USB types: a guide to various standards. Why does a smartphone need USB Type-C? What is USB Type-C and what are its advantages

20.10.2019 Advice

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. The rest can find the specification "USB Type-C Specification Release 1.1.pdf". ...

Throughout this text, I use the word "connector" as an umbrella word for the concepts "connector", "socket", "connector", "port" and so on.

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 variety 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 does not change the data transfer standard (but 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 new introduction:
- 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 invites 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 old introduction:
- 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 parcel. The review got

Each of them is packed in a small 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 the 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, the master / slave roles are defined through the shape of the connector.
In the USB Type-C standard, 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 with 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.

* a slightly specific cable LCU-10-BK (USB type-C to micro USB 3.0) 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. Perhaps it's just a marriage.

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

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

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Is it really time for one unified connector to charge any device? More recently, such an assumption could be laughed at. But even Apple is giving up on the sly, and the MacBook with its USB Type-C is the first confirmation of this.

Nirvana is still far away, first you need to finish off the periphery. Everything in order: before talking about the problems of the new port, you need to remember what kind of "beast" it is.

One ring One connector to rule them all

The idea behind a USB Type-C connector is to replace all the others, whether it's charging, an HDMI port, or a regular USB flash drive socket. No more "I have a cable on the other side" or "I can only connect one monitor." Found the port, inserted the device, it worked. Idyll.

Oh well. In practice, this "freedom" has created a lot of confusion. It is not enough to make a universal connector - it needs at least universal cable.

The fact is that the USB Type-C port has 24 contacts through which breakouts of signals of different protocols pass. Here's what can be summed up in this universal connector.

USB 2.0

The first devices equipped with a USB Type-C port actually worked in USB 2.0 mode and transmitted data at a speed of 480 Mbps. Tablets and smartphones using this protocol are still found today (hello Nokia N1).

USB 3.1 gen 1 (3.0, SuperSpeed USB)

Flies at speeds up to 5Gbps, backward compatible with USB 1.x and USB 2.0. Most likely, the blue port on your computer works with this protocol. The MacBook is no exception.

USB 3.1 gen 2

The upgraded version of USB 3.0 is also backward compatible. The data transfer rate has grown to 10 Gbps, and the power to 100 watts. Almost Thunderbolt!

Alternate Mode (AM)

Other non-USB protocols can be mixed into the Type-C connector. For example, Thunderbolt, HDMI, MHL, or DisplayPort. But not all peripherals understand this Alternate Mode.

Power Delivery (PD)

The most delicious thing is charging via USB Type-C. Power Delivery supports 5 standard power supply profiles - up to 5V / 2A, up to 12V / 1.5A, up to 12V / 3A, up to 12-20 / 3A and up to 12-20V / 4.75-5A. Compliance with any profile is determined automatically.

Audio Accessory Mode

Yes, analog audio can also be sent through the USB Type-C ports.

The hardest part is finding the right wire

Ok, everything is clear with the port, it remains to buy a cable. But beginners usually face three problems:

1. Old protocol in a new connector
"New" USB Type-C cable for 150 rubles from Aliexpress? Beware, an ancient USB 2.0 might be hiding inside. It's not even about the reputation of Chinese entrepreneurs, many well-known brands are ready to sell Type-C cable with the old protocol inside at a bargain price.

2. A bunch of specifications
Yes, everything is signed in the title. But how can an ordinary person figure out who doesn't care about all these new specifications? Which picks up the wire according to the shape of the connector? No way. He had just figured out the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 wires.

And outputting an image via USB Type-C is not an easy undertaking. In addition to Display Port and HDMI, there are three more generations of Thunderbolt, which can also connect monitors. It is not enough to find a suitable cable - the device must clearly understand that it is connected to it through Alternate Mode.

3. Will it charge?
Will be, if the name contains "charge" or "PD". But there is a catch here: a cable that supports charging via USB Type-C must meet the required profile and be certified. What is fraught with? At best, slow charging, at worst - on fire.

Why you can't plug in the first cable you come across

Because you can ruin everything. There are three reasons:

1. Low baud rate
Of course, to connect to an external hard drive or a smartphone, almost any wire with the necessary connectors will do. But it is worth making sure that it works with the required protocol (for example, with USB 3.0), otherwise the data transfer speed will drop.

2. Bad picture or lack of it
If the cable will connect the MacBook and the monitor, make sure the wire is transmitting the correct signal frequency. Remember Thunderbolt 3 doesn't work with previous generations.

