Description of the usb type c connector. Why is it dangerous to insert anything into USB Type-C?
The speed of the interface depends on the controllers installed, and you would be surprised at what some manufacturers do with them. Technology USB Type-C 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 began appearing on laptops, tablets, phones and other devices more than a year ago. 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 them into a desktop PC special card PCIe to make the test more complete.
What your USB-C port is silent about
It is implied that USB Type-C will become universal standard port, but today its universality is manifested only in intricacy. 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 confuse things even more, Intel technology Thunderbolt 3 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 ports Type-C are the same
What's installed on your laptop?
USB Type-C performance is affected by a number of key factors. The first is opportunities. hard drive on your PC. If you copy from the built-in hard drive, it is simply impossible to get a speed 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 earlier versions laptops and desktop PCs 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 the desktop PC. Performance assembled system should be almost the same as laptops with this chip. Another candidate for leadership is the expensive Intel Thunderbolt 3 chip, which also supports USB operation at a speed of 10 Gbit/s.
And finally, a very popular solution today that can be found in many laptops is a USB 3.0 controller built directly into the chipset system logic Intel. 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 the work of anyone USB port Type-C maximum speed USB 3.0 - 5 Gbps.
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SanDisk Extreme 900 is one of the first drives to support USB 3.1 10 Gbps
Test method
To conduct our tests, we used a SanDisk Extreme 900 SSD, which actually supports USB connection Type-C at 10 Gbps. SanDisk was able to create this 2TB drive by combining two M.2 SSD drives into RAID array 0 inside one case. 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 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 - this samsung laptop Notebook 9 Pro. 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 confirmed that this laptop does not work with Thunderbolt 3. We tested this using an Akitio Thunderbolt 3 drive - indeed 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 full-fledged port you can unlock all the benefits 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.
It rarely happens that one extra letter in the name of a standard threatens to revolutionize the world of data transfer interfaces and gadgets, but the emergence of the latest version of USB 3.1 Type-C This seems to be exactly the case. What does the next update of the good old game promise to bring us? USB interface?
- Data transfer rate up to 10 GBps
- Possibility of powering devices with power consumption from the port up to 100W
- Connector dimensions comparable to micro-USB
- The symmetry of the connector - it does not have a top or bottom, which means there is no key, which often leads to damage to both the connectors themselves and the gadgets connected through them
- Using this interface, you can power devices with voltage up to 20 volts
- No longer exists different types connectors - A and B. Both ends of the cable have exactly the same connectors. Both data and power supply can be transmitted through the same connector in both directions. Depending on the situation, each connector can act as a master or slave
- We are promised that the connector design can withstand up to 10,000 connections
- It is possible to use this interface for direct connection instead of some other widely used interfaces for quick exchange data.
- The standard is compatible from top to bottom as c regular USB 3 interface, the same as with its younger brothers. Of course not directly, but with the help of an adapter it is possible to connect, say, a USB 2.0 drive through it
I will not touch on the history of the development of the USB interface; this topic is not poorly developed in this comic in the sense of history in pictures.
Electronics - the science of contacts
To begin with, comparative photos of today's hero in the company of honored ancestors.
The USB Type-C connector is slightly larger than the usual USB 2.0 Micro-B, but noticeably more compact than the dual USB 3.0 Micro-B, not to mention the classic USB Type-A.
The dimensions of the connector (8.34×2.56 mm) allow it to be used without any particular difficulties for devices of any class, including smartphones and tablets.
The signal and power pins are placed on a plastic insert; perhaps this is its weakest point in the central part of the connector. The USB Type-C contact group contains 24 pins. Let me remind you that USB 1.0/2.0 had only 4 pins, and USB 3.0 connectors already required 9 pins.
If you look closely at the picture on the left, you can see that the contacts have different lengths. This ensures their closure in a certain sequence. In the picture in the center we see the presence of latches that should hold the plugged-in cable and provide a tactile click during the connection and disconnection process. The right graph shows the dependence of the force during the process of inserting and removing the connector.
The peaks that we see on it are the moments when the latch is triggered.
It can be stated that the developers of the standard have done, if not everything, then almost everything to make the connector as convenient and reliable as possible: it is inserted from either end and from either side with a noticeable click. According to them, he is able to survive this procedure more than 10 thousand times.
