Recently, more and more phones and smartphones have appeared on the market, which instead of the traditional Micro USB use a new connector called USB Type-C. This type of connector appeared not so long ago, and so far it is far from being understood what it is and how it works.

If you also have questions related to USB Type-C, then we suggest that you read this article. Here you will learn what USB Type-C is, how it differs from Micro USB, and which one is better to choose. If you are also interested

What is USB Type-C in phones and smartphones

USB interface logo.

In order to understand what USB Type-C is, you need to make a small excursion into the history of this interface. Is a computer interface that appeared in the mid-1990s and has since been actively used to connect peripheral devices to a computer. With the advent of smartphones, this interface began to be used in them, a little later, USB began to be used in ordinary mobile phones with buttons.

Initially, the USB standard included only two types of connectors: Type-A and Type-B. The Type-A connector was used to connect to a device on the side of which a hub or USB interface controller was used. The Type-A connector, on the other hand, was used on the peripheral side. Thus, a regular USB cable included two Type-A connectors, which connected to a computer or other control device, and a Type-B, which connected to a peripheral device.

In addition, both Type-A and Type-B have smaller versions of the connectors, which are designated as Mini and Micro. The result is a fairly large list of different connectors: regular USB Type-A, Mini Type-A, Micro Type-A, regular Type-B, Mini Type-B and Micro USB Type-B, which was commonly used in phones and smartphones and more. known as Micro USB.

Comparison of different connectors.

With the release of the third version of the USB standard, several additional connectors appeared that supported USB 3.0, these are: USB 3.0 Type-B, USB 3.0 Type-B Mini and USB 3.0 Type-B Micro.

This whole zoo of connectors no longer met modern realities, in which simple-to-use connectors such as those from Apple were gaining popularity. Therefore, along with the USB 3.1 standard, a new type of connector was introduced called USB Type-C (USB-C).

The advent of USB Type-C solved several problems at once. Firstly, USB Type-C was originally compact, so there is no need for Mini and Micro versions of the connector. Secondly, USB Type-C can be connected to both peripheral devices and computers. This allows you to abandon the scheme in which Type-A was connected to a computer, and Type-B to a peripheral device.

In addition, USB Type-C supports many other innovations and useful functions:

• Data transfer rates from 5 to 10 Gb / s, and with the introduction of USB 3.2, this speed can grow to 20 Gb / s.
• Backward compatible with previous USB standards. Using a special adapter, a device with a USB Type-C connector can be connected to the usual USB of previous versions.
• Symmetrical connector design that allows you to plug in the cable either way (just like Apple's Lightning).
• The USB Type-C cable can be used to quickly charge mobile phones, smartphones, and compact laptops.
• Support for alternative modes of operation, in which the USB Type-C cable can be used to transfer information using other protocols (DisplayPort, MHL, Thunderbolt, HDMI, VirtualLink).

What is the difference between USB Type-C and Micro USB

USB Type-C (top) and Micro USB cables.

Users who choose a mobile phone or smartphone are often interested in how USB Type-C differs from Micro USB. Below we have collected the main differences and advantages of these connectors.

• USB Type-C is the future-proof connector. If you are choosing a flagship smartphone that you plan to use for several years, then you should pay attention to the models with USB Type-C. This connector is actively gaining popularity and in the future more and more devices with its support will appear. You should not be afraid of problems with the connection to the computer. If your computer is not equipped with this connector, you can always connect your phone using an adapter.
• USB Type-C is convenient. The symmetrical design makes it much easier to connect USB Type-C than the classic Micro USB. In order to put a phone with USB Type-C on charging, you just need to plug the cable into it, and you do not need to look at the connector and choose which side to connect it. In addition, due to their symmetry, USB Type-C connectors are more stable and less likely to be damaged.
• USB Type-C is fast. As we said, USB Type-C supports data transfer rates from 5 to 10 Gbps. If your phone supports this speed, you can copy data much faster than using Micro USB, the speed of which is limited by the USB 2.0 standard (up to 480 Mbps).
• Micro USB (or rather Micro USB Type-B) is a time-tested connector, the main advantage of which is its prevalence. A charger and cable with such a connector can be found in any office or home. Therefore, with Micro USB, you will always find where to charge your phone or smartphone.

