Last year at Computex 2024, the company stated that its development focus was on making more people aware of the new USB cable logo, and therefore, it was promoting the new technical specifications.Slow down firstLater, at Computex 2025, the USB-IF Alliance explained that it has redesigned the logo to make it easier for users to distinguish the performance of different USB cables.
Most consumers can already intuitively judge the characteristics of USB cables through specifications.
Jeff Ravencraft, President and COO of the USB-IF Alliance, pointed out that the focus of specification promotion is no longer on version numbers as identification. Instead, it is more common to use direct specification labeling as a clear identification method proposed last year. For example, users are informed of cable specifications such as USB 80Gbps and USB 40Gbps, so there is no need to understand whether the specification is USB 2.0, USB 3.2, or USB4 2.0 version.
Jeff Ravencraft also pointed out that due to EU legislation and the widespread adoption of the USB-C interface by products like Apple, users can now easily charge a variety of devices using a variety of USB-C cables. Even using an inappropriate cable will only result in lower data transfer rates or, if the power supply is insufficient, a power outage, without causing any adverse effects.
Therefore, for the following naming plan, consumers only need to identify it by the marked specifications, without having to clearly know the specification details behind the names such as USB4 2.0 version.
As Thunderbolt 5 products enter the market, USB4 2.0 version design is also widely used.
Jeff Ravencraft also explained that the market is increasingly seeing companies launching products based on USB4 2.0 specifications. Furthermore, thanks to Intel's promotion, numerous Thunderbolt 5 products have already been released.
From a specification design perspective, USB4 2.0 is not only compatible with Thunderbolt 5, but the two actually have identical specifications. The only difference is that Thunderbolt 5 is certified by Intel and incorporates all the functional designs of USB4 2.0, while USB4 2.0 retains greater flexibility, allowing companies to add different specification combinations according to needs. For example, Apple incorporates Thunderbolt 4 specifications into its Mac models using the M5 processor, but it is actually a USB4 2.0 design and can achieve bandwidth performance of up to 120Gbps in asymmetric transmission mode.
Make more USB-C charger products more compliant with EU regulations
Regarding the EU's proposed universal charger OEM/ODM specification, the USB-IF Alliance subsequently announced a product testing program. This primarily incorporates EU-compliant designs into the USB Power Delivery 3.2 specification, adding the EU Quality by Standard (QbS) certification. This will make it easier for alliance members to create EU-compliant USB charging products.
In addition, regarding the EU's proposed eco-design for external power supplies (EPS), which also uses USB-C as the connection standard, Jeff Ravencraft explained that the USB-IF Alliance will also align with the EU's proposed specifications in future designs.
The maximum power delivery defined in the USB Power Delivery specification remains at 240W. Rahman Ismail, Chief Technology Officer of the USB-IF Alliance, noted that power delivery design currently focuses on defining minimum compliance, while retaining design flexibility for higher power delivery. This means accessory manufacturers can still customize specifications to offer higher charging power. However, the current 240W specification is sufficient to power most large devices, including laptops.
