There is no usb type c connector. Types of USB connectors

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

The debate about the modernity and the usefulness of the new interface has been going on for 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 today in the latest computers, laptops and tablets. In the distant 90s, it had the same physical form, but a different standard - USB 1.1. In more detail, there were restrictions on the data transfer rate.

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

The first generally accepted connector, which gained great popularity and distribution, was the Type-B Mini. It is successfully used in phones, cameras, camcorders 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 has remained the same - USB 2.0. In other words, the transfer rate has not increased.

The desire to minimize the size of gadgets led to the creation of the new Type-B Micro. He continues to be the main character of the overwhelming amount of modern technology, but he cannot offer users great advantages.

The real breakthrough was the USB 3.0 specification, which radically changed the way we look at many things. The new interface made it possible to increase the data transfer rate up to 5 Gbps. The changes also affected the internal structure. The new 3.0 introduces a 9-pin group (in 2.0 there were only 4 contacts).

The final 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 up to 10 Gbps. The new standard also allows a 100W charge to be transmitted.

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

Benefits of Type-C

It is not really necessary, but just another physical modification that has received support for USB 3.1. But don't jump to conclusions, as there are a number of advantages that the new connector offers:

Safety... The connector is reversible, i.e. you can connect the cable in any position. This ensures complete safety and safety of the gadget from breakages, which are accompanied by bent or broken contacts.
Versatility... Full compatibility with all legacy standards, starting with USB 1.1.
Independence... Type-C supporting USB 3.1 can supply up to 100W of power to connected devices. Simply put, when connecting, there is not only a full-fledged power supply, but also recharging the batteries of other gadgets, as from "".
Compactness... The connector has a very small size, therefore it is actively used in the production of modern tablets and tablets.

disadvantages

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

First of all, it has a unique physical structure, therefore, 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 loses its meaning, 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 have support for USB 3.1 or even 3.0. The massive move to USB Type-C will reduce demand for existing products that lack it. Regardless of the wishes and expectations of users, manufacturers deliberately push back effective technology and slow down its spread.

Second, even with two Type-C plug-in devices, it may not be possible to get the full benefit. This is due to the imperfect technology of processing and transmitting information of certain categories of devices. For example, you can sync your smartphone and personal computer / laptop via Type-C. However, data transfer in both directions will be limited, since the hard drive cannot provide the maximum speed.

Yes, new technology is available, it is being used, but the transition is still far from complete. You need to understand that in the event of a complete transition to USB Type-C, you will have to send all outdated equipment for recycling.

Today I will introduce you to the various USB Type-C cables. And I will try to dispel doubts about their expediency. The review contains cables from Orico, which are designed to connect your device with a newfangled connector to a computer or other device with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports.

The USB type-C connector is only gaining popularity and many have not just "not seen it", but also do not understand what innovations are behind it. On the basis of which opinions such as "everything will burn out" and "why do I need one more connector?"

I will try to tell in my own words. Others can find the USB Type-C Specification Release 1.1.pdf. ...

Throughout this text, I use the word "connector" as a general word for the concepts "connector", "socket", "connector", "port", etc.

Historical background

And now on your fingers. A long time ago, in a distant, distant galaxy, a data transfer specification called "USB" v1.0 was developed. Then USB 1.1 struck back. USB 2.0 has gone to the masses. And USB 3.0, although not everywhere, has successfully settled in various devices. The USB 3.1 standard has made clarifications and amendments. And, most importantly, each standard had a bunch of corresponding connectors. By connector for different types of devices with different purposes and partial backward compatibility - USB type-A, USB micro-A, USB Micro-B SuperSpeed.
It was the accumulated diversity and incomplete compatibility that caused confusion, inconvenience and gave rise to many jokes. So, the new USB Type-C standard has become a "new hope". It doesn't change the data transfer standard (but it does add). This is a connector standard that combines the advantages of all previous USB standards and avoids their disadvantages.

USB type-C properties

The main newintroduction:
- one connector for everything (for printers, smartphones, flash drives ... monitors!)
- mirrored connector (no need to guess how to insert it sideways)
- small size (it is slightly larger than micro USB)
- the connector is very securely fixed in the socket (hurray!)
- must withstand up to 10,000 connections
- the connector supports USB 1.0 - USB 3.1 standards
- it offers the devices to independently decide who to be the master / slave and the source / consumer of power
- the cable can be passive and active (with electronics inside)

The main oldintroduction:
- the standard does not define the length of the wire, it has already been defined in the data transmission standards
- the connector can withstand up to 5A, but this is described in the BC1.2 and Power Delivery standards

Next, you can talk about DisplayPort integration, audio transmission and more. And I will try to do this in the next reviews, but for now, let's look at the implementation of three USB Type-C cables with backward compatibility.

