Why do you need type c in a laptop? USB Type-C: a universal connector for everything

Almost two years ago I migrated to USB Type-C and still haven't gone blind. I'll tell you the whole truth.

The market is not ready

In 2015 year Apple presented to the public - the first laptop with progressive USB interface Type-C on board. I would have fainted with joy, but there was only one connector. But for everything at once, including charging a laptop. Only the lazy would not criticize the aluminum gadget for this port, although I personally found myself among such people. I didn’t scold it, but I was afraid that there would be problems with active use of the device.

I was afraid and still decided to buy. I really liked the device, in fact. Naturally, I bought it right away with an adapter - the most simple apple USB-C/USB. This is how mine began new life at the crossroads of generations, when the standard has already been launched to the masses, but the market is not yet ready for it.

Almost two years after the release of the MacBook 12, the market was still not ready for USB Type-C. At a minimum, this impression may be due to the public reaction to the use of the same ports in the new MacBook Pro. But often this is the opinion of theorists. In practice, everything is somewhat more prosaic. In this article I will share my experience of using a laptop with USB Type-C - the pros, cons and whether you should be afraid of the new standard.

USB Type-C is universal, but also not quite ready for the market

The functionality of the new standard is impressive and much has been written about it good articles, including . Briefly and simply, the connector is more compact than its predecessor, can be inserted on either side, supports data transfer (up to 10 Gbit/s or up to 40 Gbit/s if we are talking about Thunderbolt 3), video (up to 5K), audio and power up to 100 W inclusive.

Cool? Not that word!

The only difficulty is that when everything is mixed at once, overlaps, problems and incompatibility issues occur. The simplest example is MacBook 12 and MacBook Pro 2016, which seem to have the same connectors, but in fact they are different: classic USB Type-C and Thunderbolt 3, respectively. The latter is more progressive and is backwards compatible, but not in everything. Available with the first generation of USB-C chipset from Texas Instruments (TPS65982). And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

There are several standards for USB Type-C cables supporting different data transfer rates (from 480 Mbps to 10 Gbps), different power voltages or no power lines at all, with video transmission function (via built-in DisplayPort or alternative Alternate Mode ) and without it. All schemes and standards are clearly spelled out, but only underground Chinese factories don’t care about them, because price is a priority. As a result, you can use a cheap cable.

What do we end up with? There is only one connector, it supports many standards, it can do almost everything, but there is also a downside to the coin in the form of a lot of confusion among cables and peripherals. The wires are the same, but the capabilities are different. The connector is the same, but it is not a fact that it can do everything stated in the standard specifications. By the way, the new MacBook Pro really does have Thunderbolt 3 ports, but it doesn’t solve compatibility problems yet.

These are the realities of the transition period in which we find ourselves through the efforts of Apple. On the other hand, if it weren’t for the heavy tarpaulin boot with the logo of a bitten apple, from time to time kicking the market in the sirloin places, who knows how long the dominance would have been observed optical drives in laptops and how quickly Wi-Fi would spread.

Let's take a better look at working in USB Type-C in the real world and on a real device - is the devil really as scary as he is painted to be?

Two years of life with USB Type-C

Each story is strictly individual, including mine. On the other hand, there are always some general aspects of operating devices. I will try to focus attention on them so that you can try on the described experience to your personal situation.

The first thing that raised concerns was whether the laptop would have enough charge to restore a Time Machine backup from external hard drive? When I purchased the device, in my region only a simple branded adapter was available, as in the photo above, that is, you can either connect power or an external drive. I was afraid in vain. 250 GB of “personal workspace” quickly settled on new car, using up only 30% of the battery charge in the process. The big plus was that the external hard drive supports USB 3.0, like the adapter, so the data was copied to a very high speeds(more than 40-50 MB/s).

I recommend not saving on USB Type-C adapters and taking branded, proven models so as not to run into a low-speed option (480 Mbit/s). And when it comes to powering a laptop, then the choice is only among TOP brands or Apple branded adapters. This is not the moment when you can save money and when you need to save money, since not only the functionality of the I/O port is at stake, but also the health of the gadget.

Having settled on a laptop and worked for a couple of weeks, I somehow didn’t notice any particular need for old USB ports, even when I needed to transfer photos from a memory card (which I do quite often on duty) or connect some equipment. I even reflashed my favorite camera (Sony A7r) via USB Type-C and a proprietary adapter - the process went without a hitch. The only difference was the need to connect this same adapter, which is a matter of seconds.

That is, there were no problems associated with the fact that the port hole in the laptop is mechanically not directly compatible with 99% of devices on the market. The need to use an adapter did not bother me at all and still does not bother me.

