Final answer:
The main differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 are transfer speed, where USB 3.0 is substantially faster, physical differences in cables and ports, and improved power efficiency in USB 3.0. USB 2.0 supports up to 480 Mbps, while USB 3.0 supports up to 5 Gbps.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0
The differences between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 are primarily in terms of transfer speed, data rate, and physical appearance. USB 2.0, also known as Hi-Speed USB, was released in April 2000 and has a maximum data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). In contrast, USB 3.0, also known as SuperSpeed USB, was introduced in November 2008 and significantly increased the maximum data transfer rate to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps), which is more than ten times faster than USB 2.0.
Additionally, USB 3.0 cables and ports are usually blue to help distinguish them from the previous version and they often include additional pins to support the increased bandwidth. It's worth noting that USB 3.0 is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices; however, you won't be able to achieve USB 3.0 speeds unless both the port and the connected device support USB 3.0. Furthermore, USB 3.0 provides improved power efficiency, with reduced power consumption in low-power states and increased power output to better support attached devices.