Many-faced symmetrical Janus
Extremely pleasant and useful feature USB-C has become a symmetrical connector design, allowing it to be connected to the port on either side. This is achieved thanks to the symmetrical arrangement of its terminals.
The earth terminals are located along the edges. The positive power contacts are also located symmetrically. In the center there are contacts responsible for compatibility with the USB2 interface and younger. They are the luckiest of all - they are duplicated and therefore turning 180 degrees when connecting is not terrible. Pins responsible for high-speed data exchange are marked in blue. As we see here everything is more cunning. If we rotate the connector, then, for example, the output of TX1 will change places with TX2, but at the same time the place of the input of RX1 will be taken by RX2.
The Secondary Bus and USB Power Delivery Communication pins are service pins and are intended for communication between two connected devices. After all, they need to tell each other a lot about each other before starting the exchange, but more on that later.
In the meantime, about one more feature. The USB Type-C port was originally designed as a universal solution. In addition to direct data transfer via USB, it can also be used in Alternate Mode to implement third-party interfaces. The VESA Association took advantage of this flexibility of USB Type-C by introducing the ability to transmit video streams via DisplayPort Alt Mode.
USB Type-C has four high-speed lines (pairs) of Super Speed USB. If two of them are dedicated to DisplayPort needs, this is enough to get an image with a resolution of 3840x2160. At the same time, the data transfer speed via USB does not suffer. At its peak it is still the same 10 Gb/s (for USB 3.1 Gen2). Also, the transmission of the video stream does not in any way affect the energy capacity of the port. Even 4 high-speed lines can be allocated for DisplayPort needs. In this case, resolutions up to 5120×2880 will be available. In this mode, USB 2.0 lines remain unused, so USB Type-C will still be able to transfer data in parallel, although at a limited speed.
In alternative mode, the SBU1/SBU2 pins are used to transmit the audio stream, which are converted into AUX+/AUX- channels. For the USB protocol they are not used, so there are no additional functional losses here either.
When using the DisplayPort interface, the USB Type-C connector can still be connected to either side. The necessary signal coordination is provided initially.
Connecting devices with using HDMI, DVI and even D-Sub (VGA) are also possible, but for this you will need separate adapters, however these must be active adapters, since for DisplayPort Alt Mode, Dual-Mode Display Port (DP++) is not supported.
Alternative USB mode Type-C can be used for more than just the DisplayPort protocol. Perhaps we will soon learn that this port learned, for example, to transfer data using PCI Express or Ethernet.
And she gave to this, and she gave to that. In general... about nutrition.
Another important feature that USB Type-C brings is the ability to transmit energy through it with a power of up to 100 W. This is enough not only for power supply/charging mobile devices, but also for the operation of laptops, monitors, and if you get creative, even a small one laboratory source nutrition.
When the USB bus appeared, power transmission was an important, but still secondary function. The USB 1.0 port provided only 0.75 W (0.15 A, 5 V). Enough for a mouse and keyboard to work, but nothing more. For USB 2.0, the rated current was increased to 0.5 A, which made it possible to receive 2.5 Watts from it to power, for example, external hard drives 2.5" format For USB 3.0, a nominal current of 0.9 A is provided, which, with a constant supply voltage of 5V, guarantees a power of 4.5 W. Special reinforced connectors on motherboards ahs or laptops were capable of delivering up to 1.5 A to speed up charging of connected mobile devices, but this is “only” 7.5 W. Against the background of these figures, the possibility of transmitting 100 W looks like something fantastic.
In order to fill the USB Type-C port with such energy, it supports the USB Power Delivery 2.0 (USB PD) specification. If there is none, the USB Type-C port will normally be able to output 7.5 W (1.5 A, 5 V) or 15 W (3 A, 5 V) depending on the configuration. For detailed description There is not enough space for this specification in this article, and anyway I will not do it better than the respected one in his wonderful article.
However, it will not be possible to completely bypass this extremely important topic.
In order to provide 100 watts of power at five volts, a current of 20 amperes is required! Considering the size of the USB Type-C cable, this is perhaps only possible if it is made from a superconductor! I'm afraid that today this will be quite expensive for users, so the developers of the standard took a different path. They increased the supply voltage to 20 Volts. “Excuse me, but it will completely burn out my favorite tablet,” you exclaim, and you will be absolutely right. In order not to fall victim to angry users, the engineers came up with a clever trick - they introduced a system of power profiles. Before connecting, any device is in standard mode. The voltage in it is limited to five volts and the current to two amperes. For connecting with old-type devices, this mode will end everything, but for more advanced cases, after exchanging data, the devices switch to another agreed mode of operation with advanced capabilities. To get acquainted with the main existing modes, let's look at the table.
