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Let’s talk about USB-C 🔌

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At its recent keynote, Apple unveiled its new iPhone 15s, which you can discover by clicking here. The big news with these iPhones is their adoption of USB-C. Now that most of the world’s smartphones use the same connector, a quick update on this universal connector is in order.

What is USB Type-C?🤔

USB Type-C, commonly known as USB-C, is a type of connector designed to replace all the existing USB connectors we know today. These include the traditional USB Type-A, which can easily be plugged in the wrong way. There is also the USB Type-B connector, generally used on printers and certain monitors.

For Android phones and smartphones, we had Mini USB and Micro USB. You may have noticed that some external hard drives have a sort of dual connector. This is a version of Micro USB that is compatible with the USB 3 standard (we’ll explain this below).

USB Type-C has therefore been designed to bring together all these formats and connectors that we use every day in a single port. To make it as easy to use as possible, it has been designed to be compact and reversible. So it can be used on a wide range of products. From mice to laptops and smartphones.

Don’t confuse USB-C with USB 3 😵‍💫

In the previous paragraph, we made it clear that USB-C is first and foremost a type of connector. However, in parallel, there are what are known as USB standards: USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, USB 3.1, USB 3.2, USB 4. Unlike the connectors mentioned above, the USB standard determines the data transfer speed. Here are a few figures to illustrate the maximum speed of each version:

  • USB 1.0: 0.19 Mo/s
  • USB 2.0: 1.5 Mo/s
  • USB 3.0: 640 Mo/s
  • USB 3.1: 1.25 Go/s
  • USB 3.2: 2.5 Go/s
  • USB 4: 5 Go/s

You’ve probably already seen blue USB ports. These are USB 3.0 Type A ports. The blue colour has been chosen to enable consumers to distinguish them from other USB Type A connectors, with older USB standards and therefore lower data rates.

In short, when we talk about USB followed by a letter (A, B or C), we’re talking about the connector. And when we use a number (USB 1, 2, 3 or 4), we’re talking about the standard. However, all future versions of the USB standard will use a single connector, USB-C.

If you’ve got this far and you’re still struggling to understand, we’re going to use an image to help you summarise everything we’ve just said. Think of the USB types (A, B, C) as just containers, similar to bottles. Whereas the USB standards (1, 2, 3, 4) represent what you can put inside these containers. Easy, isn’t it 😁

Not all USB cables are created equal🔌

Now that you know the difference between a USB connector and a USB standard, let’s add one last element: the power delivered. These days, USB connectors are mainly used to power our devices. However, the power requirements are not the same for a smartphone and a computer. Smartphone chargers generally offer 15 watts of power for iPhones and an average of 35 watts for Android smartphones compatible with fast charging. For laptops, on the other hand, power generally starts at 60 watts and can reach 230 watts for certain models.
And that’s where USB Power Delivery comes in. Introduced with USB-C and USB 3.1, it specifies the maximum power that a USB cable can deliver. It enables intelligent and adaptable charging, allowing you to use the same cable for different types of device.
In summary, the next time you buy a USB-C cable, make sure you check the standard (USB 3.1 or USB 3.2) according to your needs, as well as the power it can support.
Now you have the basics to understand USB-C. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to ask them in the comments section.

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