String in macOS Sierra beta code points to possible USB 3.1 Gen 2, Thunderbolt 3 support in future Mac hardware

It’s the beta code that sometimes points out nifty Mac hardware to come.

Next-gen Macs may support USB 3.1 Gen 2, enabling peripheral speeds up to a maximum 10 gigabits per second according to code strings found in the latest macOS Sierra beta build.

A string in the Sierra beta mentions SuperSpeed+, a term reserved for Gen 2 ports. In fact it also specifically cites the 10-gigabit speed cap, twice as fast as Gen 1.

It’s thought that Apple could include USB 3.1 Gen 2 on future iMacs and MacBook Pro notebooks, which are expected to be announced sometime this fall. Support seems likely for Thunderbolt 3, which is cross-compatible with USB 3.1 Gen 2 and offers native speeds up to 40 gigabits per second, and DisplayPort 1.2 connectivity.

While there isn’t an appreciable difference between Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen 2, the technology could help support devices, such as driving 4K monitors as well as speed up backups and file transfers on external hard drives.

As always, stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via AppleInsider and 9to5Mac