What is USB Type-C: history, advantages and disadvantages. What is USB Type-C? Understanding the example of Promate uniHub-C What type c charging looks like

Lately, it is even easier to surprise people than it seems. When we were shown the USB Type-C connector, everyone just gasped, because it's so cool, now you can even put your device on charge the first time even at night. But is it worth it? Maybe USB Type-C isn't as good as it sounds? Maybe he is not needed at all now? Yes maybe…

Lately, it is even easier to surprise people than it seems. When they showed us the USB Type-C connector, everyone just gasped, because it's so cool, now you can even put your device on charge the first time even at night. But is it worth it? Maybe USB Type-C isn't as good as it sounds? Maybe he is not needed at all now?

Yes, the ability to charge your smartphone when you are drunk can be a good thing. Or maybe this is just another marketing ploy of large companies, so that you once again buy yourself a new tablet or smartphone? In this article, we have described five reasons why you don't need USB Type-C now.

1. USB Type-C does not mean "fast charging"

One of the most common myths about this connector is that it will charge your devices faster. This is wrong. This is just a new version of the connector. Type-C is the same as previous standards, fast charging has nothing to do with it. Despite the fact that it supports the USB 3.1 standard, which carries a number of improvements, you should not think that it will be so on all smartphones.

OnePlus 2 is the most striking example of this. It has a USB Type-C connector, but the USB 2.0 standard, which does not give it any advantages, except for a "universal" cable, over older smartphones. In addition, there is still not a single smartphone that supports a new type of connector and a fast battery charging mode.

2. There will be no huge data transfer speed either

The second myth is the assumption that with it you will be able to transfer data at the speed of light compared to older solutions. Here, too, everything rests on such industry standards as USB 2.0, 3.0, 3.1. It is on these standards that the data transfer rate depends, but not in any way on the shape of the cable.

3. You will have to store it as "the apple of your eye"

If you are going somewhere to go on vacation and have forgotten the MicroUSB cable at home, then there is nothing to worry about, because you can charge your smartphone with a charger from the tablet, or you can even use someone else's cable for charging, because this standard is widespread throughout the world.

But the owners of the same OnePlus 2 will have to endure for an unknown amount of time and carry the cable all the time in their pocket or backpack. After all, if the battery of your smartphone "dies", then there will be simply nowhere to charge it. That is why, devices with such connectors need to be bought at least in a year, when there will already be a sufficient number of smartphones / tablets with this type of charger on the market. So do not chase the desire to get into the connector even at night, because by this you will have another significant problem that I described above.

4. The cable is rare and expensive

If you suddenly lose your cable, then you will have a hard time. First, it is almost impossible to find it in a short time. Secondly, if you find it, then its cost is much higher than you think. And all because now the demand for this product is minimal.

5. Old accessories will become useless

Surely, you, like me, have a huge box of various trinkets and accessories for your smartphone. After purchasing a main device with a USB Type-C connector, they will all become useless in an instant. Since the "old" Type-A connectors are physically incompatible with the new type of cable. Of course, special adapters will help you, but think, is it worth it?

It would seem that the USB Type-C standard has just begun to earn a reputation for itself in the world of mobile technologies, but 2015 has already given us a certain number of devices that have tried on a new interface: the memories of OnePlus 2, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are still fresh.

There is no doubt that the number of such devices will grow relentlessly this year. The largest manufacturers will continue to fight for the consumer, supplying Type-C connectors not only to their flagship models, but also to offerings in lower price segments.

If you regularly use external batteries or other portable chargers, sharpened for microUSB, it will add to you a headache: in order to continue to benefit from your favorite accessories, be ready to fork out for a dozen different adapters.

But there is an alternative option - an external battery, or the so-called Power Bank, with an already built-in connector for the USB Type-C connector, which, among other things, has a number of significant advantages over competitors: recharging the device through a Type-C connection is much faster, and you don't have to carry all the necessary adapters with you.

