Errors 

What does usb type c mean? USB Type-C - what is it? Connector type, cable. High data transfer speed

Basics interface advantage USB Type-C – no dependence on the position of the plug to connect the device to charge it or connect it to a computer for data transfer, similar to the Lightning interface in Apple iPhone. In other words, the cable can be inserted in either direction.

Let's take a closer look at all the benefits of the relatively new USB 3.1 standard and look at the devices already using this technology. Probably everyone would like to know what exactly new standard USB can bring a new dimension to established USB ports mobile devices and laptops, and which devices already have USB Type-C connectors?

To begin with, it is important to understand the difference in the designation of USB Type-C and USB 3.1, in fact there is none, but the numerical designation of USB 3.1 only indicates the data transfer speed, and, in turn, the name USB Type-C directly implies the type of connector for connecting devices . Let's look at the difference in interface speed between the old USB 3.0 standard and the new USB 3.1.

Comparison of USB 3.0 and USB 3.1

Devices with USB Type-C on board

Many people are now asking the question: “What devices with the USB Type-C interface are currently on sale?” If you keep up with new products, you probably know that the first device with USB Type-C was the 12-inch MacBook, which was the only interface, which caused a lot of ridicule for the laptop in the online community. Smartphones from Google - Nexus 6P and 5X are also equipped with USB 3.1. In general, the trend is that more and more manufacturers are integrating into their USB smartphones port of the new standard.


Google Pixel C

Below I have presented a list of the most interesting devices with a USB Type-C interface:

The symmetry of the USB Type-C connector makes it incredibly convenient, because you no longer have to struggle to insert the plug into the socket in hard-to-reach places. More recently, only Apple's Lightning connector, which was used in iPad devices and iPhone, but now this idea has been implemented in the ubiquitous USB standard.

And finally, USB 3.1 has one more important advantage above the USB 3.0 standard is the maximum transmitted power increased to 100 W. Thus, in the future of using USB 3.1, it is possible to abandon additional source power supply and connection of various peripherals, including monitors or speakers with one cable, and a current of 5 A will reduce the charging time of mobile devices.

Have you ever met a person who enthusiastically said: “My smartphone has Type-C”?

Debates about the modernity and usefulness of the new interface have been going on for quite a long time. Some consider it the future, others - a utopia. The trouble is that both sides have strong evidence that they are right. To understand the situation, it is necessary to comprehensively study the issue.

Development

Not everyone remembers the first USB Type-A connector, which is still used in the latest computers, laptops and tablets. Back in the 90s, it had the same physical form, but a different standard - USB 1.1. In more detail, there were restrictions on data transfer speeds.

In 2001, standard 2.0 was developed, which is the most widespread today. It provided data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbit/s. At this moment, the era of creating a universal and high-speed connector for connection began.

The first generally accepted connector to become very popular and widespread was Type-B Mini. It is successfully used in phones, cameras, video cameras and allows you to connect devices to a computer. However, this should not be considered a big breakthrough, only the form has changed, the standard remains the same - USB 2.0. In other words, the transfer speed did not increase.

The desire to minimize the size of gadgets led to the creation of the new Type-B Micro. It continues to be the protagonist of the vast majority of modern technology, but cannot offer users great benefits.

A real breakthrough was the USB 3.0 specification, which radically changed the way we look at many things. New interface allowed to increase the data transfer rate to 5 Gbit/s. Changes also affected the internal structure. The new 3.0 introduces a 9-pin group (in 2.0 there were only 4 contacts).

The last step towards the emergence of Type-C was the adoption of the 3.1 standard, which remains the fastest and most efficient today. Users were able to transfer data at speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s. The new standard also allows for 100W charge transfer.

The standard consists of 24 pins: two rows of 12 pieces. 8 pins of the USB 3.1 interface are used for data exchange at high speed. Pins B8 and A8 (SUB1 and 2) are used to transmit analog signals to the headphones (right and left), A5 and B5 (CC1 and 2) are needed to select the power mode. There are also ground (GND) and power (V+) pins.

