Systems and methods for using distributed Universal Serial Bus (USB) host drivers are disclosed. In one aspect, USB packet processing that was historically done on an application processor is moved to a distributed USB driver running in parallel on a low-power processor such as a digital signal processor (DSP). While a DSP is particularly contemplated, other processors may also be used. Further, a communication path is provided from the low-power processor to USB hardware that bypasses the application processor. Bypassing the application processor in this fashion allows the application processor to remain in a sleep mode for longer periods of time instead of processing digital data received from the low-power processor or the USB hardware. Further, by bypassing the application processor, latency is reduced, which improves the user experience.