Is USB 3.1 backward compatible?

With the new USB standard 3.1, the transmission speed increases to 10 GBit / s. In this article, we will show you whether the new version is backwards compatible and what happens to your USB 3.0 devices.

USB 3.1 with Type-C connector

Connections that use the USB 3.1 standard come with the new type C connector. This connector is twist-proof and therefore does not differentiate which side it is plugged into the connector. There is no longer an up and down like the predecessors.

• The conventional USB standards 3.0 and earlier use the type A connector. With an adapter, you can continue to use your USB A cables if you already have a type C connection on your device.
• However, USB 3.1 is not the same as the new connector type. For example, the Nokia N1 already has a Type-C port, but still uses USB 2.0 with the slower transmission speed.