3. The current with a power of 100 W is not a joke
PD cables are a little more complicated. The power threshold has been raised, which means that you need to be more careful, because in the event of a cable marriage, sad consequences are possible. Not so long ago, a man's laptop and a couple of other devices burned down. Of course, this is an isolated case, and it is unlikely that your MacBook will burn out. But over time, the battery or power controller can be damaged.
So, if you need a wire to charge a laptop, forget about nouns for two hundred parts.

But for smartphones with USB 2.0 adapters, it's not all that scary. You can buy any USB Type-C to USB 2.0 cable and quietly charge your phone.

What to do?

Of course, USB Type-C is the future. There are more and more devices with new connectors and soon the time will pass when you took the first wire that came across without hesitation.

You need to glue labels on USB Type-C cables. Seriously, how else to distinguish a deshman, for an external hard, from an expensive one, which can be used to charge any device?

The best option is to use original wires. Well, if you really buy, then only cool USB 3.1 with Power Delivery support. These cost from 1,500 rubles and more. The situation with connectors from Alternate Mode is simpler, but the price tag is about the same.

The speed of the interface depends on the controllers installed, and you will be surprised at what some manufacturers do with them. USB Type-C technology promises data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, but the first generation of USB Type-C devices is nowhere near that fast. In this article, we figure out what is the matter here ...

USB Type-C is an intriguing new standard that began to appear in laptops, tablets, phones and other devices over a year ago. And we had a desire for a long time to check what speed it can provide in reality. With the arrival of the SanDisk Extreme 900, we can really push this two-way port to its limits. For testing, we prepared 8 laptops with USB Type-C, and also inserted a special PCIe card into the desktop PC to make the test more complete.

What your USB-C port is "silent" about

The implication is that USB Type-C will become a universal standard port, but today its versatility only manifests itself in confusion. USB Type-C can operate at 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps, while still being labeled USB 3.1 by the laptop manufacturer. Technically, USB Type-C can even run at USB 2.0 speeds - at a measly 480 Mbps. So if you see a USB Type-C port, then you can only say that the interface speed can vary from a modest 480 Mb / s to an impressive 10 Gb / s.

To make things even more confusing, Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology uses a USB Type-C port to transfer data over PCIe. And it also supports USB 3.1 at 10Gbps.

Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C video support need to be discussed separately, and we'll devote another article to that. However, the power supply and not-so-universal charging via USB Type-C have already been mentioned.

Not all USB Type-C ports are created equal

What is installed in your laptop?

A number of key factors affect the performance of USB Type-C. The first is the capabilities of the hard drive in your PC. If you copy from the built-in hard drive, it is simply impossible to get the speed even close to the speed of the port, simply because most disk interfaces do not reach the maximum performance of USB Type-C.

Another important factor is the controller used to connect the port. There are two popular chips available in the market today. The first one is ASmedia ASM1142. This 10Gbps USB 3.1 chip can be found in many early laptops and desktops that were equipped with USB Type-C. And since we were unable to quickly find a laptop with this chip, we inserted an Atech BlackB1rd MX1 PCIe card into the desktop PC. The performance of the assembled system should be almost the same as that of laptops with this chip. Another candidate for the lead is Intel's expensive Thunderbolt 3 chip, which also supports 10Gbps USB capability.

And finally, a very popular solution today, which can be found in many laptops, is a USB 3.0 controller built directly into the Intel system logic chipset. The same chip is used to connect standard rectangular USB 3.0 Type-A ports. Many PC makers simply route its signal to the oval USB Type-C ports. And it is this solution that is the most popular, since it is cheaper and requires less energy. However, it also limits any USB Type-C port to a maximum USB 3.0 speed of 5Gbps.

SanDisk Extreme 900 - One of the First Drives to Support USB 3.1 10Gbps

Test Method

For our tests, we used a SanDisk Extreme 900 SSD, which does support USB Type-C connectivity at 10Gbps. SanDisk managed to create this 2TB drive by combining two M.2 SSDs into a RAID 0 array within a single enclosure. And the result is a really fast USB drive. By connecting it to the USB Type-C ports of each computer, we launched the AS SSD utility, which allows us to estimate the real serial data transfer rate of the port.

The results that speak for themselves can be seen in the diagram below. We've ranked them in descending order of performance. The signatures indicate both laptop models and the versions of installed controllers.

