New usb type c connector. USB connectors: types, their descriptions, advantages and disadvantages

Most users, when choosing a new smartphone, tablet or laptop, find an unfamiliar interface in the device description. It's called a USB Type-C connector. What port is this? Few people really know about him. Although USB Type-C promises to become a new trend and will gradually be implemented on all devices that are equipped with classic USB. After all, it offers increased speed and improved functionality. Want to know more? We will be happy to tell you in more detail about USB Type-C and why it is gradually being introduced into many gadgets.

Currently, almost all devices are equipped with a USB connector (more precisely, USB type-A). From PCs to smartphones and various storage devices with laptops. USB is the ubiquitous and most popular standard.

It first appeared in the world in November 1995. The standard itself was called USB 1.0. It did not receive wide distribution. But its “brother” USB 1.1 in the late 90s of the last century began to be present on the back panel of almost everyone. True, manufacturers of peripheral devices did not immediately switch to this standard. It took a couple of years for keyboards, mice, printers and other accessories to begin to come with a USB port.

Finally, in 2001, the USB 2.0 standard was developed, which is still the most widespread today. It provided data transfer speeds of almost 500 Mbit/s. But the real breakthrough was the USB 3.0 specification. After all, the transmission speed within this interface was 5 Gbit/s. What other innovations came with it? 5 additional contacts appeared, and the maximum current increased from 500 mA to 900 mA.

The last step towards the emergence of USB Type-C was the adoption of the 3.1 standard. This happened in 2013. It was this standard that introduced the new Type-C connector (replacing the usual Type-A), with support for power up to 100 W and double the data transfer speed compared to USB 3.0 (up to 10 Gbps).

Learn more about USB Type-C and its benefits

So what is USB Type-C? Essentially, this is a new modification of the standard USB. Moreover, externally this connector looks like a thinner port. Its dimensions are only 8.34x2.56 mm. This is about 1/3 of the “old” USB Type-A. That is, the dimensions are very close to lightning in iPhones and micro usb in Android smartphones.

The shape of the connector is oval and symmetrical. Due to this, users do not have to guess which side to insert the flash drive or end of the cable into the device, as was the case before. This can be done without looking at all, in the dark, or with one hand. Thus, USB Type-C is very convenient. And also safe. After all, you can connect the connector in any position without fear of breaking the connector.

What other advantages does USB Type-C have? There are quite a lot of them:

Versatility and compatibility. Can operate in many modes and support different protocols. That is, if desired, it is easy to connect HDMI, VGA, DisplayPort cables and other options for connecting a PC or laptop to peripherals to this connector. True, special adapters will be required. After all, how else can you “shove” a bulky and huge connector from a printer or mouse into a thin modern port? In addition, the USB 3.1 standard is highly compatible with previous versions of USB. To connect old peripherals to the Type-C port, you only need an adapter.
Compactness. Due to its miniature size, it can be used in netbooks, smartphones, tablets and other various devices. At the same time, by actively introducing the USB Type-C interface, you can make equipment even more elegant, thinner and more compact.
Ability to power other devices. As we have already noted, USB 3.1 increased the maximum transmitted power to 100 W (with the USB Power Delivery specification!). For comparison, the average laptop requires about 60 watts. That is, it can be easily charged via USB Type-C (which has already been implemented on the new MacBook and the Pixel Chromebook from Google). While the USB 2.0 port provides current transmission of only a maximum of two and a half watts. This is enough for a maximum of incomplete and long-term recharging of a weak smartphone. It turns out that when connecting various peripheral devices via USB Type-C, you can do without an additional power source, limiting yourself to one cord.
High speed. When using the USB 3.1 standard, a data transfer speed of 10 Gbps is achieved. This is truly an excellent indicator. At least it's far from the record. After all, it is not as fast as the Thunderbolt 2 interface, implemented in MacBook Air and Pro models, where the speed reaches 20 Gbps.

What happens? The release of USB Type-C implies a complete replacement of outdated USB connection technologies. This is what this interface was designed for. His “mission” is to make sure that all sorts of options like mini or micro USB do not need to be released at all. The new standard is also intended to make all cords that are used to charge devices universal. The idea is good, but how implemented is it now?

Are there any disadvantages?

