What is USB?

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. It is an industry standard developed to allow computers, laptops and other electronic devices to connect to peripherals quickly and easily. USB replaced older connection standards such as serial ports and parallel ports, offering a simpler, faster and universal method of connecting devices.

Since its introduction in the mid-1990s, USB has evolved through multiple generations, each improving speed, power delivery and functionality. Today, USB ports are found on almost every PC, laptop, gaming console, smart TV and many other electronic devices.

USB Standards

Over time, USB technology has improved. The most important standards are:

• USB 1.0 / 1.1: Introduced in 1996 with speeds of 1.5 Mbit/s (Low Speed) and 12 Mbit/s (Full Speed). Suitable for simple peripherals such as keyboards and mice.
 
• USB 2.0: Released in 2000, offering speeds up to 480 Mbit/s. Still widely used today for devices like printers and external storage.
 
• USB 3.0 / 3.1 / 3.2: Starting in 2008, speeds increased to 5 Gbit/s, then 10 Gbit/s, and finally up to 20 Gbit/s. These versions also improved power delivery and backward compatibility.
 
• USB4: Introduced in 2019, supporting speeds up to 40 Gbit/s. It unifies connectivity by being fully compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices, making it ideal for high-performance uses like external graphics cards, high-resolution monitors and ultra-fast storage.

Examples of USB Devices

USB is universal because it supports a wide range of devices, such as: 

• Keyboards and mice
 
• Printers and scanners
 
• External hard drives and SSDs
 
• Flash drives and memory card readers
 
• Smartphones and tablets for charging and data transfer
 
• Webcams and microphones
 
• Gaming controllers and joysticks
 
• External monitors and docking stations (via USB-C / USB4)

Buy USB Devices in South Africa

USB devices are widely available across South Africa. Whether you need a basic flash drive, a USB hub, or a high-performance USB4 docking station, local online retailers and resellers stock a wide selection to meet your needs. South African buyers can shop with confidence knowing that USB technology is universal, compatible and future-proof.

• USB
• USB hubs (177 products)