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USB 3.0 - technical definition
Thir third generation of the USB interface introduced in 2008. Called "SuperSpeed USB 3.0," it provides a 10x increase from 480 Mbps to 4.8 Gbps and also reduces CPU overhead by no longer continuously polling attached devices.
The Plugs and Sockets Are Different
With the addition of four pins, USB 3.0 plugs and sockets are not identical to earlier USB connectors. USB 3.0 Type A plugs and sockets are completely backward compatible, and USB 3.0 Type B sockets will accept earlier plugs. However, USB 3.0 Type B plugs however will not fit into earlier sockets. See USB.
USB 3.0 Plugs
USB 3.0 Type A plugs and sockets are compatible, and a USB 3.0 Type B socket will accept earlier plugs. However, a USB 3.0 Type B plug will not fit into an earlier Type B slots. The Micro-B plugs are used for cellphones and other small devices. The pins on the right side of the Micro-B are USB 2.0, while the four pins on the left are the extra USB 3.0 pins. (Images courtesy of Intel Corporation.)
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