Not every USB-C port or cable is the same USB-C connections are now the de facto standard for charging and data transfer across a wide range of products, including laptops, phones, wireless Bluetooth speakers, earbuds, and more. Not all ports or cables are the same, even if USB-C is now present almost everywhere, even Apple, a longtime laggard with the iPhone 15. Although they have some interoperability and appear the same, there are ratings for various data and charging rates. Because of this, selecting a USB-C cable may become more difficult than necessary.
The next time you’re shopping for cables, this guide will help you figure out precisely what you need. Even while you might not require the priciest USB-C cable, it’s still crucial to know why. Having stated that, let’s begin with the fundamentals and work our way up.
USB-C: What is it?
The acronym for Universal Serial Bus is USB. Perhaps the most widely used USB type to date is Type-C, the most recent generation. It is present in almost every modern piece of technology that requires charging, including computers, phones, and cameras. It is the name of both the cable that links the devices and the connecting port on an electronic device. Devices may be charged and data can be transferred between devices using USB-C. The USB Implementers Forum, sometimes known as USB-IF, created the USB-C standard. Many of the firms in that forum are likely recognizable to you, such as Apple, Intel, Microsoft, Samsung, and others.
The plug orientation of USB-C may be reversed, just as Apple’s Lightning connection. The days of making three efforts to correctly plug in a USB-A cable are long gone. You will no longer struggle with a micro-USB cable because of its peculiar angular shape. Simply take out a USB-C cable and connect it.
If necessary, USB-C cables with various ports on the opposite end are available. For instance, a USB-C-to-USB-A cable, dongle, or adaptor is necessary since certain older devices and less expensive accessories still utilize USB-A. In order to keep your desk organized, there are cables for that as well as cables with a conventional USB-C connector at a 90-degree angle.
Can power and data be transferred using any USB-C cable?
On a wooden table are many USB-C chargers.
The short answer is no. If all you want is a reasonably priced charging cable, this is excellent news because they are less expensive to manufacture when they don’t contain any data transfer components. Regretfully, it does indicate that you should exercise caution when purchasing cords. Make sure you’re obtaining a data-handling cable if you want one to move data, such as from a computer to an SSD or external hard drive.
How quickly can I charge my gadgets using USB-C?
Using USB-C to charge gadgets like computers, tablets, and phones is one of its most popular applications. For tourists who wish to have a single cord and charger for all of their devices, that is a huge help.
But there are differences in how quickly a USB-C cable can charge. Power-hungry laptops may be quickly charged using the most powerful cords, which can reach 240 watts. In contrast, the complimentary cable that comes with your headphones probably has a maximum power of about 20 watts. It will charge your equipment, but it will do so substantially more slowly.
Unfortunately, simply glancing at your cable won’t generally tell you how quickly it can charge. This is a significant drawback of USB-C charging, and if you have a lot of cords, you might wish to get a label maker.
It’s also critical to keep in mind that the charger to which a cable is attached determines its maximum power. There is just no way to avoid the fact that the cable will charge at 20 watts when it is attached to a 20 watt adapter.
Another factor to take into account is how quickly your gadget can take in power. No matter what connection or power adapter you use, smaller devices—like wireless earbuds—cannot handle the same amount of electricity as a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The manufacturer frequently makes this deliberate decision to prevent tiny batteries, such those in AirPods, from overheating. In other situations, it may depend on how well the device’s internal parts work. Even with the same charger and cord, two USB-C tablets may charge at different rates.
How quickly can data be sent over USB-C?
USB-C port and cable for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Instead of a Lightning connector, the iPhone 15 Pro Max sports a USB-C charging port.
If selecting a USB-C charging cable might be difficult, the difficulty increases significantly when considering data transfer. Not least because the standards’ names are subject to frequent changes. Since they are the most recent versions, you’ll probably encounter them.
The quickest gadgets require the fastest wires.
