USB type c connector. Type C: what is interesting and why is microUSB better. Choosing the right cable for specific tasks

Is it really time for one unified connector to charge any device? More recently, such an assumption could be laughed at. But even Apple is slowly giving up, and the MacBook with its USB Type-C - the first confirmation of this.

Nirvana is still far away, first you need to finish off the periphery. Everything in order: before talking about the problems of the new port, you need to remember what kind of "beast" it is.

One ring One connector to rule them all

The idea of \u200b\u200ba USB Type-C connector is to replace all the others, whether it's charging, an HDMI port or a regular USB flash drive socket. No more “I have a cable on the other side” or “I can only connect one monitor”. Found the port, inserted the device, everything worked. Idyll.

Oh well. In practice, this "freedom" has created a lot of confusion. It is not enough to make a universal connector - it needs at least universal cable.

The fact is that the USB Type-C port has 24 pins through which breakthroughs of signals of different protocols pass. Here's what can be summed up in this universal connector.

• USB 2.0

The first devices equipped with a USB Type-C port actually worked in uSB mode 2.0 and transmitted data at a speed of 480 Mbps. Tablets and smartphones using this protocol are still found today (hello Nokia N1).

• USB 3.1 gen 1 (3.0, SuperSpeed \u200b\u200bUSB)

Flies at speeds up to 5Gbps, backward compatible with USB 1.x and USB 2.0. Most likely, the blue port on your computer works with this protocol. MacBook is no exception.

• USB 3.1 gen 2

Pumped uSB version 3.0 is also backward compatible. The data transfer rate has grown to 10 Gbps, and the power to 100 watts. Almost Thunderbolt!

• Alternate Mode (AM)

Other non-USB protocols can be mixed into the Type-C connector. For example, Thunderbolt, HDMI, MHL, or DisplayPort. But not all peripherals understand this Alternate Mode.

• Power Delivery (PD)

The most delicious thing is charging via USB Type-C. Power Delivery supports 5 standard power supply profiles - up to 5V / 2A, up to 12V / 1.5A, up to 12V / 3A, up to 12-20 / 3A and up to 12-20V / 4.75-5A. Compliance with any profile is determined automatically.

• Audio Accessory Mode

Yes, analog audio can also be sent through the USB Type-C ports.

The hardest part is finding the right wire

Ok, everything is clear with the port, it remains to buy a cable. But beginners usually face three problems:

1. The old protocol in the new connector
"New" USB Type-C cable for 150 rubles from Aliexpress? Careful, an ancient USB 2.0 might be hiding inside. It's not even about the reputation of Chinese entrepreneurs, many well-known brands are ready to sell Type-C cable with the old protocol inside at a bargain price.

2. A heap of specifications
Yes, everything is signed in the title. But how can an ordinary person figure out who doesn't care about all these new specifications? Which selects the wire according to the shape of the connector? No way. He just figured out the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 wires.

And outputting an image via USB Type-C is not an easy undertaking. In addition to Display Port and HDMI, there are three more generations of Thunderbolt that can also connect monitors. It is not enough to find a suitable cable - the device must clearly understand that it is connected to it through Alternate Mode.

3. Will it charge?
Will be, if the name contains "charge" or "PD". But there is a catch here: a cable that supports charging via USB Type-C must meet the required profile and be certified. What is fraught with? At best, slow charging, at worst - on fire.

Why you can't insert the first cable you see

Because you can ruin everything. There are three reasons:

1. Low speed data transmission
Of course, to connect to an external hard drive or smartphone, almost any wire with the necessary connectors will do. But you should make sure that it works with the required protocol (for example, with USB 3.0), otherwise the data transfer speed will drop.

2. Bad picture or lack of it
If the cable is going to connect the MacBook and the monitor, make sure the wire is transmitting the correct frequency. Remember Thunderbolt 3 doesn't work with previous generations.

3. 100 W current is no joke
PD cables are a little more complicated. The power threshold has been lifted, which means that you need to be more careful, because in the event of a cable marriage, sad consequences are possible. Not so long ago, a man's laptop and a couple of other devices burned down. Of course, this is an isolated case, and your MacBook is unlikely to burn out. But over time, the battery or power controller can be damaged.
So, if a wire is needed to charge a laptop, forget about nouns for two hundred parts.

