What are the correct names for phone cords? USB: types of connectors and cables for a smartphone

How much do you know your smartphone? Do you think one hundred percent? What can you say about its connectors? That's right, nothing! This is not surprising. Most users of mobile devices do not know what this or that connector is for. As they say: “There is a hole for some kind of cable, so that’s how it should be,” - and, to find out, maybe this connector opens up some unique opportunities for the user, almost no one is trying to use them! So let's look at this issue in more detail. I'm sure you'll be pleasantly surprised!

MicroUSB connector

In terms of popularity among connectors, MicroUSB ranks first. This is a descendant of the old USB connectors often used in the computer industry. The first mobile devices received this type of connector in 2007. When used, they were well recommended. After which, smartphones began to be massively equipped with USB connectors.

Types of mobile USB connectors:

The first USB connectors for mobile devices looked completely different, that is, not as compact and convenient as in our time. But over time, the developers made improvements to its design, gradually reducing its size. Therefore, USB had to be divided into types: Type A, Type B, and “Type C” has already been released. All these connectors are visually very different from one to another! Although the last two types are very similar.

You don’t see the “Type C” type as often as the “Type B”, but if you suddenly come across it, you may simply not notice it, mistaking it for its predecessor. This type is still new, and only a few can boast of it, or rather, expensive, branded mobile devices.

Plus MicroUSB connector

The advantages of this connector are obvious. But it’s worth giving him his due and listing them:

1. Compactness.
2. Ease of use.
3. Versatility. Used for both charging and (receiving, transmitting data).

The main use of the connector - we repeat, is used for charging a smartphone, as well as for receiving and transmitting data between a computer and a smartphone. It is worth noting that mobile devices equipped with this type of connector are software serviced through this connector. That is, to flash the phone's firmware, you only need a USB cable with a MicroUSB plug.

Mini jack connector

Absolutely every modern phone is equipped with a mini-jack connector. As you guessed, this is the same connector through which the headphones are connected. Its size, 3.5 mm, although not large, is quite noticeable. Which does not always fit into the design of the device itself. Some manufacturers solved this problem by covering the connector with a plastic plug. But most manufacturers leave it that way.

As for the advantages, in my opinion there are not many of them. The fact is that this connector is narrow in use, that is, for connecting headphones or any other audio headset, which would be more expedient to implement via MicroUSB.

A connector called Lightning is a proprietary connector. Its owners are exclusively Apple products. It came into use for the first time, along with the fifth iPhone. Namely, in 2012. Nowadays, Apple equips almost all of its devices with a Lightning connector. So, if you notice it not only on iPhones, but also on iPads and iPods, don’t be surprised.

As for the characteristics. It is no different from MicroUSB. This is an exact analogue, having its own design and a specific manufacturer.

OTG standard

And in the very last place, I decided to put OTG. After reading the subtitle, many probably have a question. Why a standard, not a cord, not a connector, but a standard? The fact is that people who call OTG a cord or connector are deeply mistaken! OTG is in no way associated with these terms. OTG is a part of the software of a mobile device, thanks to which a smartphone or tablet is able to recognize devices connected to it. Such as: USB memory cards, keyboards, bears, etc. Cables with a USB input were released especially for this part of the software.

A very interesting fact is that the cord for connecting various devices via the OTG standard does not have any additional conductors or special soldering. It is a simple MicroUSB plug, nine conductors, and a standard USB connector.

Time does not stand still! Every day technology moves further and further. What was just a fantasy for a couple of years is now more than real. Mobile devices are the most obvious example of the rapid development of technology. Smartphones are becoming smarter, thinner and more convenient. Accordingly, they try to make the connectors for them in such a way that they do not spoil the design and structure. And this means one thing - in the near future everything will be reduced to a minimum. And most of all, to one MicroUSB connector - (for budget devices) and to (Lightning) - for Apple brands.

In contact with

We present a selection that will interest almost every smartphone owner - 5 reliable USB cables for fast charging devices.

Choose the appropriate cable model for your phone and order it on AliExpress with free delivery throughout Russia.

The products presented in the selection are only from trusted sellers with excellent service.

Happy shopping!

Looking for a charger for your iPhone? The MCDODO Lightning USB cable will definitely come in handy If, of course, you have an iPhone 5, 6, 7, 7 Plus and 8. This is a smart accessory with auto-shutdown and fast charging functions.