Benefits of Type-C

It is not so necessary, but is simply another physical modification that has received USB support 3.1. But don’t rush to conclusions, as there are a number of advantages that the new connector offers:

  • Safety. The connector is double-sided, i.e. You can connect the cable in any position. This provides complete safety and the safety of the gadget from breakdowns that are accompanied by bent or broken contacts.
  • Versatility. Full compatibility with all old generation standards is ensured, starting with USB 1.1.
  • Independence. Type-C, which supports USB 3.1, can supply connected devices with up to 100W of power. Simply put, when connected, there is not just a full power supply, but also recharging the batteries of other gadgets, as from “”.
  • Compactness. The connector has very small dimensions, so it is actively used in the production of modern tablets.

Flaws

WITH technical point USB Type-C is practically perfect. So why hasn't it become the most popular yet? Why are manufacturers not in a hurry to equip their equipment with it? There are no obstacles to technical equipment, but there are significant reasons that slow down this process.

First of all, it has a unique physical structure, so to connect most gadgets you need adapter cables, all kinds of splitters and adapters. If the connected device does not support USB 3.1, such a connection simply becomes meaningless, since the maximum data transfer speed and power support will not be provided.

Most of the released computer, mobile, audio and video equipment is equipped with Type-A, Type-B Mini/Micro, which do not support USB 3.1 or even 3.0. The mass transition to USB Type-C will reduce demand for existing products that do not have it. Regardless of the desires and hopes of users, manufacturers deliberately push back effective technology and slow down its spread.

Secondly, even if there are two connected Type-C devices It may not be possible to receive all benefits. This is due to imperfect technology for processing and transmitting information from certain categories of devices. For example, you can synchronize a smartphone and a personal computer/laptop via Type-C. However, data transfer in both directions will be limited, since the hard drive will not be able to provide maximum speed.

Yes, new technology is available, it is in use, but a complete transition is still far away. You need to understand that in the event of a complete transition to USB Type-C, all outdated equipment will have to be sent for recycling.

The new 2-sided USB Type-C connector appeared along with the USB 3.1 specification and significantly speeded up throughput data transmission channel, as well as the maximum current for power supply external devices, if previously powering external devices was a more secondary task of the USB bus, now the maximum current of the Type C connector can reach 100 Watt, this is 40 times more than in the USB2.0 interface, it also supports voltages of 5, 12 and 20v and current from 1.5 to 5 amperes. Type-C is the next generation of USB connector that will be easier to use and will transfer large amounts of data in no time at speeds of up to 10 Gbps. Type-C will not only allow you to transfer regular data and power, you can also transmit video and sound through it.

Supports data protocols such as DisplayPort 1.3, PCI Express and Base-t Ethernet. The Type-C connector is more durable and can withstand 10,000 connection cycles. The connector is 2-sided and allows you to connect the cable to either side. Type-C is used to connect mobile devices to power supplies and other devices.

Types of USB connectors.

Exists a large number of varieties of types USB connectors. All of them are shown in the picture below.

Type A- active, power supply device (computer, host). Type B- passive, connected device (printer, scanner)

USB Type-C pinout

USB Type-C consists of 24 pins arranged in two rows of 12 each. It consists of ground pins (GND), power pins (V+), 8 pins of high-speed USB3.1 interface is used to exchange data at high speed (20 times faster than USB2.0 interface). Pins B8 and A8 ( SUB1 and 2) are used to transmit analog left and right channel signals, such as headphones, and can also be used for communication between devices for transmitting analog signals. Pins A5 and B5 ( CC1 and 2) are used to select the power mode. USB2.0 interface. All pins are located symmetrically and they are also duplicated on the other side crosswise.

Universal Serial Bus, or simply USB, is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s to standardize the connection of peripherals to a computer. It has replaced most interfaces and is now the most common connector type for consumer devices.

Today, almost every device, be it portable or stationary, has different kinds USB connectors. But everything is much more complicated than beginners think. Today we will look at the types of USB ports and various standards.

