The process of mass adoption of the USB interface in PCs and peripherals began in the late 90s of the last century. Only a few years have passed, and USB has become the de facto standard for connecting peripheral devices, practically replacing other solutions such as serial and parallel ports, PS / 2, etc.
Moreover, the business was not limited to computers and peripheral equipment. Convenience, ease of connection and the versatility of the USB interface contributed to the spread of this solution in other areas - in particular, in mobile devices, consumer audio and video equipment, automotive electronics, etc.
Since the process of improving PCs, mobile devices and other equipment is constantly going on, from time to time it becomes necessary to refine the USB interface in order to improve key characteristics (in particular, throughput), expand functionality, introduce new connectors, etc. All this allows adapting the existing solution to the changing needs of the industry.
Among the most notable innovations in recent years is the introduction of the SuperSpeed mode, which appeared in the USB 3.0 specification. The final text of this document was approved at the end of 2008, and over the next couple of years this decision was widely disseminated.
However, a lot of time has passed since then, and the time has come for the next improvements. In the coming year, the IT industry and you and I expect a number of, without exaggeration, revolutionary innovations. It is about them that we will talk about in this review.
SuperSpeedPlus Mode
In the summer of 2013, the USB specification version 3.1 was approved. The main innovation that this document legitimized was the SuperSpeedPlus mode, which doubles the bandwidth of the USB data transfer bus: from the previous 5 to 10 Gb / s. For compatibility with older equipment, it is possible to work in SuperSpeed mode (up to 5 Gb / s). Thus, a USB 3.1 connection will allow (at least in theory) to transfer data at speeds over 1 Gb / s and practically reach the HDMI 1.4 interface (the bandwidth of which is 10.2 Gb / s).
What does this mean in practice? The bandwidth of 10 Gbps is enough for broadcasting high-definition video (Full HD) with a frame refresh rate of up to 60 Hz or stereoscopic recordings in a similar resolution with a frequency of up to 30 Hz. Accordingly, USB 3.1 can be considered as a full-fledged alternative to specialized interfaces (such as DVI and HDMI) for broadcasting high-definition video signals from PCs and mobile devices to monitors, projectors and other devices.
USB Type C connector
One of the revolutionary innovations that will affect the field of PCs, as well as peripheral and mobile devices in the near future is the introduction of a new type of USB interface connector. The USB 3.0 Type C plugs and receptacle specification was developed by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group and was finalized in August 2014. The design of USB Type C connectors has a number of important features that it makes sense to talk about in detail.
First, USB Type C plugs and sockets are symmetrical. In a USB Type C outlet, the plastic tongue is located exactly in the middle, and the contact pads are located on both sides. Thanks to this, the plug can be connected to such a socket both in a straight position and in an inverted position by 180 °. This will greatly simplify the lives of users, who will finally be relieved of the need to determine the correct orientation of the plug at random (which is especially important when connecting cables to the system unit installed under the table).
Secondly, the USB Type C specification calls for the use of balanced cables that have the same plugs on both sides. Accordingly, the sockets installed on the host devices and on the peripheral equipment will be the same.
And thirdly, the USB Type C connector will not have mini and micro versions. It is envisioned that USB Type C outlets and plugs will be the same for desktop and laptop PCs, peripherals, home appliances, mobile devices, power supplies, and more. Accordingly, only one unified cable is required to connect devices of any type.
The dimensions of the USB Type C socket are approximately 8.4x2.6 mm, which allows you to easily place it in the case of even small-sized devices. There are several options for the design of sockets for mounting both on the surface of the printed circuit board and in a special cutout (the latter option allows you to reduce the thickness of the device case).
The design of USB Type C plugs and sockets is designed for 10 thousand connections and disconnections - which corresponds to the reliability indicators of USB connectors currently used.
The first public demonstration of USB Type C connectors and cables took place as part of the IDF Fall 2014 Forum, which took place in early September in San Francisco (USA). One of the first mass-produced devices equipped with a USB Type C connector was the tablet announced in mid-November.