The cable length is 120 cm and 180 cm. The seller offers it in 4 unusual colors, for example Tiffany color.

By the way, the MCDODO cable is also compatible with iPad Air, air2, air 3, Air 4 and Mini 2. It is designed for 15,000 charging times.

Another useful feature is the LED indicator. Thanks to the improved quality of the materials from which the charger is made, the life of the product increases. Reviews about the product are good.

In general, every iPhone owner needs such a cool MCDODO cable with auto-shutdown.

Customer reviews:

• The cable is great! Stiff and doesn't bend much. Delivery 15 days to Moscow region. I’ll add more later, depending on how long it lasts.
• The track is tracked, delivery is about a month, the cord is of high quality, only a little hard (according to the comments they say that it will become softer over time), it copes with its functions, about half an hour after a full charge it turns off the power supply (that’s why I bought it) . I'm satisfied 5+

Seller reliability: excellent!

Delivery within Russia: free!

Need a charger for Samsung, HTC, Xiaomi, Sony? The VEnTIOn micro USB cable will come in handy If, of course, you have Samsung, HTC, Xiaomi, Sony.

This is a smart accessory with auto shut-off and fast charging functions.

Cable length - 1, 1.5, 2, 3 m or 50 cm. The seller offers it in 3 colorful colors.

By the way, the Micro USB 2.0 cable is compatible with Android.

The cable is made of quite high quality. Reviews about the product are good. It will last a long time, and it charges your smartphone quickly.

In general, every owner of Samsung, HTC, Xiaomi, Sony needs a Micro USB VEnTIOn cable.

Order it for yourself on Aliexpress with free delivery throughout Russia.

Customer reviews:

• Everything arrived perfectly, as in the description. Charges great. I conducted an experiment: my meter-long 1-amp wire charged 10% in 16 minutes, and this 1.5 (!) meter wire charged 16% in 16 minutes. The quality is also great. The connector can be reached through the millimeter case normally.
• I constantly order from this seller, another order and everything is great.

Seller reliability: excellent!

Delivery within Russia: free!

Micro USB Type-C cable from Pzoz is a new product among fast charging devices for smartphones; it is magnetic. Magnetic data cable. Compatible with iPhone 7 and 6S, HTC, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, LG.

A smart gadget with auto shut-off and fast charging functions.

The cable length is 1, 2 m and 3 m. The seller offers it in 6 unusual colors.

Another useful feature is an LED indicator indicating the charging time of the smartphone. Thanks to the improved quality of the materials from which the charger is made, the life of the product increases. Reviews about the product are good.

By the way, the magnetic plug for the cable holds the weight of the phone quite firmly if you hold it by the wire.

In general, every iPhone owner needs such a cool MicroUSB Type-C cable with auto-disconnection.

Order it for yourself on Aliexpress with free delivery throughout Russia.

Customer reviews:

• Great cable! Flexible, soft. The magnet is strong and can withstand the weight of the phone without jerking. A very convenient thing, I recommend it! Delivery 35 days, fully tracked.
• The usb input and output were smaller than I expected! The quality is normal, the compactness was a pleasant surprise! Akum 4100 charges without loss of time! Good quality for the price!! Time will tell the rest!

Buy on AliExpress.

The technological process does not stand still, and modern phone manufacturers are releasing more and more sophisticated models with many new features. Active improvement of software and hardware functionality leads to the fact that the battery life of the device is reduced. Large RAM, powerful processes, multi-inch touch screens and powerful cameras all contribute to the fact that batteries are discharged quite quickly. This is why it is important to have a reliable memory. It’s great if the original charger has been preserved, but what if it’s lost or broken? Then buying a new one raises the question not only of preserving the functionality of the phone, but also of your own comfort.

Everyone has experienced their smartphone running out of power at the most inopportune moment. This is especially scary when there is sorely not enough time to recharge. At such moments, the first charger that comes to hand is grabbed, connected and the countdown begins. Sometimes the process happens quickly, and often it takes a treacherously long time. The result is sad - after some time there is no connection again. Today we’ll figure out how memory devices differ and how to make the right choice.

Charger type

Before purchasing, many people ask themselves which memory is better to choose: original, analog or universal? Many people buy the original, which means they do not worry about the compatibility of the device with gadgets, the speed and features of charging, as well as various risks (cheap chargers that are sold in tents in markets may well lead to strong heating of the battery). But it is not always possible to buy an original device, then a high-quality analogue will be the best option. It contains a list of compatible device models, as well as technical characteristics that are identical to those of the original.