On the pages of online stores, you can find dozens of different names of portable chargers. It looks like it's time to figure out which items are worth buying. Taking into account the brand, rating and positive reviews, we have compiled a small subjective list for you. And if the power banks presented below are not in your local store, their cost allows you to order them on ebay, amazon or another online platform without any problems with customs.

The 20,100mAh Anker PowerCore + will set you back around $ 51. For this money, you get a device with LED charge indicator, two USB ports with an output current of 2.4 A, and one USB Type-C port. Actually, the kit itself consists of a "power bank", a USB / USB Type-C cable for recharging the battery, a case and a cable for microUSB.

Note that Anker PowerCore + boasts several unique finds that are responsible for the legitimate power of your. The proprietary PowerIQ technology replicates the charging protocols of each plug-in gadget, making the procedure safe and as efficient as possible. VoltageBoost will also be useful: it determines the resistance of the cable, thereby ensuring process stability. Unfortunately, Anker PowerCore + does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 technology.

The external battery CHOETECH with 10400 mAh inside costs $ 32. There are two USB ports on board, one of which is compatible with Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology. The USB Type-C connector can be used to connect to a Macbook, Nexus 6P or Pixel C. Includes the Power Bank itself and a USB / USB Type-C cable. There is also a guarantee for 18 months. The device charges both via microUSB and via the USB Type-C interface.

In fact, CHOETECH doesn't look very impressive when compared to Anker's model. It costs $ 20 cheaper, but half of the capacity is lost somewhere along with the price. Only its modest weight and size, as well as support for Quick Charge 2.0, can tip the scales in favor of CHOETECH.

The price of the RAVPower 20,100 mAh power bank is about $ 60. Discreet design - a black box with a four-point LED-indicator - clearly contrasts with excellent functionality: microUSB connector responsible for recharging RAVPower; one more USB port is ready to cooperate with Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0 technologies; speed is provided by USB 3A Type-C interface.

The iSmart port is a peculiar feature of the battery. With its help, RAVPower recognizes the type of connected device and optimizes its operation based on the information received.

It is noteworthy that the declared 20,100 mAh should be enough to bring the Galaxy S6 back to life five times; to restore the full charge of the iPhone 6S, you will have about 8 attempts. Also, RAVPower is able to protect your device from overcharging and keep its sensitive microcircuits healthy.

All in all, RAVPower is a great choice for those who dream of a large portable battery with tons of additional features and Qualcomm's Quick Charge support. What else can you say, a luxurious thing with an equally “luxurious” price.

The Talentcell 10400 mAh power supply is the cheapest accessory on our list. Its cost is $ 27. It is charged via microUSB 2.0, there is a USB Type-C connector. The battery status is displayed by a small LED indicator. In the package you will find a Power Bank and a Type-C cable. You can use Talentcell with any gadget, except for the 12-inch handsome Macbook. This wonderful battery also allows you to charge two smartphones at the same time.

If you don't have extra funds to buy an expensive power bank, Talentcell is ready to offer its services. The project's reviews are quite good, but if you are still confused by a little-known brand, think about purchasing the options discussed above.

And again, a product with a not too big name, but an attractive price. Such is the dilemma: for $ 32 you can buy Talentcell and two Big Mac Menus or iVoler with its 10000 mAh battery, standard USB port and Type-C interface. The lack of support for Qualcomm Quick Charge here is compensated by the possibility of "mega" fast charging from 0 to 100 percent in 3.5 hours.

It seems to us that it is better to take TalentCell and eat, but the additional option was still worth considering - after all, fast food is a harmful thing.

Is it really time for one unified connector to charge any device? More recently, such an assumption could be laughed at. But even Apple is giving up on the sly, and the MacBook with its USB Type-C is the first confirmation of this.

Nirvana is still far away, first you need to finish off the periphery. Everything in order: before talking about the problems of the new port, you need to remember what kind of "beast" it is.

One ring One connector to rule them all

The idea behind a USB Type-C connector is to replace all the others, whether it's charging, an HDMI port, or a regular USB flash drive socket. No more "I have a cable on the other side" or "I can only connect one monitor." Found the port, inserted the device, it worked. Idyll.