Which is better USB Type-C or Micro USB

We conclude the article with an answer to the question of which is better, USB Type-C or Micro USB. In short, USB Type-C is definitely better. You can buy a USB Type-C phone just for the symmetrical connector. Most users charge the phone every day, so such a trifle as a symmetrical connector that can be plugged in either side makes life much easier. On the other hand, if you often charge your smartphone outside the home, then the usual Micro USB may be preferable. This way you will have less trouble finding the right cable or adapter.

The baud rate should also be noted. If the phone and computer support USB 3.1, then using USB Type-C can transfer data at speeds up to 10 Gb / s, while Micro USB can provide a maximum of 0.5 Gb / s.

Mini USB is already losing its position in the market, and it is being replaced by its analog - Micro USB. The key feature of Micro USB is its compact form. At the same time, Micro USB is capable of providing no less speed of data transfer from one media to another. Unlike Mini USB, the new version takes up much less space on the PCB (about half as much). It is believed that it is this parameter that is fundamental in the design of small gadgets, such as: mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs, players, etc.

The main differences between Micro USB and Mini USB

Micro USB has a compact type of plug, made on the basis of USB 2.0. This is the kind of improved USB that has been around since 2011. It is he who is used to charge and transfer data for each new mobile device. This is primarily due to the fact that modern manufacturers of gadgets and other small devices have come to the conclusion that a huge number of very different connectors for charging and data transfer are impractical. Thus, it turns out that every new device, be it a phone, tablet or something else, has a standard connector - Micro USB.

As mentioned above - Micro USB differs from its predecessor primarily in its small size. In addition, it is several times stronger than the previous USB version. This is because it is coated with stainless steel and also supports the USB On-the-Go specification. The peculiarity of this specification is that it provides data exchange between two end devices without any additional equipment (computer, laptop, etc.).

The Micro USB connector itself has three types of plug, these are: Micro A, Micro AB and Micro B. The difference between them, as you might guess, lies in the size of the plug, plugs and sockets. This is where the main differences end. The Micro USB cable itself has four conductors. Two of them play the role of transmission, data exchange, and the other two - for power supply, with a voltage of up to 5 volts (that is, for charging the device). As for the visual component, Micro USB on one side has a Micro A, Micro AB or Micro B plug, and on the other end it has a regular USB input for connecting to a charger, personal computer, etc.

In this article, I want to cram as much information as possible associated with USB (types, connectors and adapters that currently exist).

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is a serial data transfer interface for peripheral devices in computing with built-in power lines. There are two types of USB connectors / connectors:

• Type A
• Type B

Each of the types is subdivided into three groups:

• Standard
• Micro

All USB devices have their own version.

USB 1.x and 2.0

Specification 1.0 specified two types of connectors:

• A - on the side of the controller or USB hub
• B - on the side of the peripheral device

Subsequently, miniature connectors were developed for using USB in portable and mobile devices, called Mini-USB... A new version of miniature connectors called Micro-USB, was presented USB Implementers Forum January 4, 2007. The appearance is shown in the table (table 1).

Table 1. Appearance of USB 1.x and 2.0 devices of different types

	Standard	Mini	Micro
Type A
Type B

For USB 1.x, two modes of operation are regulated:

• low bandwidth mode ( Low-Speed) - 1.5 Mbps
• high bandwidth mode ( Full-Speed) - 12 Mbps

For USB 2.x, three operating modes are regulated:

• Low-speed, 10-1500 Kbps (keyboards, mice, joysticks)
• Full-speed, 0.5-12 Mbps (audio, video devices)
• High-speed, 25-480 Mbps (video devices, storage devices)

USB 3.x

In the USB 3.0 specification, the connectors and cables of the updated standard are physically and functionally compatible with USB 2.0, and for unambiguous identification, USB 3.0 connectors are usually made of blue plastic ... The USB 3.0 specification raises the maximum data transfer rate to 5 Gbps - orders of magnitude more than the 480 Mbps that USB 2.0 can provide. Thus, the transfer speed increases from 60 MB / s to 600 MB / s and allows you to transfer 1 TB not in 8-10 hours, but in 40-60 minutes.

On July 31, 2013, the USB 3.0 Promoter Group announced the adoption of the specification for the next interface, USB 3.1, which can transfer speeds up to 10 Gbps. The appearance is shown in the table (table 2).