Power connector

The memory can have different connectors:
USB. Such devices are universal and suitable for most modern gadgets that support the USB standard.
USB x2. This is the best option when there are problems with access to a power outlet. Using this charger you can charge your tablet and smartphone at the same time. The only drawback is the low battery charging speed.
Micro USB and Mini USB. They are suitable for most smartphones, including Windows Phone, Android, and Android tablets. Micro USB has been introduced in the EU as a single standard since 2011.
Lightning 8-pin MFI. It is suitable for charging fifth-generation devices from Apple: iPod Touch and iPhone 5.
Lightning 8-pin. It is compatible with most Apple iPad, iPhone and iPod models.
DC jack 3.5mm. It is suitable for charging Nokia 1100, 3300, 5100, 6310, 6670, 6822, 7200, 7210, 7250, 7710, 8800, 9210, 9300, 9500, E60 and E70 mobile devices.
USB/Lightning These chargers are suitable for Apple iPhone 5 and 6.
Fast Port. It is compatible with Sony Ericsson K750 and W800 phones.
18-pin. This connector is designed for charging LG phones.
jack 3.5 mm, DC jack 2.5 mm and DC jack 2.0 mm. It is suitable for charging various mobile equipment: phones, headsets, tablets, players. Using adapters you can also connect Apple equipment.
M20pin. This connector is suitable for charging Samsung C170, D800, E250, E900 and U600.
30 pin. It is suitable for powering Samsung branded equipment.

Output current

Chargers with maximum output current are suitable for servicing any gadgets. In this case, the current consumption rarely exceeds 2100 mA. Such chargers are the most universal solution. In order not to make a mistake with your purchase, pay attention to the parameters of the original memory for the device. To do this, just look at its body and the numbers next to “output” or “output”. If there is no original memory, then perhaps this data is mentioned in the instructions for the tablet or smartphone.

The maximum charge current is determined by the controller of the device being charged, so do not be afraid to connect a charger with a higher current than the gadget requires. He will simply take as much as he needs - nothing will burn or break.

But on the contrary, if the charger produces fewer amperes than the gadget being charged requires, then charging will proceed much slower.

If you don’t know and there is no way to find out how much current your gadget consumes, then when choosing universal chargers, buy a charger with the highest possible output current.

There is a little trick - in order to speed up charging your smartphone, it is recommended to switch it to “airplane mode”/“airplane mode”/offline mode. At the same time, all unnecessary modules and applications are disabled, and the phone will charge about 15% faster.

Number of standard USB connectors

A number of chargers have either 2 standard USB connectors. Devices of the second type are quite convenient - you can connect several gadgets to one outlet for charging at once. Such devices are great for trips and travel. This will reduce the number of items in your luggage, and you won't have to search for multiple power outlets at the hotel.

Cable included

Depending on the charger model, the cable may be:
removable;
non-removable;
absent.
The weakest link in the charger is the cable. If it is non-removable, then if it breaks, it is almost impossible to restore the functionality of the device. If it is removable, then the adapter itself, which is plugged into the network, can be used further by simply purchasing an additional wire.

When choosing a charger, it is better to give preference to proven brands. For questionable devices, the cable can reduce charging efficiency by up to 75%. And this is not only a loss of electricity, but also of your time. In addition, such cables can break or come off the connector, which ultimately remains in the device. This leads to a short circuit and failure of the device.

Fast charging

Some charger models have fast charging. She may be:
Quick Charge 2.0;
Quick Charge 3.0;
Pump Express+ 2.0.
According to the developers of Quick Charge technology, battery charging can be accelerated by up to 75%. In the first few minutes, smartphones that are compatible with Quick Charge are charged for several hours of use. This is really convenient in the modern rhythm of life - you run into a cafe, plug in your gadget, drink a cup of coffee and leave with a phone with a decent battery charge.

The key difference between Quick Charge 3.0 technology and 2.0 is the presence of the INOV function or intelligent determination of the optimal voltage. Depending on the progress of the battery charge, the required current strength gradually decreases. This allows you to minimize wasted energy during recharging.

Using a special adapter with the Pump Express+ 2.0 function, you can fully charge your smartphone battery 1.5 times faster compared to a standard charger.