We rated 8 laptops to test USB Type-C performance (click on image to enlarge)

Unsurprisingly, laptop makers who choose the cheapest option (connecting an Intel USB 3.0 5Gb / s controller to a USB Type-C port) give you ... 5Gb / s performance. We were unable to test the 12-inch MacBook because the AS SSD doesn't work on OS X, but it uses the same controller. So you have to wait for an equivalent performance.

Much more interesting is the operation of 10 Gbps chips: ASMedia and Thunderbolt 3. In the diagram, they are represented by 2 Dell XPS models (for Thunderbolt) and an ASMedia card in a desktop PC. In our test, ASmedia showed a slight advantage over the Thunderbolt 3 controller. However, PC makers confirm this figure, citing their own internal tests.

Samsung Notebook 9 Pro only uses the USB 3.1 portion of the Intel Thunderbolt 3 controller

However, there is another interesting participant in the test - this is the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro laptop. The 15.6-inch model takes a rather rare approach to equipping a USB Type-C port by using an Intel "Alpine Ridge" chip with Thunderbolt 3, but includes only USB support. Even in the Device Manager pane, you will only find the Intel USB 3.1 controller, as shown in the screenshot above.

Samsung representatives have confirmed that this laptop does not work with Thunderbolt 3. We tested it with the Akitio Thunderbolt 3 drive - it really does not work. Why Samsung engineers did this remains a mystery.

However, we know that performance has been surprisingly slow. Yes, this port is faster than regular USB Type-C with an integrated Intel chip, but much slower than ASMedia and the full version of Thunderbolt 3. Strange move.

Conclusion

One glance at the test chart reveals that there are real benefits to having a full 10Gbps USB 3.1 port in your computer. The most obvious takeaway is that you don't have to wait long for files to be copied to a USB drive. But besides this, only with a full-fledged port can you unleash all the advantages of an external drive with USB 3.1. And as more and more PC models with USB Type-C ports appear on the market, we recommend that you read the specifications carefully before buying a computer.

Good day, Geektimes! Have you heard of USB Type-C before? The one that is reversible, fast-fashion-youthful, charges the new MacBook, makes your hair silky smooth and promises to be the new connection standard for the next ten years?

So, firstly, this is a type of connector, not a new standard. The standard is called USB 3.1. Secondly, we need to talk about the new USB standard, and Type-C is just a nice bonus. To understand what is the difference, what is behind USB 3.1 and what is behind Type C, how to charge an entire laptop from a USB cable and what else can be done with the new USB Type-C:

Briefly about the main thing

USB as a standard appeared almost twenty years ago. The first specifications for USB 1.0 appeared in 1994 and solved three key problems: the unification of the connector through which the equipment expanding the functions of the PC was connected, simplicity for the user, and high speed of data transfer to and from the device.

Despite certain advantages of USB connection over PS / 2, COM and LPT ports, popularity did not come to it right away. The explosive growth of USB experienced in the early 2000s: first, cameras, scanners and printers were connected to it, then flash drives.

In 2001, the first commercial implementations of the USB that we are familiar and understandable appeared: version 2.0. We have been using it for the 14th year already and it has a relatively simple structure.

USB 2.0

Any USB 2.0 and below cable has 4 copper conductors inside. Two of them carry power, the other two carry data. USB cables (according to the standard) are strictly oriented: one of the ends must connect to the host (that is, the system that will manage the connection) and it is called Type-A, the other - to the device, it is called Type-B... Of course, sometimes devices (such as flash drives) don't have a cable at all, the “to the host” connector is located right on the board.

On the host side, there is a special chip: a USB controller (in desktop computers, it can be either part of the system logic, or it can be taken out as an external microcircuit). It is he who initializes the operation of the bus, determines the connection speed, the order and schedule of the movement of data packets, but these are all details. We are most interested in connectors and connectors of the classic USB format.

The most popular connector that everyone has used is the classic-sized USB Type-A: it is located on flash drives, USB modems, at the ends of the wires of mice and keyboards. Full-size USB Type-B is a little less common: usually printers and scanners are connected with this cable. The mini version of USB Type-B is still often used in card readers, digital cameras, and USB hubs. The micro-version of Type-B, through the efforts of European standardizers, has become de facto the most popular connector in the world: all current mobile phones, smartphones and tablets (except for the products of one fruit company) are produced with a USB Type-B Micro connector.

Well, probably no one really saw USB Type-A micro and mini format. Personally, I will not name a single device with such connectors. I even had to get photos from Wikipedia:

Hidden text

All these connectors have one simple thing in common: inside there are four contact pads that provide the connected device with both power and communication:

With USB 2.0, everything is more or less clear. The problem with the standard was that there are not enough two conductors for data transmission, and the specifications developed in the middle of the first decade did not provide for the transfer of large currents through the power circuits. External hard drives suffered the most from these limitations.

