labels such as “USB 80Gbps 240W,” but many products still require buyers to dig through spec sheets or documentation.
For existing gear, users can check Windows Device Manager, test file transfers with a fast SSD, or verify video output by seeing whether Alt Mode works on an external display.