Some devices with USB-C ports (certain camera accessories, portable battery packs, and other cheap gadgets) can only charge using a USB-A to USB-C cable instead of a USB-C to USB-C.

The USB-C standard attempts to eliminate the need to have different cables for other communication technologies, such as Thunderbolt, PCIe, HDMI, DisplayPort, and more. It defines the mechanical requirements for USB-C plug connectors and the guidelines for the USB-C receptacle mounting configuration to provide a standardized screw lock mechanism for USB-C connectors and cables. When you have multiple devices with varied charging ports, you often need multiple charging cables, but this clever offering from Smartish packs three connection types into one. The audio adapter may optionally include a USB-C charge-through port to allow 500 mA device charging.The minor wrinkle is that USB ports with 10Gbps speeds can also exist in the original, larger shape (the USB Type-A rectangles we all know), and are dubbed "USB 3. This is a new type of high-performance connector which is now appearing on newer phones, tables and even notebook computers. For any two pieces of equipment connecting over USB, one is a host (with a downstream-facing port, DFP) and the other is a peripheral device (with an upstream-facing port, UFP). When I measured it against my digital USB tester, it appeared accurate, though it rounds up to the nearest whole watt.

The USB Implementers Forum certifies valid cables so they can be marked accordingly and users can distinguish them from non-compliant products. Then there's Qualcomm’s Quick Charge (QC) standard, which was the most popular for phones for many years, although Quick Charge 4+ supports PD. The receptacle features four power and four ground pins, two differential pairs (connected together on devices) for legacy USB 2. Then you've caught me testing gear and editing reviews of laptops, desktop PCs, and tons of other personal tech. Plug one end of the cable into the USB-C port of your first device, such as a laptop or smartphone, and the other end into the USB-C port of the second device, which could be a charger, external hard drive, or another laptop.

This capacity is enough to provide 100w, adequate power for the majority of laptops while also supporting thinner, smaller devices. Sadly, the splitter section is bulky, some devices we plugged in were slow to charge, and data transfer maxes out at 480 Mbps. This means many USB-A–to–USB-C cables will only work in the A to C direction (connecting to a USB-C devices, e. USB-C cables are commonly used for a variety of devices, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles.

Actual speeds will be based on the host and destination devices (resorting to the lowest speed) as well as the capabilities of the USB cable being used. There is a leather clip you can use for cable management, and the ridged finish on the connectors makes them easy to grip when unplugging. If you’re baffled by batteries and stumped by sizes, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you find what you’re looking for at Maplin!But USB-C is different—and perhaps it's even as truly universal as its acronym (Universal Serial Bus) suggests.

It will transfer data quicker and general charge quicker, however USB Type-C without an adapter will not fit with USB 2 or MicroUSB cables. In April 2023, the Denver, Colorado office of the FBI tweeted out a warning to avoid using public USB ports. Various connectors, specifications, charging rates, and data transfer speeds make for a confusing, messy scene. I've used a few cables with this magnetic design, where the detachable tip can just permanently sit in the charging port of a phone, tablet, or laptop. Related USB-IF specifications [ edit ] USB Type-C Locking Connector Specification The USB Type-C Locking Connector Specification was published 2016-03-09.The launch of the USB-C connector, and the evolution of USB data handling and charging standards offer some very exciting possibilities for today’s computing devices. The designation "C" is to distinguish it from the various former USB connectors it replaced, all termed either Type-A or Type-B.