A USB 3.0 connection requires five conductors, and the connectors are blue in color. Backward compatibility is typically provided by including four additional conductors, as shown in the image here.

There are a few ways to differentiate USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports and connectors. The easiest way is to check if the USB port has a splash of blue color inside, which signifies the newer USB 3.0 interface.

Black USB ports are also referred to as "Hi-Speed" connectors, as they support data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbps. Although black USB 2.0 ports are slower than the latest USB 3.x ports ...