But for smartphones with USB 2.0 adapters, everything is not so bad. You can buy any USB Type-C to USB 2.0 cable and quietly charge your phone.

What to do?

Of course, USB Type-C is the future. There are more and more devices with new connectors and soon the time will pass when you took the first wire that came across without hesitation.

You need to glue labels on USB Type-C cables. Seriously, how else to distinguish a deshman, for an external hard, from an expensive one, with which you can charge any device?

The best option is to use original wires. Well, if you really buy, then only cool USB 3.1 with Power Delivery support. These cost from 1,500 rubles and more. With connectors from Alternate Mode, the situation is simpler, but the price tag is about the same.

The new USB Type-C standard is still underdeveloped in the market, but manufacturers are gradually adopting the new technology. In smartphone construction, USB-C is already a new trend, because it is not only an improved charging connector, but also a means of abandoning the traditional 3.5mm headphone port. Today we will talk in more detail about USB Type-C, and this article will tell you what it is.

Today almost all electronic devices are equipped with a USB connector. From desktop computers to smartphones and a variety of laptop drives. USB is the ubiquitous standard when it comes to connecting peripherals or transferring data between devices. The last major USB update came in 2013 with the release of USB 3.1, accompanied by the release of a new Type-C connector. As you can see, almost 4 years have passed since then, and Type-C has not caught on.

Currently on the market you can count on one hand the number of devices using USB Type-C technology. Among computers, these are the latest laptops from Apple, from Google, a line from Samsung and several other hybrid devices. Among smartphones, there are mainly flagships of the outgoing year:, and.

So why is USB Type-C better than its predecessors? Let's find out.

What is USB Type-C

USB Type-C is a new and rapidly evolving industry standard for data transmission for computers and mobile devices. The main and most significant innovation of Type-C is the redesigned connector - universal, balanced, capable of working on either side. The USB-C connector was invented by the USB Implementers Forum, a group of companies that developed and certified the new USB standard. It also includes the largest technology companies such as Apple, Samsung, Dell, HP, Intel and Microsoft. By the way, this is important to know, because therefore USB Type-C has been easily adopted by most PC manufacturers.

USB-C is the new standard

The first thing to know is that USB Type-C is the new industry standard. Just like they used to be USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, or the most recent USB 3.1. Only the previous generations of USB were more focused on increasing data transfer speed and various other improvements, while Type-C from a physical point of view changes the design of the connector in a similar way to the modifications of the technology - MicroUSB and MiniUSB. However, the decisive difference in this case is that, unlike MicroUSB and MiniUSB, Type-C is aimed at replacing absolutely all standards, and on both sides (for example, USB-MicroUSB).

Main characteristics:

• 24 signal outputs
• USB 3.1 support
• Alternative mode for implementing third-party interfaces
• Speed \u200b\u200bup to 10 Gbps
• Power transfer up to 100 W
• Dimensions: 8.34x2.56 mm

USB Type-C and USB 3.1

One of possible questions Unaware of USB Type-C, there might be something similar: what does USB 3.1 have to do with USB Type-C? The fact is that USB 3.1 is the main data transfer protocol for Type-C. The speed of version 3.1 is 10 Gbps - in theory, this is 2 times faster than USB 3.0. Another USB 3.1 can be presented in the original connector format - this port is called USB 3.1 Type-A. But today it is much easier to find USB 3.1 with the new Type-C universal connector.

USB versions

To better understand why Type-C will replace traditional USB versions, the first step is to understand the difference between the two. There are different versions of USB, as well as even different connectors - for example, Type-A and Type-B.

The USB versions refer to a common standard, but the difference lies in the maximum data transfer rate and operating power. Of course, there are many other factors as well.

USB 1.1
Although USB 1.0 is technically the first version of USB, it has failed to fully reach the market. Instead, a new version of USB 1.1 was released - it was just this that became the first standard to which we are all accustomed. USB 1.1 can transfer data at 12 Mbps and draws a maximum of 100 mA of current.