Profile 1 guarantees the ability to transmit 10 W of energy, the second - 18 W, the third - 36 W, the fourth - 60 W, and the fifth - our cherished hundred! Port that matches the profile more high level, supports all states of the previous ones in descending order. 5V, 12V and 20V were selected as reference voltages. The use of 5V is necessary for compatibility with the huge fleet of available USB peripherals. 12V – standard supply voltage various components systems 20V was proposed taking into account the fact that external 19–20V power supplies are used to charge the batteries of most laptops.
A few words about cables!
Supporting the format described in the article in full will require a huge amount of work not only from programmers, but also from electronics manufacturers. It will be necessary to develop and deploy production very large quantity components. The most obvious thing is the connectors. In order to withstand high supply voltage currents without interfering with signal transmission, very high frequency, and at the same time not to fail after the second connection and not to fall out at the most inopportune moment, the quality of their production should be radically higher compared to the USB 2 format.To combine high-power energy transmission and signal with gigabit traffic, cable manufacturers will have to work hard.
Admire what a cross-section of a cable suitable for our task looks like.
By the way, about restrictions on cable lengths when using the USB 3.1 interface. For data transfer without significant losses at speeds up to 10 Gb/s (Gen 2) cable length c USB connectors Type-C should not exceed 1 meter, for connections at speeds up to 5 Gb/s (Gen 1) – 2 meters.
Circuit designers from manufacturers of motherboards, docking stations and laptops will long puzzle over how to generate power of the order of hundreds of watts, and tracers will wonder how to connect it to the USB Type-C connector.
Chip manufacturers are at a low start.
Symmetrical connection and operation of signal lines in different modes will require the use of high-speed signal switch microcircuits. Today the first swallows have already appeared. Here, for example, is a switch from Texas Instruments, which supports operation in devices in both host and slave modes. It is capable of switching differential pair lines with signal frequencies up to 5 GHz.
At the same time, the dimensions of the HDC3SS460 chip are 3.5 by 5.5 mm and in idle mode it consumes a current of about 1 microampere. In active mode - less than a milliamp. There are also more advanced solutions, for example, chips produced by NXP support communication frequencies of up to 10 GHz.
Power managers combined with circuits for protecting signal lines from static began to appear, for example, this product from NXP
It is designed to correctly handle the moment of connecting the connector, as well as opening the power circuit in case of problems. This chip already supports voltage on VBUS up to 30 volts, but with the maximum switching current everything is much worse - it should not exceed 1 ampere, which is understandable, given the dimensions - 1.4 by 1.7 mm!
The undisputed leader in this area was Cypress, which released a specialized microcontroller with a core ARM Cortex M0 supports all five power profiles possible for the standard.
A typical connection diagram for use in a laptop gives some idea about it, and you can learn more about it by downloading the datasheet.
Unlike the NXP chip, it is focused on controlling external power switches and therefore can provide switching of the required currents and voltages, despite its small size.
Attention, an important feature for those who are in a hurry to order the first samples - the microcontroller does not have a USB interface and is not a complete and complete solution. It can only serve as a power manager. IN this moment Pre-orders for the supply of samples and demo boards are open. The fate of this microcontroller will apparently largely depend on whether the manufacturer provides developers with reference libraries for its use in different modes.
The fact that several demokits have already been created for it greatly increases the likelihood of the latter.
Elevator to heaven or the Tower of Babel.
So today a revolutionary situation has completely emerged. The upper classes cannot, and the lower classes do not want to live in the old way. Everyone is tired of the confusion with a huge number of cables, chargers, power supplies and their low reliability.
New standard generated unprecedented activity. The flagships of the electronics industry - Apple, Nokia, Asus are preparing to release their first gadgets with support for USB Type-C. The Chinese are already churning out cables and adapters. Dock stations and hubs supporting high power loads are on the way. Chip manufacturers are developing new chips and are thinking about how to stuff a new port driver into a microcontroller. Marketers decide where to stick new connector, and engineers are scratching their heads trying to implement multidisciplinary devices from existing ones electronic components.
