USB 3.0 Benefits

[997.2]

What are the daily usage benefits of a USB 3.0 slot like in the new MBP?
Will my 5s charge and sync faster? How much faster is data transfer? Thanks.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

The iPhone 5s will not charge faster due to still being USB 2.0, as will data not transfer any faster.
USB 2.0 offers a maximum data rate of 37 to 40 MB/s, USB 3.0 offers ten times more, which can benefit with modern 3 TB HDDs, which offer 150 to 170 MB/s transfer speeds and even SSDs if you want.

 

[AndyK]

USB 2.0 has transfer rates of unto 480mb/second. USB 3.0 has transfer rates of unto 4.8gb/second.

These are theoretical speeds that equate to it being 10x faster. If you use a USB 3.0 capable device in a 2.0 port then in a 3.0 port, you will notice a significant speed increase.

Your phone is 2.0 though, so you won't reap any benefit from plugging it into a 3.0 port. In terms of daily usage, large volumes of data to external drives are going to shift a lot faster if the device is USB 3.0 plugged into a USB 3.0 port.

 

[Watabou]

USB 2.0 has transfer rates of unto 480mb/second. USB 3.0 has transfer rates of unto 4.8gb/second.

Be aware that the "mb/second" is actually 480Mb/second (megabits, not megabytes), so it's throughput is around 60MB/s.

USB 3.0 has a throughput of 4Gb/s (500 MB/s)

 

[AndyK]

Be aware that the "mb/second" is actually 480Mb/second (megabits, not megabytes), so it's throughput is around 60MB/s.

Hence the lower case.

 

[maflynn]

Sustained data rate is the only benefit for USB 3. They didn't change the power out specifications which would alter how it charges the iPhone.