In 2015 it was shown new version MacBook Air. At the presentation, Tim Cook, the head of Apple, as usual, talked about the new functions and capabilities of the device. There was one detail in it that interested not only Apple adherents. As you might have guessed, we were talking about a completely new USB Type-C connector.
What is it?
USB Type-C is an evolutionary development of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) format, which you have probably heard of and which is perhaps the most widespread technology in the field of mobile and peripheral devices.
This is precisely evolution, not revolution, although some individual moments can be called revolutionary. Thus, USB Type-C allows you to transfer not only files, but even video!
I would like to immediately talk about the designations USB Type-C and USB 3.1. They don't mean the same thing, although they go hand in hand: USB Type-C is a USB specification, USB 3.1 is essentially a numerical designation that refers to data transfer speed. Roughly speaking, USB Type-C works on USB 3.1 technology. By the way, the data transfer speed is very high - over 1200 MB/s versus 500 MB/s for USB 3.0!
Compare USB Type-C and USB Type-A:
And here is a comparison of USB Type-C and microUSB (one of the most popular formats used in the mobile industry):
What is the advantage of USB Type-C?
As was written above, in data transfer speed. But this is not the only advantage of this technology. Thus, USB 3.1 has a higher maximum power, which means that soon it will be possible to connect additional devices such as speakers without an additional power source. Just imagine - you took the speakers out into nature, connected them using USB Type-C and listened to music!
Another huge plus is the current strength is as much as 5A. This allows you to charge your smartphone, tablet or any other device much faster. The main thing is that this device supports fast charging technology.
Finally, the plug can now be inserted in either direction - it is symmetrical. Until recently, such pleasure was available only for iPhone and iPad, and now for all other devices that use USB Type-C technology.
What devices use USB Type-C?
Many. These include laptops, tablets, and smartphones. It is likely that in the future the transition to USB Type-C for Android-based devices will be significantly accelerated, since Google has advised manufacturers to use this particular interface in their future new products.
Google laptop:
Mobile device users had a hard time in the 2000s - they were forced to put up with the so-called proprietary. The phones of each manufacturer were equipped with unique charging connectors - as a result, the charger, for example, for Nokia did not work with a Motorola phone. It even got to the point of absurdity - when for two phones from the same manufacturer (Finnish) it was necessary to look for different chargers. The dissatisfaction of users was so strong that the European Parliament was forced to intervene.
Now the situation is completely different: almost all smartphone manufacturers equip their gadgets with ports for chargers same type. The user no longer has to buy a new charger “in addition” to the phone.
USB cables can be used not only to transfer data from a PC to a gadget, but also to charge a mobile device. Smartphones are capable of replenishing battery “reserves” both from an outlet and from a computer, but in the second case, charging will take significantly longer. Traditional USB cable for Android smartphone or Windows Phone looks like this:
There is a standard plug at one of its ends USB 2.0 Type-A:
This plug plugs into the USB port on your computer or laptop.
At the other end of the wire there is a plug microUSB.
It is, accordingly, inserted into the micro-USB connector on the mobile device.
Micro-USB 2.0 is now a unified connector: it can be found on smartphones and tablets from almost all mobile device manufacturers (with the exception of Apple). An agreement on interface standardization was signed in 2011 by representatives of 13 leading companies in the mobile market.
The choice fell on Micro-USB for a number of reasons:
- The connector is compact. Its physical dimensions are only 2x7 millimeters - this is about 4 times smaller than USB 2.0 Type-A.
- The plug is durable– especially when compared with the Nokia thin charger.
- The connector is capable of providing high data transfer rates. Theoretically, the transfer speed via Micro-USB when using the 2.0 standard can reach 480 Mbit/s. The actual speed is much lower (10-12 Mbit/s in Full Speed), but this rarely causes inconvenience to users.
- The connector supports the OTG function. We'll tell you more about the benefits this provides later.
Micro-USB could impose competition in the fight for the role of a standard connector Mini-USB. The mini plug looks like this:
This type of USB connector was not suitable as a standard one, and here's why:
- The connector is larger in size– albeit not by much. Its size is 3x7 millimeters.
