Exactly 25 years ago, the world saw USB 2.0, a standard that made connecting devices fast, convenient, and universal. With its appearance, the data transfer rate reached 480 Mbps, that is, it became 40 times higher than USB 1.1 and even a little faster than Apple’s proprietary FireWire 400 connector. At the same time, the technology turned out to be cheaper to implement, which made it a long-standing favorite among motherboard manufacturers.
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However, the early years of the standard were not easy, as there was a lack of drivers and support from the OS. The situation improved only with the release of updates for Windows. Full-fledged work with USB 2.0 in Windows XP began after Service Pack 1 (August 2002), and Windows 2000 received support only in 2003. The outdated Windows 95 and 98 never acquired native compatibility with the standard, although Windows 98 SE allowed the use of third-party drivers.
The main advantage of USB 2.0 was the replacement of bulky parallel and serial ports, which provided only 20 Mbps and 256 Kbps, respectively. The new standard offered not only high speed, but also compactness, as well as the ability to “hot” connect, which made the technology an ideal choice for peripherals, from printers to flash drives.
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Manufacturers quickly appreciated the advantages of the technology due to its low licensing costs, versatility, and ease of integration. Over time, smaller versions of the USB Mini and Micro connectors appeared, opening the way for smartphones and tablets. In other words, USB 2.0 became a bridge between the era of bulky cables and modern compact electronics.
Today, the maximum USB speed has reached 80 Gbps (USB4 v2.0), but the “long-lived” USB 2.0 is still in demand. It is used in mice, keyboards, and even in the new budget iPhone 16e, proving that for many devices, reliability and low cost are more important than gigabit speeds. Experts are confident that, despite a quarter of a century of history, USB 2.0 will remain in service for many years to come.