Price issue

Today, chargers are available in a wide price range. So, having spent:
From 65 to 300 rubles you can buy branded memory for devices of various brands (Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG, Apple or Nokia). They can be without a wire, as well as with a removable or non-removable wire.
From 300 to 1000 rubles you can purchase universal chargers in a durable case with two USB connectors. They will become an indispensable companion when traveling and in everyday life.
for more than 1000 rubles you will receive reliable and practical chargers from leading brands. A number of models have the Quick Charge 2.0 or Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging function, in which the charging power is increased by voltage rather than current. Which is absolutely safe for the gadget, because... it does not overheat.

The technological process does not stand still. Modern models of various digital devices are strikingly different from their older counterparts. Not only their appearance and internal equipment have changed, but also the methods of connecting to computers and chargers. If only 5-7 years ago many phones and even cameras did not have this capability. But at the moment, absolutely every digital device can be connected to a personal computer or laptop. Phone, player, smartphone, tablet, video camera, player or camera - they are all equipped with connectors that allow you to connect them to other devices.

But, as you can easily see, the connector is different. And for some reason the cord purchased with the phone cannot be used with your favorite player. As a result, a bunch of cables accumulate, you constantly get confused in them and cannot understand why it was impossible to make one wire suitable for connecting all devices. But, as we know, this does not happen. Although now there is a more or less standard connector, at least for smartphones, phones and tablets. And its name is micro-USB. What kind of miracle this is and how it works, we will tell you below.

Micro USB connector: what is it?

The two most popular connectors lately are mini and micro-USB. Their names speak for themselves. These are smaller, more practical designs that are used on smaller digital devices to save space and perhaps create a sleeker appearance. For example, a micro-USB connector for a tablet is almost 4 times smaller than a standard USB 2.0, and considering that the device itself is several times smaller than a personal computer or even a laptop, this option is simply ideal. But there are also some nuances here. For example, more can never be made into less, so micro-USB connectors cannot even be replaced with mini-USB. Although in some cases the reverse process is acceptable. And replacing micro-USB with your own hands is unlikely to end in anything good. This is such a piece of jewelry work. In addition, the word “micro” covers several types of connectors, and you need to remember this. Especially if you are trying to buy a new wire. Your tablet's micro USB may not be compatible with the connector on the end of the cable you purchased.

Varieties

Micro-USB connectors can be of two completely different types. They have different areas of application and, accordingly, they look different. The first type is called micro-USB 2.0. type B - it is used in devices by default and is an unspoken standard for the latest models of smartphones and tablets, because of this it is very common and almost every person at home has at least one micro-USB 2.0 cable. type B.

The second type is micro-USB 3.0 - these connectors are not installed on tablets, but can be found on smartphones and phones of some brands. Most often they are used to equip external hard drives.

Advantages

The main advantages of micro-USB connectors for tablets include increased density and reliability of the plug. But this fact does not exclude the possibility of problems with these components. Most often, the cause of breakdown is the carelessness of the owners of digital devices themselves. Sudden movements, tablets and phones falling onto the floor or even asphalt, especially on the side where the connector itself is located, attempts to correct something with your own hands without the appropriate knowledge - these are the main reasons why even the most durable parts of USB ports fail out of service. But it happens that this happens due to wear and tear of the device, improper operation or manufacturing defects.

Most often, the cause of malfunction is either the micro-USB connectors themselves, or the parts adjacent to them and connected to them in a circuit. For any experienced craftsman, replacing it is a matter of minutes, but not everyone can cope with this at home. If you are still interested in how you can repair a micro-USB connector yourself, pinouting (or, in other words, desoldering) is not the longest or most complicated process if you approach it wisely and first read the relevant information. Some tips will be given below.

Micro USB connector: pinout

As you know, with ordinary ports and connectors everything is simple - you just need to take an image of the front part of their connector, but in a mirror image, and solder it. With USB mini- and micro-types everything is a little different. Their connectors contain 5 contacts, but on connectors of type B, contact number 4 is not used, and on type A it is closed to GND, which occupies the fifth place.

Functions of the “legs” of the micro-USB connector

Since most modern tablets have micro-USB, which serves not only for charging, but also for synchronization, problems with it arise more often due to the more frequent use of the connector.

So, as mentioned above, a regular micro-USB connector has five “legs”. One is positive, at five volts, and one is negative. They are located on different sides of the connector and, accordingly, suffer less when separated from the motherboard. Only one “leg” of the connector, which more often than others is pulled out of the contact pad, is subject to more wear. It is located closer to the minus “leg”. If this contact is damaged, the device cannot be charged. That is, the system can see the power supply, but the charging process will not occur.