Does USB Type-C have any disadvantages? It couldn't have happened without them. Experts attribute the following to the disadvantages:

Due to their small size, the physical design of the connector and plug turned out to be quite fragile. Although numerous tests have shown that the mechanical life of the USB Type-C connector is about 10,000 connections. And this is no less than USB 2.0.
Another drawback is that adapters are required to fully work with USB Type C. Otherwise, many devices simply cannot be connected through this interface.
USB Type-C should only work with cables, accessories, and gadgets that can withstand a certain voltage level. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the cord and/or device will catch fire. Something similar happened with the flagship model Samsung Galaxy Note 7, during the use of which cases of the device exploding were repeatedly recorded. Therefore, to connect via USB Type-C, you should not purchase cheap products from China. Only reliable, proven brands.

For reference! If you need a cord not only for connection, but also for recharging, then you should check whether it supports USB Power Delivery. In turn, to connect via HDMI, MHL or DisplayPort you will need a USB-C cable with an alternative mode function.

Is there a difference between USB Type-C and USB 3.1?

Is USB Type-C the same as USB 3.1? Of course not. It's correct to say this: USB 3.1 is the main data transfer protocol for Type-C. Moreover, the latter is simply a geometric shape. No more. It can accommodate USB 2.0, and its “descendant” – 3.0. Hypothetically, nothing prevents us from implementing USB 1.1 within this port and plug of the “venerable old man”.

By the way, some manufacturers do this. Take the same Nokia N1 tablet. It is equipped with a new USB Type-C connector, but inside it is the same familiar and familiar USB 2.0 bus logic.

Modern devices with USB Type-C

Note that there are still few devices with USB 3.1 these days. The technology is new. Therefore, the standard did not have time to be implemented and become widespread. Devices with a USB Type-C cable/connector are not very widely represented on the market.

If we talk about smartphones, then these are:

Google Nexus 6P
Google Nexus 5X
Microsoft Lumia 950 XL
Meizu Pro 6
Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+
LG Nexus 5X, etc.

Of course, that's not all. “USB Type C” with full support for USB 3.1 is available on the MSI Z97A Gaming 6 motherboard. Popular motherboards ASUS X99-A and ASUS Z97-A also support USB version 3.1. (only they don’t have a Type-C connector).

It won’t be difficult to find flash drives with a new port on the shelves of computer stores. For example, SanDisk recently introduced a 32 GB drive with two connectors: the classic USB Type-A and USB Type-C. And this is not an isolated example. Thus, the range of the well-known manufacturer of computer components LaCie includes an external hard drive for a MacBook with support for USB 3.1 Type-C. This interface is also available on the Transcend JetFlash 890.

At the same time, formally the first device equipped with a USB Type-C port was the Nokia N1 tablet. It was then “supported” by a MacBook with a 12-inch display. The creators of the Apple laptop also decided to introduce the public to the new USB Type-C by equipping their model with this connector.

It turns out that USB Type-C is still a rarity? Essentially, yes. But the gradual implementation of this interface has begun and this is the most important thing.

Why is USB Type-C still not popular?

Many experts confidently say that one day USB Type-C will replace the variety of USB port options, becoming the only standard for various devices - laptops, PCs, smartphones, tablets, players, etc. In the future, most likely, this connector will indeed be replaced and a 3.5 mm headphone port, and an HDMI interface, used nowadays for video transmission.

However, why has USB Type-C not yet become mega-popular and widespread? Everything is extremely simple. In the event of a complete transition to this standard, all existing equipment will have to be scrapped. Be it a smartphone, tablet, PC, flash drive, etc.

What if you use adapter cables, all kinds of splitters and adapters? This is not an option. If the connected device does not support USB 3.1, then the connection is simply pointless, because the maximum data transfer speed and power support will not be achieved.

Therefore, it takes time for the old ports to become a thing of the past, and for USB Type-C to be able to painlessly replace them. How much will it take? Probably a couple of years. The process can only be accelerated by the support of “big” companies that will actively implement this standard. At the same time, it is possible that progress will soon offer us a new interface that can send USB Type-C into “retirement” ahead of schedule.

Good day, Geektimes! Has everyone already heard about USB Type-C? The one that's two-way, fast-fashionable, charges your new MacBook, makes your hair silky smooth, and promises to be the new standard for connectivity for the next ten years?