The first rough edges began when I needed to travel frequently on business trips. To have something to do on the road besides writing articles, I usually record movies and TV series on a tablet or smartphone. The difficulty turned out to be that there is only one port and I also have a single adapter. I didn’t buy the more expensive branded one, it was crushed by a toad. Thus, to record video from an external hard drive to an iPad and iPhone, you first had to copy the content to the laptop’s own drive and then transfer it to mobile gadget Apple. Extra action and extra time. Not critical, but still annoying.

First, I solved the problem with a cheap Chinese USB Type-C hub, about which. It has nothing to do with power supply, so I wouldn’t burn the laptop even if I wanted to. The only ambush - low speed data transfer was limited by USB 2.0 (up to 30 MB/s), but the adapter supported three connected devices at once. True, the card reader built into it died the next day of use. However, 20 GB of video easily flew with external storage through this miracle of Chinese engineering and then recorded similar portions of content several more times.

After some time, I solved the problem radically by ordering a high-quality and very compact USB hub Satechi Type-C Pass Through USB Hub. By the way, there are many analogues - they all cost about the same. Moreover, there are similar hubs, but also with HDMI output. In general, this miniature thing solved the problem of powering a laptop when a couple of USB accessories are connected, plus it contains SD and MicroSD card readers. Unlike the Chinese hub, the memory card slots still work. There is only one catch - the aluminum adapter heats up noticeably, but there were no difficulties with this. I worked plugged into a laptop for 5-6 hours - everything was ok.

Also, from Type-C accessories, I purchased a flash drive with two ports at once - it’s convenient to transfer some content from the MacBook to a device with old USB ports.

As you can see, there are roughnesses, but even with just one USB port Type-C no critical situations arose. But there are also advantages. For example, the fact that I can . In addition, the included power supply, but also iPhone, iPad and any other USB device. You only need the simplest Apple adapter.

I also acquired an external battery with USB Type-C, capable of charging the MacBook 12 even when it is actively working, which increased the battery life of the device by another 3-4 hours.

More USB Type-C, even more to jump into a brighter future

When new MacBook Pro models were announced and people began to actively scold Apple for abandoning a bunch of different holes in favor of USB Type-C, all this hype only made me smile. The real difficulties in the transition to new standard no, there are only extra costs for adapters, but compared to the price of the laptops themselves, this is a trifle.

Complaints that pros will have to carry adapters with them are unfounded. Real pros They understand that in a year or two, when they need to change their monstrous laptop, the problem will no longer exist - the peripherals will catch up to the new standard. Those pros who decided to switch to new device Now, they don’t worry either. Because guys (and girls) already carry around a bunch of adapters for all occasions in life. That's why they're pros. Adding a couple more threes is not a problem. But any connector can be implemented on any side of the laptop, if we are talking about older MacBook models Pro.

In 2015 it was shown a new version MacBook Air. At the presentation, Tim Cook, the head of Apple, as usual, talked about the new functions and capabilities of the device. There was one detail in it that interested not only Apple adherents. As you might have guessed, we were talking about a completely new USB Type-C connector.

What it is?

USB Type-C is an evolutionary development of the Universal Serial Bus (USB) format, which you have probably heard of and which is perhaps the most widespread technology in the field of mobile and peripheral devices.

This is precisely evolution, not revolution, although some individual moments can be called revolutionary. Thus, USB Type-C allows you to transfer not only files, but even video!

I would like to immediately talk about the designations USB Type-C and USB 3.1. They don't mean the same thing, although they go hand in hand: USB Type-C is a USB specification, USB 3.1 is essentially a numerical designation that refers to data transfer speed. Roughly speaking, USB Type-C works on USB 3.1 technology. By the way, the data transfer speed is very high - over 1200 MB/s versus 500 MB/s for USB 3.0!

Compare USB Type-C and USB Type-A:

And here is a comparison of USB Type-C and microUSB (one of the most popular formats used in the mobile industry):

What is the advantage of USB Type-C?

As was written above, in data transfer speed. But this is not the only advantage of this technology. Thus, USB 3.1 has a higher maximum power, which means that soon it will be possible to connect additional devices such as speakers without additional source nutrition. Just imagine - you took the speakers out into nature, connected them using USB Type-C and listened to music!

Another huge plus is the current strength is as much as 5A. This allows you to charge your smartphone, tablet or any other device much faster. The main thing is that this device supports fast charging technology.