Many might now be asking the question: “If USB should be universal, then why does it have a large number of types?” The fact is that all these types of USB connectors perform various functions. This helps ensure compatibility if a device with improved specifications is released. Let's look at the most common types of USB ports.

  • Type-A- most cables have a connector of this type of USB at one end, this also includes cables of modern keyboards and mice. The same type of USB is included personal computers and chargers;
  • Type-B- this port is used to connect printers and other peripheral devices to the computer. But it's not currently as common as USB Type-A;
  • Mini USB- This was the standard connector for mobile devices before the advent of Micro USB. This connector is smaller than the standard one, as can be understood by its name. This type of connector is also a little outdated and has been replaced by Micro USB, but this does not mean that these types of USB cannot be found anywhere;
  • Micro USB- on this moment is a standard for portable devices. Everyone accepted him large manufacturers mobile devices other than Apple. But Micro USB is gradually beginning to be replaced by USB Type-C. By the way, there are different types of Micro USB connectors, but we’ll talk about that a little later;
  • Type-C- such a cable can have the same connector at both ends. Claims higher data transfer speeds and more high power compared to previous USB standards. This is the connector Apple used for Thunderbolt 3. We’ll talk about USB Type-C a little later;

  • Lightning- does not belong to the USB standard, but has been a proprietary interface for Apple mobile products since September 2012. Until that time, devices used a less compact 30-pin proprietary connector.

USB 3.0

The new standard provides higher data transfer rates while being backward compatible with the old standard. In form, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 Type-A are the same, it’s just that the new standard is colored blue to distinguish USB 3.0 from 2.0.

But the speed increase will only occur if the connector where the cable or flash drive is inserted must be USB 3.0, and the cable or flash drive itself must have a USB 3.0 connector.

Also, besides USB 3.0 Type-A, there are other types USB connectors 3.0. Type-B and its Micro version have additional pins to provide higher data transfer speeds, which breaks the compatibility of these connectors with older versions, but older USB 2.0 devices can be connected in new USB 3.0 connectors, but you won't get any speed boost.

Micro USB

if you have Android device, then you need to have Micro USB cable. Even the most ardent Apple fans can't avoid this type of connector in portable batteries, speakers and more.

There are also divisions into types of Micro USB connectors. Micro USB Type-B is mainly used, Type-A is not particularly common, and I also use it real life never saw. The same applies to Mini USB.

If you start buying a lot of gadgets, you will soon start using different wires for different devices, still there is no difference. So you don't have to buy additional wires if you don't lose or break them.

When buying a cable, people usually buy the cheapest ones, which I do not advise you to do, since the quality of such products can be very poor. This will lead to cable failure in the future.

Also decide on the length of the cable. A short cable is convenient when traveling, but at home with this you will be sitting on the floor near the outlet. A long cable will get tangled and interfere with you in every possible way. For portable battery I have a cable 35 centimeters long, and the cable for charging a smartphone at home is 1 meter long.

USB On-The-Go

USB On-The-Go (USB OTG) is a relatively new standard that allows flash drives intended for other users to be inserted into portable devices. USB interfaces, cables to charge anything from your battery portable device and so on. USB OTG supports not only USB Type-A, but also other types of USB ports.

Now imagine that you have an external HDD, smartphone and laptop. What steps will you take to move a file from external hard disk to your smartphone? The easiest way is to first move the file from external hard drive to a laptop, and from it to a smartphone.

Now imagine that you have USB OTG adapter. Just insert the adapter into your smartphone and the cable from the external hard drive into it. There is no need for a laptop. Comfortable?

Unfortunately, not all devices support USB On-The-Go, so before purchasing an adapter, I advise you to check your device for USB OTG support.

Adapters for Lightning exist and they even come with iOS versions 9 work everywhere, but I don’t really want to call it OTG.

USB Type-C

This new standard has great potential for the future. Firstly, it is fast and can transmit large currents, and secondly, it can be inserted either way and there can be the same connector on both ends of the wire.

