In previous article, I mentioned How To Delete Microsoft Account From Windows 11 but in this article, I have mentioned USB Ports Color Guide, what does USB red color means or USB blank color etc.
If you have ever noticed that USB ports have different colors, you should know it represents something unique. The difference in colors may mean that USB ports are not the same, and they have different functions. In this article, we shall discuss the various colors for USB ports and what the colors mean.
But before we begin, it is essential to note that there are some exceptions to differences in USB port colors as some devices like USB hubs have decorative colors on USB ports.
Here are the different USB port colors and what they represent:
White USB Port
The white USB port was released in 1996 and is the oldest USB port type; it is also known as USB 1.X and was dedicated to low-speed devices like keyboards and mice.
Data transferred using this type of USB port is in one direction, and its transfer speed starts at 1.5 Mbps. This transfer speed can get to 12Mbps in full bandwidth.
However, the bandwidth is too low for the demands of modern devices. For this reason, this type of USB port is only common in old computers.
Black USB Port
The black USB port was released in 2000 and is also known as USB 2.0. It is faster than the white USB port and has a transfer speed of up to 480Mbps. Despite being an upgrade to the white USB port, it only transfers data in one direction.
This type of USB port offers all the features of its predecessor, the white USB port, but it is more reliable. It is for devices like keyboards, mice, flash drives, speakers, microphones, digital cameras, CD-RWs, external HDDs, and DVDs.
Blue USB Port
The blue USB port was released in 2008 and is also known as USB 3.0 or SuperSpeed (SS) USB. It is ten times faster than the blue USB port, with data speeds up to 5Gbps. Unlike previous USB port types, it transfers data in both directions, but the transfers can not happen simultaneously.
Some devices only support USB 1.X or USB 2.0, but they can work with USB 3.0 because it is backward-compatible. However, the data transfer speed may not be as fast as you would expect from USB 3.0. It is because its data transfer speed depends on the device's capabilities.
The blue USB ports support USB-A connectors, which is the connector most people associate with USB connectors.
Teal USB Port
The teal USB port was released in 2013 and is also known as the USB 3.1 Gen 1 or SuperSpeed+ (SS+) USB. With transfer speeds of up to 10Gbps, it is twice as fast as USB 3.0. The color may be confused with the blue color of USB 3.0, but it is slightly more green toned. Some manufacturers also use purple or violet as the color for USB 3.1.
It is an upgrade to USB 3.1 as it supports duplex communication that lets data transferable in both directions simultaneously. It is also backward-compatible, meaning devices that only support USB 3.0, 2.0, or 1.X can use it.
Red USB Port
The red USB port was released in 2017 and is also known as USB 3.2. It is twice as fast as USB 3.0, reaching speeds of up to 20Gbps. This USB color type common in high-end motherboards.
This USB port type is sometimes colored orange and is in high demand as the need for more transfer speed increases.
A peculiar feature that makes it an upgrade to the USB color types before it is that it provides power even when your computer is off, in sleep mode, or hibernating. For this reason, it is called Sleep and Charge Port or Always On port.
Yellow USB Port
The yellow USB port is no different from the red one, but it is common in laptops. However, the two are not interchangeable because you should not use a computer's USB port for a laptop and vice versa.
Like the red USB port, it is also called the Sleep and Charge Port or Always On port. With this port, your laptop continues to provide power when the lid is closed, in sleep mode, hibernating, or turned off. This USB port type can charge other devices like your smartphone at fast speeds.
How To Know USB Port Type When All Colors Are The Same
Sometimes, the color of your USB ports may not be the way to determine the type of ports they are. It is because some manufacturers do not use these colors for their USB ports. Through some indications, you can easily differentiate different types of USB ports.
One of those indications is the shape of the port. For example, USB 2.0 ports are usually rectangular, while USB 3.0 ports are often square-shaped or have wider openings. Also, some USB ports have an "SS" indication, which means SuperSpeed. It is another name for the blue USB port, which can also be called USB 3.0.
If you want to be sure of the type of USB ports on your device, you can check its user guide.
Conclusion
Now that you know about USB port colors and what they mean, you can now know which USB port to use for different purposes and what to expect from the ports.
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