Finally, the plug can now be inserted in either direction - it is symmetrical. Until recently, such pleasure was available only for iPhone and iPad, and now for all other devices that use USB Type-C technology.

What devices use USB Type-C?

Many. These include laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Probably a move to USB in the future Type-C devices on Android based will speed up significantly because Google company advised manufacturers to use this particular interface in their future new products.

Google laptop:

Take a look at almost any laptop and you'll find a number of different ports gracing its sides: USB, HDMI, power connection, and a few others. This may soon become a thing of the past, as manufacturers such as Apple, HP and are ready to adopt a new universal standard that offers increased speed, improved functionality and convenience. The time of USB-C is coming, and its future looks very promising.

One cable, many uses

The idea behind USB Type-C is simple. You have one type of cable, one type of port, and through them you connect everything you need. This means that you can use the same connector for hard drives, monitors, audio interfaces, smartphones, tablets and even for charging a laptop.

Nowadays, most peripherals connect to a PC via USB-A. It has a rectangular shape and is used on USB flash drives, external keyboards, mice, hard drives and almost all other devices.

On the opposite side of the cable there is usually another type of connector, e.g. Micro USB, connected to smartphones, Mini USB for other gadgets, Micro USB-B for connecting to some storage devices, or square-shaped USB-B used in printers. The difficulty is that you need to have a separate cable for each device, and there is no guarantee that if you are somewhere else, you will be able to find exactly the one you need.

USB-C simplifies this situation by establishing one standard format for all devices, and even the same connector on both ends of the cable. The slim, oval-shaped connector is smaller in size than previous USB formats. Plus, it's also symmetrical/reversible like Apple's Lightning connector—so the days of fiddling with a cable to find the right way to connect to your device will soon be a thing of the past.

Over time, USB-C will likely become the only universal port for all devices, replacing the USB-A, USB-B, Micro USB and Mini USB that make our lives so difficult now. All cables will be the same and will fit all devices. Admittedly, this will not happen very soon, since most peripherals on the market still use the old connection types. But with the release of Apple's new line of MacBook Pros, equipped exclusively with USB-C ports, Asus Zenbook 3 and HP Specter, which use the same approach, USB-C port s are becoming a common option on many modern laptops and 2-in-1 devices. This undoubtedly indicates that the future lies with the new platform.

What are the benefits of USB-C?

Of course, simply changing the connector and port design is unlikely to be a compelling reason to upgrade your entire peripheral, but it's not the only USB advantage Type-C. The new format also supports the latest USB 3.1 protocol, which is faster and more versatile than previous versions, used on devices with USB type A.

• Speed. When USB 1.0 was introduced back in 1996, it had a maximum data transfer speed of 12 MB/s. USB 2.0, which followed in 2000, “jumped” to 480 Mb/s. USB 3.0, which replaced it in 2008, provided a significantly improved performance of 5 Gb/s. Now USB 3.1 has doubled that figure, offering as much as 10 Gb/s and a number of additional benefits.
• Performance. These additional benefits include the ability to deliver up to 100 watts of power to connected devices, which is enough to charge any smartphone, tablet and almost any laptop. The new format can also carry 4K monitors and audio.
• Compactness. The smaller size and versatility of the ports means they will now become ubiquitous on ultra-thin laptops and Android smartphones, such as Google Pixel.
• Versatility. The universal nature of the new standard opens up a number of useful practical applications with just one cable. For example, a user can connect their USB-C-equipped laptop to an externally powered display and charge while watching video content. If other USB devices are connected to the monitor, such as an external drive, the PC can also access it and transfer files. In addition, the cable can be used to connect and charge your smartphone.
• Compatibility. USB Type-C is backward compatible with previous generations. If you have an adapter or dongle, you will be able to use your USB devices via USB-C. To meet this need, a number of interesting accessories, such as the Targus Dock 410, which offers not only three USB 3.0 ports, but also HDMI, Gigabit ethernet and various videos options. The fact that the device can manage this entire range of functions through a single USB-C port shows the potential of the platform - it's not for nothing that more and more modern laptops, for example, Apple's line of thin 12-inch MacBooks are equipped with a single port. Now there is an even faster form of USB Type-C, which also includes support for Thunderbolt 3.0. With it, devices like the MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter can reach speeds of up to 40 Gb/s - four times faster than USB 3.1. With increased data transfer speeds, users can connect USB-C cable to the aforementioned Targus Dock 410 and run two external displays with resolutions up to 3840x2160 by connecting them to the DVI-D and HDMI ports on the dock. Since the standard is still new, manufacturers' specifications may vary by different devices– so consumers need to ensure that accessories like the Dock 410 are compatible with their laptops.
• Reversibility. Who has never cursed while trying to get a Micro USB connector or even standard USB connector into the device? Apple's Lightning connector eliminates this inconvenience, and now USB-C is just as convenient.