Table 2. Appearance of USB 3.x devices of different types

	Standard	Mini	Micro
Type A
Type B

Examples of adapters and ports (Figure 1-3).

Figure 1 - Types of adapters.

Surely, every computer user has heard of such concepts as USB ports version 2.0 and 3.0. But not everyone understands exactly what it is. In this article I will tell you about USB 2.0 and 3.0: differences, interface compatibility, and what it is all about.

As it is logically clear, the USB 3.0 version is newer than 2.0, and, accordingly, it is better. Let's see why it is better, and start with the question of where it all came from.

USB and its versions

USB stands for universal serial bus, and is translated into Russian as universal serial bus. Universal - which means you can connect to it anything, any device. There are different versions of USB, the main difference between which is in the speed of work.

Manufacturers went to the property of universality for a long time. As many remember, at first the computer had many different ports, some of which remain to this day, for example, bulky COM with thick cables, PS / 2 with fragile contacts, and others. Now printers, keyboards, mice and other equipment can be connected via USB.

The first USBs began to appear in 1994. In 1996, version 1.0 was released, which worked at a meager speed of 1.5 Mbit / s. Then, in 2000, version 2.0 was released with a speed of 480 Mbit / s. This is a perfectly acceptable speed, which made it possible to connect different equipment to the port. In 2008, USB 3.0 was released, operating theoretically at 5 Gbps.

The development of USB 3.0 was funded by many global computer brands who were interested in introducing standardization for connectors and improving hardware performance.

USB 2.0 and 3.0: differences

Finally, let's take a look at USB 2.0 and 3.0: how these ports differ from each other and how they compare. Here are the signs by which they differ:

• Visually distinguishing USB 2.0 from 3.0 is very easy - 3.0 connectors are colored blue.

• The second difference, which is easily felt in practice, is the transmission speed. In version 3.0 it is much higher. It may be inferior to the declared theoretical speed (5 Gbps), but it still remains above version 2.0.
• The difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 is in the amperage. In the early version, it was 500 mA, in the new version it already reaches 900 mA. Thus, new USBs can power more powerful devices.
• The old USB version had 4 wires, the new one has 4 more. Thus, another difference between USB0 and 3.0 is that the second has a thicker cable. It also limited the maximum cable length of 3.0 to 5 meters and made it more expensive.
• Windows XP does not support USB 3.0, even if the computer hardware is physically capable of it, it will work as 2.0. Only older versions of Windows are able to work with 3.0 fully.

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USB 2.0 and 3.0 compatible

If you plug a USB 2.0 device into a 3.0 connector, it will work at the 2.0 level. If you connect a USB 3.0 device to a 2.0 connector, then it will also work at the 2.0 level. Thus, given the compatibility of these interfaces, the smaller version sets the quality of work.

Devices are capable of operating on other versions of USB, but they may become less efficient.

So, I will summarize. USB 2.0 and 3.0: the differences are primarily in the quality of work - the newer version is better, albeit a little more expensive. Modern equipment is produced with the 3.0 interface, so it is advisable to purchase a computer with this version too. Devices of different versions are compatible with each other and work acceptable, although their performance decreases.

The presence of USB ports on digital devices has long been perceived as a truism and commonplace. Nevertheless, this technology has become widespread only since the mid-2000s, displacing the previously popular LPT, PS / 2, COM port and other outdated specifications. Starting with a bandwidth of 1.5 Mbit / s, USB has gone through several stages of its development, and now we expect the emergence of the USB 3.2 standard with a bandwidth of more than 1 Gbit / s. At the same time, the USB connector has various forms and modifications, the description of which I will devote to this material, in which I will tell you what types of USB connectors exist, what their specificity is and for what purposes universal serial buses are intended.

Major versions of USB connectors

There are three main types of USB connectors (USB 1.0, USB 2.0, USB 3.0), and each version has survived several of its specifications. Before the appearance of the 1.0 type, there were officially YUSB specifications number 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, and even 0.99. The 1.0 specification had a 1.1 fork, which became the first truly massive and popular USB connector. The modern 3.0 specification continued its development in version 3.1, and the 3.2 specification is also being prepared for release.

Moreover, each of the main specifications has its own characteristic features, which I will draw your attention to.

