This is a standard RTL2832U chip soldered onto a blue USB 3.0 connector. The chip is still USB 2.0 internally. The manufacturer has simply used a USB 3.0 physical plug for durability or marketing. Plugging this into a USB 3.0 port does nothing. The device negotiates at USB 2.0 speeds.
Imagine decoding ADS-B (planes), POCSAG (pagers), and APRS (packet radio) all from one recording. A USB 3.0 SDR lets you run multiple virtual receivers (via software like SDR# or GNU Radio) across a wide span simultaneously. rtl-sdr usb 3.0
Some users report fewer dropped samples at high sample rates (3.2 MS/s) when using USB 3.0 (xHCI) controllers compared to older USB 2.0 (EHCI) controllers, likely due to more efficient data handling at the PC level. Known Challenges & Troubleshooting This is a standard RTL2832U chip soldered onto a blue USB 3