Of course, the physical incompatibility of the USB Type C connector with older receptacles is not good news for end users. Nevertheless, the developers from the USB 3.0 Promoter Group decided to take such a radical step in order to expand the functionality of the USB interface, as well as create a reserve for the future. To connect new devices to equipment equipped with connectors of older types, adapter cables will be produced (USB Type C - USB Type A, USB Type C - USB Type B, USB Type C - microUSB, etc.).
USB Power Delivery 2.0
One of the reasons for the current popularity of the USB interface is the ability to transfer not only data, but also power over a single cable. This allows you to simplify the connection procedure as much as possible and reduce the number of wires used. When working with mobile devices, this property of the USB interface provides the ability to transfer and synchronize data with a PC, and at the same time recharge the gadget's battery by connecting just one cable. The same can be said about the low-power periphery. Thanks to the ability to transmit power via an interface cable, we have long been relieved of the need to use external power supplies for some peripheral devices - in particular, flatbed scanners, low-power speaker systems, etc. Due to this, it was possible to reduce not only the number of wires on the desktop, but also the occupied sockets under it.
However, the rapid development of mobile devices in recent years has led to a significant change in the requirements not only for the bandwidth of the data bus, but also for the parameters of the power supply supplied over the USB connection. To charge low-power devices (such as MP3 players or wireless headsets), a current of 500 mA is enough (and this, recall, is the maximum value for standard USB ports 1.1 and 2.0). However, for normal charging of modern smartphones and tablets, power supplies are required that can deliver a current of 2 A or more.
A similar situation is observed in the segment of peripheral devices. The USB power is sufficient to power a 2.5-inch external hard drive or a desktop flatbed scanner with a CIS-type sensor. However, even USB 3.0 (in which the maximum current was increased to 900 mA per port) does not allow supplying electricity to a small inkjet printer or, for example, an LCD monitor.
In order to expand the capabilities of the USB interface to provide power to external devices, the USB Power Delivery 2.0 specification was developed. This document regulates the supply of power to devices with a power consumption of up to 100 W, and in any direction - both from the host device to the peripheral, and vice versa. For example, a laptop can be powered by a monitor to which it is connected via USB.
Of course, the possibilities of supplying power to external devices are limited by the design features of a PC or other device acting as a power source. That is why the USB Power Delivery 2.0 specification provides three profiles - for devices with a power consumption of up to 10, 60 and 100 watts. In the first case, the supply voltage is 5 V, and the maximum current in the load circuit can reach 2 A. The second profile provides for the use of a supply voltage of 12 V, and the third - 20 V. The maximum current in the load circuit in both cases is limited to 5 A.
It should be noted that in order to power a heavy load, both devices must support the corresponding USB Power Delivery 2.0 profile. Obviously, the maximum power will be limited by the capabilities of the device acting as a power source. There are other aspects to keep in mind as well.
In the event that the current in the power circuit does not exceed 2 A, USB connectors of any currently existing types can be used to connect devices. Connecting a more powerful load is possible only through the USB Type C connectors (which were already mentioned above) and the corresponding cables. It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that, unlike USB Type C connectors, the design of standard cables is designed for a maximum current of 3 A. Thus, to connect a more powerful load, you will need a special cable.
The introduction of the USB Power Delivery 2.0 specification will significantly expand the possibilities for transferring power over the USB interface bus. The implementation of this solution in the future will make it possible to use the USB ports of a desktop computer to recharge not only smartphones, tablets, etc. gadgets, but also mobile PCs - netbooks, laptops, etc. In addition, the range of peripheral devices will be significantly expanded, which can receive the current required for operation via the USB interface bus and, accordingly, do without separate power supplies. LCD monitors, powered speakers, and more will be added to this list.
Alternative modes
Another important innovation that will become available with the transition to the use of the USB Type C connector is support for functional extensions (Functional Extensions). A special case of functional extensions are the so-called Alternate Modes (AM). With their help, manufacturers will be able to use the physical connection of the USB interface to implement the specific capabilities and functions of certain devices.
For example, the Audio Adapter Accessory Mode allows you to use a physical USB connection to broadcast analog audio to headphones, external speakers, and other equipment. You can connect headphones or an external speaker to a device equipped with a USB Type C connector and supporting Audio Adapter Accessory Mode through a special adapter equipped with a 3.5 mm mini-jack.