USB 3.0

To improve the characteristics of the standard, a new USB 3.0 specification was developed, which contained the following key differences:

Five additional contacts, four of which provide additional communication lines;
Increase the maximum throughput from 480 Mbps to 5 Gbps;
Increase in maximum current from 500 mA to 900 mA.

In addition, there are 4 more connectors that are electrically and mechanically compatible with USB Type-A version 2.0. They allowed both USB 2.0 devices to be connected to 3.0 hosts and 3.0 devices to 2.0 hosts or via a 2.0 cable, but with limited power and data transfer rates.

USB 3.1

Since the fall of 2013, specifications have been adopted for the updated USB 3.1 standard, which brought us the connector Type-C, transferring up to 100W of power and doubling the data transfer rate over USB 3.0. However, it is worth noting that all three innovations are just parts of one new standard, which can be applied all together (and then the device or cable will receive USB 3.1 certification), or separately. For example, technically, inside a Type-C cable, you can organize at least USB 2.0 on four wires and two pairs of contacts. By the way, such a "trick" was done by Nokia: its Nokia N1 tablet has a USB Type-C connector, but inside it uses a regular USB 2.0: with all restrictions on power and data transfer speed.

USB 3.1, Type-C and power

A new standard is responsible for the transfer of really serious capacities. USB PD(Power Delivery). According to the specifications, for USB PD certification, the device and cable must be capable of transmitting current with a power of up to 100 watts, and in both directions (both to and from the host). In this case, the transmission of electricity should not interfere with the transmission of data.

So far, there are only two laptops that fully support USB Power Delivery: the new MacBook and the Chromebook Pixel.

Well, then, who knows, maybe we'll put such sockets at home?

USB Type-C and backward compatibility

USB as a standard is strong in its backward compatibility. Find an ancient 16 megabyte flash drive that only supports USB 1.1, plug it into the 3.0 port and go. Connect a modern HDD to a USB 2.0 connector, and if it has enough power, everything will start, just the speed will be limited. And if not enough, there are special adapters: they use the power circuits of another USB port. The speed will not increase, but the HDD will work.

The same story is with USB 3.1 and the Type-C connector, with only one amendment: the new connector is geometrically incompatible with the old ones. However, manufacturers have actively started production of both Type-A wires.<=>Type-C, and all kinds of adapters, adapters and splitters.

USB Type-C and tunneling

The data transfer speed of the USB 3.1 standard allows not only to connect drives and peripherals, to charge a laptop from the network via a Type-C cable, but also to connect, say ... a monitor. One wire. And a USB hub with multiple 2.0 ports inside the monitor. 100 watts of power, speed comparable to DisplayPort and HDMI, a universal connector and just one cable from the laptop to the monitor, the power supply of which will power the display and charge the laptop. Isn't that wonderful?

What's on USB Type-C now?

Since the technology is young, there are very few devices on USB 3.1. There are not many more devices with a USB Type-C cable / connector, but still not enough for Type-C to become as widespread and natural as Micro-B, which any smartphone user has.

You can wait on Type-C personal computers already in 2016, but some manufacturers have taken and updated the line of existing motherboards. For example, there is USB Type-C with full USB 3.1 support on MSI Z97A Gaming 6 motherboard.

ASUS does not lag behind: motherboards ASUS X99-A and ASUS Z97-A support USB 3.1, but, unfortunately, lack Type-C connectors. In addition, special expansion cards have been announced for those who do not want to upgrade their motherboard or abandon a pair of USB 3.1 ports.

SanDisk recently introduced a 32GB flash drive with two connectors: classic USB Type-A and USB Type-C:

Of course, don't forget about the recent passively cooled MacBook with just one USB Type-C port. Let's talk about its performance and other delights sometime separately, but about the connector - today. Apple ditched both its "magic" MagSafe charging and other connectors on the case, leaving one port for power, peripherals and external displays. Of course, if one connector is not enough for you, you can buy an official HDMI splitter adapter, classic USB and a power connector (all the same Type-C) for ... $ 80. :) It remains to be hoped that Type-C will come to Apple mobile devices (and this will finally end the zoo with wires for smartphones), although the chances of such an update are minimal: was it in vain that Lightning was developed and patented?

One of the peripheral manufacturers - LaCie - has already released a stylish external drive with USB 3.1 Type-C support for the new MacBook.

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