The remaining two “legs” are responsible for synchronization, that is, for the ability to upload and download photos, music, etc. They do this at the same time, so the separation of one will entail the cessation of the work of the second.

Knowing the functions of the “legs”, you will be able to determine which contacts are causing you to have problems and which of them you will need to solder to get your tablet back into operation.

Consequences of incorrect connector replacement

Having soldered micro-USB incorrectly, owners most often encounter the following problems:

1. Short circuits of the power supply if they are soldered inverted type.
2. The tablet detects the charging cord, but the battery does not charge.
3. The tablet's battery charges perfectly, but it does not sync with a laptop or computer.
4. The tablet works fine, but sometimes it “reminds” you that you should take it to a workshop instead of soldering it yourself (for example, charging does not start immediately after turning it on, or sometimes the cord needs to be pulled out and reinserted several times before charging starts).

The Future of Micro USB

Since these are some of the most popular ports today, if you learn how to change them once, this skill will help you out very often in the future. And let them not be accepted as the “gold standard” in the development of phones and other digital devices. And we still have to have a whole collection of wires specifically for an Acer laptop, for a Samsung phone, for an Apple iPad and a Nikon camera, but the active use of micro-connectors gives us hope that soon instead of a “bouquet” we will have one on our shelf micro-USB cable suitable for at least 90% of the equipment in the house.

What types of USB connectors and plugs are there?

Due to the fact that there are quite a lot of USB connectors, there is often confusion between them. Sometimes, after purchasing a cable, a wave of disappointment sets in, because it may turn out that the plug of the purchased wire does not fit the device. Therefore, in this article I will try to tell you what types of connectors USB cables have.

Despite the fact that there is a lot of information on this topic on the Internet, it usually touches on development issues, gives dates of approval and commissioning, design features and pinouts. In general, more background information is provided, which is usually not of particular interest to the end user. I will try to consider connectors from a household point of view - where they are used, their advantages and disadvantages, differences and features.

USB versions. What is the difference between USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

Let's start with some general information. USB devices come in three versions - 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0. The first is almost never used, since it provides too low a data transfer speed (12 Mbit - approximately 1.2 MB / s) and can be used exclusively for compatibility with finicky hardware. The second version now occupies a dominant position. Most devices sold in stores and currently in use support the second version. It provides a throughput of 480 Mbit/s, that is, the copy speed should theoretically be at the level of 48 MB/s. However, due to design features and less than ideal implementation in practice, the speed rarely exceeds 30-33 MB/s. Most external hard drives can read at 3-4 times faster speeds. That is, this connector is a bottleneck that slows down the operation of modern drives. For mice, keyboards, etc., speed does not matter.

The third version is colored blue, indicating that it belongs to the last generation. The bandwidth is 5 Gbps, which can give 500 MB/s. Modern hard drives have a speed of about 150-170 MB/s, that is, the third version of USB will be able to provide a large speed reserve for the coming years.

Compatibility of different USB versions.

A few words about compatibility. Versions 1.1 and 2.0 are structurally fully compatible with each other. If one of the connected sides is an older version, then the work will be carried out at a reduced speed, and the operating system will display the message “The device can work faster,” which means that there is a fast USB 2.0 port on the computer, but the device that is plugged into it is slow - version 1.1.

But with the compatibility of USB versions 2.0 and 3.0, not everything is so simple. Any USB 2.0 device or cable can be connected to the blue port of version 3. But the opposite cannot be done. Modern cables and devices with USB 3.0 differ from the usual connectors in that they have additional contacts that increase the interface bandwidth, so you won’t be able to connect them to the old port (the only exception is type A).

USB power

Any USB connector supplies a voltage of 5 Volts, and the current cannot exceed 0.5 Amperes (for USB 3.0 - 0.9 Amperes). In practice, this means that the maximum power of the connected device can be no more than 2.5 Watts (4.5 for USB 3.0). Therefore, there will be no problems when connecting low-power and portable devices - players, phones, flash drives and memory cards. But all large-sized and massive equipment has external power supply from the network.

Now let's move on to the types of connectors. I will not consider completely exotic options, but will only talk about the most popular and frequently used plugs. The affiliation with a specific USB version will be indicated in brackets.

