New standards are constantly replacing old ones. And now the time has come for a truly significant transition, because the introduction of a new format for the most common port - USB - has begun. Let's find out what the newly-minted Type-C will bring to us.
In fact, the format itself was approved quite a long time ago. At one time we were even on our website. But the standard's path to final consumer devices is quite difficult. Things like ports should be included in production at a fairly early level, so it is logical that only now the first real gadgets with the discussed port have begun to appear.
The first more or less large commercial device with USB Type-C there was a tablet on board. Although it was announced back in November last year, it only went on sale in China. And just the other day, two of the largest IT giants announced their new laptops, which are also equipped with the new USB standard. This is the new one from Apple and the new one from Google. And if in the Chromebook there are two new ports, which are accompanied by two “old” USB, then in the MacBook it is the only one, except for the combined 3.5 mm jack.
The release of devices with a new port standard by such large companies means that the market for peripherals, for which any ports are conceived, will receive a strong push. Even though both of the aforementioned laptops will be very niche devices.
So what can you do with the new USB standard? First, let's clarify the hardware. The new connector is called Type-C. It is small, thin and symmetrical. A kind of golden mean between microUSB (aka Micro-B USB) and Lightning. Its physical dimensions will be 8.4 mm by 2.6 mm.
But at the same time there is also new standard USB 3.1 (this is not the same as a connector), which is supported by the new Type-C connector. There has been a big step forward in specifications. Compared to USB 3.0, the data transfer speed has doubled, from 5 Gbit/s to 10 Gbit/s. At the same time, the ability to transmit power has also increased. Using the 3.1 standard, you can transmit a current of 5 A at a voltage of 20 V. With the help of simple calculations, this is transformed into 100 W of power. By comparison, USB 3.0 was capable of delivering 1.8 A at 5 V (9 W). In addition, USB 3.1 can transmit current not only from the host to the recipient, but do it in both directions, if necessary.
Now let's return to the question of what the new USB standard can give us. As you can see from the specifications, it is now truly ready to take on absolutely all the functions that can be taken on. When humanity came up with connectors and plugs, at about the same moment the dream should have been born that there would be only one connector and one plug in the world, for absolutely any purpose. And now this dream is beginning to take shape.
Using the USB 3.1 standard, you can transfer data, connect external displays, connect audio devices, transfer charge - i.e. the new standard has the potential to truly replace all currently existing ports.
Although the new 12″ MacBook does this somewhat aggressively, it clearly shows that one port is enough. Or rather, everyone will probably eventually understand that one port is probably not enough (we need to somehow distinguish the second generation MacBook from the first, after all), but one type of port is enough. What’s especially pleasing is that now the charging will be universal. This means that all laptops can be charged with exactly the same cable as a smartphone. No more proprietary plugs that will cost as much as a full laptop if you lose them. In addition, charging blocks will become smaller, neater and, again, will fit any device.
The big problem with the new standard is the lack of direct backward compatibility with older devices. But everything is not as bad as many people think. The option of cables with Type-C at one end and “old” is possible USB Type-A on the other. Naturally, in this case, all the goodies of 3.1 will be unavailable, and will be limited by the smaller standard in the chain, but everything will work and this is a positive thing. There are already adapters. The one from Apple, for example, costs $79, but this does not mean that everything will be so bad and the Chinese will not quickly catch up.
It is unlikely that all manufacturers will now decide to completely abandon the old ports, but the sooner we switch to new ones, the better. Ask Apple users if they regret switching to Lightning? I'm sure not, although it was painful for many. By the way, it’s very interesting what port will be in the new iPad and iPhone, Lightning or USB-C?
As a result, we have a standard that has every chance of completely killing all competitors. It is quite possible that in the very near future we will only need one thin cable to do absolutely everything with absolutely any device. And that's wonderful.
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Recent changes and improvements in USB technology are expanding the choice of interfaces for users. Initially, the USB Implementers Forum renamed the USB 3.0 interface to USB 3.1 Gen 1. At the same time, technical specifications interface remained the same. The forum then introduced USB 3.1 Gen 2 and new type physical connector, which is called USB Type C. We decided to shed light on the situation around these standards and connectors.
USB 3.1 technology
Currently, USB 3.1 Gen 1 (formerly USB 3.0) technology is supported as standard by the latest MacOS, Linux and Windows operating systems. The interface provides a maximum theoretical throughput of 5 Gbps and actual throughput of up to 3.4 Gbps and up to 900 mA of current for devices. Unlike USB 2.0, version 3.1 operates in full duplex mode, in other words, simultaneous sending and receiving of data is possible.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 offers users twice the throughput of Gen 1: 10 Gbps. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is not a standard for Intel or AMD, but may be supported by third-party drivers and controllers. Although Gen 2 received minor protocol changes, it is backwards compatible with Gen 1.