Unpacking

And only now we will consider the received package. The review got

Each of them is packed in a bag, in a cardboard box and in one more bag. Two of the three boxes were crumpled during transportation. All cables are exactly 1 meter long and 3 mm thick (except for LCU-10-BK, it is 4 mm). The wires are a little harsh and gladly return to their old position.

Pinout

What did versatility bring to backward compatibility?
In the USB 2.0 - USB 3.1 standards, Master / Slave roles are defined through the shape of the connector.
In the USB Type-C standard, the master / slave roles are defined through a pull-up resistor to ground or power. So plugging in just one cable tells the USB Type-C device what to expect on the other end.

Test stand

The stand itself looks like this.

I have already tested various cables on it, so there is something to compare with. The charger is powerful enough and has good output voltage stability. The tester used can load the charging current with a predetermined value and store all measurement data.

The table contains the results of measurements of cables at different currents.

* Direct column shows voltages without any cable. The rest of the columns need to be compared with Direct and with each other.
* gray column ECU10bk shows the result of turning on the USB type-C connector by the other side.
* the rest of the gray columns contain data on some cables I have previously measured.

Summary

So far, there are very few devices with a new connector and the article is intended for those lucky ones
who are looking for such "bridges" between generations.

* The USB type-C connector has shown itself in all its glory. It is easy to insert, firmly held and pulled out with effort. And has a mirrored arrangement of contacts.

* the most popular ECU-10-BK (USB type-C to USB type-A) cable has shown good results. He can painlessly pass about 2A through himself. But yes, he falls short of his meter-long relatives.

* the slightly specific LCU-10-BK (USB type-C to micro USB 3.0) cable suddenly showed completely identical results with different cable thicknesses and different connectors. It's even strange somehow.

* what happened to the MCU-10-BK (USB type-C to micro USB 2.0) cable I can't say. Maybe it's just a marriage.

P.S. check of speed characteristics will be, but in another review.

The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review is published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.

I plan to buy +8 Add to favourites Review liked +22 +29

USB Type-C isn't exactly a new concept for Android fans, but there are some who are still in the dark about the technology. In this article, we will find out what USB Type-C is and get some guidelines for using it.

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a cable standard that allows data and power to be transferred between electronic devices. It first appeared in 1998 and has gone through several iterations since then, the most recent being USB Type-C.

Each USB version has a baud rate and limits the amount of electrical current through it. Previous USB Type-A and Type-B connectors only have four pins, but USB Type-C has 24, faster and faster data transfer rates.

For example, Micro-USB 2.0, which is currently found on Android smartphones, supports 5V (volts) / 2A (amperes) power and 480Mbps data transfer rates. USB 3.1 Type-C, on the other hand, 20V / 5A power with transfer rates up to 10Gbps.

What are the advantages of USB Type-C

Type-C has several other useful features. The USB Type-C connector is reversible, which means it will work regardless of the orientation you plug it in, and has an identical pin on both ends.

What's more, the next generation of HDMI is USB Type-C compliant, meaning there is no need for a separate dongle to send high definition audio / visual data. In the future, laptops will no doubt bring back USB Type-C entirely.

What are the disadvantages of USB Type-C

Not all manufacturers are adapting to the new USB standard. Some USB Type-C cables are USB 2.0 compliant, which is a dangerous practice and could damage your smartphone.

If you need to buy a Type-C cable for your phone, you can purchase one from your device manufacturer currently.

Another big issue is the number of devices that use it. Nektus 5X, good luck finding the cable. Another downside is that quality USB Type-C cables and chargers are expensive.

Beware of cheap USB Type-C cables, they can harm your phone.

Even if the smartphone has USB Type-C, it may not support the USB 3.1 standard, unless you found out if there is one before purchasing. Always use the cable supplied with the USB Type-C device

Google and Apple recently launched new mobile computers, although the machines are completely different, they have one thing in common: both computers have USB Type-C ports. So what is USB Type-C? Let's see.

The two most famous devices that already have a USB Type-C port are the new Google Chromebook Pixel and the new Macbook. However, USB 3.1 and Type-C connectors will become standard over the next few years.

Each of us is probably familiar with the USB port. If you have a computer, then most likely you used a USB flash drive, or maybe you connected the printer to the USB port. If you have a smartphone running on Android, then you know that the USB port can be used for recharging or transferring data from and to the phone. The USB port has been everywhere for a long time. It first gained widespread use when Microsoft in Windows 98 and Apple included support for it to remove keyboard and mouse ports. It happened almost 20 years ago and little has changed since then.