USB 2.0
The second version of USB was introduced in April 2000. It provided the standard with a significant increase in the maximum data transfer rate - up to 480 Mbps. Also USB 2.0 has become more powerful, consuming 1.8A at 2.5V.

USB 3.0
The USB 3.0 release brought with it not only the expected improvements in data transfer speed and power, but also new types of connectors. Moreover, USB 3.0 even got its own color - the new version of the standard was marked in blue to valiantly distinguish it from older generations of USB. USB 3.0 can operate at speeds up to 5 Gbps, taking 5V to 1.8A for its operation. By the way, this version was presented in November 2008.

USB 3.1
The newest and best version of USB was released in July 2013, although it is still not widely used. USB 3.1 can provide users throughput up to 10 Gbps with a maximum power consumption of 5V / 1A, or optionally 5A / 12V (60W) or 20V (100W).

Type-A
Type-A is the classic USB interface. The short and rectangular plug became the original design for USB and remains the standard connector for use at the host end of a USB cable to this day. There are also some variations of Type-A - Mini Type-A and Micro Type-A, but these have never been widely accepted by the public due to the intricate socket. Both of these Type-A variations are now deprecated.

Type-B
If Type-A has become one side of our usual USB cable, then Type-B is the other. The original Type-B is a tall, beveled connector upper corners... Commonly found in printers, although it is itself an extension of the USB 3.0 standard to introduce new connectivity options. Classic MiniUSB and MicroUSB are also available in the Type-B version, along with the absolutely awkward MicroUSB 3.0, which uses additional plugs.

Type-C
Thus, after Type-A and Type-B, we have approached, obviously, the newest Type-C. The Type-A and Type-B versions were supposed to work together with each other through backward compatibility, but the arrival of Type-C completely ruined these plans, as USB-C implies a complete replacement of legacy USB connectivity technologies. Also Type-C has been specially designed to additional options type Mini or Micro did not need to be released at all. This, again, is due to the intention to replace all current connectors with USB Type-C.

The main feature of the Type-C standard is the versatility or symmetry of the connector. USB-C can be used on both sides just like Apple's Lightning technology - no more special connection sides that are hard to find in the dark. Also the Type-C version is based on USB 3.1, which means it supports all the benefits latest versionincluding the highest speed.

USB-C is still backward compatible with existing USB variants, but adapters will of course be needed for this use case.

Disadvantages of USB Type-C

Of course, the new USB Type-C standard also has problems. One of the main and most serious concerns of the latest version of the technology is called the physical design of the connector - it is very fragile due to the symmetrical design. Apple, despite the same versatility with its Lightning, uses a durable metal plug that is much more robust.

Even more relevant and of great concern uSB problem Type-C is an unregulated connector that has resulted in a number of dangerous commercially available accessories. Some of these accessories, through the use of unsupported voltage levels, can “fry” the connected device. For example, this was the case with the flagship that was magnificent at the start, which subsequently began to ignite at first, and then completely explode in the hands, trousers, cars and apartments of its owners.

This problem led to the obvious and only solution - a massive ban on the production and sale of non-original accessories with uSB support Type-C. Thus, if an accessory does not meet the standard specifications of the USB Implementers Forum Inc., the product will not be eligible for sale. Also, to verify the operational status and authenticity of various third-party accessories, USB-IF has introduced 128-bit encrypted software that will allow devices with this connector to automatically verify the connected USB-C device or accessory.

Minuses:

• Design.The USB Type-C design is good, but the design has suffered - it is quite fragile. Apple uses an all-metal plug in its Lightning, while the Type-C uses an oval shape with the signal pins in the center.
• Connector operation.Allowing USB Type-C to operate at unsupported voltage levels is likely to cause the cable and / or device to catch fire.
• Compatibility.USB Type-C is an innovation in the USB world, but latest generation leaves old devices in the past because it does not support working with them.
• Adapters.To fully work with USB Type-C on older devices, you will have to buy adapters. This is an additional waste of money.