Scope of application of USB 3.1
So, USB 3.1 technology provides the user with significantly increased performance compared to USB 2.0. When using removable drives, faster data transfer will be ensured: large video files and images. USB 3.1 will provide support high resolutions and frame rates for cameras used in machine vision systems on production lines. Accordingly, PTZ cameras used both in video surveillance systems and in video conferencing systems without using a hardware codec can support resolutions of 1080p60 and higher. This undoubtedly improves the quality and reduces the cost of video conferencing systems, and also allows users to connect their own devices to Skype and WebEx.
USB 3.1 pinout
Like USB 3.0, USB 3.1 received additional pins to support SuperSpeed. The D+ and D- pins remain the same, including (power) and (ground). To service the SuperSpeed bus, two additional twisted pairs were added, which provide bidirectional SuperSpeed data transmission: StdA_SSRX+ and StdA_SSRX- (receive) and SSTX+ and StdA_SSTX (transmit).
USB Type C
The new type of physical connector brings significant qualitative changes that set it apart from USB 3.1 Gen 1 and Gen 2. Type C supports data transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps (Thunderbolt 3 alternative mode) and current power of up to 100 Watts. Many have already appreciated the shape of the connector: it can be inserted from either side. Both the connector and connector are quite compact and much more durable than alternatives, for example, micro USB. The cables are marked with an electronic chip for correct use and to prevent situations where it is not compatible or transfers too much power to a device that does not support it. Type C is backward compatible with USB 2.0, 3.1 Gen 1 and 3.1 Gen 2.
Type C can both consume and provide power. The same port can be used both to connect a flash drive and to charge a laptop. In addition, Type C charges devices such as smartphones and tablets faster.
Alternate Modes
USB Type C can operate in so-called alternative modes, which allow you to transfer not only USB data through the connector and cables. In this case, other physical protocols are used, and with each of them, current transmission with a power of up to 100 Watts is ensured.
- DisplayPort Alternate Mode– support for video transmission with resolutions up to 4Kp60 4:4:4 with DisplayPort version 1.3. Simultaneous transfer of USB 3.1 Gen 2 and USB 2.0.
- Mobil High-Definition Link (MHL) Alternate Mode— support for video transmission with resolutions up to 4Kp60 (1 line) or up to 8Kp60 (4 lines) using MHL 1.0, support for USB 2.0 and 3.1 depending on the configuration.
- Thunderbolt 3 Alternate Mode– Supports up to two displays with resolutions up to 4Kp60, PCIe 3.0, DisplayPort, USB 2.0 and 3.1 transmission, depending on configuration.
- HDMI Alternate Mode– support for HDMI 1.4b specification (4Kp30, 4Kp60 4:2:0), no USB 3.1 concurrent support in any configuration.
Trends around USB-C
The features and advantages of USB Type C will certainly be reflected in the increasing presence of the connector in mobile devices and laptops. Among devices with this type of connector, flash drives, various docking stations, monitors and adapters for outdated interfaces are expected. By 2019, up to two billion different devices are expected to be shipped.
Today I will tell you about various USB Type-C cables. And I will try to dispel doubts about their feasibility. The review contains cables from Orico, which are designed to connect your device with a new-fangled connector to a computer or other device with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports.
The USB type-C connector is just gaining popularity and many people not only haven’t seen it, but also don’t understand what innovations are behind it. On what basis are opinions spread such as “everything will burn out” and “why do I need another connector?”
I will try to tell in my own words. Others can find the specification “USB Type-C Specification Release 1.1.pdf”. .
In the text I use the word “connector” as a general word for the concepts “connector”, “socket”, “connector”, “port”, etc.
Historical information
And now on the fingers. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, a data transfer specification called “USB” v1.0 was developed. Then USB 1.1 struck back. USB 2.0 has reached the masses. And USB 3.0, although not universal, 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 on different types devices with different purposes and partial backward compatibility - USB type-A, USB micro-A, USB Micro-B SuperSpeed.It was the accumulated diversity and incomplete compatibility that brought confusion, inconvenience and gave rise to many jokes. So, the new USB type-C standard has become a “new hope”. It doesn't change the data transfer standard (but it does add one). This is a connector standard that combines the advantages of connectors from all previous USB standards and avoids their disadvantages.
Properties of USB type-C
Basic new introductions:
- one connector for everything (for printers, smartphones, flash drives... monitors!)
- mirror connector (no need to guess which way to insert it)
- small dimensions (it is slightly larger than micro USB)
- the connector is very securely fixed in the socket (yay!)
- must withstand up to 10,000 connections
- the connector supports USB 1.0 – USB 3.1 standards
- it invites devices to independently decide who to be master/slave and power source/consumer
- the cable can be passive or active (with electronics inside)
Basic old introductions:
- the standard does not define the length of the wire; it is already defined in 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 following reviews, but for now let's look at the implementation of three USB Type-C cables with backward compatibility.
Unboxing
And only now let’s look at the received parcel. Got to reviewEach of them is packed in a little bag, in a cardboard box and in another little bag. Two of the three boxes were wrinkled during transportation. All cables are exactly 1 meter long and 3 mm thick (except LCU-10-BK, it is 4 mm). The wires are a little stiff and happily return to their old position.
Pinout
What does universality bring to backwards compatibility?In the USB 2.0 – USB 3.1 standards, the master/slave roles are determined through the shape of the connector.