So, firstly, this is a connector type, not a new standard. The standard is called USB 3.1. Secondly, we need to talk specifically about the new USB standard, and Type-C is just a nice bonus. To understand what the difference is, what is behind USB 3.1 and what is behind Type C, how to charge an entire laptop using a USB cable, and what else can be done with the new USB Type-C:

Briefly about the main thing

USB as a standard appeared almost twenty years ago. The first specifications for USB 1.0 appeared in 1994 and solved three key problems: unification of the connector through which equipment that expanded the functions of a PC was connected, simplicity for the user, and high speed data transfer to and from the device.

Despite certain advantages of the USB connection over PS/2, COM and LPT ports, its popularity did not come immediately. USB experienced explosive growth at the beginning of the 2000s: first cameras, scanners and printers were connected to it, then flash drives.

In 2001, the first commercial implementations of the USB that is familiar and understandable to us appeared: version 2.0. We have been using it for the 14th year now and it is designed relatively simply.

USB 2.0

Any USB cable version 2.0 and lower has 4 copper conductors inside. Two of them transmit power, the other two transmit data. USB cables (according to the standard) are strictly oriented: one of the ends must be connected to the host (that is, the system that will manage the connection) and it is called Type-A, the other - to the device, it is called Type-B. Of course, sometimes in devices (such as flash drives) there is no cable at all; the “to-host” connector is located directly on the board.

On the host side there is a special chip: a USB controller (in desktop computers it can be either part of the system logic or placed as an external chip). It is he who initializes the operation of the bus, determines the connection speed, the order and schedule of data packets, but these are all details. We are most interested in connectors and connectors of the classic USB format.

The most popular connector that everyone used was USB Type-A of classic size: it is located on flash drives, USB modems, at the ends of the wires of mice and keyboards. Full-size USB Type-B is a little less common: printers and scanners are usually connected with this cable. The mini version of USB Type-B is still often used in card readers, digital cameras, and USB hubs. Through the efforts of European standardizers, the micro version of Type-B has become de facto the most popular connector in the world: all current mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (except for the products of one fruit company) are produced with the USB Type-B Micro connector.

Well, probably no one has really seen USB Type-A micro and mini formats. Personally, off the top of my head I can’t name a single device with such connectors. Even the photographs had to be taken from Wikipedia:

Hidden text

All these connectors have one simple thing in common: inside there are four contact pads that provide the connected device with both power and communication:

With USB 2.0 everything is more or less clear. The problem with the standard was that two conductors were not enough to transmit data, and the specifications developed in the middle of the first decade did not provide for the transmission of large currents through power circuits. External hard drives suffered the most from such limitations.

USB 3.0

To improve the characteristics of the standard, a new USB 3.0 specification was developed, which contained the following key differences:

Five additional contacts, four of which provide additional communication lines;
Increase in maximum throughput from 480 Mbit/s to 5 Gbit/s;
Increasing the maximum current from 500 mA to 900 mA.

In addition, 4 more connectors have appeared that are electrically and mechanically compatible with USB Type-A version 2.0. They allowed both USB 2.0 devices to be connected to 3.0 hosts, and 3.0 devices to 2.0 hosts or via a 2.0 cable, but with limitations in power supply and data transfer speed.

USB 3.1

Since the fall of 2013, specifications for the updated USB 3.1 standard have been adopted, which brought us the connector Type-C, delivers up to 100W of power and doubles the data transfer speed of USB 3.0. However, it is worth noting that all three innovations are just parts of one new standard, which can be applied all together (and then the device or cable will receive USB 3.1 certification) or separately. For example, technically, inside a Type-C cable, you can organize at least USB 2.0 on four wires and two pairs of contacts. By the way, Nokia pulled off such a “feint”: its Nokia N1 tablet has a USB Type-C connector, but inside it uses regular USB 2.0: with all the limitations on power supply and data transfer speed.

USB 3.1, Type-C and power

The new standard is responsible for the ability to transfer truly serious power USB PD(Power Delivery). According to the specifications, to be certified as USB PD, the device and cable must be able to transmit current with a power of up to 100 Watts, both in both directions (both to and from the host). In this case, the transmission of electricity should not interfere with the transmission of data.

There are currently only two laptops that fully support USB Power Delivery: the new MacBook and the Chromebook Pixel.