- The connector is quite fragile– due to the lack of rigid fastenings, it becomes loose very quickly. As a result, transmitting data via cable becomes a real pain for the user.
In the 2000s, a mini-USB connector could be found on smartphones from “second-class” manufacturers - say, Philips And Alcatel. Nowadays you won’t find mobile gadgets with a mini-jack on the market.
In addition to the USB connectors we mentioned (Micro-USB, Mini-USB, USB Type-A), there are others. For example, micro-USB standard 3.0 can be used to connect hard drives to a PC, and USB Type-B(square shape) – For musical instruments(particularly MIDI keyboards). These connectors are not directly related to mobile technology (except for Galaxy Note 3 c USB 3.0), so we won’t talk about them in more detail.
What types of USB cables are there for smartphones?
Thanks to the inexhaustible imagination of Chinese handicrafts, mobile technology users can buy cables of completely different formations. For example, in the era of proprietaryism, the following “monster” was incredibly popular:
Yes, this charger fits all the main connectors!
Similar “multi-tools” are still on sale, but they have fewer plugs. Here is a 4-in-1 charger, which can be ordered for less than 200 rubles:
This charger is equipped with all modern plugs - Lightning, 30Pin (both for iPhone), microUSB, USB 3.0. Definitely a “must-have” for the user!
There are other interesting options. Here is the cable from OATSBASF For those who hate cables:
This cable allows you to charge two mobile devices from your computer. simultaneously(for example, the 5th iPhone and Android) and has a very tempting price - just over 100 rubles.
In domestic stores and showrooms, the user, of course, will not find such an abundance of different cables as on the pages of catalogs GearBest And AliExpress. In addition, data equipment at retail costs significantly more. For these two reasons, users are recommended to order USB cables from China.
What is the OTG standard?
Surely many have seen such a cable and wondered what it is for:
This is a cable OTG; at one end there is a plug micro-USB, on the second – connector USB 2.0, "Mother". Using such a cable, you can connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone or tablet, but only if the mobile device itself supports the standard OTG.
OTG(short for On-The-Go) is a function designed to quickly connect 2 USB devices to each other, without the mediation of a computer. Connect by OTG you can use not only a flash drive (although this, of course, is the most common case), but also, for example, a computer mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, gaming steering wheel, joystick. You can even connect your smartphone to a printer or MFP to print out a photo taken with the gadget’s camera.
Cables OTG for the iPhone have also already appeared, however, you can only download photos and videos to an Apple device (without jailbreak) from an external storage device - and then only when the root folders on the flash drive and the photos themselves have the “correct” names.
A complete list of smartphones that support the function OTG, no - simply because almost all modern gadgets can boast of having this standard, and the list would be huge. However, a buyer who intends to connect a mouse or flash drive to the device should inquire from a store consultant about support OTG before giving away money - “just in case.”
USB Type-C: what are the advantages?
Transition from micro-USB na – this new trend mobile electronics market! Manufacturers are actively mastering the technology and equipping their flagship models with improved connectors for charging and data transfer. USB Type-C waited a long time “in the shadows”: the connector was created back in 2013, but only in 2016 did market leaders pay attention to it.
looks USB Type-C So:
What are the advantages? Type-C in front of everyone familiar micro-USB?
- High data transfer speed. Bandwidth Type-C equals 10 Gb/sec (!). But that's just bandwidth.: in reality, only owners of smartphones with the standard can count on such speed USB 3.1- For example, Nexus 6P And 5X. If the gadget uses the standard USB 3.0, the speed will be around 5 Gb/sec; at USB 2.0 Data transfer will be significantly slower.
- Fast charging. The duration of the smartphone charging procedure depends on the potential amount of watts supplied by the connector. USB standard 2.0 capable of serving everything 2.5 W– that’s why charging lasts for hours. Connector USB Type-C provides 100 W– that is, 40 times (!) more. It is curious that current transmission can occur in both directions - both to the host and from it.
- Connector symmetry. If the connector micro-USB there is up and down, then the connector Type-C symmetrical Which side you insert it into the connector does not matter. From this point of view, technology USB Type-C similar to Lightning from Apple.
