What is USB Type-C? Or is it USB C?

If you`ve bought a new smartphone in the past couple of years, chances are it has a new port used for charging and possibly even audio. The new port is officially called USB Type-C and as you`ve probably noticed it plugs in the first time, every time thanks to its reversible design.

There`s much more to this new connector than just a reversible version of the old micro-USB design though. So let`s take a look at exactly what USB Type-C is and what it can do for us.

A look at the USB Type-C connector

USB Type-A, B, micro, and mini all share the same basic internal connections (it was just the port shaped that varies), with faster 3.0 cables and ports boasting an extra high-speed data lane. USB Type-C triples the pin count from USB 3.0`s eight up to 24. So as well as being the first reversible design, USB Type-C also greatly expands the number of pins and thus its capabilities too.

USB Type-C is no guarantee that you'll see the fastest available data speeds.

As well as delivering data, USB Type-C is designed to power all of our gadgets and not just the portable ones. The connector is rated to deliver and receive up to 100W of power, making it suitable to charge laptops and more. Things do get a little complicated here though, as there are multiple different standards and protocols that can be used to power USB devices.

By default, USB 2.0 ports offer up to 5V, 0.5A of power and 3.0 ports extend this to 5V, 0.9A. USB Type-C pushes the power delivery even further when connecting two of the ports together, with options for 1.5A and 3.0A worth of current. Again, there are no guarantees about the exact level of power you`ll receive from any particularly port just by looking at the connector, but Type-C theoretically offers higher speed charging out-of-the-box than other options.

In addition to the default power options, Type-C devices can be fully compatible with the USB Power Delivery specifications. This can be used to augment the basic charging options with even higher power delivery all the way up to 100W. However, Power Delivery isn`t limited to Type-C devices and still works when connecting up to Type-A or other connectors that also support the optional specification.

The bottom line is that USB Type-C devices should enable faster data transfers and charge times than previous models. However, the exact specifications depend on what the manufacturers decide to implement and aren`t intrinsically linked to the port type.

One port for everything

In addition to power and data, USB Type-C is designed to support a wide variety of different modes and standards too, positioning it as a one-size-fits-all solution for a selection of technologies. A number of audio and video modes are supported, setting up the connector to become a replacement for the 3.5mm headphone jack and the HDMI cable.

For audio, the connector supports digital audio via the USB Audio Class specification, of which version 3.0 is the latest. Analog headsets are also supported over the connector through the Audio Adapter Accessory Mode, which repurposes the port`s SBU and CC pins for left, right, and microphone connections. With a pass-through connector, devices can also be charged up with 5V/500mA worth of power.

USB-C supports both audio and video standards over the connector too.

Video over the connector can come in a number of different forms, these include HDMI, superMHL, and DisplayPort standards. These are enabled via Alternate Mode which frees up the SBU and high-speed data pins for use with other standards. HDMI Alt mode is available via a converter cable, enabling up to a 4K resolution, surround sound, and even 3D content playback.

Display Port over USB-C is supported with both USB 2.0, 3.1 and Thunderbolt specced connectors, offering up to 4K 60Hz 24-bit HDR playback, a maximum 8K resolution, and multi-channel audio. Finally, superMHL again works with USB 2.0 and 3.1 speeds over the Type-C connector, with 4K and 8K resolutions at up to 60fps supported on fast enough setups. Dolby Atmos surround sound is incorporated, as is backward compatibility with existing MHL specifications.

However, all of these modes also require additional hardware and software support behind the port, so checking the compatibility of your device is a must.

Wrap up

As you can see from all of the above, USB Type-C is a complicated connector and not just in its physical designs. The standard provides a wider range of possible implementations than ever before, ranging from faster data and power speeds through to extra optional multimedia features.While this wide range of options is part of the standard`s appeal, it`s also by far the most complicated connector for consumers to understand. A single connector with many features sounds great, but the optional nature of support makes it impossible to tell what a port or cable is capable of just by looking at it. The level of research required by consumers to make sure they buy the right USB Type-C products and cables is higher than for its predecessors, and that`s not a good thing.

If you are looking for good type-c chargers, Waweis company is your best choice!

Regards,

Jasmine

Sales manager