Only one thing is not clear yet. What will we get as a result? A convenient and reliable connector that will replace the lion’s share of interfaces and will find everyday use, or Babylonian pandemonium, because the situation may begin to develop according to a not-so-favorable scenario:
Users can become completely confused by numerous specifications and cables that will look exactly the same, but will only be certified for certain profiles. Try to figure out all these markings right away.
But even if it works, this is unlikely to solve the problem - the Chinese, without a twinge of conscience, will easily put any icon on any cord. And if necessary, then there are tons of different cables on each side of the same cable; they won’t be confused even if they are mutually exclusive.
The market will be flooded with an incredible number of adapters of different calibers and dubious quality.
When trying to connect one device to another, you will never know what result this process will lead to and why the connection is either completely absent or everything is terribly glitchy. Either one of the gadgets does not support the required profile, or it supports it but not very correctly, or instead quality cable I came across a crude Chinese counterfeit of it. What would you do if suddenly the only connector left on your laptop fails?
Until next time.
P.S. The new standard is already leading to the emergence of very exotic devices. Thus, a 100-meter-long cable was announced, which does not seem to fit into the standards. The whole point is that he is active. At both ends the cable has a USB3 interface to optical signal converter. The signal is transmitted via optics and converted back at the output. Naturally, it does not transmit energy, but only data. In this case, each of the converters at its ends is powered by the connector to which it is connected.
I think that soon self-respecting companies will begin to insert active tags into cables to confirm authenticity. The hub problem will generate unprecedented activity among developers and manufacturers of DC-DC converters. As a respected user rightly noted
Google and Apple recently launched new mobile computers, although the machines are completely different, they have something in common: both computers have USB Type-C ports. So what is USB Type-C? Let's get a look.
The two most famous devices that already have a USB Type-C port are: new Google Chromebook Pixel and new Macbook. However, USB 3.1 and Type-C connectors will become standard over the next few years.
Each of us is probably very familiar with the USB port. If you have a computer, then most likely you used a USB flash drive, or maybe connected a printer to a USB port. If you have a smartphone running Android, then you know that the USB port can be used to recharge or transfer data from the phone and back. USB ports have been present everywhere for a long time. It first came into widespread use when Microsoft In Windows 98, Apple included support for it to remove the keyboard and mouse ports. This happened almost 20 years ago, and little has changed since then.
The USB 1.1 port can transfer data at a speed of 12 Mbps, that is, 1.4 megabytes per second. In those days, a floppy disk was 1.4 megabytes, so it was fast. The USB 2.0 port was released in 2000, which could theoretically handle 480 Mbps. However, its actual average speed approximately 280 Mbps, which is about 35 megabytes per second.
The USB 3.0 port was announced in 2008 and allows theoretical speeds of up to 5.0 Gbps. However, the actual speed achieved is around 400 Megabytes per second, not bad, right?.
On desktop PCs, USB 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0 ports used the same type of connector, and then micro-B or mini-B on peripheral devices (phone, camera, etc.).
The situation has changed somewhat with the advent of USB 3.1 ports. As you'd expect, the USB 3.1 port is even faster than its predecessors, with speeds so fast that it can be used to connect 4K displays. This means that in the future in laptops and PCs, we will not see HDMI or VGA connectors, users will see a new type of ports. In other words, type “A” and “B” are already history. The new connector is called USB Type-C. So, what gives us new port USB Type-C, and why can't Type-A and B provide this?
Firstly, the new USB Type-C connectors are not large. This means that we will no longer need mini or micro ports, which means there will be no confusion with the choice the required cable. The Type-C connector is small enough for smartphones and powerful enough for PCs and even servers.
Secondly, the USB Type-C port can handle 100W of power, meaning that it can be used not only to charge smartphones, but also to power many other devices that previously required a different power source (power supply). In the future, your printer may only need one cable – USB Type-C, which will provide both power and data transfer.
Thirdly, the Type-C cable is double-sided - now it doesn’t matter how you connect it. There is no longer any need to worry about which side to connect the cable to.
Finally, the USB Type-C cable uses a new small connector on both ends, no longer using Type A on one end and Type B on the other. Now you can really connect the cable any way you want, and it will just work!
The two most famous devices that already have a USB Type-C port are the new Google Chromebook Pixel and the new Macbook. However, USB 3.1 and Type-C connectors will become standard over the next few years. Since it is backward compatible, connecting devices running on previous versions USB ports, you will need a passive adapter. So, companies that will switch new technology, will not alienate their existing customers.