What are the disadvantages of USB Type-C?

Even though USB-C is brilliant new format, which will no doubt become ubiquitous in the near future, is currently still in its infancy and therefore not without some confusion and dangers.

Since USB-C refers to a connector type rather than an internal specification, users may be unpleasantly surprised that their device isn't as fast as they expected. The first generation of USB-C uses USB 3.0 technology, which has a maximum speed of 5 Gb/s, while the second generation of USB-C supports USB 3.1, which provides 10 Gb/s. There is also a third generation that includes Thunderbolt 3 (for example, on the new MacBook Pro), with a maximum speed of up to 40 Gb/s. The problem with each of the ports is that they look the same, but the manufacturers use various components in their model lines. Therefore, to avoid disappointment, potential buyers You should check the specifications and speed of the connector before purchasing.

Cables can also be confusing as they all look the same but have various options performances that affect their capabilities. If you need a charging cable, you'll need to make sure it supports USB Power Delivery, and for HDMI, MHL, or DisplayPort, you need a USB-C cable with Alt Mode functionality. These inconveniences will undoubtedly be eliminated in the future, but at this stage The buyer should check all details carefully.

The main problem facing USB-C is cheap cables and accessories that can damage physical damage device. The problem is caused by the amount of energy they are capable of transmitting. This can be dangerous not only for devices, but also for people. Therefore, you should not purchase cheap, non-branded products from China, but choose reliable, proven brands.

We are on the verge of significant changes - the classic and familiar USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports are being replaced by a new, backwards compatible type of connector. Despite the external convenience, symmetry and visual simplicity, the list USB capabilities Type-C is not only impressive, but at the same time it is fraught with many unobvious difficulties for the user.

The first USB standard appeared in 1994 to solve the key problems of that time: the unification of connectors for PC equipment peripherals combined with high data transfer rates. Since 2001, the USB 2.0 connector (as well as its various variations) has become universal standard connections for any peripherals. The key to fifteen years of USB success is simplicity, because there are only four contacts inside that provide the connected device with power and communication.

What was an advantage in the 2000s has become a bottleneck for modern devices - USB ports can no longer cope with the volume of information growing almost exponentially, users appreciate the advantages of symmetrical (and fast!) mobile reversible connectors (such as Apple Lightning), cables in which you can insert on both sides, and the speed wireless transmission data is very close to the speed of a cable connection.

USB 3.0 only emphasized existing problem, mechanically increasing the amount additional contacts to five, which increased the maximum throughput from 480 MBit/s to 5 Gbit/s, and the maximum current increased from 500 mA to 900 mA. The new connector also received its own distinctive marking - a blue socket. USB connectors 3.0 requires 9 pins to operate.

Let's figure out how much the USB Type-C / USB-C / USB C connector differs from its predecessors, what prospects and difficulties the transition to new type connector and what types of cables it can replace in the near future.

The confusion starts with the name: “USB Type-C”, “USB-C” and “USB C” are different names for the same connector that can work with various protocols. Until a common name is settled, we'll stick with the name USB Type-C - although the general trend points to the growing popularity of more short version USB-C.

The diagram of backward-compatible USB Type-C protocols allows you to understand what functions the new connector can take on - there were unexpectedly many of them, which is good news. The most important thing about this diagram is that each subsequent level is backward compatible with the levels below it.

The fastest protocol for the new connector is Thunderbolt 3. The Thunderbolt hardware interface was developed by Intel in collaboration with Apple. Herself trademark Thunderbolt was previously owned by Apple, but was later transferred to Intel. USB Type-C connectors working with this protocol are installed in new

But the USB Type-C port in the previous one is “a step lower”, allowing you to connect peripherals compatible only with USB standard 3.1 gen 1, but not with Thunderbolt 3.

This good example, which clearly demonstrates in practice why, despite the same USB Type-C connector, Thunderbolt 3 peripherals cannot be connected to the Macbook 12, however, any accessories and peripherals for the Macbook 12 will work with the new Macbook Pro 2016.

Let's take a closer look at what other types of signals USB Type-C can transmit through itself.

First of all, this is classic USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 - this is relevant for mobile devices with a new connector (for example, the first tablet with USB Type-C Nokia N1), which supported signals and power only for USB 2.0. The most modern mobile devices (for example l) support USB connection 3.0.

