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 a 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
Recently, more and more phones and smartphones have appeared on the market, which instead of the traditional Micro USB use a new connector called USB Type-C. This type of connector appeared not so long ago, and so far it is far from being understood what it is and how it works.
If you also have questions related to USB Type-C, then we suggest that you read this article. Here you will learn what USB Type-C is, how it differs from Micro USB, and which one is better to choose. If you are also interested
What is USB Type-C in phones and smartphones
USB interface logo.
In order to understand what USB Type-C is, you need to make a small excursion into the history of this interface. Is a computer interface that appeared in the mid-1990s and has since been actively used to connect peripheral devices to a computer. With the advent of smartphones, this interface began to be used in them, a little later, USB began to be used in ordinary mobile phones with buttons.
Initially, the USB standard included only two types of connectors: Type-A and Type-B. The Type-A connector was used to connect to a device on the side of which a hub or USB interface controller was used. The Type-A connector, on the other hand, was used on the peripheral side. Thus, a regular USB cable included two Type-A connectors, which connected to a computer or other control device, and a Type-B, which connected to a peripheral device.
In addition, both Type-A and Type-B have smaller versions of the connectors, which are designated as Mini and Micro. The result is a fairly large list of different connectors: regular USB Type-A, Mini Type-A, Micro Type-A, regular Type-B, Mini Type-B and Micro USB Type-B, which was commonly used in phones and smartphones and more. known as Micro USB.
Comparison of different connectors.
With the release of the third version of the USB standard, several additional connectors appeared that supported USB 3.0, these are: USB 3.0 Type-B, USB 3.0 Type-B Mini and USB 3.0 Type-B Micro.
This whole zoo of connectors no longer met modern realities, in which simple-to-use connectors such as those from Apple were gaining popularity. Therefore, along with the USB 3.1 standard, a new type of connector was introduced called USB Type-C (USB-C).
The advent of USB Type-C solved several problems at once. Firstly, USB Type-C was originally compact, so there is no need for Mini and Micro versions of the connector. Secondly, USB Type-C can be connected to both peripheral devices and computers. This allows you to abandon the scheme in which Type-A was connected to a computer, and Type-B to a peripheral device.
In addition, USB Type-C supports many other innovations and useful functions:
- Data transfer rates from 5 to 10 Gb / s, and with the introduction of USB 3.2, this speed can grow to 20 Gb / s.
- Backward compatible with previous USB standards. Using a special adapter, a device with a USB Type-C connector can be connected to the usual USB of previous versions.
- Symmetrical connector design that allows you to plug in the cable either way (just like Apple's Lightning).
- The USB Type-C cable can be used to quickly charge mobile phones, smartphones, and compact laptops.
- Support for alternative modes of operation, in which the USB Type-C cable can be used to transfer information using other protocols (DisplayPort, MHL, Thunderbolt, HDMI, VirtualLink).
What is the difference between USB Type-C and Micro USB
USB Type-C (top) and Micro USB cables.
Users who choose a mobile phone or smartphone are often interested in how USB Type-C differs from Micro USB. Below we have collected the main differences and advantages of these connectors.
- USB Type-C is the future-proof connector. If you are choosing a flagship smartphone that you plan to use for several years, then you should pay attention to the models with USB Type-C. This connector is actively gaining popularity and in the future more and more devices with its support will appear. You should not be afraid of problems with the connection to the computer. If your computer is not equipped with this connector, you can always connect your phone using an adapter.
- USB Type-C is convenient. The symmetrical design makes it much easier to connect USB Type-C than the classic Micro USB. In order to put a phone with USB Type-C on charging, you just need to plug the cable into it, and you do not need to look at the connector and choose which side to connect it. In addition, due to their symmetry, USB Type-C connectors are more stable and less likely to be damaged.
- USB Type-C is fast. As we said, USB Type-C supports data transfer rates from 5 to 10 Gbps. If your phone supports this speed, you can copy data much faster than using Micro USB, the speed of which is limited by the USB 2.0 standard (up to 480 Mbps).
- Micro USB (or rather Micro USB Type-B) is a time-tested connector, the main advantage of which is its prevalence. A charger and cable with such a connector can be found in any office or home. Therefore, with Micro USB, you will always find where to charge your phone or smartphone.
Which is better USB Type-C or Micro USB
We conclude the article with an answer to the question of which is better, USB Type-C or Micro USB. In short, USB Type-C is definitely better. You can buy a USB Type-C phone just for the symmetrical connector. Most users charge the phone every day, so such a trifle as a symmetrical connector that can be plugged in either side makes life much easier. On the other hand, if you often charge your smartphone outside the home, then the usual Micro USB may be preferable. This way you will have less trouble finding the right cable or adapter.