Oh well. In practice, this "freedom" has created a lot of confusion. It is not enough to make a universal connector - it needs at least universal cable.

The fact is that the USB Type-C port has 24 pins, through which breakouts of signals of different protocols pass. Here's what can be summed up in this universal connector.

USB 2.0

The first devices equipped with a USB Type-C port actually worked in USB 2.0 mode and transmitted data at a speed of 480 Mbps. Tablets and smartphones using this protocol are still found today (hello Nokia N1).

USB 3.1 gen 1 (3.0, SuperSpeed USB)

Flies at speeds up to 5Gbps, backward compatible with USB 1.x and USB 2.0. Most likely, the blue port on your computer works with this protocol. The MacBook is no exception.

USB 3.1 gen 2

The upgraded version of USB 3.0 is also backward compatible. The data transfer rate has grown to 10 Gbps, and the power to 100 watts. Almost Thunderbolt!

Alternate Mode (AM)

Other non-USB protocols can be mixed into the Type-C connector. For example, Thunderbolt, HDMI, MHL, or DisplayPort. But not all peripherals understand this Alternate Mode.

Power Delivery (PD)

The best part is charging via USB Type-C. Power Delivery supports 5 standard power supply profiles - up to 5V / 2A, up to 12V / 1.5A, up to 12V / 3A, up to 12-20 / 3A and up to 12-20V / 4.75-5A. Compliance with any profile is determined automatically.

Audio Accessory Mode

Yes, analog audio signal can also be sent through USB Type-C ports.

The hardest part is finding the right wire

Ok, everything is clear with the port, it remains to buy a cable. But beginners usually face three problems:

1. Old protocol in a new connector
"New" USB Type-C cable for 150 rubles from Aliexpress? Beware, an ancient USB 2.0 might be hiding inside. It's not even about the reputation of Chinese entrepreneurs, many well-known brands are ready to sell Type-C cable with the old protocol inside at a bargain price.

2. A heap of specifications
Yes, everything is signed in the title. But how can an ordinary person figure out who doesn't care about all these new specifications? Which picks up the wire according to the shape of the connector? No way. He had just figured out the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 wires.

And outputting an image via USB Type-C is not an easy undertaking. In addition to Display Port and HDMI, there are three more generations of Thunderbolt, which can also connect monitors. It is not enough to find a suitable cable - the device must clearly understand that it is connected to it through Alternate Mode.

3. Will it charge?
Will be, if the name contains "charge" or "PD". But there is a catch here: a cable that supports charging via USB Type-C must meet the required profile and be certified. What is fraught with? At best, slow charging, at worst - on fire.

Why you can't insert the first cable you come across

Because you can ruin everything. There are three reasons:

1. Low baud rate
Of course, to connect to an external hard drive or a smartphone, almost any wire with the necessary connectors will do. But it is worth making sure that it works with the correct protocol (for example, with USB 3.0), otherwise the data transfer speed will drop.

2. Bad picture or lack of it
If the cable will connect the MacBook and the monitor, make sure that the cable is transmitting the correct signal frequency. Remember Thunderbolt 3 doesn't work with previous generations.

3. The current with a power of 100 W is not a joke
PD cables are a little more complicated. The power threshold has been lifted, which means that you need to be more careful, because in the event of a cable marriage, sad consequences are possible. Not so long ago, a man's laptop and a couple of other devices burned down. Of course, this is an isolated case, and your MacBook is unlikely to burn out. But over time, the battery or power controller can be damaged.
So, if a wire is needed to charge a laptop, forget about nouns for two hundred square meters.

But for smartphones with USB 2.0 adapters, it's not all that bad. You can buy any USB Type-C to USB 2.0 cable and quietly charge your phone.

What to do?

Of course, USB Type-C is the future. There are more and more devices with new connectors and soon the time will pass when you took the first wire that came across without hesitation.

You need to glue labels on USB Type-C cables. Seriously, how else to distinguish a deshman, for an external hard, from an expensive one, which can be used to charge any device?