Benefits of USB Type-C

Despite all of the above, USB Type-C can be confidently called a step forward for the industry. Installing this connector will allow manufacturers to make thinner computers and mobile devices with fewer ports, higher data rates and headphone jacks. In the future, if USB Type-C hits the masses, the connector will be able to replace not only the 3.5 mm headphone port, but also HDMI - the interface used for video transmission. So USB Type-C will replace the usual connectors today and become a universal standard in any situation.

Pros:

• Symmetry. USB Type-C allows you to forget about situations when you have to remember from which side to insert the cable into the connector. Also, from now on, you can not be afraid not to find the right side of the USB in the dark.
• Compactness. The dimensions of USB Type-C are 8.4x2.6 mm, which allows manufacturers to make computers and mobile devices much thinner.
• Versatility. Thanks to the integration of a single connector, it will be possible to charge both laptop and tablet or smartphone with one cable.

Good afternoon, dear readers! Each laptop has a variety of different connectors for additional headsets and peripherals.

Modern models are equipped with an additional port - usb type c, which has a universal purpose. If you do not know what it is, and for what purposes it can be used, we recommend reading our article!

Features of USB Type-C

New technologies have made it possible to create a unique uSB pinout Type-C, consisting of 24 pins with a special function:

• 8 pins carry out high-speed data exchange;
• others send a signal to a connected headset;
• a few more pins are needed to select the power mode.

The new connector has several advantages. First of all, experts note the versatility of the port, ensured by full compatibility with any standards, starting from the first generation of USB.

The double-sided connector allows connecting the cable in any position, and it is absolutely safe, with the exception of gadget breakdowns

Applying the new USB standard

USB Type-C is compact and great opportunities... It can be used to recharge the batteries of other devices and provide plug-in gadgets with power up to 100W with full preservation energy saving.

The connector of the new format is used for high-speed information transfer from a flash drive, for connecting headphones, an external monitor, mobile phones and others technical devices.

The only nuance that is important to consider in advance is the lack of the possibility of direct connection to a gadget equipped with an old generation USB port, which is due to fundamental differences in designs.

Special adapters, presented in a wide range in specialized equipment stores, will help to correct the situation.

What's the difference between USB Type-C and micro? The new connector standard has a symmetrical shape, more compact dimensions and versatility. It was created for the innovative specification of the USB standard, which will soon allow replacing all existing options for connectors and adapters for more convenient use.

Also, one cannot fail to note the undeniable advantages new version interface and an open standard that does not require licensing fees from manufacturers.

To summarize: USB Type-C is simple and convenient to connect with a large resource, high data transfer speed and universal purpose.

Yours faithfully,

At the beginning of its journey, the USB port was designed to unite all other interfaces into one, its unchanging logo even hinted at it, but time goes by and the universal port itself has grown to many poorly compatible versions, which has brought even more chaos in the relationship of certain gadgets. Finally, He appeared on the horizon. Great and terrible USB Type C. Knowledgeable people greeted him with almost applause, and ordinary users only shrugged their shoulders. You can meet with this indifference even today, they say, yes, symmetrical, yes, it's easier to connect, so what? In fact, the difference turns out to be huge and if you are still wondering which is better - Type C or microUSB, this is the place for you.

Type C is more practical

This compact port has declared itself as a new network standard and its appearance is quite consistent with such a high status. A symmetrical, 24-pin port can be found today on flagship and mid-range smartphones, laptops, docking stations, routers and a huge number of other equipment. It does not take up much space on the case and, yes, it is more convenient to connect it. And now you don't have to carry with you a certain number of blocks from different equipment.
Backward compatibility is also important. The Type-C port allows you to use any technique from the oldest to the most modern without any particular restrictions.
A couple of years ago, there was an acute issue of finding adapters and compatible flash drives, but today they are a dime a dozen on the market.

Data transfer speed - up to 10 Gb / s

In this regard, Type C is a big reserve for the future, because it offers users data transfer speeds up to 10 Gb / s. Of course, modern smartphones do not need this, but in the future it may well come in handy.
Here, by the way, we must immediately put an end to the confusion. The first Type C installed on a smartphone (by the way, it was Nokia N1) supported only the 2.0 protocol, while later devices could have both 3.0 and 3.1 with the corresponding data transfer rates. This limitation is imposed by the manufacturer with an eye to modern realities and will invariably increase.