Support for alternative modes is one of the features of a new class of USB devices - USB Billboard Device Class. Manufacturers wishing to develop their own alternate modes need to obtain a unique identifier (SVID) from the USB-IF organization.
In 2014, the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) developed the DisplayPort Alternate Mode specification. This solution allows you to use two pairs of USB cable conductors (TX + / TX– and RX + / RX–) for broadcasting an uncompressed digital AV stream. At the same time, it is possible to transfer data (in Low Speed, Full Speed and Hi-Speed modes via D + / D– pair), as well as power supply via the same interface cable. Thus, by connecting two devices that support DisplayPort Alternate Mode, you can broadcast audio and video signals, transfer data in both directions at speeds up to 480 Mbps, as well as supply power - all over one cable!
Devices supporting DisplayPort Alternate Mode can also be connected to equipment not equipped with USB Type C ports (in particular, monitors, TVs, etc.). The specification of this mode provides options for connecting to the DisplayPort, HDMI or DVI interfaces using special adapters.
In November 2014, the MHL consortium announced the development of an alternative MHL Alternate Mode, which will allow broadcasting uncompressed audio and video signals (including high and ultra-high definition) from mobile devices equipped with a USB Type C connector to external equipment (monitors, TVs, projectors etc.) using a standard USB cable. Specialists from Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Silicon Image, Sony and Toshiba took part in the development of the specification.
The introduction of alternative modes will significantly expand the functionality of the USB interface and simplify to the limit the procedure for connecting devices of various types.
Conclusion
Concluding this review, we will once again list the most important innovations, the process of implementation of which in serial devices equipped with a USB interface will begin in the near future.
The SuperSpeedPlus data transfer mode described in the USB specification version 3.1 will increase the maximum bandwidth of this interface to 10 Gb / s. Of course, this is less than HDMI 2.0 and Thunderbolt 2 (which, recall, provide data transfer rates up to 18 and 20 Gb / s, respectively). However, 10 Gb / s is enough to transfer uncompressed high-definition video with a frame rate of up to 60 Hz. In addition, representatives of USB-IF said that in subsequent versions of USB it is quite possible to increase the bandwidth up to 20 Gb / s - fortunately, the design of the new USB Type C connectors and corresponding cables has a certain margin for further development.
The introduction of support for the USB Power Delivery 2.0 specification will significantly increase the maximum power supplied by the USB connection. Accordingly, the range of peripheral and mobile devices that will be able to receive power through the interface cable will be expanded. The widespread implementation of this solution will significantly reduce the number of cables and external power supplies used, reduce the number of occupied outlets and more efficiently use electricity.
The emergence of USB Billboard Device Class devices with support for alternative modes will open up completely new possibilities. Moreover, each manufacturer will be able to create their own modes for devices of various types, taking into account their specifics.
Of course, one of the revolutionary changes that will affect the areas of PCs, peripherals and mobile devices, household appliances, etc., will be the introduction of the USB Type C connector, which (as expected) will replace the USB plugs and sockets currently in use. On the one hand, the move to a single connector for all types of devices will greatly simplify the lives of users and reduce to a minimum the number of cables required. But, on the other hand, the industry and users will have to go through a very difficult and painful process of generational change. Previous solutions were distinguished by maximum compatibility: the design of conventional USB Type A and Type B plugs allows you to easily connect them to the corresponding version 3.0 sockets. Now, to connect devices of different generations, you will have to use additional devices.
The USB 3.1 specification is backward compatible with earlier versions of the interface. However, with the advent of serial devices equipped with a USB Type C connector, users will inevitably face the need to purchase adapters and adapters that provide the ability to connect new devices to older equipment with USB Type A, Type B and other sockets. Considering that currently about 4 billion devices equipped with a USB interface are produced annually, this problem will be very relevant for at least five to six years to come.
It should also be noted that it will be possible to fully realize the potential of the USB version 3.1 interface and the USB Type C connector in practice only when users have accumulated at least a minimum amount of equipment equipped with these new products. Obviously, in the case of interaction between two devices of different generations, the functionality and maximum bandwidth of the interface will be limited by the characteristics of the USB controller of the older device.