The baud rate should also be noted. If the phone and computer support USB 3.1, then using USB Type-C can transfer data at speeds up to 10 Gb / s, while Micro USB can provide a maximum of 0.5 Gb / s.
It rarely happens that one extra letter in the name of the standard threatens to revolutionize the world of data transfer interfaces and gadgets, but the emergence of the latest version of USB 3.1 Type-C seems to be just that case. What does the next update of the good old USB interface promise us?
- Baud rate up to 10 GBps
- Possibility to be powered from a port of devices with power consumption up to 100W
- Connector dimensions comparable to micro-USB
- The symmetry of the connector - it has no top and bottom, which means there is no key, which often leads to damage to both the connectors themselves and the gadgets connected through them
- This interface can be used to supply voltage up to 20 volts
- There are no longer different types of connectors - A and B. At both ends of the cable there are exactly the same connectors. Both data and supply voltage can be transmitted through the same connector in both directions. Depending on the situation, each connector can act as a master or slave
- We are promised that the connector design is able to withstand up to 10,000 connections
- It is possible to use this interface for direct connection instead of some other widespread interfaces for fast data exchange.
- The standard is top-down compatible both with the usual USB 3 interface and with its younger brothers. Of course not directly, but with the help of an adapter it is possible to connect, say, a USB 2.0 disk through it
I will not touch on the history of the development of the USB interface, this topic is not poorly developed in this comic in the sense of a story in pictures
Electronics - the science of contacts
To begin with, comparative photos of today's hero in the company of honored ancestors.
The USB Type-C connector is slightly larger than the usual USB 2.0 Micro-B, but noticeably more compact than the dual USB 3.0 Micro-B, not to mention the classic USB Type-A.
The dimensions of the connector (8.34 × 2.56 mm) make it easy to use for devices of any class, including smartphones and tablets.
Signal and power leads are placed on a plastic insert, perhaps this is its weakest point in the central part of the connector. The USB Type-C pin group contains 24 pins. Let me remind you that USB 1.0 / 2.0 had only 4 pins, while USB 3.0 connectors already needed 9 pins.
If you look closely at the picture on the left, you can see that the contacts have different lengths. This ensures that they are closed in a specific sequence. In the figure in the center, we see the presence of latches that should hold the plugged-in cable and provide a tactile click during the connection-disconnection process. The right graph shows the dependence of the force during the insertion and removal of the connector.
The peaks that we see on it are the moments of the latch actuation.
It can be stated that the developers of the standard have done, if not everything, then almost everything to make the connector as convenient and reliable as possible: it is inserted at any end and either side with a tangible click. In their opinion, he is able to survive this procedure more than 10 thousand times.
The many-sided symmetrical Janus
An extremely pleasant and useful feature of USB-C is the symmetrical design of the connector, which allows it to be connected to the port either side. This is achieved due to the symmetrical arrangement of its terminals.
Ground outlets are located at the edges. The positive supply contacts are also symmetrically positioned. In the center there are contacts responsible for compatibility with the USB2 and lower interface. They were the most fortunate of all - they are duplicated and therefore a 180-degree rotation when connected is not terrible. The pins responsible for high-speed data exchange are marked in blue. As we can see, everything is more cunning here. If we rotate the connector, for example, the TX1 output will swap places with TX2, but at the same time the place of the RX1 input will be taken by RX2.
The Secondary Bus and USB Power Delivery Communication pins are service pins and are intended for communication between two connected devices. After all, they need to tell each other a lot about a lot before starting the exchange, but more on that later.
In the meantime, about one more feature. The USB Type-C port was originally designed as a one-stop solution. In addition to direct USB data transfer, it can also be used in Alternate Mode to implement third-party interfaces. This flexibility of USB Type-C has been exploited by the VESA by introducing the ability to stream video through DisplayPort Alt Mode.
USB Type-C has four Super Speed USB lines (pairs). If two of them are dedicated to the needs of DisplayPort, this is enough to get a picture with a resolution of 3840x2160. At the same time, the data transfer rate via USB does not suffer. At its peak, this is still the same 10 Gb / s (for USB 3.1 Gen2). Also, the transmission of the video stream does not in any way affect the energy capacity of the port. Even 4 high-speed lines can be allocated for the needs of DisplayPort. In this case, resolutions up to 5120x2880 will be available. In this mode, USB 2.0 lines are not involved, so USB Type-C will still be able to transfer data in parallel, albeit at a limited speed.
In the alternative mode, the SBU1 / SBU2 pins are used to transmit the audio stream, which are converted to the AUX + / AUX- channels. They are not used for the USB protocol, so there are also no additional functional losses here.
When using the DisplayPort interface, the USB Type-C connector can still be connected either way. The required signal matching is provided initially.