Dignity Type-C The size of the connector is also small - only 8.4 × 2.6 millimeters. According to this technology criterion micro-USB And USB Type-C similar.
U USB Type-C There are also disadvantages, one of which is more than significant. Due to the unregulated operation of the connector, charging can easily “fry” the mobile device. This probability is not purely theoretical - fires have occurred in practice. It is for this reason that the proliferation of non-original, “makeshift” cables and chargers USB Type-C Type-C and decide to abandon the standard connector. At the same time, Ravencraft admits that, perhaps, complete replacement USB-A will never happen.
Is the time really coming for one unified connector for charging any device? More recently, such an assumption could have been laughed at. But even Apple is slowly giving in, and the MacBook with its USB Type-C is the first confirmation of this.
Nirvana is still far away; first we need to finish the periphery. First things first: 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 of the USB Type-C connector is to replace everything else, be it charging, an HDMI port or a regular slot for a flash drive. No more “my cord is on the other side” or “I can only connect one monitor.” I found the port, inserted the device, everything worked. Idyll.
Well, well. In practice, this “freedom” has created great confusion. It’s not enough to make a universal connector - it requires at least universal cable.
The fact is that the USB Type-C port has 24 contacts through which signals of different protocols pass. That's what you can connect to this universal connector.
- USB 2.0
The first devices equipped with a USB Type-C port actually operated in USB 2.0 mode and transferred data at a speed of 480 Mbit/s. Tablets and smartphones using this protocol are still found (hello, Nokia N1).
- USB 3.1 gen 1 (3.0, SuperSpeed USB)
Flies at speeds up to 5 Gbps, backwards compatible with USB 1.x and USB 2.0. Most likely, the blue port on your computer works with this protocol. MacBook is no exception.
- USB 3.1 gen 2
The upgraded version of USB 3.0 is also backwards compatible. Data transfer speed has increased to 10 Gbit/s, and power to 100 W. Almost like Thunderbolt!
- Alternate Mode (AM)
The Type-C connector can accommodate other non-USB protocols. For example, Thunderbolt, HDMI, MHL or DisplayPort. But not all peripheral devices understand this Alternate Mode.
- Power Delivery (PD)
The best part 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 USB Type-C ports.
The hardest part is finding the right wire
Ok, everything is clear with the port, all that remains is 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? Be careful, there might be an ancient USB 2.0 hidden inside. It’s not even a matter of the reputation of Chinese entrepreneurs; many well-known brands are ready to sell a Type-C cable with the old protocol inside at a bargain price.
2. A bunch of specifications
Yes, everything is written in the title. But how to figure it out to an ordinary person, who doesn't care about all these new specifications? Which selects the wire according to the shape of the connector? No way. He just realized the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 wires.
And outputting images via USB Type-C is not the easiest undertaking. In addition to Display Port and HDMI, there are three more generations of Thunderbolt, which can also be used to connect monitors. It’s not enough to find a suitable cable - the device must clearly understand that it is connected to it via Alternate Mode.
3. Will it charge?
It will 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 are the consequences? IN best case scenario slow charging, at worst - fire of the device.
Why you can’t insert the first cable you come across
Because you can ruin everything. Here are three reasons:
1. Low speed data transmission
Of course, for connecting to an external hard drive or smartphone, almost any wire with the necessary connectors will do. But you should make sure that it works with the required protocol (for example, USB 3.0), otherwise the data transfer speed will drop.
2. Bad picture or lack thereof
If the cable will connect the MacBook and the monitor, make sure that the wire transmits the signal of the desired frequency. Don't forget that Thunderbolt 3 does not work with previous generations.
3. 100 W current is no joke
PD cables are a little more complicated. The power threshold has been raised, which means you need to be more careful, because if the cable is defective, dire consequences are possible. Not 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 may suffer.
So, if you need a wire to charge your laptop, forget about the nonames for two hundred square meters.
But for smartphones with USB 2.0 adapters, it’s not so bad. You can buy any USB Type-C to USB 2.0 cable and quietly charge your phone.
What to do?
Of course, for 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 you came across without thinking.
