How can you tell a USB cable version?
Here is a question a student asked me in one of my A+ certification classes: How can you tell a USB cable version? I honestly don't know the answer and I can't find one either.
USB cables are rated for versions 1, 1.1, 2, and now 3. I have seen their versions on the packaging, but never marked on the cable itself. Since the respective versions are manufactured differently, there is a difference between them.
So, how can you tell?
On Wikipedia: USB cables v.2 and earlier do use a "twisted pair" method, but it doesn't specify if the cables themselves are the same or different. Is the cable rating system for v.2 and earlier just marketing hype?
The USB-IF says all fully compliant USB 1.1 cables sold also meet the specifications for USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (although low quality, non-compliant cables may not work at the higher speed).
USB 3.0 cables include nine pins (instead of just four for USB 2.0) and have a larger "B" (device) end that will not fit into USB 2.0 printers, scanners, etc. These cables seem to often have a blue color and/or an "SS" (SuperSpeed) marking next to the USB logo.
I don't think there's any difference between USB 1, 1.1 and 2 but version 3 has extra pins near the back as shown here. I'm not sure how obvious it would be just from looking at the cable since they're hidden at the back of the plug.
This USB color table from Wikipedia shows how, in theory, you can use the color of the plastic inside the connector to tell different versions apart. (Realistically I've seen a lot of diversions from this, but frequently it is correct)
| Color | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Black or white | Ports and plugs | Type-A or type-B |
| Blue (Pantone 300C) | Ports and plugs | Type-A or type-B, SuperSpeed |
| Teal blue | Ports and plugs | Type-A or type-B, SuperSpeed+ |
| Green | Ports and plugs | Type-A or type-B, Qualcomm Quick Charge (QC) |
| Purple | Plugs only | Type-A or USB-C, Huawei SuperCharge |
| Yellow or red | Ports only | High-current or sleep-and-charge |
| Orange | Ports only | High-retention connector, mostly used on industrial hardware |
This may help!
Good video showing how you can identify REAL USB 3.0 cables... (vs fake ones, usually USB 2.0 ones)
In short: USB 3.0:
- - blue (some "fake USB 3" may also have a blue bit but be USB 2 after all)
- - may have "SS" indication on cable (near connector) but most specifically
- - USB 3.0 has 9 (4+5) connectors, while USB2 has just 4.
See video for detailed explanation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyJkF8DXBlk
Also, if you connect a cable to a new computer/laptop and this complains your device could work faster, you know you have a fake USB 3 cable.