Well, then, who knows, maybe we’ll install sockets like this at home?

USB Type-C and backward compatibility

USB as a standard is strong in its backward compatibility. Find an ancient 16 megabyte flash drive that only supports USB 1.1, insert it into a 3.0 port and go. Connect a modern HDD to a USB 2.0 connector, and if it has enough power, everything will start, the speed will just be limited. And if that’s not enough, there are special adapters: they use the power circuit of another USB port. The speed will not increase, but the HDD will work.

It’s the same story with USB 3.1 and the Type-C connector, with only one amendment: the new connector is geometrically in no way compatible with the old ones. However, manufacturers have actively begun production of both Type-A wires<=>Type-C, as well as all kinds of adapters, adapters and splitters.

USB Type-C and tunneling

The data transfer speed of the USB 3.1 standard allows you not only to connect storage devices and peripherals, charge the laptop from the network via a Type-C cable, but also to connect, say... a monitor. One wire. And a USB hub with several 2.0 ports inside the monitor. 100 W of power, speed comparable to DisplayPort and HDMI, a universal connector and just one wire from the laptop to the monitor, the power supply of which will provide electricity to the display and charge the laptop. Isn't this wonderful?

What's on USB Type-C now?

Since the technology is young, there are very few devices with USB 3.1. There are slightly more devices with a USB Type-C cable/connector, but still not enough for Type-C to become as common and natural as Micro-B, which any smartphone user has.

On Type-C personal computers, you can expect it already in 2016, but some manufacturers have taken and updated the line of existing motherboards. For example, USB Type-C with full USB 3.1 support is available on the MSI Z97A Gaming 6 motherboard.

ASUS is not far behind: ASUS X99-A and ASUS Z97-A motherboards support USB 3.1, but, unfortunately, do not have Type-C connectors. In addition, special expansion cards have been announced for those who do not want to either upgrade the motherboard or give up a pair of USB 3.1 ports.

SanDisk recently introduced a 32 GB flash drive with two connectors: classic USB Type-A and USB Type-C:

Of course, don’t forget about the recent MacBook with passive cooling and only one USB Type-C connector. We'll talk about its performance and other delights sometime separately, but about the connector - today. Apple abandoned both its “magic” MagSafe charging and other connectors on the case, leaving one port for power, connecting peripherals and external displays. Of course, if one connector is not enough for you, you can buy an official adapter-splitter to HDMI, a classic USB and a power connector (the same Type-C) for... $80. :) We can only hope that Type-C will come to Apple mobile devices (and this will be the end of the zoo with wires for smartphones), although the chances of such an update are minimal: was it in vain that Lightning was developed and patented?

One of the peripheral manufacturers, LaCie, has already released a stylish external drive with support for USB 3.1 Type-C for the new MacBook.

Today I will tell you about various USB Type-C cables. And I will try to dispel doubts about their feasibility. The review contains cables from Orico, which are designed to connect your device with a new-fangled connector to a computer or other device with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports.

The USB type-C connector is just gaining popularity and many people not only haven’t seen it, but also don’t understand what innovations are behind it. On what basis are opinions spread such as “everything will burn out” and “why do I need another connector?”

I will try to tell in my own words. Others can find the specification “USB Type-C Specification Release 1.1.pdf”. .

In the text I use the word “connector” as a general word for the concepts “connector”, “socket”, “connector”, “port”, etc.

Historical information

And now on the fingers. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a data transfer specification called “USB” v1.0 was developed. Then USB 1.1 struck back. USB 2.0 has reached the masses. And USB 3.0, although not everywhere, has successfully settled in various devices. The USB 3.1 standard has made clarifications and amendments. And, most importantly, each standard had a bunch of corresponding connectors. By connector for different types of devices with different purposes and partial backward compatibility - USB type-A, USB micro-A, USB Micro-B SuperSpeed.
It was the accumulated diversity and incomplete compatibility that brought confusion, inconvenience and gave rise to many jokes. So, the new USB type-C standard has become a “new hope”. It doesn't change the data transfer standard (but it does add one). This is a connector standard that combines the advantages of connectors from all previous USB standards and avoids their disadvantages.