USB Type-C cables need to be labeled. Seriously, how else can you tell the difference between a cheap external hard drive and an expensive one that can 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 1500 rubles and above. With connectors from Alternate Mode the situation is simpler, but the price tag is about the same.
The speed of the interface depends on the controllers installed, and you would be surprised at what some manufacturers do with them. USB Type-C technology promises us data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, but the first generation of devices with USB Type-C turns out to be far from that fast. In this article we figure out what's going on here...
USB Type-C is an intriguing new standard that more than a year ago began to appear on laptops, tablets, phones and other devices. And we have long had a desire to check what speed it can actually provide. 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
USB Type-C is supposed to become a universal standard port, but to date its versatility has only manifested itself in confusion. USB Type-C can operate at 5 Gbps or 10 Gbps while still being labeled as USB 3.1 by the laptop manufacturer. Technically, USB Type-C can even operate at USB 2.0 speeds - a measly 480 Mbps. So if you see a USB Type-C port, all that can be said is that the interface speed can vary from a modest 480 Mbps to an impressive 10 Gbps.
To make things even more confusing, Intel Thunderbolt 3 technology uses the USB Type-C port to transfer data over PCIe. And it also supports USB 3.1 at 10Gbps.
Thunderbolt 3 and support for video transmission over USB Type-C need to be discussed separately, and we will devote another article to this. However, power and not so universal charging via USB Type-C have already been mentioned.
Not all USB Type-C ports are created equal
What's installed on your laptop?
USB Type-C performance is affected by a number of key factors. The first is the capabilities of the hard drive in your PC. If you are copying from a built-in hard drive, it is simply impossible to get speeds 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 USB 3.1 chip, running at 10 Gbps, can be found in many early versions of 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 a desktop PC. The performance of the assembled system should be almost the same as that of laptops with this chip. Another candidate for leadership is the expensive Intel Thunderbolt 3 chip, which also supports USB at 10 Gbps.
And finally, a very popular solution today that 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 manufacturers simply pass its signal to oval USB Type-C ports. And this solution 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 5 Gbps.
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SanDisk Extreme 900 is one of the first drives to support USB 3.1 10 Gbps
Test Method
For our tests, we used a SanDisk Extreme 900 SSD, which does support USB Type-C connectivity at 10 Gbps. SanDisk was able to create this 2TB drive by combining two M.2 SSD drives into a RAID 0 array inside a single enclosure. And it turned out to be a really fast USB drive. By connecting it to the USB Type-C ports of each computer, we ran the AS SSD utility, which allows us to evaluate the actual serial data transfer speed of the port.
You can see the results that speak for themselves in the chart below. We have arranged them in descending order of performance. The signatures indicate both laptop models and versions of installed controllers.
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We evaluated 8 laptops to examine USB Type-C performance (click on image to enlarge)
It's not surprising that laptop manufacturers who choose the cheapest option (connecting an Intel USB 3.0 5 Gb/s controller to a USB Type-C port) give you... 5 Gb/s performance. We weren't able 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 equivalent performance.
Of much greater interest is the operation of chips with a speed of 10 Gbps: 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 manufacturers confirm these data, citing the results of their own internal tests.
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The Samsung Notebook 9 Pro model only uses the USB 3.1 portion of the Intel Thunderbolt 3 controller
However, there is another interesting participant in the test - the Samsung Notebook 9 Pro laptop. The 15.6-inch model uses the rather rare approach of equipping a USB Type-C port by using an Intel “Alpine Ridge” chip with Thunderbolt 3, but only includes USB support. Even in the Device Manager panel, you will only find the Intel USB 3.1 controller as shown in the above screenshot.
Samsung representatives have confirmed that this laptop does not work with Thunderbolt 3. We tested this using the Akitio Thunderbolt 3 drive and it does not work. Why Samsung engineers did this remains a mystery.
However, we do know that performance has been surprisingly poor. Yes, this port is faster than regular USB Type-C with built-in Intel chip, but much slower than ASMedia and full version Thunderbolt 3. Strange move.
