With so many different electronic devices available on the market, a universal connector that works with them all would be ideal from a customer’s point of view. And for now, USB-C is probably as close as we’re getting to that.
The USB Type-C port can be found on all kinds of devices nowadays. Everything from PCs, handheld computers, and cameras to monitors and external hard drives are using USB-C.
What is USB-C?
But what is USB-C technically speaking, and what makes it different compared to other connectors?
USB-C was first brought to life in 2014 and has now become a new industry-standard connector transferring both data and power through one single cable.
The connector itself is made out of 24-pins divided symmetrically, making it usable no matter which way you insert the contact. In comparison to other USB versions such as micro USB and USB-A that can only be connected in one way, this is a major leap forward in terms of usability.
Power
But the USB-Type C connector has more advantages than being reversible. Devices that are using USB-C can receive up to 100W of power making it suitable for even bigger mobile devices such as laptops etc.
It is also a good fit for connecting mobile devices to external monitors since it can deliver 4K video, audio, and at the same time charge your mobile device.
What’s most noticeable, on the other hand, is how much faster devices can be charged when using USB-C compared to previous connectors. Instead of having to wait hours for your device to be fully charged, we’re talking about minutes thanks to USB-C.
Size and versatility
The USB-C connector is also much more compact than other connectors, making it an attractive choice for new technical devices trying to be as slim as possible.
In addition to that, a USB-C connector gives great opportunities for connecting several contacts via one slot. For example, a docking station could allow you to connect your device to other devices via ports such as HDMI, Ethernet, and USB-A.
The future of USB-C
Even though the amount of devices with USB-C ports has grown massively throughout the last years, we’re only at the beginning of the USB-C reign.
There are constantly ongoing rumors about whether Apple will have to ditch its lightning connector in favor of USB-C due to regulations demanding common chargers for all mobile devices. And since they’ve already implemented USB-C into their MacBooks there might be a chance.
If that happens, it will probably make USB-C the standalone most common port for mobile devices since pretty much all new Android devices nowadays already use USB-C.
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