Properties of USB type-C

Basic new introductions:
- one connector for everything (for printers, smartphones, flash drives... monitors!)
- mirror connector (no need to guess which way to insert it)
- small dimensions (it is slightly larger than micro USB)
- the connector is very securely fixed in the socket (yay!)
- must withstand up to 10,000 connections
- the connector supports USB 1.0 – USB 3.1 standards
- it invites devices to independently decide who to be master/slave and power source/consumer
- the cable can be passive or active (with electronics inside)

Basic old introductions:
- the standard does not define the length of the wire; it is already defined in data transmission standards
- the connector can withstand up to 5A, but this is described in the BC1.2 and Power Delivery standards

Next, you can talk about DisplayPort integration, audio transmission, and more. And I will try to do this in the following reviews, but for now let’s look at the implementation of three USB Type-C cables with backward compatibility.

Unboxing

And only now let’s look at the received parcel. Got to review

Each of them is packed in a little bag, in a cardboard box and in another little bag. Two of the three boxes were wrinkled during transportation. All cables are exactly 1 meter long and 3 mm thick (except LCU-10-BK, it is 4 mm). The wires are a little stiff and happily return to their old position.

Pinout

What does universality bring to backwards compatibility?
In the USB 2.0 – USB 3.1 standards, the master/slave roles are determined through the shape of the connector.
In the USB Type-C standard, the master/slave roles are determined through a pull-up resistor to ground or power. So connecting just one cable tells the USB Type-C device what to expect at the other end.

Test stand

The stand itself looks like this.

I have already tested various cables on it, so I have something to compare with. The charger is quite powerful and has good output voltage stability. The tester used can load the charger with a specified current and store all measurement data.

The table contains the results of cable measurements at different currents.

* Direct column shows voltages without any cable. The remaining columns need to be compared with Direct and with each other.
* The gray column of ECU10bk shows the result of turning on the USB type-C connector on the other side.
* the remaining gray columns contain data from some cables I have previously measured.

Summary

So far there are very few devices with the new connector and the article is intended for those lucky ones
who are looking for similar “bridges” between generations.

* The USB type-C connector showed itself in all its glory. It is easy to insert, holds tightly and is easily removed. And it has a mirror arrangement of contacts.

* the most popular cable ECU-10-BK (USB type-C to USB type-A) showed good results. It can safely pass about 2A through itself. But yes, it does not live up to its meter-long relatives.

* a slightly specific cable LCU-10-BK (USB type-C to micro USB 3.0) suddenly showed completely identical results with different cable thicknesses and different connectors. It’s even somehow strange.

* I can’t say what happened to the MCU-10-BK cable (USB type-C to micro USB 2.0). Perhaps it's just a marriage.

P.S. There will be a test of speed characteristics, but in another review.

The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.

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The speed of the interface depends on the controllers installed, and you would be surprised at what some manufacturers do with them. USB Type-C technology promises us data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, but the first generation of devices with USB Type-C turns out to be far from that fast. In this article we figure out what's going on here...

USB Type-C is an intriguing new standard that began appearing on laptops, tablets, phones and other devices more than a year ago. And we have long had a desire to check what speed it can actually provide. With the arrival of the SanDisk Extreme 900, we can really push this two-way port to its limits. For testing, we prepared 8 laptops with USB Type-C, and also inserted a special PCIe card into the desktop PC to make the test more complete.

What your USB-C port is silent about

USB Type-C is supposed to become a universal standard port, but to date its versatility has only manifested itself in confusion. USB Type-C can operate at 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps while still being labeled as USB 3.1 by the laptop manufacturer. Technically, USB Type-C can even operate at USB 2.0 speeds - a measly 480 Mbps. So if you see a USB Type-C port, all that can be said is that the interface speed can vary from a modest 480 Mbps to an impressive 10 Gbps.

To make things even more confusing, Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology uses the USB Type-C port to transfer data over PCIe. And it also supports USB 3.1 at 10Gbps.

Thunderbolt 3 and support for video transmission over USB Type-C need to be discussed separately, and we will devote another article to this. However, power and not so universal charging via USB Type-C have already been mentioned.

Not all USB Type-C ports are created equal

What's installed on your laptop?

USB Type-C performance is affected by a number of key factors. The first is the capabilities of the hard drive in your PC. If you are copying from a built-in hard drive, it is simply impossible to get speeds even close to the speed of the port, simply because most disk interfaces do not reach the maximum performance of USB Type-C.