Adam Rodriguez, Product Manager at Google stated that “We are proponents of USB Type-C. You'll see it in many Chromebooks and Android devices in the near future." It is worth noting that the Type-C connector can be obtained by devices that do not even support USB 3.1 yet. For example, mid-range smartphones may use the new connector without actually having support for the new USB standard. This will make the transition to a new type of connector easier, however it may cause some confusion when the port does not output high speed, as was expected.
The latest line of Type-C (and USB 3.1) ports takes the best of the beloved USB and makes it even better, providing a universal connector size that will work well with both types of devices - mobile phones and personal computers.
The USB Type-C port is the successor to the original port micro USB, today it can already be found in smartphones of 2017, as well as external batteries, headphones and other devices. Galagram tells why the new Type-C is better than regular micro USB, as well as what bonuses owners of equipment with the new port standard receive.
3 Key Benefits of USB Type-C
It charges gadgets faster
The USB Implementers Forum, which is the industry association behind the development of the port, worked out the bugs in its micro USB creation and created USB Type-C with better specifications. Chargers with the new port are faster and typically charge smartphones at 15W. This is five times faster than most chargers using old port. And most importantly, it does not put extra strain on your battery.
Charging both ways
Not only do both ends of the cable look the same, they can also do the same thing on both ends, meaning you can tell which direction the current is flowing. In some cases, this leads to funny results when your smartphone starts charging the power bank.
If you have a lot of battery left, you can help a friend by charging his smartphone using just Type-C cable. To do this, connect both smartphones with this cable and direct the current in the desired direction, that’s all!
Transfer data from smartphone to smartphone
You just need to open the file explorer on the device where you want to receive the files. This is a pre-installed application on many smartphone brands, but otherwise you can simply find it in the settings.
How USB Type-C works
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a standard that defines cable, connectors and digital exchange data. Its first version appeared in 1998 and replaced the PC interfaces that were popular at that time. The USB Type-C connector appeared in 2014. It has more pins than its predecessor, and they are arranged symmetrically. As a result, it doesn't matter which way you insert the cable - it's double-sided and works the same way.
This is a two-way 24 pin port
Between the connectors and USB versions there are many differences. They have different electrical characteristics, power and data transfer rate indicators. USB A and B connectors only have 4 pins, while USB 3.1 Type-C has 24 pins (standard pinout), which are needed to support higher currents and more fast transfer data. Besides, USB standard 3.1 increases data transfer speeds up to 10 Gb/s and also has innovative ways to charge devices.
The Type-C port specification requires the connector to withstand 100,000 connections per connector without signs of wear. If you connect the port, for example, two to three times a day, the cable should last more than 12 years. To meet these requirements and handle increased power flow, USB-C cables are usually made thicker than a classic micro USB cable.
What is Type-C for?
A bunch of Android smartphones still have a micro USB port. In most cases, devices are charged through it at a voltage of 5V and a current of 2A. Faster charging speeds can only be achieved outside of the USB specification: Qualcomm Quick Charge, OnePlus Dash Charge, Oppo Vooc and Samsung Adaptive Fast Charge are manufacturer standards that only work on devices of a certain brand.
Transfers more power than micro USB
The Type-C port provides up to 100W of power using an open, free, common power system limited only by the cable, power supply, or charging target. To minimize heat buildup and wear on electronic components, Type-C compatible devices constantly match voltage and current to each other. To find them, search USB logo on charger, which was adopted in August 2016.
Can transmit HDMI and audio signals
Type-C connectors can replace many other cables. The certification process for many signals and protocols has already been completed. These include VGA, DVI or HDMI, where the Type-C port simulates a display port, including protocol conversion. Of course, this requires appropriate hardware and software on the device, but this is up to the equipment manufacturers.
Xiaomi and LeEco are getting rid of the 3.5 mm port in favor of Type-C
At the beginning of its journey, the USB port was intended to combine all other interfaces into one, this was even hinted at by its constant logo, but time is running and the universal port itself has grown into many bad compatible versions, which brought even more chaos into the relationship between certain gadgets. And finally, He appeared on the horizon. The great and terrible USB Type C. Knowledgeable people he was greeted with almost applause, and ordinary users They just shrugged their shoulders. You can still encounter this indifference today: they say, yes, it’s symmetrical, yes, it’s easier to connect, so what? In fact, the difference is huge, and if you are still wondering what is better - Type C or microUSB, this is the place for you.
