USB Type C: What Exactly Is It and How Is It Different from The Rest

Today we are going to talk to you about what USB Type C or type C is, what it can be used for and how it differs from the rest of the connectors that are available for USB. It is an increasingly popular type of connector that your new mobile probably already has if you just bought it, but it can be used for various things.

We are going to start by explaining to you extensively what USB type C is and what it is not, telling you about the different technologies when we refer to USB, and differentiating them from connectors like this one. Then, we will go on to mention what it can be used for, and we will finish by telling you how to distinguish it.

What is and what is not USB Type C

The USB Type C or type C is a type of connector with a small format, and which is used to connect from cables to USB sticks of different standards. At this point it should be emphasized that type C is only a type of connector, so it does not directly influence the transmission speeds or the technology behind it.

For that, you have to know how to differentiate between standards and connectors when talking about USBs. The standards or protocols are classified depending on the speed at which they transfer their data, Verschil Tussen USB en USB-C? so we could say that they are "the brain" of USB. Meanwhile, the connectors are just the ends of these USBs, which can be of different types.

The connector that we all know is Type A, the lifelong standard and large dimensions that almost all USB sticks or cables that connect to the computer use. However, it is not the only one out there, since you also have Type B, which is usually used in peripherals such as printers or scanners, although often only to connect them to the current and provide them with power.

Then there are two other types that are the old Mini USB that was used years ago in cameras and mobile phones, and a more recent Micro USB that has been used in most smartphones until the recent arrival of Type C. So, we can say that USB Type C is the successor to Micro USB, and it is being standardized to be used in different types of technologies.

The USB Type C connector is characterized by its small size, and above all because it is a fully reversible connector. That means no more trying to connect something to the TV or PC and realizing that you are trying to connect it backwards. This connector works exactly the same no matter which way you plug it in.

This connector is used in multiple mobile and portable devices, but as a standard it is a disaster, since in reality each port of this type is a world. Their appearance is always the same, but they have different specifications. This, together with the low transparency of the manufacturers, sows’ confusion among users.

What is USB-C used for?

USB Type C supports various uses and different types of standards. For example, it can be used as the connector for the latest USB 3.1 standard, or USB Power Delivery (USB PD). It is also used as a connector for the popular Thunderbolt 3, a data and power transmission standard that is gaining such momentum that even the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced a new USB 4 standard based on it for 2021.

This connector can also be used as video and audio output via HDMI, DisplayPort output, or analog video output (VGA) among others. And that's where some of the confusion is, because all of these technologies can use the Type C connector, but not all connectors in this form factor support all technologies.

Although we have mentioned it in passing, it is important to stop at the USB Power Delivery specification that can use the input of the USB Type-C connector, since it allows the transmission of energy, which will not only lead to it serving as a connector to charge mobiles and tablets, but also so that in the future we will see how many manufacturers abandon their proprietary chargers to bet on Type C multi-connectors that serve to charge the laptop or transmit data.

How is it different from the rest?

As we have explained a little above, although inside it can support different technologies, this connector has a very different appearance from the rest. It is very small, the size of Micro USB, and has an oval head that is completely symmetrical on both sides, a feature that is currently unique to this type of connector.

This means that Type C is the only connector that allows USB cables or plugs to be connected reversibly from either side. If you see that a cable or spike has to be connected to a certain side, then it will be Type A, B, Micro or Mini, but it will never be Type C.

At the beginning of this last section, you can see the different types of connectors that are available. In them you can see exactly what the shape of the rest of the connectors is, and how there is none that is exactly the same.

It also differs in the technologies it carries inside, which we have already mentioned. Especially since Type C only uses the USB 3.1 standard, which means it doesn't support USB 1.0 or 2. 0. With this, you are sure to have great speeds, although again it may depend on whether you use other types of technology as well.

In terms of these speeds, USB 3.0 has a data transfer rate of up to 4.8 Gbit/s (600 MB/s), ten times faster than USB 2.0, and USB 3.1 is even faster with rates up to 10 Gbit/s (1.25 GB/s). Being this the one that is usually used with Type C, the speed that you will find is the superior if you use these protocols. And if you opt for Thunderbolt 3 it will be even faster, reaching up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s).