In 2015, Apple shocked the whole world by releasing a MacBook with one USB Type-C connector. This could be the start of a trend.

Now there are many devices with a USB Type-C connector. To connect to a computer, you should use a USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable if you do not have the same connector on your computer.

It’s not worth buying cheap USB Type-C cables, it’s not worth it at all. It's very easy to kill your device. In addition, large currents pass through such a cable, so a low-quality cable will also lead to a fire. Don't spare money on a quality cable.

conclusions

Today we looked at various types of USB connectors and standards. Now you know all the popular types of USB connectors. I hope this information was useful to you. If so, please take the time to rate this article below.

In 2015, Apple released its first gadget equipped with a new and, surprisingly, only USB Type-C port. , which has only one port, caused a storm of discontent among the company's fans.

And then it was tolerated, fell in love, and Apple to this day not only very successfully sells the 12-inch line of ultrabooks, but also equipped the USB Type-C series MacBook Pro, completely abandoning the classic USB 2.0/3.0, and indeed any additional ports.

Almost three years have passed since the release of the MacBook, but users still have questions about using the newfangled USB Type-C port. I am especially concerned about the selection of cables and accessories.

In this material we will understand all the nuances of the new standard. I will try to present the material in such a way that after reading it no more questions arise, but USB ports Type-C in MacBook and MacBook Pro has become known.

Where did USB-C come from and where did the problem creep in?

The USB standard itself appeared in 1994. USB 1.0 was conceived as a universal port for connecting all kinds of equipment to a PC. They began to actively use it only in the 2000s.

USB 2.0. Then it came USB time 2.0. USB 2.0 cables have a strict orientation and come in two types of connectors: USB Type-A and USB Type-B. With the growing popularity of mobile devices, two more types of connectors will appear later: USB Micro-B and USB Mini-B.

Data was transmitted over two cables, usually green and white, while black and red were responsible for power.

The maximum data transfer speed over USB 2.0 is 480 Mbit/s. The main disadvantage of the standard is that the currents are too low ( no more than 500 mA), which often caused problems when connecting external drives.

USB 3.0. Having decided to eliminate USB disadvantages 2.0, engineers are developing a new standard - USB 3.0. “Blue USB” became much faster and was able to transfer data at high speeds up to 5 Gbit/s.

Perhaps this was due to the emergence of four additional communication lines, and, as a result, the growth maximum current up to 900 mA.

In the fall of 2013, the specifications of the updated USB 3.1 Type-C standard were approved. Since then, life has ceased to be the same.

What exactly is USB Type-C?

Despite the fact that engineers had already released three iterations of the USB standard, the main question still remained open to them. It was necessary to provide normal nutrition.

A pathetic current of 900 mA is clearly not enough to recharge the same 8-10 thousand mAh laptop battery. In addition, more power-hungry accessories began to appear on the market, and the tendency of manufacturers to make devices thinner and more compact forced them to abandon ports such as HDMI, Thunderbolt, classic USB, and Ethernet.

Instead of 8-pin USB 3.0, 24-pin USB 3.1 Type C appears. Why are there so many of them? Judge for yourself:

The new USB Type-C specification has opened up a number of new opportunities for users.

Firstly, USB Type-C has a new USB PD standard, according to which this port and the corresponding cables must be capable of transmitting current power up to 100 W in both directions.

Secondly, the data transfer speeds are impressive. Thunderbolt 3 Alternate Mode can transfer data at speeds up to 40 Gbps. Of course, with certain “ifs”, but more on that below.

Thirdly, it can transmit video with a resolution of up to 5K. There is plenty of speed here and the need for HDMI simply disappears.

Finally, USB Type-C is convenient because no matter how you plug it in, it will work. It's two-sided. A logical continuation of the Lightning cable, but now not only for Apple devices.

What then is installed in the MacBook and MacBook Pro?

Before we figure out the choice of cables and USB Type-C accessories, we need to understand the USB Type-C ports that are installed in MacBooks.

