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This broad acceptance by the big dogs is important, because it's part of why USB-C has been so readily accepted by PC manufacturers. Contrast this with the earlier Apple-promoted (and developed) Lightning connector, which had limited acceptance beyond Apple products and is facing obsolescence, thanks in no small part to USB-C. USB-C is so broadly accepted that the European Union, hoping to simplify digital life, will require devices to use it for battery charging starting in 2024. Here’s a table that lists major differences in speeds and performance of some USB versions. Key differences between some USB versions. USB 1.0 USB Mini are further divided into two variants: USB Mini A (or Mini USB A) and USB Mini B. These are smaller counterparts of Type A and Type B USB connectors. They are designed for their compact size, which makes them handy for smaller devices. USB Mini A and USB Mini B connectors. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons) Mini A/B - a versatile connector that can accept either mini A-type or mini B-type plugs and cables
USB-C (or USB Type-C) is slowly becoming the standard port for consumer devices. Almost every new laptop, tablet or phone has USB-C connectivity. This is because the connection type fixes many of the problems associated with USB-A. It also has many features that surpass its predecessor.USB-C can do more than other USB types can, and get it done faster. USB-C has the potential to replace all other cables, thanks to its diverse multi-tasking abilities. It has the ability to power even the most power-hungry devices, like laptops and TVs. It can also transfer 40 gigabits of data per second (Gbps), and can be used to deliver 5K video to external monitors. USB 3.0 can achieve transmission speeds of up to 5 Gigabits per second (or 5 Gbps), whereas USB 3.1 can achieve up to 10 Gbps. However, USB 3.2 has two 10Gbps lanes and is thus capable of achieving 20Gpbs. You will likely find USB Mini in portable cameras, game controllers, and some old mobile phones. They typically have 5 pin configurations and are smaller than regular USB types, hence the name ‘mini’. However, they have largely been replaced by the smaller Micro-USB and USB-C connectors. 5 – USB Micro (Micro USB A, Micro USB B, And Micro USB B Superspeed) Put simply, the more advanced versions of the USB protocol allow for faster data and power transfer. Most of us will never care enough to tell the difference between USB 3.0 and USB 3.2, but it's nice to know how it all works. The practical benefits of this include pass-through charging; effectively a USB hub that powers laptops, and also charges other devices simultaneously. Additionally, laptops can be powered by portable USB-C chargers, allowing greater flexibility when on the move.
USB-A has a thin, rectangular cross-section and is generally used for the host end of the connection. Thus, USB-A ports may be found on laptops, desktops, media players, or game consoles. The original USB-B has a square cross-section with beveled top corners and attaches to peripherals like printers or external hard drives. I've appeared on CBS News, in USA Today, and at many other outlets to offer analysis on breaking technology news. As you can see above, some USB-C ports use the USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 specification, with maximum speeds of 20Gbps. The USB-IF decided on "2x2" because this standard doubles the data lanes within a USB-C cable to achieve the 20Gbps transfer speed. These ports have not been widely available. They will likely go by the wayside in favor of another emerging flavor of USB-C port, supporting USB4, which the USB-IF has announced will eventually support data speeds up to 120Gbps. Solid conductors eliminate strand-interaction distortion and reduce jitter. Solid silver-plated copper conductors are excellent for very high-frequency applications, like Ethernet audio. These signals, being such a high frequency travel almost exclusively on the surface of the conductor. As the surface is made of high-purity silver, the performance is very close to that of a solid silver cable, but priced much closer to solid copper cable. This is an incredibly cost effective way of manufacturing very high quality USB cables.As you can imagine, the design of the lightning connector makes it impossible to be used in any other device other than Apple devices, which makes it a nuisance for many users. Obviously, as a charge cable it’s terrible for data transfer and can’t drive Thunderbolt devices nor your monitor, but as a charging cable it’s excellent. It is also reversible, i.e., it can be plugged in either way without worrying about which is the right side up. USB cables can be classified into USB Type A, USB Type B, USB Type C, USB Micro, USB Mini, and Lightning based on their physical design. Furthermore, USB connectors are divided into various versions based on their speeds, like USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB 4.0. We didn’t test the temperature of each cable’s housing, but we did test the cheapest cable by running it at 5 amps and 20 volts for an hour. The housing heated up by 50 degrees Fahrenheit, and the cable itself became relatively warm (see the thermal image below). Not ideal, but it did this without failure. We subjected other cables to two-hour loads without failure, as well.
Since USB 3.1, which coincides with the introduction of USB-C, improvements have included the directionality of the cable. Previous iterations required specific ends for host and peripheral, whereas USB 3.1 introduced bi-directionality to match the bi-directional connector form of USB-C. Like Lightning and MagSafe, the USB-C connector has no up or down orientation. Line up the connector properly, and you never have to flip it over to plug it in; the "right way" is always up. The standard cables also have the same connector on both ends, so you don't have to figure out which end goes where. That has not been the case with all the USB cables we've been using for the past 20 years. Most of the time, you have different connectors at each end. We then looked at how fast the cable would charge and transfer data, and whether it supported an alternate mode to run a monitor, using real-world hardware.
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In addition, ALL of AudioQuest’s USB cables incorporate a newly developed strain-relief system to provide robust durability between the USB cable and plug. It’s also capable of carrying a lot of power, so it can be used to charge larger devices like laptops, in addition to smaller devices like smartphones and tablets. USB-C’s reversibility entails bi-directional charging, meaning that, in principle, at least, it’s possible to charge any device from any other. Not only is the directionality a problem for older USB cables, but they also don’t support the same level of charging. However, USB-C now supports enough power for a laptop and other larger devices. While USB-A could only support up to 2.5 watts and 5 volts, USB-C now supports 100 watts and 20 volts easily enough for larger devices. In the end, Apple’s USB-C Charge Cable won us over and is actually our recommended cable for those who want a big name on the box and intend to use it for mostly charging. When we say the box, we mean it, because Apple oddly doesn’t include any branding on the cable itself, which is a mistake because you just might mix it up with a lousy cable.
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