The USB 1.1 port can transfer data at a speed of 12 Mbps, that is, 1.4 megabytes per second. In those days, a floppy disk was 1.4 megabytes, so it was fast. A USB 2.0 port was released in 2000 which could theoretically pass 480 Mbps. However, its actual average speed is roughly 280 Mbps, which is around 35 megabytes per second.

The USB 3.0 port was announced in 2008 and allows theoretical throughput speeds up to 5.0 Gbps. However, the actual achievable speed is about 400 Megabytes per second, not bad, huh ?.

On desktops, the USB 1.1, 2.0, and 3.0 ports used the same connector type, followed by micro-B or mini-B on peripheral devices (phone, camera, etc.).

The situation has changed somewhat with the arrival of USB 3.1 ports. As you would expect, the USB 3.1 port is even faster than its predecessors, its speed is so fast that it can be used to connect 4K displays. This means that in the future in laptops and PCs, we will not see HDMI or VGA connectors, users will see a new type of port. In other words, type "A" and "B" are already history. The new connector is called USB Type-C. So what does the new USB Type-C port give us, and why can't Type-A and B do it?

First, the new USB Type-C connectors are not big. And this suggests that we no longer need mini or micro ports, which means there will be no confusion with choosing the right cable. The Type-C connector is small enough for smartphones and powerful enough for PCs, and even for server use.

Secondly, the USB Type-C port can handle a 100W load, which means that it can be used not only to charge smartphones, but also to power many other devices that previously required a different power source (power supply). In the future, your printer may only need one cable - USB Type-C, which will provide both power and data transfer.

Thirdly, the Type-C cable is reversible - now it doesn't matter how you connect it. You no longer need to look closely at which side to connect the cable.

Finally, the USB Type-C cable uses a new small connector on both ends, and will no longer use Type “A” on one end and Type “B” on the other. Now you can actually connect the cable however you like and it will just work!

The two most famous devices that already have a USB Type-C port are the new Google Chromebook Pixel and the new Macbook. However, USB 3.1 and Type-C connectors will become standard over the next few years. Since it is backward compatible, you will need a passive adapter to connect devices running on older USB ports. So that companies that will switch to new technology will not alienate their existing customers.

Adam Rodriguez, Product Manager for Google, stated that “We are the proponent of USB Type-C. You will see it in many Chromebooks and Android devices in the near future. ” It is worth noting that the Type-C connector can be received by devices that do not even support USB 3.1 yet. For example, mid-range smartphones can use the new connector without actually having support for the new USB standard. This will make it easier to switch to the new connector type, however it can cause some confusion when the port does not deliver as fast as expected.

The latest line of Type-C (and USB 3.1) ports take the best from the beloved USB, and makes it even better, providing a universal connector size that will work well with both mobile phones and personal computers.

Mobile device users in the 2000s had a hard time - they had to put up with the so-called proprietary... The phones of each manufacturer were equipped with unique charging connectors - as a result, the charger, for example, for Nokia did not work with a Motorola phone. It got to the point of absurdity - when for two phones of the same manufacturer (Finnish) it was necessary to look for different chargers. User dissatisfaction was so strong that the European Parliament was forced to intervene.

Now the situation is radically different: almost all smartphone manufacturers equip their gadgets with ports for chargers. one type... The user no longer has to buy a new memory "in addition" to the phone.

USB cables can be used not only to transfer data from a PC to a gadget, but also to charge a mobile device. Smartphones are able to replenish the "reserves" of the battery both from the outlet and from the computer, but in the second case, charging will take significantly longer. A traditional USB cable for an Android smartphone or Windows Phone looks like this:

There is a standard plug at one of its ends. USB 2.0 Type-A:

This plug fits into a USB port on your computer or laptop.

At the other end of the wire is a plug microUSB.

It is, accordingly, inserted into the micro-USB connector on the mobile device.

It is micro-USB 2.0 that is now a unified connector: you can find it on smartphones and tablets of almost all manufacturers of mobile equipment (with the exception of Apple). The interface standardization agreement was signed in 2011 by representatives of 13 companies leading in the mobile market.

The choice fell on Micro-USB for a number of reasons:

The connector is compact... Its physical dimensions are only 2 × 7 millimeters, which is about 4 times smaller than that of USB 2.0 Type-A.
The plug is durable - especially when compared to Nokia's slim charger.
The connector is capable of providing high data transfer rates.Theoretically, the transfer rate via Micro-USB using the 2.0 standard can reach 480 Mbps. The actual speed is much lower (10-12 Mbps in Full Speed), but this is rarely a problem for users.
The connector supports OTG function. We'll tell you more about the benefits of this later.