In the USB Type-C standard, the master/slave roles are determined through a pull-up resistor to ground or power. So connecting just one cable tells the USB Type-C device what to expect at the other end.
Test stand
The stand itself looks like this.
I have already tested various cables on it, so I have something to compare with. The charger is quite powerful and has good output voltage stability. The tester used can load the charger with a specified current value and store all measurement data.
The table contains the results of cable measurements at different currents. 
* Direct column shows voltages without any cable. The remaining columns need to be compared with Direct and with each other.
* The gray column of ECU10bk shows the result of turning on the USB type-C connector on the other side.
* the remaining gray columns contain data from some cables I have previously measured.
Resume
So far there are very few devices with the new connector and the article is intended for those lucky oneswho are looking for similar “bridges” between generations.
* The USB type-C connector showed itself in all its glory. It is easy to insert, holds tightly and is easily removed. And it has a mirror arrangement of contacts.
* the most popular cable ECU-10-BK (USB type-C to USB type-A) showed good results. It can safely pass about 2A through itself. But yes, it does not live up to its 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 somehow strange.
* I can’t say what happened to the MCU-10-BK cable (USB type-C to micro USB 2.0). Perhaps it's just a marriage.
P.S. There will be a test of speed characteristics, but in another review. 
The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.
I'm planning to buy +8 Add to favorites I liked the review +22 +29USB Type-C isn't exactly a new concept for Android fans, but there are some who are still in the dark about this technology. In this article, we will find out what USB Type-C is and get some recommendations on how to use it.
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a cable standard that allows you to transfer data and power between electronic devices. It first appeared in 1998 and has gone through several iterations since then, the most recent being USB Type-C.
Each USB version has data transfer speed and quantity limits electric current through her. The previous USB Type-A and Type-B connectors only have four pins, but USB Type-C has 24, more larger, and faster data transfer rates.
For example, Micro-USB 2.0, which is currently found on Android smartphones, supports 5V (volts) / 2A (amps) power and data transfer rates of 480 Mbps. USB 3.1 Type-C, on the other hand, has 20V/5A power with transfer speeds up to 10Gbps.
What are the advantages of USB Type-C
Type-C has several other useful features. The USB Type-C connector is reversible, meaning it will work no matter the orientation you plug it in, and has an identical pin on both ends.
What's more, the next generation of HDMI is USB Type-C compatible, meaning there is no need for a separate dongle to send high-definition audio/visual data. In the future, laptops will no doubt fully embrace USB Type-C.
What are the disadvantages of USB Type-C
Not all manufacturers are adapting to the new USB standard. Some USB Type-C cables follow the USB 2.0 standard, which is a dangerous practice and may damage your smartphone.
If you need to buy a Type-C cable for your phone, you can purchase one from your device manufacturer at this time.
One more big problem, is the number of devices that use it. Nektus 5X, good luck finding a cable. Another downside is that quality USB Type-C cables and chargers are expensive.
Beware of cheap USB Type-C cables, they can harm your phone.
Even if your smartphone has USB Type-C, it may not support USB 3.1 unless you check to see if it has it before purchasing. Always use the cable that came with your USB Type-C device
The USB Type-C port has at least one undeniable and obvious advantage in front of the micro USB port - you can insert the connector into it from either side (like Lightning). But USB Type-C also has disadvantages, we will talk about them today.
1. USB Type-C does not support fast charging
Currently, no smartphone with a USB Type-C cable is compatible with technologies that support fast charging (for example, Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0). Perhaps it will appear in the future, but definitely not on those smartphones that have already been released.
2. USB Type-C does not guarantee high data transfer speeds
USB Type-C is only a connector form factor, not a data exchange standard. The USB Type-C cable itself can comply with different standards - USB 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1. Even if the cable supports USB 3.1, the data transfer speed through it will be limited by the port of the smartphone or computer. In theory, data can be transferred via USB 3.1 at speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, but in reality such speeds will most likely be unattainable even under ideal conditions.
3. USB Type-C is not widely used
Surely you have often asked your friends for a charger or cable to charge your dead smartphone. In the case of USB Type-C, this will not work - it’s unlikely that anyone will have such a cable. You can ask any passerby for a micro USB cable. They may refuse, but almost everyone has it..
4. USB Type-C is expensive
The worst thing is if the cable gets lost or becomes unusable - a micro USB cord is very cheap in computer stores, and USB Type-C is not available in all retail outlets, and you will have to pay a lot for it more money. In addition, there is no guarantee that the new cable will be of the same quality as the one that came with the smartphone; there is a high risk of running into a fake.
5. USB Type-C does not support common accessories
If you have already purchased various accessories for your smartphone, such as portable chargers, OTG adapters, flash drives, speakers, etc., be prepared that they will be incompatible with USB Type-C. Finding accessories that support this standard is currently quite difficult.
All this does not mean that the USB Type-C standard is bad, it’s just that its time has not come yet. In addition, many compatibility issues can be solved by purchasing a USB Type-C -> micro USB adapter.