Which USB version has the highest transfer rate?

USB 3.0 is recognized for its significant increase in data transfer rates compared to its predecessors, allowing for speeds of up to 5 Gbps (gigabits per second). This enhancement over earlier versions like USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 is a result of improved bandwidth and more efficient data handling capabilities.

USB 1.1 has a maximum transfer rate of 12 Mbps (megabits per second), while USB 2.0 offers up to 480 Mbps. Both of these versions can transfer data much slower than USB 3.0. USB 4.0, although it offers higher transfer rates, was not among the options initially suggested by the question context.

Overall, USB 3.0 stands out for its performance enhancements in transferring large amounts of data quickly, making it the correct answer for identifying the USB version with the highest transfer rate within the provided options.