Type C is more practical
This compact port announced itself as new network standard and his appearance is fully consistent with such a high status. A symmetrical, 24-pin port can now be found on flagship and mid-range smartphones price segments, laptops, docking stations, routers and a huge number other technology. It does not take up much space on the case and, yes, it is more convenient to connect. And now you don’t have to carry around a certain number of blocks from different equipment with you.
Of considerable importance is also backward compatibility. The Type-C port allows you to use any technology from the most ancient to the ultra-modern without any special restrictions.
A couple of years ago, there was an urgent issue of finding adapters and compatible flash drives, but today they are a dime a dozen on the market.
Data transfer speed - up to 10 Gb/s
In this regard, Type C is a great foundation for the future, because it offers users data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gb/s. Modern smartphones, of course, do not need this, but in the future it may well come in handy.
Here, by the way, we must immediately put an end to the confusion. The first Type C installed on a smartphone (by the way, it was Nokia N1) supported only the 2.0 protocol, while later devices could have both 3.0 and 3.1 with corresponding data transfer rates. This limitation is imposed by the manufacturer with an eye to modern realities and will invariably increase.
Charging - up to 100 W power
Fast charging is already sweeping the planet. They are being developed different manufacturers and they work on different principles, but the essence is the same - to increase power and thus reduce the charging time of the gadget. If you read our previous text, you noticed that in modern technologies fast chargers The numbers don't even come close to what's listed. However, in the future, this seemingly sky-high power will also be used. This technology You may have come across it on the Internet under the name USB Power Delivery. This is what many see as the future standard for fast charging.
Moreover, the Type C port can not only charge, but also charge other devices, which third-party manufacturers will obviously not fail to use in their developments.
Alternate Modes
If up to this point we were talking exclusively about proprietary developments, now it’s time to look at related technologies. Type C will also allow you to connect to monitors with DisplayPort, MHL and HDMI.
You can’t ignore Thunderbolt 3, which guarantees data and video transfer to high speeds. Through this interface you can daisy chain connect up to 6 peripheral devices (for example, monitors). It's really hard to imagine a situation where this is really necessary.
Sound transmission - audiophile quality
If we assessed all the above modes in the context of a reserve for the future, then this is something that even ordinary users are faced with today. We are talking about a massive replacement of the audio jack with a Type C port. Separated ports, in this case, have only one (but very serious) advantage: you can use headphones even when the smartphone is charging. But in all other respects, the analog jack is inferior to the digital USB-C. In the latter case, the sound quality will be higher, noise reduction and echo cancellation will be better implemented. Equally significant is the ability to transfer some tasks (and related equipment) to the headset, which will also help avoid unnecessary noise and expand the headset’s control capabilities. back side medals - headphones will clearly become more expensive than modern simple “whistles” or, in other words, “whistles” will simply die out as a species.
And in the future, according to the developers, cooler things await us. For example, the ability to monitor body temperature while playing sports using headphones.
Docking stations
It is the versatility of the USB Type C port that made the use of docking stations for smartphones possible. Connecting to a dock makes it possible to turn your smartphone into an almost full-fledged desktop PC. Not at the gaming level, of course, but it will definitely be suitable for multimedia, since the power of mobile processors is more than enough for this. There are currently two devices on the market that offer this functionality. This is the HP Elite x3, which we reviewed extensively, and the Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+ and Note8 models with their DeX Station. Considering the speed with which Type C is spreading, I would like to hope that other manufacturers will have analogues.
As we see, a miniature Type-C port is not only charging, as many people think, but also a sea of other possibilities. It is for the versatility of USB-C that they value it. But the sea of these undeniable advantages crosses out one fat minus. The capabilities of the port will always be limited by the carrier device and it is impossible to recognize these limitations externally. That is, Type C always looks the same, and to find out what exactly it will be able to do on a particular device, you will have to look for detailed specifications. Moreover, the difficulties here will be not only with the presence/absence of alternative modes, but also with the speeds involved. Moreover, the compatibility of two devices can be “killed” by using the wrong cable. This is a pretty good game of attentiveness. The only good thing is that these restrictions will gradually be leveled out with the development of technology.