The best option is to use original wires. Well, if you really buy, then only cool USB 3.1 with Power Delivery support. These cost from 1,500 rubles and more. The situation with connectors from Alternate Mode is simpler, but the price tag is about the same.

Recently, more and more buyers are giving preference to smartphones based on Android with support for the new power port - USB Type-C. The microUSB port is currently in the 1st place in terms of use by manufacturers of electronic devices, the second place belongs to USB-C.

USB-C not only allows you to charge your smartphone faster, it can be inserted either side, which is very convenient.

This topic raises many questions regarding the safety and efficiency of using the next generation port, so this article contains answers to frequently asked questions regarding USB Type-C.

We have been using microUSB for a long time. This allowed many to avoid the need to buy additional chargers and cables for different gadgets (as long as this port was used in all gadgets).

The process of bundling devices with a USB-C port takes into account the fact that it allows you to connect to any computer. USB-C can completely replace microUSB, miniUSB, and the rectangular USB-A port used in laptops and computers.

Not everyone knows that the new port is more versatile than other analogs existing today. USB-C demonstrates faster transfer rates between devices and faster charging speeds. Using a modified port is a step forward. Considering that a huge number of gadgets with different types of USB are already being produced in the world, this port will slowly but surely win the attention of users.

Will the battery charge faster with USB Type-C?

The answer is unequivocal - yes! Let's see how it works. USB-C is significantly more powerful and faster than other cables used for smartphones and tablets. For example, Google's Pixel C tablet has this cable and comes with a 15W charger that charges much faster than USB 3.0. The Chromebook Pixel 2 from the same manufacturer is equipped with a 60W charger, which can be used for 15 minutes and will provide 2 hours of productive use. MicroUSB is not capable of providing such impressive performance.

In the case of smartphones, for example Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X, the charging speed using the 3.0 port and USB-C differs slightly (within 5-10 minutes). Therefore, there is not much difference in this case. Things get much more interesting when it comes to laptops and tablets.

What are the cables with USB-C

To keep your workflow as productive as possible, most tablets and laptops that come with USB-C come with a pair of cables. One has a USB-C port on both ends, while the other has a USB-C port on one end and a rectangular USB-A port on the other. You get the ability to connect to any device, and the fastest charging and data transfer speeds possible with a USB-C cable at both ends.

Why haven't all gadget manufacturers switched to USB-C yet?

It is known that the release of smartphones and tablets is planned well in advance. Therefore, not all manufacturers managed to switch to the new port format. Manufacturers had to choose one thing between the two options, or leave the old port, or go into overproduction and lose money at the same time. For example, such a giant as Samsung, which has already invested significant resources in installing microUSB in Gear VR headsets, did not make sense to change its decision in favor of a new generation port, losing fabulous investments.

How can you be sure you are buying a safe cable?

First of all, you need to give preference to the cables of the manufacturer of your gadget, if one does not come with it. These cables are designed to work specifically with your device to avoid risks. Although here, too, oversights are possible. For example, Apple in February of this year recalled the USB-C cable for some devices. Unlike many other manufacturers, the company admitted its mistake and allowed customers to replace the faulty components.

In case you do not want to buy a cable from the manufacturer of your device, make sure that another supplier provides a quality product.

Is USB-C just a whim?

In contrast, I would like to say that the port is a standard that has already been adopted by Apple, Google, LG, HTC, as well as dozens of other companies in the world. This means that all users of electronic devices will switch to USB-C.

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At the beginning of its journey, the USB port was designed to unite all other interfaces into one, its unchanging logo even hinted at this, but time passes and the universal port itself has grown to many poorly compatible versions, which has brought even more chaos in the relationship of certain gadgets. Finally, He appeared on the horizon. Great and terrible USB Type C. Knowledgeable people greeted him with almost applause, and ordinary users only shrugged their shoulders. You can meet with this indifference even today, they say, yes, symmetrical, yes, it's easier to connect, so what? In fact, the difference turns out to be huge, and if you are still wondering which is better - Type C or microUSB, this is the place for you.