Another important factor is the controller used to connect the port. There are two popular chips available in the market today. The first one is ASmedia ASM1142. This USB 3.1 chip, running at 10 Gbps, can be found in many early versions of laptops and desktops that were equipped with USB Type-C. And since we were unable to quickly find a laptop with this chip, we inserted an Atech BlackB1rd MX1 PCIe card into the desktop PC. The performance of the assembled system should be almost the same as that of laptops with this chip. Another candidate for leadership is the expensive Intel Thunderbolt 3 chip, which also supports USB at 10 Gbps.

And finally, a very popular solution today that can be found in many laptops is a USB 3.0 controller built directly into the Intel system logic chipset. The same chip is used to connect standard rectangular USB 3.0 Type-A ports. Many PC manufacturers simply pass its signal to oval USB Type-C ports. And this solution is the most popular, since it is cheaper and requires less energy. However, it also limits any USB Type-C port to a maximum USB 3.0 speed of 5 Gbps.

SanDisk Extreme 900 is one of the first drives to support USB 3.1 10 Gbps

Test method

For our tests, we used a SanDisk Extreme 900 SSD, which does support USB Type-C connectivity at 10 Gbps. SanDisk was able to create this 2TB drive by combining two M.2 SSD drives into a RAID 0 array inside a single enclosure. And it turned out to be a really fast USB drive. By connecting it to the USB Type-C ports of each computer, we ran the AS SSD utility, which allows us to evaluate the actual serial data transfer speed of the port.

You can see the results that speak for themselves in the chart below. We have arranged them in descending order of performance. The signatures indicate both laptop models and versions of installed controllers.

We evaluated 8 laptops to examine USB Type-C performance (click on image to enlarge)

It's not surprising that laptop manufacturers who choose the cheapest option (connecting an Intel USB 3.0 5 Gb/s controller to a USB Type-C port) give you... 5 Gb/s performance. We weren't able to test the 12-inch MacBook because the AS SSD doesn't work on OS X, but it uses the same controller. So you have to wait for equivalent performance.

Of much greater interest is the operation of chips with a speed of 10 Gbps: ASMedia and Thunderbolt 3. In the diagram they are represented by 2 Dell XPS models (for Thunderbolt) and an ASMedia card in a desktop PC. In our test, ASmedia showed a slight advantage over the Thunderbolt 3 controller. However, PC manufacturers confirm these data, citing the results of their own internal tests.

The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro model only uses the USB 3.1 portion of the Intel Thunderbolt 3 controller

However, there is another interesting participant in the test - the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro laptop. The 15.6-inch model uses the rather rare approach of equipping a USB Type-C port by using an Intel “Alpine Ridge” chip with Thunderbolt 3, but only includes USB support. Even in the Device Manager panel, you will only find the Intel USB 3.1 controller as shown in the above screenshot.

Samsung representatives have confirmed that this laptop does not work with Thunderbolt 3. We tested this using the Akitio Thunderbolt 3 drive and it does not work. Why Samsung engineers did this remains a mystery.

However, we do know that performance has been surprisingly poor. Yes, this port is faster than regular USB Type-C with a built-in Intel chip, but much slower than ASMedia and the full version of Thunderbolt 3. A strange move.

Conclusion

One look at the test chart makes it clear that there are real benefits to having a full 10 Gbps USB 3.1 port in your computer. The most obvious conclusion is that you won't have to wait long for files to be copied to a USB drive. But besides this, only with a full-fledged port can you realize all the advantages of an external drive with USB 3.1. And since more and more PC models with USB Type-C ports will appear on the market, we recommend that you read the specifications more carefully before purchasing a computer.

Over the past years, Apple has been systematically reducing the number of ports in MacBooks. The 13-inch MacBook Pro, released in 2012, had eight of them (including a headphone/microphone input and AC for power), and the thin Air of 2015 with an 11-inch screen already had four. , there are only two left: 3 ,5mm audio jack and universal USB Type-C, which simultaneously serves for charging, data transfer and connecting monitors. Vesti.Hi-tech looked into what the “USB of the future” is and what it is needed for.

What is this?