Charging - up to 100W of power

Fast chargers are already sweeping the planet. They are being developed different manufacturers and they work according to different principles, but the essence is the same - to increase the power and thus reduce the charging time of the gadget. If you read our last text, then you noticed that in modern technologies fast charging numbers don't even come close to the indicated one. However, in the future this seemingly transcendental power will be used. You may have come across this technology on the Web under the name USB Power Delivery. It is her that many see as the future standard. fast charging.
Moreover, the Type C port can not only charge, but also charge other devices, which third-party manufacturers will obviously not fail to use in their developments.

Alternative modes

If up to this point we talked exclusively about proprietary developments, now it's time to look at the related technologies. Type C will also allow connection to monitors with DisplayPort, MHL and HDMI.
Thunderbolt 3 also cannot be ignored, which guarantees high-speed data and video transfers. Through this interface, you can daisy-chain up to 6 peripheral devices (eg monitors). True, it is difficult to imagine a situation when it is really necessary.

Sound transmission - audiophile quality

If we evaluated all of the above modes in the context of a reserve for the future, then this is something that even ordinary users are faced with today. We're talking about the massive replacement of the audio jack with a Type C. port. Split ports, in this case, have only one (but very serious) advantage: you can use headphones even when the smartphone is charging. But on all other points, the analog jack is inferior digital USB-C... In the latter case, the sound quality will be higher, noise cancellation and echo cancellation are better implemented. Equally important is the ability to transfer some of the tasks (and the corresponding equipment) to the headset, which will also help to avoid unnecessary noise and expand the headset's control capabilities. The flip side of the coin is that headphones will clearly become more expensive than modern simple "whistles" or, in other words, "whistles" will simply die out as a species.
And in the future, according to the developers, cooler things await us. For example, the ability to track body temperature during sports using headphones.

Docking stations

It is the diversity uSB port Type C made it possible to use docking stations for smartphones. Connecting to a dock makes it possible to get an almost full-fledged desktop PC from a smartphone. Not a gaming level, of course, but it will definitely pull on multimedia, the blessing of power mobile processors this is more than enough. Currently, there are two devices on the market that offer this functionality. This is the HP Elite x3, which we reviewed extensively and the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 + and Note8 models with their DeX Station. Given the speed at which Type C is spreading, I would like to hope that analogs will appear from other manufacturers.

As we can see, a miniature Type-C port is not only charging, as many people think, but also a lot of other possibilities. It is for its versatility that USB-C is appreciated. But the sea of \u200b\u200bthese indisputable pluses crosses out one fat minus. Port capabilities will always be limited by the host device, and it is impossible to externally recognize these limitations. That is, Type C always looks the same, and to find out what exactly it will “be able to” on a particular device, you will have to look for detailed specifications. Moreover, the difficulties here will be not only with the presence / absence of alternative modes, but also with the involved speeds. Moreover, the compatibility of two devices can be “killed” by using the wrong cable. This game of attentiveness turns out to be not sickly. The only thing that pleases is that the further, the more these restrictions will be leveled with the development of technology.

Recently, more and more phones and smartphones have appeared on the market, which instead of the traditional Micro USB use a new connector called USB Type-C. This type the connector appeared not so long ago and while far they understand what it is and how it works.

If you also have questions related to USB Type-C, then we suggest that you read this article. Here you will find out what USB Type-C is, how it differs from Micro USB, and what to choose. If you are also interested

What is USB Type-C in phones and smartphones

USB interface logo.

In order to understand what USB Type-C is, you need to make a small excursion into the history of this interface. Is a computer interface that appeared in the mid-1990s and has since been actively used to connect peripheral devices to a computer. With the advent of smartphones, this interface began to be used in them, a little later, USB began to be used in ordinary mobile phones with buttons.

