Microsoft Starts Testing Next-Gen USB4 2.0 Standard For Windows 11, Up To 80 Gbps

USB4 2.0 enablement has officially started, as Microsoft tests the 80 Gbps standard in its latest Windows 11 Insider Preview build.

USB4 2.0 is the trendsetter for next-gen data transfer technologies, as the standard was revealed back in September 2022, however, we haven't seen its "widespread" implementation up till now. Diving into the specifications, the USB4 2.0 features up to 80 Gbps transfer speeds, doubling the transfer rates of USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4. Another interesting fact is that the standard has full-on compatibility with existing USB4 capable (40 Gbps passive) while also supporting the newer 80Gbps Type-C active cables, which makes it a great addition to the industry.

In terms of what the industry offers, USB4 2.0 hasn't seen much adoption in devices, but interestingly, Microsoft's blog post mentions the existence of the standard in specific devices such as the Razer Blade 18, which features Intel's 14th Gen HX series.

We are excited to announce support for the latest generation USB standard, USB 80Gbps, in this build of Windows. USB 80Gbps support will initially launch on select devices based on the Intel Core 14th Gen HX-series mobile processors, such as the new Razer Blade 18.

This is the first major version update of the USB4 standard and increases performance to 80Gbps from 40Gbps. It enables the next generation of high-performance displays, storage, and connectivity. It is fully backwards compatible with peripherals built for older generations of USB and Thunderbolt™ and works alongside all other USB Type-C features.

USB4 2.0 is still at its naive stage, however, we expect it to see further compatibility in the upcoming devices, especially after it receives complete support in Windows 11. By the looks of it, the standard is expected to open new doorways when it comes to transfer speeds and backward compatibility, catering to a wider range of consumers.

Apart from the inclusion of USB4 2.0, the new Windows 11 Insider Preview build will launch Microsoft's latest AI assistant Copilot automatically, unless you decide to disable the feature. While this may bother some consumers, it is seen as a helpful feature since not only will an "imaginary" AI assistant greet you once you turn your PC on, but it can also aid you with multiple tasks necessary to be performed on startup. It is important to note that Copilot will start only if you have a wider screen, with a "minimum diagonal screen size of 27” and pixel width of 1920 pixels."

If you are a beta tester, you can access the latest Windows 11 Insider build through the ISO files shared by Microsoft on their website.

News Source: Windows Blog