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What Is USB-C, and Why You Should Care

The last laptop, Android smartphone, or game console you bought most likely came with a USB-C port. If you buy a lot of tech, you may be quite familiar with this new type of USB. But if you’re not, you may be wondering what USB-C is, and why your old cables no longer work.Get more news about Usb Connector,you can vist our website!

USB-C is a new standardized port to replace previous USB connectors, like USB Type-A as well as microUSB. For the most part, it rocks, but it does have some downsides and caveats you need to be aware of. Main takeaway: Not all USB-C ports are created equal.

What is USB-C?
The USB-C port was introduced back in 2014 by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). Since its introduction, USB-C has slowly replaced other USB ports on devices of all kinds: You probably have some tech that sport the port, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and game consoles. If you upgraded your PS4 to a PS5, for example, the controllers switched from a micro USB port to USB-C.

While many companies have adopted the new port in the years since its introduction, there are some that have been slow to adapt. Apple is arguably the most infamous: The company was aggressive with adding USB-C ports to its MacBook lineup (backtracking in recent years), but stubbornly refused to use USB-C with the iPhone. Instead, they still implement their proprietary Lightning port.

Unfortunately for Apple—but fortunately for the rest of us—that’s about to change. The European Union announced last year that USB-C will be the common charging port for all mobile phones (iPhones included), tablets, and cameras. The EU’s main reason for requiring USB-C as the standard is to help reduce e-waste. The EU’s USB-C mandate is set to go into effect by the end of 2024, which is why rumors point to the iPhone 15 as the first smartphone from Apple to use USB-C. Thank goodness.
USB-C gets confusing fast
With all those benefits, however, come some downsides. While it’s great that USB-C is so universal, not all USB-C cables are created equal. You need to be careful when buying them if you want to take advantage of the speeds USB-C is capable of.

For example, USB 3.1 (or USB 3.2 Gen 1) can only transfer data at 5Gbps. Next is USB 3.2 2x1 (formerly known as USB 3.1 Gen 2), as well as USB 3.2 1x2, both of which have speeds of up to 10Gbps.

If you’re looking for the fastest speeds possible, keep an eye out for USB 3.2 cables, which have transfer speeds of up to 20 Gbps—or even USB4, which offers speeds of up to 40 Gbps (note, though, that not as many devices support USB4 yet). The most recent version of USB4, USB4 2.0, offers speeds of up to 120Gbps.

The one you need to really watch out for, however, is USB-C 2.0. USB 2.0 is an old standard that is slow by today’s expectations. These cables can only transfer data at 480 Mbps, which is a fraction of the speeds you’ll find in the cables above. These cables aren’t good for data transfer, and they’re definitely not good for charging devices. Fun fact: Apple’s Lightning cables only support USB 2.0, too.