USB type A (USB 2.0)

This is the most common and most recognizable connector currently existing. Most devices connected via USB have it. Mice, flash drives, keyboards, cameras and more - they all feature USB Type A, which dates back to the 90s. One of the most important advantages of this port is reliability. It can survive a fairly large number of connections, does not fall apart, and has truly deserved to become the most common means of connecting everything possible. Despite its rectangular shape, it cannot be stuck in with the reverse side; there is “fool protection”. However, it is not suitable for portable devices, as it has quite large dimensions, which ultimately led to the appearance of smaller modifications.

USB type B (USB 2.0)

The second type of USB has gained much less fame than its relative. Unlike type A plugs, which have a rectangular shape, all modifications of type B (including Mini and Micro - see below) usually have either a square or trapezoidal shape. The regular, full-size type B is the only representative that has a square shape. It is quite large in size and for this reason it is used in various peripherals and large stationary devices - printers, scanners, and sometimes ADSL modems. Interestingly, printer manufacturers rarely include such a cable in their products, so the cord for the printing device or MFP must be purchased separately.

Mini USB Type B (USB 2.0)

The emergence of a huge number of miniature devices has led to the emergence of tiny USB connectors. And Mini USB type B truly became widespread with the advent of portable hard drives, in which it is widely used. The connector has five contacts, not 4 like “adult plugs”, although one of them is not used. Unfortunately, miniaturization has had a negative impact on reliability. Despite its long service life, after a while the Mini USB becomes loose and begins to wobble, although it does not fall out of the port. Currently, it continues to be actively used in players, portable hard drives, card readers and other small-sized equipment. It is interesting that the second modification (type A) is almost never used; you will hardly find such a cord on sale. It is gradually beginning to be replaced by a more advanced modification of Micro USB.

Micro USB type B (USB 2.0)

A modified version of the previous connector. It has very miniature dimensions, as a result of which it is used by manufacturers in modern technology, which is characterized by its small thickness. In addition, the fastening has been improved; the plug fits very tightly and does not fall out. In 2011, this connector was approved as a unified standard for charging phones, smartphones, tablets, players and other portable electronics. Therefore, with just one cord, you can feed the entire “electronic zoo”. The standard continues to gain momentum, one can hope that in a year or two almost all new devices will be equipped with a single connector. As in the previous case, type A is almost never used.

USB type A (USB 3.0)

New USB standard with significantly higher bandwidth. The appearance of additional contacts has led to a change in the appearance of almost all USB 3.0 plugs. Despite this, type A has remained unchanged in appearance, only the blue color of the core indicates that it is a newcomer. This means that backward compatibility is maintained. A USB 3.0 device can be plugged into an old USB 2.0 port and vice versa. This is the main difference from other USB 3.0 connectors. Such ports can be found in modern computers or laptops.

USB type B (USB 3.0)

By analogy with the previous version, this type is used in medium and large peripherals and devices that require high performance - NAS, stationary hard drives. The connector is heavily modified and cannot be connected to USB 2.0. You also rarely see such cords on sale (in contrast to the previous one). Plugging such a connector into a USB 2.0 type B will no longer work - the top part will get in the way.

Micro USB (USB 3.0)

This connector continues the traditions of the “classic” Micro USB. It has the same qualities - compactness, reliability, good connection, but at the same time it has a high data transfer speed. Therefore, it is mainly used in new external ultra-fast hard drives and SSDs. It is becoming more and more popular, so in order not to carry a cable with an external hard drive, you can buy an additional cable at any store. The main part of the connector completely copies Micro USB of the second revision

The main thing is not to confuse it - the difference between Micro USB and Mini USB.

The main confusion that arises among users is between Mini USB and Micro USB, which are indeed a bit similar. The first one is slightly larger, and the second one has special latches on the back side. It is by the latches that you can always distinguish these two connectors. Otherwise they are identical. And since there are a lot of devices with both, it is better to have both cables - then there will be no problems connecting any modern portable equipment.

Mini USB on the left, Micro USB on the right.
Mini USB is much thicker, which makes it impossible to use
it in compact thin devices.
Micro USB is easy to recognize by its two notches,
holding the plug firmly when connecting.

Three brothers of the same family.
Mini USB and Micro USB are much thinner than usual.
On the other hand, the “crumbs” lose
in the reliability of an older comrade.

In what situations can you safely charge a gadget using a non-original charger, and when is it better not to take risks?

