The ports look the same, but one is much faster than the other.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. While most people have become accustomed to connecting to Wi-Fi using their phones or tablets, anyone who handles data-heavy tasks knows that ...

When you’re gaming, hardwiring into your internet via an Ethernet cord will likely produce the most stable connection — but if you have to game wirelessly, you do have options. The best USB Wi-Fi ...

This story has been updated. When Don Stovicek set out to buy a fast USB 3.0 flash drive, he discovered that the advertised speeds fell well below even USB 2.0’s official capabilities. The now-aging ...

USB has been around for decades, and the sheer number of USB and Thunderbolt versions in 2025 can be bewildering. Here's what you need to know about USB 3, USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, Thunderbolt 4, and ...

If you've ever looked closely at the USB ports on your laptop or desktop PC, you may have noticed that some are labeled with a small symbol. It looks like the letters SS, with a three-pronged icon ...

Editor's note: An updated version of this article has been published. For 25 years, the USB port has been a faithful old friend, connecting and powering our everyday gadgets and peripherals. All we've ...