The majority of modern cables are rated for USB 3.2, which has two distinct specifications. While USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 can handle up to 20 Gbps, USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 can only handle up to 10 Gbps.
On occasion, you may encounter some earlier specifications, such as USB 3.2 Gen 1×1 (which is only 5 Gbps) and USB 3.2 Gen 2×1 (formerly known, confusingly, as 3.1 Gen 2), which is also 10 Gbps. Although they work with more recent equipment, these cables won’t be as fast in transferring data.
USB4 Version 1.0, rated at 40 Gbps, is an option for those with devices and accessories that can transport data at even faster rates. Last but not least, the newest technology, USB4 Version 2.0, has a speed rating of an incredible 80 Gbps and is ideal for high-end USB-C hubs and external storage devices.
Older, slower standards may be followed by less expensive and occasionally older wires. Unless you don’t care about data transmission speeds, USB connections are probably not worth the money you save, considering how cheap they may be.
Slower cables for devices with low speeds
There may be cables at the opposite end of the spectrum that are rated for USB 2 or even USB 3. Typically, they are made for low-data devices like gaming controllers or mice or for power transfer.
Fortunately, they are becoming less common, but just to be clear, USB 2 can only transfer data at 480 Mbps, but USB 3 can transfer data at up to 5 Gbps. That is a fourth of the speed that a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 cable can achieve and half that of a USB 3.2 Gen 1×2 cable.
Unless you truly don’t care about speed, we would advise staying away from USB 2 and USB 3 cords. Fortunately, unless you want to get the longest cable available, pricing aren’t too different. Selecting a slower cable has little advantages if you want data transmission capabilities.
Is it possible to transfer video to a display using USB-C?
The fact that USB-C can manage video signals in addition to data and power is another example of its genuinely ubiquitous features. Using a single connection, you may connect a USB-C laptop to a USB-C display, sending power to the former and data to the latter.
However, it isn’t always so easy, as you have undoubtedly already surmised: Video transmissions cannot be handled by all cables. Video capability is limited to cables certified for USB 3.2 Gen 2 (an outdated standard). According to the most recent requirements, a cable that is rated for USB Gen 1×2 or above is required.
Are Thunderbolt and USB-C interchangeable?
Although Thunderbolt and USB-C share a connection, they differ inside.
The most recent specification, Thunderbolt 5, can carry data at up to 80 Gbps and uses the same 240 watts of power as USB-C. That speed is lowered to 40 Gbps via Thunderbolt 4.
While Thunderbolt ports and cables are compatible with USB-C devices, not all USB-C ports and cables support Thunderbolt. Those ports’ speeds will change according to the requirements. Phones do not often have Thunderbolt, but laptops and tablets like the M4 iPad Pro have. At least not yet.
Docking stations and hubs
The white, multipurpose USB-C travel dock from Monoprice is resting on a wooden table.
Hubs and docks have become more popular as laptops have begun to eliminate ports in favor of slimmer and more aesthetically pleasing designs. With the exception of their names, USB-C hubs and docks are almost the same thing. They both convert a single laptop connector into many ports.
For instance, much like any other device, a USB-C hub plugs into a USB-C port on your laptop. Some even have external power sources of their own. The hub may then be used with various gadgets and accessories thanks to its own ports. These ports can simply be additional USB-C ports for data and charging, USB-A connectors for older equipment, or HDMI and DisplayPort connections for connecting displays. Other typical features include memory card ports and Ethernet.
In addition to making sure the hub or dock has all the connections you want, you should also make sure your computer’s USB-C port can satisfy the hub’s performance requirements. You run the risk of incompatibility and some ports not working properly if it doesn’t. Typically, hubs have built-in wires of their own. At least you don’t have to worry about it.
Disclaimer
The information in this article is for general educational purposes only. USB-C standards and device compatibility can vary by manufacturer and product. Always check your device specifications and use cables or chargers recommended by the manufacturer to ensure safety and performance.