Nowadays, almost every home has several chargers: for a smartphone, tablet, player and other gadgets. In this regard, many users have a question: is it possible to use a non-native charger? What happens if you use a tablet charger for a smartphone? Why are Chinese analogues dangerous?

Our review article will try to answer all questions and dispel popular myths.

Types of chargers and connectors

First, you need to understand what types of chargers for smartphones and tablets we most often encounter in everyday life:

• MicroUSB. Perhaps the most common connector used to power mobile devices. It is used by various manufacturers on smartphones and tablets running Android and Windows Phone software platforms.
• Lightning. A special 8-pin connector used by Apple in the iPhone, iPad Pro, iPad Mini, iPod Nano and iPod Touch lines.
• USB Type-C. A symmetrical connector allows us not to think about which side of the plug or cable needs to be inserted into the connector, and makes our life a little easier. In addition, USB Type-C provides higher data transfer and the ability to transmit power up to 100 W, which makes it convenient not only for smartphones and tablets, but also for larger devices - laptops or monitors. USB Type-C is already starting to come into fashion, and more and more mobile manufacturers are equipping gadgets with a new connector instead of microUSB. Details.
• Laptops. There is no single standard for laptop chargers yet (perhaps in the future it will be the universal USB Type-C), so different models use different connectors depending on the manufacturer.

Most mobile gadgets use the same connectors; most often they are MicroUSB and USB Type-C when it comes to Android smartphones and tablets. Sometimes situations arise when you simply don’t have the necessary charger at hand, but using a non-original power supply is not always safe.

Charger Specifications

First, you need to determine the main characteristics of any charger for a smartphone - we are talking about a power supply unit (adapter) that is plugged into an outlet. Depending on the battery capacity, type of device and other factors, charging units differ in their characteristics, which we should have studied in physics lessons.

Samsung tablet charger 2.0A

Each normal power adapter has certain markings indicating technical characteristics. It will come in handy if you have to constantly power your smartphone from a non-original/non-original charger.

Let’s make a reservation once again: if we are talking about isolated cases of using non-original devices, then nothing bad will happen. If you are going to use them constantly, be sure to study the article.

Manufacturers always leave their logo on power supplies, put various markers, certification and GOST badges, and also indicate really useful information:

• Electric current voltage range: usually 100-240V (volts).
• Frequency: on all our units 50-60Hz.
• Output is the main characteristic of the power adapter, usually looks like this (5.0V - 1.0A) or like this (5.0V - 2.0A).

Let's take a closer look at the last characteristic. 5.0V is a standard indicator, but the current value varies depending on the adapter and the gadget that it charges. Typically, the current on power supplies is 1.0A (for smartphones) or 2.0A (for tablets). There are cases when the current is, for example, 0.85A, 2.1A, 1.5A.

Sony smartphone charger 0.85A (850mA)

Non-original chargers

Charger with higher amperage. If the current exceeds that consumed by your gadget, nothing bad should happen. The fact is that the lithium-ion battery is equipped with a special protective board that prevents overcharge/overdischarge, and sometimes even short circuit. Moreover, modern smartphones are equipped with power controllers that do not allow them to accept more current than the battery needs.

Huawei smartphone charger 1.0A

Despite this protection, it is not advisable to charge the gadget from a power supply with a higher current rating (A), since experience and forums indicate that the phone gets very hot and the battery fails faster.

Lower current charger. Experts do not recommend using weaker charging. In this case, the battery will require more energy, which the charger cannot provide. This can lead to overheating of both the unit and the gadget, and sometimes even to a short circuit and fire.

Charger for ASUS Nexus 7 tablet at 2.0A

Charging from another manufacturer. Many users complain that when using a Chinese charger with the same amperage and voltage, the process takes longer than the original charger.

Charger for iPhone 5/5S 1.0A

The problem is that different mobile manufacturers do not have a generally accepted standard for coding the load capacity of the power supply. Because of this, a gadget of one brand does not always “understand” a charger manufactured at the factory of another company. In this case, the charging process is carried out in a safe mode of 500 mA (0.5A) and much slower, which can also lead to overheating. There are situations when the device does not recognize the cable connected to it as charging at all.

Conclusion. We recommend using a native charger or one officially compatible with it from a well-known manufacturer (you can select it on Yandex.Market). Of course, in unforeseen situations you can make an exception, but you should not do this regularly. Please also read and take note