Conclusion
One look at the test chart makes it clear that there are real benefits to having a full 10 Gbps USB 3.1 port in your computer. The most obvious conclusion is that you won'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 realize all the advantages of an external drive with USB 3.1. And since more and more PC models with USB Type-C ports will appear on the market, we recommend that you read the specifications more carefully before purchasing a computer.
Have you ever met a person who enthusiastically said: “My smartphone has Type-C”?
Debates about the modernity and usefulness of the new interface have been going on for quite a long time. Some consider it the future, others - a utopia. The trouble is that both sides have strong evidence that they are right. To understand the situation, it is necessary to comprehensively study the issue.
Development
Not everyone remembers the first USB Type-A connector, which is still used in the latest computers, laptops and tablets. Back in the 90s he had the same physical fitness, but another standard is USB 1.1. In more detail, there were restrictions on data transfer speeds.
In 2001, standard 2.0 was developed, which is the most widespread today. It provided data transfer speeds of up to 480 Mbit/s. At this moment, the era of creating a universal and high-speed connector for connection began.
The first generally accepted connector to become very popular and widespread was Type-B Mini. It is successfully used in phones, cameras, video cameras and allows you to connect devices to a computer. However, this should not be considered a big breakthrough, only the form has changed, the standard remains the same - USB 2.0. In other words, the transfer speed did not increase.
The desire to minimize the size of gadgets led to the creation of the new Type-B Micro. He continues to be the main character of the overwhelming majority modern technology, but cannot offer users much benefit.
A real breakthrough was the USB 3.0 specification, which radically changed the way we look at many things. New interface allowed to increase the data transfer rate to 5 Gbit/s. The changes also affected internal structure. The new 3.0 introduces a 9-pin group (in 2.0 there were only 4 contacts).
The final step towards the advent of Type-C was the adoption of the 3.1 standard, which remains the fastest and most efficient today. Users were able to transfer data at speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s. New standard also allows you to transfer a charge with a power of 100 W.
The standard consists of 24 pins: two rows of 12 pieces. 8 pins of the USB 3.1 interface are used for data exchange at high speed. Pins B8 and A8 (SUB1 and 2) are used to transmit analog signals to the headphones (right and left), A5 and B5 (CC1 and 2) are needed to select the power mode. There are also ground (GND) and power (V+) pins.
Benefits of Type-C
It is not so necessary, but is simply another physical modification that has received support for USB 3.1. But don’t rush to conclusions, as there is a whole series advantages that the new connector offers:
- Safety. The connector is double-sided, i.e. You can connect the cable in any position. This ensures complete safety and security of the gadget from breakdowns that are accompanied by bent or broken contacts.
- Versatility. Full compatibility with all old generation standards is ensured, starting with USB 1.1.
- Independence. Type-C, which supports USB 3.1, can supply connected devices with up to 100W of power. Simply put, when connected, there is not just a full power supply, but also recharging the batteries of other gadgets, as from “”.
- Compactness. The connector has very small dimensions, so it is actively used in the production of modern tablets.
Flaws
From a technical point of view, USB Type-C is almost perfect. So why hasn't it become the most popular yet? Why are manufacturers not in a hurry to equip their equipment with it? There are no obstacles to technical equipment, but there are significant reasons that slow down this process.
First of all, it has a unique physical structure, so to connect most gadgets you need adapter cables, all kinds of splitters and adapters. If the connected device does not support USB 3.1, such a connection simply becomes meaningless, since the maximum data transfer speed and power support will not be provided.
Most of the released computer, mobile, audio and video equipment is equipped with Type-A, Type-B Mini/Micro, which do not support USB 3.1 or even 3.0. The mass transition to USB Type-C will reduce demand for existing products that do not have it. Regardless of the desires and hopes of users, manufacturers deliberately push back effective technology and slow down its spread.
Secondly, even if two connected devices have Type-C, it may not be possible to get all the benefits. This is due to imperfect technology for processing and transmitting information from certain categories of devices. For example, you can synchronize a smartphone and a personal computer/laptop via Type-C. However, data transfer in both directions will be limited because maximum speed will not be able to provide the hard drive.
Yes, new technology available, it is used, but before complete transition far away yet. You need to understand that in the event of a complete transition to USB Type-C, all outdated equipment will have to be sent for recycling.