Type C is more practical

This compact port has declared itself as a new network standard and its appearance is quite consistent with such a high status. A symmetrical, 24-pin port can be found today on smartphones of the flagship and mid-price segments, laptops, docking stations, routers and a huge number of other equipment. It does not take up much space on the case and, yes, it is more convenient to connect it. And now you don't have to carry with you a certain number of blocks from different equipment.
Backward compatibility is also important. The Type-C port allows you to use any technique, from the oldest to the most modern, without particular restrictions.
A couple of years ago, there was an acute issue of finding adapters and compatible flash drives, but today they are a dime a dozen on the market.

Data transfer speed - up to 10 Gb / s

In this regard, Type C is a big reserve for the future, because it offers users data transfer speeds up to 10 Gb / s. Of course, modern smartphones do not need this, but in the future it may well come in handy.
Here, by the way, we must immediately put an end to the confusion. The first Type C installed on a smartphone (by the way, it was Nokia N1) supported only the 2.0 protocol, while later devices could have both 3.0 and 3.1 with the corresponding data transfer rates. This limitation is imposed by the manufacturer with an eye to modern realities and will invariably increase.

Charging - up to 100 watts of power

Fast chargers are already in full swing across the planet. They are developed by different manufacturers and they work according to different principles, but the essence is the same - to increase the power and thus reduce the charging time of the gadget. If you read our last text, then you noticed that in modern technologies of fast charging, the numbers do not even come close to the indicated one. However, in the future this seemingly transcendental power will also be used. You may have come across this technology on the Web under the name USB Power Delivery. This is what many see as the future standard for fast charging.
Moreover, the Type C port can not only charge, but also charge other devices, which third-party manufacturers will obviously not fail to use in their developments.

Alternative modes

If up to this point we talked exclusively about proprietary developments, now it's time to look at the related technologies. Type C will also allow connection to monitors with DisplayPort, MHL and HDMI.
Thunderbolt 3, which guarantees high-speed data and video transfers, cannot be overlooked. Through this interface, you can daisy-chain up to 6 peripheral devices (eg monitors). True, it is difficult to imagine a situation when it is really necessary.

Sound transmission - audiophile quality

If we evaluated all of the above modes in the context of a reserve for the future, then this is something that even ordinary users are faced with today. We are talking about the mass replacement of the audio jack with a Type C port. Split ports, in this case, have only one (but very serious) advantage: you can use headphones even when the smartphone is charging. But on all other points, the analog jack is inferior to the digital USB-C. In the latter case, the sound quality will be higher, noise cancellation and echo cancellation are better implemented. Equally important is the ability to transfer some of the tasks (and related equipment) to the headset, which will also help to avoid unnecessary noise and expand the headset's control capabilities. The flip side of the coin is that headphones will clearly become more expensive than modern simple "whistles" or, in other words, "whistles" will simply die out as a species.
And in the future, according to the developers, cooler things await us. For example, the ability to track body temperature during sports using headphones.

Docking stations

It is the versatility of the USB Type C port that made it possible to use docking stations for smartphones. Connecting to a dock makes it possible to get an almost full-fledged desktop PC from a smartphone. Not a gaming level, of course, but it will definitely pull on multimedia, since the power of mobile processors is more than enough for this. There are currently two devices on the market that offer this functionality. This is the HP Elite x3 that we reviewed extensively and the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 + and Note8 models with their DeX Station. Given the speed at which Type C is spreading, I would like to hope that analogs will appear from other manufacturers.

As we can see, a miniature Type-C port is not only charging, as many people think, but also a lot of other possibilities. It is for its versatility that USB-C is appreciated. But the sea of these indisputable pluses crosses out one fat minus. Port capabilities will always be limited by the host device and it is impossible to externally recognize these limitations. That is, Type C always looks the same, and to find out what exactly it will “be able to” on a particular device, you will have to look for detailed specifications. Moreover, the difficulties here will be not only with the presence / absence of alternative modes, but also with the involved speeds. Moreover, the compatibility of two devices can be “killed” by using the wrong cable. This game of attentiveness turns out to be not sickly. The only thing that pleases is that the further, the more these restrictions will be leveled with the development of technology.