A Dive Into the Story of USB-C

USB-C. ‘The future of Cables’.  That’s what techies call. 

The story of this sleek little thing starts in 2014. It was published by USB Implementers Forum and was finalized in August 2014. 

However, it was in 2015 that the USB Type C came into the spotlight when Apple showed off its MacBook with a solitary port. 

And that transformed things ahead. Almost every modern smartphone and laptop today has this USB port. The only exception is Apple’s iPhone that uses their Lightning port. 

So, why this immense popularity?

For that, we will need to understand USB Type C in some detail. 

What is USB-C?

USB-C is basically an industry-standard connector for transmitting power and data via a single cable. USB C was developed by USB-IF, the group of companies known for developing, and certifying the USB standard. 

The members of the board of directors at USB-IF are from more than 700 companies including Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Intel, HP. So one of the reasons why USB-C is so popular is that it is happily accepted by  PC manufacturers.  

How Is It Different From Other USB Cables?

Talking about how USB-C is different from other USB cables like USB Type-A and USB Type B is that it is reversible. Remember the constant struggle of plugging in your charger to the wrong side? With USB C, there is no right side up. 

The Appearance and Compatibility of USB-C

• Rounded rectangle with 24 pins on the inside.
• The 24-pin layout is 3X what is available on the later generation USB 3.0 supporting USB-A and MicroUSB plugs. 
• USC-C has a duallane high-speed data architecture and that’s what makes it different from USB 3.0.  
• It has 3 pieces to the layout – one supports USB 2.0, and other two support high-speed data. 
• Most USB-C ports are built on the second-generation USB 3.1 data-transfer standard. This means they can deliver data at speeds of up to 10Gbps. Which is twice as fast as USB 3.0 and first-gen USB 3.1. 

Things You Can do With USB-C

It has the ability to power compatible devices including laptops and 4K high-resolution monitors. You can carry out various functions like charge your device, connect to an external monitor, dock your laptop, and more. Among the many benefits of USB-C includes: 

• Better performance. Because that’s the thing with technology. Always one step better than predecessors. 
• Easy to use as it is reversible. 
• The rate at which devices have started adapting USB-C it seems like it is here to say.
• It is extremely powerful. It can provide upto 240 watts of power – that’s enough to power a monitor.

The Issue with USB-C

Now, such benefits clearly show how powerful USB-C is and experts are right in saying that it is the future. 

However, there are a few problems. USB-C can be complicated for an average user. That’s because there is a single plug doing various things from charging a laptop to displaying a monitor and that can be a little confusing.   

USB-C is becoming standard. Most new Android phones use USB-C. Apple’s laptop too uses this port. But, every USB-C port is not the same. And every USB-C cable users buy works differently. 

Issues arise when you mix and match chargers and cables. It drastically reduces USB charging speed. A common non-technical user generally does not think of this when buying a cable. 

Especially with USB-C, this ignorance is surely not going to be bliss.  

Now that new devices have USB-C ports, switching devices can be a challenge. Initially it is bound to impact cross device compatibility, which means you have to have to invest in USB adapters. And the more devices you have to connect to each other, the more USB adapters you will need! 

What’s your take on USB-C, and what you think about its future is up to you. If you are planning to purchase a USB cable, it is a good idea to research beforehand and determine what type, and length of cable you want to buy, depending on the output you want out of it.

The choice of the cable also depends on your purpose. Do you intend to use the cable for data transfer or to charge a device? Because a good cable will make all the difference. So, just like you would research to buy a phone, research to buy a cable!

Summary: USB-C is gaining popularity. Almost every modern smartphone and laptop has this port. Here’s a post that gives all the information you need to know about USB-C.