What does this mean in practice? When purchasing a cable for a mobile device with USB Type-C, pay attention to the speed and compatibility of the connectors on both gadgets. Good choice For a modern Windows laptop with USB 3.0, there will be a cable that will ensure operation via USB Type-C using the USB 2.0 and 3.0 protocols.

If your mobile device, for example an Android smartphone, is equipped with a Micro-USB port (or its modification Micro-USB B) operating under the USB 2.0 protocol, you can use a cable, or. Maximum speed Data transfer will be limited to 480 Mbit/s.

The next standard is USB 3.1 gen 1 - allowing you to connect hard drives, network adapters and docking stations. It is backward compatible with SuperSpeed ​​USB 3.0, Hi-Speed ​​USB 2.0, and even the original USB 1.x.

USB 3.1 gen 2 protocol – similar to the previous one, but doubles throughput USB peripherals up to 10 Gbps. Only the newest USB-C devices support it.

USB 3.1 and USB Type-C connections support both external drives, For example .

Examples of accessories that provide compatible high-speed network connection via USB Type-C:
And .

Audio Accessory Mode is a specification for use with analog audio, allowing the USB Type-C port to compete with the analog 3.5mm jack in the future.

Connection mode Alternate Mode - includes all other non-USB protocols: DisplayPort, MHL, HDMI and Thunderbolt (which was previously connected via the DP connector). the main problem here - not every device supports the Alternate Mode protocol, which is very confusing for buyers.

For video devices, not only branded adapters with USB Type-C from Apple are available: and adapter, but also options from other manufacturers, for example.

But there are also advantages - transmitting a video stream via a USB Type-C port does not in any way affect its energy capabilities, because as many as four high-speed lines can be allocated for the needs of DisplayPort. In this case, it is possible to transmit images in resolutions up to 5120×2880.

Symmetry contact pads made it possible to make the port reversible, and depending on the connected device, a different number of connections is involved.

The first USB 1.0 port provided only 0.75 W (0.15 A, 5 V) of power. For USB 2.0, the current was increased to 0.5 A, which made it possible to receive 2.5 Watts from it for power supply, for example, external hard 2.5" discs It is not surprising that connecting more power-intensive drives sometimes required several ports at once.

For USB 3.0, a current of 0.9 A is provided, which, with a supply voltage of 5 V, guarantees a power of 4.5 W. Compared to these numbers, the 100W transmission capability is truly impressive!

To ensure the transfer of such an amount of energy, the supply voltage can increase to 20 Volts. The Secondary Bus and USB Power Delivery Communication pins are for selecting desired mode work between connected gadgets - after all, if the device is not capable of accepting 100W of energy, it will simply burn out! Thanks to pre-communication, compatible devices enter an advanced operating mode with enhanced power capabilities.

There are five such profiles in total: “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 – a whole hundred!

The PD (Power Delivery) function requires a separate cable, e.g.

The prospects for USB Type-C or USB-C are very bright. In addition to Apple, both high-performance desktops (motherboards) and mobile devices are beginning to be equipped with USB Type-C ports. So far, the leading place is occupied by the USB 3.1 protocol in both of its variations (and mobile devices are just approaching USB 3.0 speeds).

It won’t be long before we can finally switch to a universal type of USB-C cables from USB-C (such cables are available now) to connect other peripherals. It’s especially nice that accessories purchased today will continue to work thanks to backwards compatibility mode. Important Note- USB Type-C is open standard, which does not require licensing fees from manufacturers.

Risks and difficulties lie only when connecting new peripherals (requiring the fastest protocols, such as Thunderbolt different versions) to older versions of USB Type-C devices running at USB 3.1 speeds - at best they will be able to continue operating at a reduced speed.

When purchasing accessories and USB Type-C cables, be sure to consider what speeds your device should (and can) operate at - if they are suitable for mobile devices and gadgets USB speed 2.0-3.1, then compatibility with the Thunderbolt 3 interface may be important for transmitting video signals or data from high-capacity hard drives.

For your convenience, we have compiled separate section catalogue.

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 as time goes on, 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.
Backward compatibility is also important. 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 This, of course, is not necessary, but in the future it may well come in handy.
Here, by the way, we must immediately put an end to the confusion. First installed on smartphone Type C (it was a Nokia N1, by the way) only supported protocol 2.0, 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 developed by 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 at 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. For separated ports, in in this case, only one (but very serious) advantage: you can use the 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, we can expect even more cool stuff. 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 has made possible use docking stations for smartphones. 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 definitely at the multimedia level, thanks to the power mobile processors this is more than enough. 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.