Microsoft is now testing support for the USB4 Version 2.0 specification in Windows 11, enabling transfer speeds of up to 80 Gbps over USB Type-C cables.

Also known as USB 80Gbps or USB4 Gen4 and announced in September 2022, this latest USB standard adds the transfer bandwidth required by higher-performance displays, USB-based hubs and docks, and storage devices.

"USB 80Gbps support will initially launch on select devices based on the Intel Core 14th Gen HX-series mobile processors, such as the new Razer Blade 18," the Windows Insider Program Team said today.

"It is fully backwards compatible with peripherals built for older generations of USB and Thunderbolt and works alongside all other USB Type-C features."

USB 80Gbps is now being tested in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23615, which was released today in the Dev Channel.