Initially, the USB standard included only two types of connectors: Type-A and Type-B. The Type-A connector was used to connect to a device on the side of which a hub or uSB controller interface. On the contrary, the Type-A connector was used on the peripheral side. Thus, a regular USB cable included two Type-A connectors that connected to a computer or other control device, and a Type-B connector that connected to a peripheral device.

In addition, both Type-A and Type-B have smaller versions of the connectors, which are referred to as Mini and Micro. The result is a fairly large list of different connectors: regular USB Type-A, Mini Type-A, Micro Type-A, regular Type-B, Mini Type-B and Micro USB Type-Bwhich is commonly used in phones and smartphones and is better known as Micro USB.

Comparison of different connectors.

With the release of the third version of the USB standard, several additional connectors appeared that supported USB 3.0, these are: USB 3.0 Type-B, USB 3.0 Type-B Mini and USB 3.0 Type-B Micro.

This whole zoo of connectors did not meet modern realities, in which simple-to-use connectors such as those from Apple were gaining popularity. Therefore, along with the USB 3.1 standard, a new type of connector was introduced called USB Type-C (USB-C).

The advent of USB Type-C solved several problems at once. Firstly, USB Type-C was originally compact, so there is no need for Mini and Micro versions of the connector. Secondly, USB Type-C can be connected to both peripheralsand to computers. This eliminates the scheme in which Type-A was connected to a computer, and Type-B to a peripheral device.

In addition, USB Type-C supports a host of other innovations and useful functions:

• Data transfer rates from 5 to 10 Gb / s, and with the introduction of USB 3.2, this speed can grow to 20 Gb / s.
• Backward compatible with previous USB standards. Using a special adapter, a device with a USB Type-C connector can be connected to the usual USB of previous versions.
• Symmetrical connector design that allows you to plug in the cable either way (just like Apple's Lightning).
• The USB Type-C cable can be used to quickly charge mobile phones, smartphones, and compact laptops.
• Supports alternative modes of operation, in which the USB Type-C cable can be used to transfer information using other protocols (DisplayPort, MHL, Thunderbolt, HDMI, VirtualLink).

What is the difference between USB Type-C and Micro USB

USB Type-C (top) and Micro USB cables.

Users who choose mobile phone or a smartphone, often wondering how USB Type-C differs from Micro USB. Below we have collected the main differences and advantages of these connectors.

• USB Type-C is the future-proof connector. If you choose flagship smartphone, which you plan to use for several years, then you should pay attention to models with USB Type-C. This connector is actively gaining popularity and more and more devices with its support will appear in the future. Do not be afraid of problems with the connection to the computer. If your computer is not equipped with this connector, then you can always connect your phone using an adapter.
• USB Type-C is convenient. The symmetrical design makes it much easier to connect USB Type-C than the classic Micro USB. In order to put a phone with USB Type-C on charging, you just need to plug the cable into it, and you do not need to look at the connector and choose which side to connect it. In addition, due to their symmetry, USB Type-C connectors are more stable and rarely damaged.
• USB Type-C is fast. As we said, USB Type-C supports data transfer rates from 5 to 10 Gbps. If your phone supports this speed, then you can copy data much faster than using Micro USB, the speed of which is limited by the USB 2.0 standard (up to 480 Mbps).
• Micro USB (or rather Micro USB Type-B) is a time-tested connector, the main advantage of which is its prevalence. A charger and cable with such a connector can be found in any office or home. Therefore, with Micro USB, you will always find where to charge your phone or smartphone.

Which is better USB Type-C or Micro USB

We conclude the article with an answer to the question of which is better, USB Type-C or Micro USB. In short, USB Type-C is definitely better. You can buy a USB Type-C phone just for the symmetrical connector. Most users charge the phone every day, so such a trifle as a symmetrical connector that can be plugged in either side makes life much easier. On the other hand, if you often charge your smartphone outside the home, then the usual Micro USB may be preferable. This way you will have less trouble finding the right cable or adapter.

Also note the baud rate. If your phone and computer support USB 3.1, then with via USB Type-C can transfer data at speeds up to 10Gbps, while Micro USB can provide a maximum of 0.5Gbps.