Connecting devices using HDMI, DVI and even D-Sub (VGA) is also possible, but this will require separate adapters, however, these must be active adapters, since for DisplayPort Alt Mode, Dual-Mode Display Port (DP ++) is not supported ...
USB Type-C alternate mode can be used for more than just DisplayPort. Perhaps we will soon learn that this port has learned, for example, to transfer data using PCI Express or Ethernet.
She gave to this one and gave to that one. In general ... about nutrition.
Another important feature that USB Type-C brings is the ability to transmit power up to 100 watts through it. This is enough not only to power / charge mobile devices, but also to operate laptops, monitors, and, if you dream up, even a small laboratory power supply.
With the advent of the USB bus, power transmission was an important, but still a minor, function. The USB 1.0 port provided just 0.75W (0.15A, 5V). Enough for a mouse and keyboard to work, but nothing more. For USB 2.0, the nominal current was increased to 0.5 A, which made it possible to get 2.5 watts from it for powering, for example, external 2.5 ”hard drives. For USB 3.0, a current of 0.9 A is nominally provided, which, with a constant supply voltage of 5V, guarantees a power of 4.5 W. Special reinforced connectors on motherboards or laptops were capable of delivering up to 1.5 A to speed up the charging of connected mobile devices, but even that was “only” 7.5 watts. Against the background of these numbers, the ability to transmit 100 watts looks like something fantastic.
In order to fill such energy the USB Type-C port is supported by the USB Power Delivery 2.0 (USB PD) specification. If there is none, the USB Type-C port will be able to supply 7.5 W (1.5 A, 5 V) or 15 W (3A, 5 V) to the mountain, depending on the configuration. There is not enough space in this article for a detailed description of this specification, and still I will not do it better than the respected one in his wonderful article.
However, it will not be possible to completely bypass this paramount topic.
In order to provide 100 watts of power at a voltage of five volts, a current of 20 amperes is required! With the dimensions of a USB Type-C cable, this is perhaps possible only if it is made from a superconductor! I'm afraid that today it will cost users a lot, so the developers of the standard took a different path. They increased the supply voltage to 20 volts. “Excuse me, but it will completely burn out my favorite tablet” - you exclaim, and you will be absolutely right. In order not to fall prey to angry users, the engineers conceived a clever trick - they introduced a system of power profiles. Before connecting, any device is in standard mode. The voltage in it is limited to five volts, and the current to two amperes. To connect with devices of the old type, everything will end with this mode, but for more advanced cases, after exchanging data, the devices switch to another coordinated mode of operation with advanced capabilities. To get acquainted with the main existing modes, take a look at the table.
Profile 1 guarantees the ability to transfer 10 W of energy, the second already - 18 W, the third - 36 W, the fourth as much as 60 W, but the fifth is our cherished hundred! The port corresponding to the higher profile maintains all the states of the previous downstream. 5V, 12V and 20V are selected as reference voltages. The use of 5V is essential for compatibility with the vast array of USB peripherals available. 12V is the standard supply voltage for various system components. 20V is proposed taking into account the fact that external power supply units for 19-20V are used to charge the batteries of most laptops.
A few words about cables!
Full support of the format described in the article will require a lot of work not only from programmers, but also from electronics manufacturers. It will be necessary to develop and deploy the production of a very large number of components. The most obvious are the connectors. In order to withstand high currents of the supply voltage, not interfere with the transmission of signals of very high frequency, and even thus not fail after the second connection and not fall out at the most inopportune moment, the quality of their manufacture should be radically higher compared to the USB format 2.To combine high power transmission and signal transmission with gigabit traffic, cable manufacturers will have to work hard.
Admire what a cross-sectional view of a cable suitable for our task looks like.
By the way, about the restrictions on the length of the cables when using the USB 3.1 interface. To transfer data without significant losses at speeds up to 10 Gb / s (Gen 2), the length of a cable with USB Type-C connectors should not exceed 1 meter, for a connection at speeds up to 5 Gb / s (Gen 1) - 2 meters.
Circuit designers of manufacturers of motherboards, docking stations and laptops will puzzle for a long time how to generate power of the order of hundreds of watts, and tracers, how to bring it to the USB Type-C connector.
Chip makers at a low start.
Symmetrical connection and operation of signal lines in different modes will require the use of high-speed signal switch microcircuits. Today the first swallows have already appeared. For example, here is a switch from Texas Instruments, which supports work in devices in both host and slave modes. It is capable of switching lines of differential pairs with signal frequencies up to 5 GHz.