USB Type-C is a new super-fast connector based on the USB 3.1 and 2.0 specifications. It has a lot of advantages over USB “versions” of previous generations. Firstly, the Type C connector is symmetrical, like the Lightning plug in i-devices, which means that users no longer have to guess which side to insert the “flash drive” into the computer - with Type-C this can be done without looking at all. Moreover, such a cable is also double-sided: the same connectors are used on both sides, which allows you to connect it to the device at either end.

Secondly, the dimensions of USB Type-C are very close to Lightning in iPhones and microUSB (more precisely, USB 2.0 Micro-B) in Android smartphones. Compactness (~8.4x2.6 millimeters) allows the connector to be used in devices of any type: from personal computers and ultra-thin laptops to smartphones, tablets and other electronics. Thirdly, USB Type-C is compatible with the USB 3.1 2nd generation standard, which means its data transfer speed can be very high - up to 10 gigabits per second (~1.25 gigabytes per second).

Fourthly, USB Type-C is a universal connector, and this is perhaps its most important quality. The new USB connector can be used for anything: to connect flash drives, monitors, external hard drives and other peripheral devices, for charging (compatible with the USB Power Delivery 2.0 standard with a “recharge” power of up to 100 watts), as well as for transmission of video and other multimedia content.

Is USB Type-C the same as USB 3.1?
No. USB Type-C cables and ports can be used for USB 3.1, however, depending on the host controller and devices, they may only be compatible with USB 2.0 or 3.0.

The specifications of the new MacBook say that its Type-C port is compatible with USB 3.1 Gen 1, which means its maximum data transfer speed is limited to 5 Gbps. USB 3.1 Gen 2 has twice the throughput of 10 Gbps.

What is USB Power Delivery?
The USB PD standard allows devices to send and receive up to 100 watts of power over a single connection while simultaneously exchanging data. The latest Apple laptop, for example, is capable of outputting 4K video to an external monitor via USB Type-C while simultaneously charging via the same port. In terms of power, 100W is more than enough to charge high-end laptops. For comparison, USB 2.0 (the most common connector on smartphones and tablets) can carry up to 2.5 watts, while most laptops need 20-65 watts.

Which devices support USB Type-C?
The 12-inch MacBook was the first laptop, but not the first device with USB Type-C. For the first time, support for the newest connector was implemented in . It uses Type-C for charging and data transfer. True, the “Nokiev” implementation of the port is based on outdated USB 2.0, and not USB 3.1 or USB PD.

The drive, clad in a stylish aluminum case, will be available in three versions: with 500 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB of memory

Cable for connecting LaCie hard drive to computer

MSI's first Type-C motherboard

Soon it will be the turn of smartphones to support USB Type-C. According to Google engineer Adam Rodriguez, his company is "very committed" to the new connector, and we'll see it in Android devices and Chromebooks in the "near future."

What are the disadvantages of USB Type-C?
The main drawback of the new USB connector is that it is not compatible with current ports on PCs and laptops. To create a connection, for example, via microUSB, miniUSB or full-size USB, you will need to buy a special adapter or adapter. They will have to be used during a “transition period” (perhaps a year or two) until the new connector is widespread. But in the future, a laptop, smartphone and tablet (produced by different companies) will be able to be charged with just one wire.

USB-C (Digital AV Multiport Adapter)

In the meantime, if you want to charge Apple's latest laptop with a monitor and a LaCie drive, you'll need to spend nearly $80 for a reversible USB-C connector with HDMI, USB 3.0, and a power port. For the same amount you can buy a VGA USB-C adapter in the Apple online store. An adapter that “turns” USB Type-C into a regular USB 3.0 port will cost $19.

Google has also already started selling accessories for the new ports. A Type-C to DisplayPort cable costs almost $40, a Type-C to Type-A cable costs $13.

Another disadvantage of USB Type-C is that it does not detach as easily as the MagSafe magnetic connector familiar to Apple laptop users. Therefore, if someone accidentally touches the wire connected to the new MacBook, he will pull the computer along with him, which is fraught with falling and damage.

Finally, USB Type-C is not as fast as the Thunderbolt 2 interface found on the MacBook Air and Pro models. Via the “lightning-fast” port, data is transferred at speeds of up to 20 Gbit/s in both directions, while via USB 3.1 1st generation (this is the “version” implemented in the new MacBook) – up to 5 Gbit/s.