USB-C was heralded as the universal replacement for older USB ports. And that’s largely true. The connection is the same everywhere, but the capabilities vary from version to version. Welcome to the wonderful world of USB-C, a connection that is not as universal as many think.
USB is designed to connect devices and quickly transfer data and power. The USB standard was first introduced in 1996. For years, everyone used the rectangular USB-A, type 2.0 and 3.0. Those types determined data transfer rates. The very latest version, USB 3.2, can handle speeds of up to 20 Gbps.
However, they are not universal because they have to be inserted a certain way. Think back to how many times you had to flip a USB port to plug them in correctly. Annoying, isn’t it?
New standard
Since USB-Type-C, or USB-C for short, that problem is a thing of the past. Intel’s narrow, oval universal connector has quickly become the standard for almost all devices, ranging from smartphones to PCs. Even iPhone eventually switched, perhaps mostly because it had to.
That standard comes because USB-C has 24 pins as opposed to the four pins of USB-A Type 1 and 2. That makes USB-C much more powerful and diverse than, say, a USB-A. More on that later. Because of its symmetrical design, the connectors are perfectly reversible. That means you no longer have to worry about orientation because you can connect them both ways. In theory that sounds brilliant, in practice it is far from it.
Because make no mistake: not every USB-C cable is the same. USB-C only tells you that they look the same. In terms of capacity, the cables differ greatly, for example: the number of volts, is it a passive or an active cable, and is there support for alternative protocols like DisplayPort or Thunderbolt? Let’s dig into the details further.
Different versions of USB-C cables and their uses
Our guide to monitors already briefly covered USB-C. There it was only about powering and connecting monitors thanks to daisy chaining with Thunderbolt cables. We explain USB-C for monitors in more detail in this article. Here we go a step further. You can divide the various USB-C versions into three broad categories: data transfer rates, Power Delivery and Alternate Modes.
What speed does USB-C have?
As mentioned earlier, USB-C has 24 pins. Those pins allow the cable to do multiple things at once, such as provide power and send data. Of course, this is done at a certain speed, and that differs between different versions. For example, there are:
- USB-C Type 2.0
This version is the slowest, reaching speeds of up to 480 Mbps. This type is similar to the traditional USB 2.0 standard and is often used for simple tasks such as charging devices or transferring smaller amounts of data. For applications that require higher speeds, such as transferring large files or streaming video, this type is not sufficient. - USB-C Type 3.1 Gen 1
This version supports speeds of up to 5 Gbps, which is significantly faster than USB 2.0. This speed is perfect for transferring data, or connecting peripherals such as external hard drives. - USB-C Type 3.1 Gen 2
With a speed of up to 10 Gbps, this version doubles the data rate of USB 3.1 Gen 1, making it an ideal choice for users who regularly transfer large amounts of data, such as high-resolution videos, 4K content, or backups. - Thunderbolt 3 (passive)
Thunderbolt is a separate standard that uses the USB-C connector. Thunderbolt 3 has even faster speeds, with a passive cable that supports speeds of up to 20 Gbps over short distances. This type is often used for connecting high-performance external SSDs, docking stations, and transferring large files such as video recordings in 4K or higher, among other things. - Thunderbolt 3 (active)
Active Thunderbolt 3 cables offer the highest speed, with speeds up to 40 Gbps. These cables are intended for very demanding tasks, such as connecting multiple monitors and transferring huge amounts of data. The difference with passive cables is that active cables use built-in electronics to get the higher speed, especially over longer distances.
Thunderbolt
You may know Thunderbolt from Apple, which made the ports popular, and was developed in collaboration with Intel. Thunderbolt uses the USB-C connector, but offers much faster data transfer, support for multiple monitors and the ability to daisy chain, among other things.
USB-C can transfer both audio and video, but this is not limited to ports with a Thunderbolt logo. A USB-C port must support DisplayPort Alt Mode to transfer video, which is also possible without Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt ports offer much faster speeds and better performance than regular USB-C.
DP Alternate Modes
With Alternate Mode, DisplayPort signals are sent through the USB-C port. In other words, it allows you to send video signals from a video source to a display. Previously, you had a different connector for each task. So you can combine different interfaces with it. DisplayPort Alt Mode is a version specifically for DisplayPort, where you can, for example, connect your laptop to a monitor or TV to play video.
Active or passive
Active cables have a built-in electronic system that allows them to amplify the signal they receive and also offer higher speeds. Passive cables don’t have that. They are more expensive than passive cables and a lot longer because they support high speeds over long distances. A good example is an active USB-C-to-HDMI cable.
Power Delivery
USB-C PD is used to power up to 100 watts of power through the USB-C connector. A standard USB charger provides only 5 watts. That sounds like an incredible leap, and it is, but of course safety is always paramount. That’s why the USB power delivery chipset always delivers the right amount of power. 100 watts is more than enough to charge laptops and other devices that need more power than a standard USB-C can deliver.
A major advantage of USB-PD is that smartphones and tablets charge up to 70 percent faster. Thanks to Power Delivery 3.0 technology, it is also possible to both receive and transmit power. So you can use the same USB-C port to charge your laptop as well as other devices like your smartphone. All without the need for additional ports.
However, not all USB-C ports support Power Delivery. For maximum power, a Power Delivery-certified cable is required.
In summary: what to look out for when buying?
If you’re looking for a USB-C cable to charge your cell phone, it’s not all that close. In a professional environment, things are different. If you need to transfer a lot of data, having Thunderbolt is handy, while video editors need a cable with Alt Mode.
Every employee benefits from using a Power Delivery cable to connect or charge devices such as powerbanks, external SSDs and laptops. If that cable also supports video output, you can use that same cable to simultaneously charge and display your laptop on a screen.