USB 1.0 connector

As you know, the appearance of the YUSB connector was a response to the desire of various IT companies (Intel, Microsoft, etc.) to expand the functionality of the computer, congruently connect a mobile phone to the PC, and also make the new connector simple and convenient for the user.

Having seen the light in the mid-90s, the USB connector was not very popular at first. Comedians have even come up with a parallel transcript of its acronym as "Useless Serial Bus". Nevertheless, having gone through several stages of its formation, the version of YUSB 1.1 began to conquer the market in the late 90s.

The characteristics of this specification were more than modest: low transfer rate (12 Mbps), maximum cable length of 5 meters, peripheral voltage of 5 volts and maximum current of 500 mA. In appearance, it practically did not differ from its heir - a 2.0 connector.

USB 2.0 port

The most widespread, massive and popular was the YUSB-cord 2.0 (type A), which was released in the spring of 2000. Most modern stationary computers and laptops have several of these connectors, through which we connect various peripheral devices to the PC - from a printer, flash drive, keyboard to a regular computer mouse.

The speed of the Yu-ES-BI 2.0 interface was a good figure - 480 Mbit / s, which made it possible to use it with maximum benefit in modern computer technology.

USB 3.0 connector

This version of the specification appeared in 2008, and since then has been actively implemented into the functionality of modern PCs. The data transfer speed here has increased significantly - up to 5 Gb / s, the current strength has increased (up to 900 mA), which made it possible to power more devices from one port.

YUSB 3.0 connectors are easy to distinguish from other connectors - they are colored blue (occasionally red), and immediately catch the eye.

USB connector compatibility

If we are talking about the compatibility of YUSB connectors with each other, then the first and second types of YUSB connectors are compatible with each other. If you connect a device created to work with YUSB 2.0 into connector 1.1, then the user will receive a system message stating that this device can work faster (it will work, although not as fast as it would have been with 2.0).

The message "This device may run faster"

YUSB 2.0 and 3.0 connectors are also partially compatible, you can safely plug a device designed for a 2.0 connector into a 3.0 connector, and it will work. At the same time, you cannot plug a device designed for a 3.0 connector into a 2.0 connector.

Types of USB connectors

There are also different versions of USB connectors. Below I will describe the most common options.

USB 2.0 Type A

The most widespread option that can be found on almost any PC user. It is wear-resistant, has a high margin of safety, withstands a huge number of connections, has "foolproof" (you cannot stick it in the back). At the same time, it is usually not used in portable technology, since it has impressive dimensions for these devices.

USB 2.0 Type B

Usually has a trapezoidal (or square) shape. It also has a considerable size, therefore it is used in relatively large peripheral devices (scanners, printers, etc.).

Mini USB 2.0 (Type B modification)

Possessing reduced (compared to the above connectors) dimensions, it is used mainly in portable equipment (for example, in players, portable hard drives, card readers, etc.). It has 5 contacts, and not 4 like a classic USB, while 1 contact is not used.

The disadvantages include susceptibility to destruction (with the active use of the connector, the latter regularly fails).

Micro USB 2.0 (Type B modification)

Improved view of the Mini USB connector. It has a minimal footprint and is great for a range of small devices, from mobile phones and tablets to digital cameras. At the same time, it guarantees excellent contact, wear-resistant, has good prospects for becoming a universal type of connector for the vast majority of electronic devices.

Distinguishing Micro USB (the connector in question) from Mini USB is quite simple. Micro USB has two latches on the back, which the Mini USB connector lacks.

USB 3.0 (type A)

The modern YUSB 3.0 A standard, due to the higher speed of work, is actively used in laptops and stationary computers of the latest generation.

USB 3.0 (type B)

Cords and devices of this version can no longer be connected to the standard YUSB 2.0 connector. This type of connector is used when working with devices with high performance.

Micro USB 3.0

It is used for high-speed SSD drives, external high-speed drives, provides very high-quality connections.

Video

The main types of USB connectors used today are still the most massive versions of USB 2.0, and are actively used in modern devices of the USB 3.0 version. Progress does not stand still, and pretty soon we will see the appearance of the YUSB version 3.2, which will allow us to increase the speed of working with data up to 1 Gbit / s. Another step in the development of the popular interface is just around the corner