According to experts from the well-known Taiwanese resource DigiTimes, serial models of PCs, as well as mobile and peripheral devices equipped with a USB 3.1 interface and USB Type C connectors, will go on sale in the first half of 2015. In turn, leading developers of operating systems and software have already announced their readiness to release updates to implement USB 3.1 support in their products.
Flash cards (or the so-called flash drives) are no surprise to anyone now. They have come a long way to the miniature size devices that many of you surely have. The only thing that can move this market segment forward is the development and support of new standards. Therefore, as soon as we got one of the first USB 3.1 flash drives, we decided to tell you about it right away.
It is immediately clear from the box that we are dealing with something tiny - the length of a flash-card does not exceed even one inch. Actually, there is nothing in the box except the flash drive itself: and it would be strange to expect anything else here.
On the one hand, there is the USB Type-A (3.1) standard, familiar to many users, and on the other, the same 3.1, only with a USB Type-C connector, protected by a special overlay.
Just look at how tiny it is - for example, in comparison with the same, the dimensions of which are well known to everyone.
To insert a USB flash drive into a new MacBook (and this is now from Apple), you just need to move the cover, and then start copying all the necessary data. Even in comparison with a kid like a MacBook, the flash card looks quite small. Such that it is almost imperceptible.
This accessory will be indispensable for you if you have both a new MacBook and a laptop without USB Type-C support. With its help, the transfer of data from one device to another will become not only very simple, but also fast - we were able to see for ourselves.
The information obtained using the BlackMagic Disk Speed Test program suggests that the transfer speed for USB 3.1 (Type-A) and Type-C is almost the same. It would be strange to see something different - after all, Type-C is, in fact, a pleasant "bonus" to the usual USB 3.1.
In 2015, Apple released its first gadget equipped with a new and surprisingly single USB Type-C port. , which has only one port, caused a flurry of discontent among the fans of the company.
And then it endured, fell in love, and Apple to this day not only very successfully sells the 12-inch line of ultrabooks, but also equipped the USB Type-C MacBook Pro series, completely abandoning the classic USB 2.0 / 3.0, and indeed any additional ports. ...
Almost three years have passed since the MacBook was released, but users still have questions about the operation of the newfangled USB Type-C port. Particularly worried about the issue of the selection of cables and accessories.
In this article we will deal with all the nuances of the new standard. I will try to present the material in such a way that after reading it there are no more questions, and everything becomes known about the USB Type-C ports in MacBook and MacBook Pro.
Where USB-C came from and where the problem crept in
The USB standard itself appeared back in 1994. USB 1.0 was conceived as a universal port for connecting all kinds of equipment to a PC. It began to be actively used only in the 2000s.
USB 2.0... Then it was time for USB 2.0. USB 2.0 cables are strictly oriented and come in two types of connectors: USB Type-A and USB Type-B. With the growing popularity of mobile devices, two more types of connectors will later appear: USB Micro-B and USB Mini-B.
Data was transmitted over two cables, usually green and white, while black and red were responsible for power supply.
The maximum data transfer rate for USB 2.0 is 480 Mbps... The main drawback of the standard is too low currents ( no more than 500 mA), which often caused problems when connecting external drives.
USB 3.0... Determined to eliminate the shortcomings of USB 2.0, engineers are developing a new standard - USB 3.0. Blue USB was significantly faster and was able to transfer data at speeds up to 5 Gbps.
Perhaps this was due to the appearance of four additional communication lines, and, as a result, an increase in the maximum current up to 900 mA.
In the fall of 2013, the specifications for the updated USB 3.1 Type-C standard were approved. Since then, life has ceased to be the same.
What is USB Type-C?
Despite the fact that engineers have already released three iterations of the USB standard, the main question still remained open to them. It was necessary to provide normal food.
The pitiful current of 900 mA to feed the same laptop battery of 8-10 thousand mAh is clearly not enough. In addition, more demanding power accessories began to appear on the market, and the tendency of manufacturers to make devices thinner and more compact forced them to abandon ports such as HDMI, Thunderbolt, classic USB, Ethernet.
Instead of 8-pin USB 3.0, there is a 24-pin USB 3.1 Type C. Why are there so many? Judge for yourself:
The new USB Type-C specification opened up a number of new possibilities for users at once.