Unfortunately, the USB Promoter Group made a lot of mistakes with the USB 3.1 specification, producing several generations of ports and completely confusing users.

Let's unravel this Gordian knot.

So, here are all generations of MacBooks and the corresponding USB Type-C ports installed in them.

That is, you should immediately understand that if you have a 12-inch MacBook, you can forget about Thunderbolt 3 support, which means it’s stupid to overpay for support for this specification when choosing a cable.

The MacBook 12″ supports video transmission via HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort (with appropriate adapters), but it cannot be connected to Thunderbolt devices.

With MacBook Pro 2016 and newer, everything is much more interesting. Until the recent update, the 13-inch MacBook Pro models only had Thunderbolt 3 support (those on the left).

In 2018, all four ports in models with TouchBar fully support data transfer to full speed. For the 12-inch MacBooks, everything remains unchanged.

Choosing the right cable for specific tasks

The choice of USB Type-C cable directly depends on the task you are pursuing. This specification is very extensive and has certain limitations.

1. For charging

USB Type-C supports charging power up to 100 W. MacBooks come with a corresponding charging cable with a built-in controller that limits the maximum charging power.

The 12-inch MacBook comes with a cable with maximum power charging up to 61 W. With MacBook Pro 13 and 15 inches 87 W respectively.

This means only one thing: if you connect a 61-watt cable to an 87-watt charger and try to charge a MacBook Pro 15" from, say, 2018, it will charge at 61 watts. That is, one and a half times slower.

This also applies to other certified charging cable manufacturers.

Is it possible connect your MacBook to a higher power charger? Can. Instead of the included 29 W power supply, you can power it with an 87 W 15-inch MacBook Pro charger. This is not scary, but there will be no miracle and the MacBook will not charge faster.

And yes, it's not harmful. The MacBook will take exactly as much as it can. By the way, with iPad history the same.

To finally resolve issues with charging and get a cable “for all occasions,” you can opt for the original 2-meter USB-C cable for RUB 1,490.

2. For transmitting video signal like HDMI

You decide to connect to a MacBook or MacBook Pro external monitor or TV. Let's figure out what to use to transmit a video stream in conjunction with USB Type-C.

First and foremost, determine which input port the external monitor or TV is equipped with.

For HDMI. Eat universal option, which will not only add to MacBooks standard USB 2.0/3.0 port and HDMI, but also duplicates USB Type-C. Costs 5,490 rubles.

For VGA. A similar, but more archaic solution for VGA for the same 5,490 rubles.

For Thunderbolt 3. There are already several Thunderbolt 3 display models on the market (12-inch MacBooks are passing by). 0.8 meters of such cable will cost 3,190 rubles.

The same option can be used for charging (up to 100 W). By overpaying 2 thousand rubles and buying this instead of a USB Type-C charging cable, you will get a truly universal cord that supports data transfer at speeds of up to 40 Gbps.

Important. Don't go for length. Two-meter and half-meter cables with Thunderbolt 3 support are two different things.

But, here it is worth bringing some clarity.

3. For connecting USB 2.0/USB 3.0 devices

Perhaps this is the only case when there are no problems with adapters. The same standard USB Type-C -> USB adapter for 1,490 rubles. capable of delivering up to 5 Gbit/s.

That's exactly what it's designed for. USB port Type-C in the 12-inch MacBook family.

4. For maximum data speed (5K and 4K 60Hz)

40 Gbps - this is the maximum USB Type-C gen 2 with Thunderbolt 3 support can transmit. But this is under ideal conditions.

To ensure this speed, the cable length must not exceed 18 inches or 45 centimeters. Otherwise, the speed drops sharply.

But even here everything is not so clear. Thunderbolt 3 cords fall into two categories: passive And active. And you should pay attention to this if speed is important to you.

The first, with a length of two meters, transmit data at half the speed, that is, at the level of 20 Gbit/s, or even less.

Active ones have a special transmitter that controls the transmission speed along the entire length of the cable. With such laces the speed is maintained.