Competition micro-USB in the fight for the role of a standard connector could impose Mini-USB... The mini plug looks like this:

This kind of USB connector did not fit as standard, and here's why:

Bigger connector - albeit not much. Its size is 3 × 7 millimeters.
The connector is fragile enough - due to the lack of rigid mountings, it loosens very quickly. As a result, the transmission of data via cable becomes a real torment for the user.

In the 2000s, a mini-USB connector could be found on smartphones manufactured by "second-class" manufacturers - say, Philips and Alcatel... Now you will not find mobile gadgets with a mini-connector on the market.

In addition to those USB ports that we mentioned (Micro-USB, Mini-USB, USB Type-A), there are others. For instance, micro-USB 3.0 can be used to connect hard drives to a PC, and USB Type-B(square shape) – for musical instruments (in particular, MIDI keyboards). These connectors are not directly related to mobile technology (except for Galaxy Note 3 c USB 3.0), so we will not talk about them in more detail.

What are USB cables for smartphones?

Thanks to the inexhaustible imagination of Chinese needleworkers, users of mobile technology can buy cables of completely different formations. For example, in the proprietary era, such a "monster" was incredibly popular:

Yes, this charger fits all main connectors!

Similar "multitools" are still on sale, but their plugs have diminished. Here is a 4-in-1 charger that can be ordered for less than 200 rubles:

This charger is equipped with all modern plugs - Lightning, 30Pin (both for iPhone), microUSB, USB 3.0. Definitely a "must-have" for the user!

There are other interesting options as well. Here is the cable from OATSBASF for those who hate cables:

This cable allows two mobile devices to be charged from a computer at the same time (for example, the 5th iPhone and Android) and has a very tempting price - just over 100 rubles.

In domestic stores and salons, the user, of course, will not find such an abundance of various cables as on the pages of catalogs GearBest and AliExpress... In addition, Data-equipment in retail is much more expensive. For these two reasons, users are advised to order USB cables from China.

What is OTG standard?

Surely many have seen such a cable and wondered what it is for:

This is a cable OTG; at one end of it there is a plug micro-USB, on the second - connector USB 2.0, "Mama". Using such a cable, you can connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone or tablet, but only if the mobile device itself supports the standard OTG.

OTG (short for On-the-go) Is a function designed to quickly connect 2 USB devices to each other, without the mediation of a computer. Connect by OTG you can not only a flash drive (although this is, of course, the most common case), but also, for example, a computer mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, game wheel, joystick. You can even connect your smartphone to a printer or MFP to print a picture taken with the gadget's camera.

Cables OTG for iPhone have already appeared, however, uploading to an "apple" device (without jailbreak) from an external medium only produces photos and videos - and then only when the root folders on the flash drive and the photos themselves have the "correct" names.

Full list of smartphones that support the function OTG, no - simply because almost all modern gadgets can boast of having this standard, and the list would be huge. Nevertheless, a buyer intending to connect a mouse or a flash drive to a device should inquire with a salon store consultant for support. OTG before giving money - "for every fireman."

USB Type-C: what are the benefits?

Transition from micro-USB on is a new trend in the mobile electronics market! Manufacturers are actively adopting the technology and equipping their flagship models with improved connectors for charging and data transfer. USB Type-C waited a long time "in the shadows": the connector was created back in 2013, but only in 2016 did the market leaders pay attention to it.

Looks USB Type-C So:

What are the benefits Type-C in front of everyone familiar micro-USB?

High speed data transfer... Bandwidth Type-C equals 10 Gb / sec (!). But that's just bandwidth: in reality, only owners of smartphones with standard USB 3.1 - eg, Nexus 6P and 5X... If the gadget uses the standard USB 3.0, the speed will be around 5 Gb / s; at USB 2.0 data transfer will be significantly slower.
Fast charging... The duration of the smartphone charging procedure depends on the potential number of watts supplied by the connector. USB 2.0 standard able to serve everything 2.5W - that's why charging takes hours. Connector USB Type-C provides 100 watts - that is, 40 times (!) More. Curiously, the transmission of current can occur in both directions - both to the host and from it.
Symmetry of the connector... If the connector has micro-USB there is a top and a bottom, then the connector Type-C symmetrical. Which side to insert it into the connector does not matter. From this point of view, technology USB Type-C similar to Lightning from Apple.

Dignity Type-C is also the small size of the connector - only 8.4 × 2.6 mm. According to this criterion, technologies micro-USBand USB Type-C are similar.

Have USB Type-C there are also disadvantages, one of which is more than significant. Due to the unregulated operation of the connector, charging can easily "fry" a mobile device. This probability is not purely theoretical - fires have occurred in practice. It is for this reason that the proliferation of non-original, "artisanal" cables and chargers USB Type-C Type-C and decide to abandon the standard connector. At the same time, Ravencraft admits that, possibly, a complete replacement USB-A will never happen.