Firstly, USB Type-C has a new USB PD standard, according to which this port and the corresponding cables must be capable of transmitting current and power up to 100 W in both directions.
Secondly, impressive data transfer rates. Thunderbolt 3 Alternate Mode can transfer data at speeds up to 40 Gbps. Of course, with certain "if", but more on that below.
Thirdly, it can transmit video with a resolution up to 5K. The speed here with a margin and the need for HDMI simply disappears.
Finally, USB Type-C is convenient in that “no matter how you plug it in,” it will work. It is double-sided. A logical continuation of the Lightning cable, but now not only for Apple devices.
What then is installed in MacBook and MacBook Pro?
Before we figure out the choice of cables and USB Type-C accessories, you need to understand those USB Type-C ports that are installed in MacBooks.
Alas, USB Promoter Group chopped a lot of USB 3.1 firewood, spawning several generations of ports and finally confusing users.
Unraveling this Gordian knot.
So, here are all the generations of MacBooks and the corresponding USB Type-C ports installed in them.
That is, you should immediately understand that if you have a 12-inch MacBook, you can forget about Thunderbolt 3 support, which means that it is stupid to overpay for support of this specification when choosing a cable.
MacBook 12 ″ supports video transmission via HDMI, VGA and DisplayPort (with appropriate adapters), but it will not work with Thunderbolt devices.
MacBook Pro 2016 and newer are much more interesting. Until the recent update, the 13-inch MacBook Pro models only had Thunderbolt 3 support (the ones on the left).
In 2018, all four ports on the TouchBar models are fully full-speed capable. For 12-inch MacBooks, everything remains unchanged.
Choosing the right cable for specific tasks
The choice of USB Type-C cable directly depends on the task you are pursuing. This specification is very extensive, and it has certain limitations.
1. For charging
USB Type-C supports charging power up to 100W. The set with MacBooks comes with a corresponding charging cable with a built-in controller that limits the maximum charging power.
The 12-inch MacBook comes with a cable with a maximum charging power of up to 61W. With MacBook Pro 13 and 15 inches 87W respectively.
And this means only one thing: if you connect a 61-watt cable to an 87-watt charger and try to charge a MacBook Pro 15 "", say, 2018 release, then charging will take place at a power of 61 watts. That is, one and a half times slower.
This is true for other certified charging cable manufacturers as well.
Is it possible connect your MacBook to a charging with increased power? Can. Instead of the included 29W power supply, you can power it with a 15-inch 87W MacBook Pro charger. It's okay, but there won't be a miracle and the MacBook won't charge faster.
And yes, it is not harmful. The MacBook will only take as much as it can. By the way, the story is the same with the iPad.
To finally solve the problems with charging and get a cable "for all occasions", you can opt for the original 2-meter USB-C cable for 1,490 rubles.
2. To transfer video signal like HDMI
You've decided to connect an external monitor or TV to your MacBook or MacBook Pro. Let's figure out what to use to transfer a video stream in conjunction with USB Type-C.
First and foremost, determine which input port your external monitor or TV is equipped with.
For HDMI... There is a universal option that will not only add a standard USB 2.0 / 3.0 port and HDMI to MacBooks, but also duplicate USB Type-C. Costs 5,490 rubles.
For VGA... A similar, but more archaic solution for VGA for the same 5 490 rubles.
For Thunderbolt 3... There are already several Thunderbolt 3 display models on the market (12-inch MacBooks pass by). 0.8 meters of such a cable will cost 3,190 rubles.
The same option can be used for charging (up to 100W). Having overpaid 2 thousand rubles and buying this cable instead of a USB Type-C charging cable, you will get a truly universal lanyard that supports data transfer at speeds up to 40 Gb / s.
Important... Don't chase length. Thunderbolt 3-capable 2-meter and half-meter cables are two different things.
But, here it is worth making some clarity.
3. For connecting USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 devices
Perhaps the only case when there are no problems with adapters. The same standard USB Type-C -> USB adapter for 1,490 rubles. capable of delivering up to 5 Gbps.
This is exactly what the USB Type-C port is designed for in the 12-inch MacBook family.