At the same time, the dimensions of the HDC3SS460 chip are 3.5 by 5.5 mm and in idle mode it consumes a current of about 1 microampere. In the active mode, it is less than a milliampere. There are also more advanced solutions, for example, chips manufactured by NXP support exchange rates up to 10 GHz.
Power managers began to appear, combined with circuits for protecting signal lines from static, for example, such a product from NXP
It is designed to correctly handle the moment of connecting the connector, as well as opening the power circuit in case of malfunction. This chip already supports VBUS voltage up to 30 volts, but with the maximum switched current, everything is much worse - it should not exceed 1 ampere, which is understandable given the dimensions - 1.4 by 1.7 mm!
The undisputed leader in this area was Cypress, which released a specialized microcontroller with an ARM Cortex M0 core that supports all five power profiles possible for the standard.
A typical connection diagram for use in a laptop gives some idea about it, and you can get acquainted with it in more detail by downloading the datasheet.
Unlike the NXP chip, it is focused on controlling external power switches and therefore can provide switching of the required currents and voltages, despite its small size.
Attention, An important feature for those who are already in a hurry to order the first samples - the microcontroller does not have a USB interface and is not a complete and complete solution. He can only serve as a food manager. At the moment, a pre-order is open for the supply of samples and demo boards. The fate of this microcontroller will probably largely depend on whether the manufacturer supplies the developers with reference libraries for using it in different modes.
The fact that several demokits have already been created for him greatly increases the likelihood of the latter.
Elevator to Heaven or the Tower of Babel.
So today we have a completely revolutionary situation. The upper classes cannot, and the lower classes do not want to live in the old way. Everyone is tired of the confusion with a huge number of cables, chargers, power supplies and their low reliability.
The new standard has spawned unprecedented activity. The flagships of the electronics industry - Apple, Nokia, Asus are preparing to release their first gadgets with USB Type-C support. The Chinese are already stamping cables and adapters. Docking stations and hubs with high power load support are on the way. Chip manufacturers are developing new microcircuits and are thinking of how to cram the driver for the new port into the microcontroller. Marketers decide where to plug the new connector, and engineers scratch their turnips trying to implement multidisciplinary devices from existing electronic components.
So far, only one thing is not clear. What will we get as a result? A convenient and reliable connector that will replace the lion's share of interfaces and find everyday use, or Babylonian pandemonium, because the situation may begin to develop according to not the most favorable scenario:
Users can become completely confused by numerous specifications and cables that look exactly the same, but at the same time will be certified only for certain profiles. Try to figure it out on the fly with all these markings.
But even if it works out, this is unlikely to solve the problem - the Chinese, without a twinge of conscience, will easily put any badge on any cord. And if necessary, then up to a heap on each side of one cable are different, they will not be confused even if they are mutually exclusive.
The market will be flooded with an incredible number of adapters of various calibers and of dubious quality.
Trying to connect one device to another, you will never, as a result, know what result this process will lead to and because of what the connection is either completely absent, or everything is terribly buggy. Either one of the gadgets does not support the desired profile, or it does support it but not very correctly, or instead of a high-quality cable, its rough Chinese counterfeit was caught. What do you want to do if suddenly the only remaining connector on your laptop fails?
Until next time.
P.S. The new standard is already leading to highly exotic devices. This is how a 100-meter cable was announced, which does not seem to fit into the standards. The whole point is that he is active. At both ends, the cable has a USB3-to-optical converter. The signal is transmitted via optics and converted back at the output. Naturally, they do not transmit energy, but only data. In this case, each of the converters at its ends is powered from the connector to which it is connected.
I think that soon, self-respecting companies will start to insert active tags into cables to confirm the authenticity. The hub problem will generate unprecedented activity among developers and manufacturers of DC-DC converters. As a respected user rightly noted
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.
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, the 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 such ports 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 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 won't 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.
And here is an example of a certified passive Plugable cable up to 2 meters long. The speed here is no more than 20 Gbps, but the price is much more pleasant.
As you can see, everything is very complicated.
When choosing USB Type-C cables and accessories, whatever one may say, you have to turn on your brain.
You must clearly understand for what purpose you are buying this or that lace and what speeds you expect from it. If you are happy with 20 Gbps, but need a length of two meters, you don't have to dump two hundred evergreen bills for an active Thunderbolt 3 cable.
If just about the complex, then:
- if you need a cable clean for charging- buys the original one on the Apple website
- if you need a cable to connect an external storage- choose high-quality USB 3.1
- if you need to connect 5K monitor or work with professional Thunderbolt 3 hubs- choosing short passive or long active cables for a lot of money
And the main thing. (carefully read paragraph 2 of the article) and accessories released by little-known handicraft Chinese brands. This is especially true of the choice of laces that will be used to charge the MacBook. The risk of burning the device in the case of USB Type-C is higher than ever.