4. For maximum data rate (5K and 4K 60Hz)
40 Gb / s is the maximum capacity of USB Type-C gen 2 with Thunderbolt 3 support. But this is under ideal conditions.
To achieve this speed, the cable length must not exceed 18 inches or 45 centimeters... Otherwise, the speed drops sharply.
But even here everything is not so simple. Thunderbolt 3 cords fall into two categories: passive and active... And you should pay attention to this if speed is important to you.
The first, with a length of two meters, transmit data at half the speed, that is, at the level of 20 Gbit / s, or even less.
The active ones have a special transmitter that controls the transmission rate along the entire length of the cable. Such laces maintain speed.
The USB Type-C port is the successor to the original micro USB port, and today it can already be found in smartphones in 2017, as well as external batteries, headphones and other devices. Galagram tells why the new Type-C is better than the usual micro USB, as well as what bonuses the owners of technology with the new port standard get.
3 Key Benefits of USB Type-C
It charges gadgets faster
The USB Implementers Forum, the industry association behind port development, has worked around bugs in its micro USB creation and created a USB Type-C with better specifications. Chargers with the new port are faster and typically charge smartphones with 15W of power. That's five times faster than most chargers using the old port. And most importantly, it does not put unnecessary strain on your battery.
Charging in both directions
Both ends of the cable not only look the same, they can also perform the same actions on both sides, which means you can tell which direction the current is flowing in. In some cases, this leads to funny results when your smartphone starts charging the power bank.
If you have a lot of battery power left, you can help a friend by charging his smartphone using just a Type-C cable. To do this, connect both smartphones with such a cable and direct the current in the right direction, that's all!
Transferring data from smartphone to smartphone
You just need to open the file explorer on the device where you want to receive the files. This is a pre-installed app on smartphones from many manufacturers, but otherwise it can simply be found in the settings.
How USB Type-C works
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard that defines cable, connectors and digital communications. Its first version appeared in 1998 and replaced the PC interfaces that were popular at the time. The USB Type-C connector appeared in 2014. It has more pins than its predecessor and they are symmetrically arranged. As a result, it doesn't matter which side you insert the cable - it's two-way and works the same way.
This is a 24-pin 2-way port
There are many differences between the connectors and USB versions. They have different electrical characteristics, power ratings and data rates. USB A and B connectors only have 4 pins, while USB 3.1 Type-C has 24 pins (standard pinout), which are needed to support higher currents and faster data transfer. In addition, the USB 3.1 standard increases data transfer speeds up to 10 Gb / s, and it also has innovative ways to charge devices.
The Type-C port specification requires the connector to withstand 100,000 connections per connector, with no signs of wear and tear. If you plug the port for example two to three times a day, the cable should last over 12 years. To meet these requirements and handle increased power flow, USB-C cables are typically thicker than classic micro USB cables.
What is Type-C for?
Many Android smartphones still have a micro USB port. In most cases, devices are charged through it from a voltage of 5V and a current of 2A. Faster charging speeds can only be achieved outside of the USB specification: Qualcomm Quick Charge, OnePlus Dash Charge, Oppo Vooc, and Samsung Adaptive Fast Charge are manufacturer standards that only work on certain brand devices.
Transmits more power than micro USB
The Type-C port delivers up to 100W of power using an open, free, conventional power system limited to only a cable, power supply, or target charging device. To minimize heat build-up and wear on electronic components, Type-C compatible devices constantly match voltage and current with each other. To recognize them, look for the USB logo on the charger, which was adopted in August 2016.
Can transmit HDMI and audio signals
Type-C connectors can replace many other cables. The certification process for many signals and protocols has already been completed. These include VGA, DVI, or HDMI, where the Type-C port mimics a display port, including protocol conversion. Of course, this requires the appropriate hardware and software on the device, but this is up to the technology manufacturers.
Xiaomi and LeEco get rid of 3.5 mm port in favor of Type-C
At the beginning of its journey, the USB port was designed to combine all other interfaces into one, its unchanging logo even hinted at this, but time goes on 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 any 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 sweeping 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're talking about the mass replacement of the audio jack with a Type C. port. In this case, the split ports have only one (but very serious) advantage: you can use the 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, which 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 well.
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. The port's 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. Such a playful mindfulness game turns out. The only thing that pleases is that the further, the more these restrictions will be leveled with the development of technologies.
