4 Widespread Myths About USB-C Ports Debunked

USB-C ports are on practically each new client digital machine in the marketplace as of late. That is due to an EU mandate that pressured all tech makers together with Apple to ditch its proprietary Lightning port. USB-C has varied options that might probably make it the one interface to rule all of them. Nonetheless, it is not that simple, as there are completely different variations with various capabilities. 

That explains why there are numerous myths about USB-C ports that you could be suppose are details however aren’t. For instance, whereas USB-C ports can be utilized for charging, information switch, video output, and even audio, not each port on each machine will help all these options universally.

So you could plug in a USB-C cable, hoping to switch some information, however your linked machine will not even be acknowledged. You could conclude that the cable or one of many ports is defective, however there may not be a problem — the port could merely not help information switch. That is only one instance; there are different USB-C port myths you need to be conscious of.

This is likely one of the commonest myths in regards to the USB Sort-C interface on the whole, not simply the ports. The USB Implementers Discussion board (USB-IF) created USB-C as a successor to micro-USB, changing into the latest child on the block amongst Common Serial Bus (USB) connectors. What makes a port “USB-C” or not is the form of the bodily connector that you could hook into. That is crucial element that you must perceive about USB-C, and even older connectors like USB-A.

So whereas USB-C has retained its distinctive rounded rectangular connector form, lots has modified underneath the hood since its launch in 2014, which is why the ports are completely different from each other. All of it boils right down to the USB specification used: Since USB-C got here out in 2014, there have been a number of iterations of the USB specification. The primary variations of USB-C ports used the USB 2.0 specification. Since then, there have been a number of newer specs, akin to USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 /3.2 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2 / 3.2 Gen 2, 3.2 Gen 2×2, USB4 Model 1, and now USB4 Model 2.

Every bump within the specification could introduce new options and even enhancements that make it barely higher than the predecessor on a number of fronts, together with information switch and charging speeds. As such, a USB-C port primarily based on the USB 2.0 specification can solely switch information as much as 480 Mbps, whereas ports primarily based on USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3.2 Gen 2×2, and USB4 high out at 5 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and 40 Gbps, respectively.

One other facet that many get flawed with regards to USB-C ports is quick charging help. As a result of it’s normal for gadgets with USB-C ports to help quick charging, there is a false impression that having a USB-C port mechanically means your machine can cost quicker. That is not at all times the case: Whereas the connector is one indicator that your machine could help quick charging, it would not essentially imply it is true in all instances.

In reality, when quick charging expertise arrived on the scene within the early 2010s, it was applied over the micro-USB port. It was solely after the USB Energy Supply (PD) charging protocol arrived on the scene that quick charging actually took off. As such, some USB-C ports use the older USB Battery Charging specification, which can solely ship as much as 7.5W of charging. 

Even for people who do, not all ports/gadgets help the present most of 240W — that is solely potential for USB-C ports that help the USB PD 3.1 specification. Much more importantly, producers aren’t mandated to help USB PD. So whereas the protocol has been round for greater than a decade, some USB-C ports do not have it, and thus could not help quick charging.

Thunderbolt was launched in 2011 by Intel and Apple to allow quick charging and information switch. Whereas it initially used a distinct port (combining PCI Specific and DisplayPort), Thunderbolt 3 switched to utilizing the USB-C connector, making it extensively obtainable. Whereas the change to make use of the USB-C connector was a welcome transfer to make the tech suitable, it has led to misconceptions that USB-C and Thunderbolt are the identical factor. 

In actuality, USB-C and Thunderbolt aren’t the identical factor. Thunderbolt is a separate commonplace, nevertheless it solely makes use of USB-C as its bodily connector. What makes Thunderbolt particular is that it is extra standardized, not like USB-C. When your machine has a Thunderbolt 5 port, for instance, you are positive it helps the spec’s 80Gbps bidirectional information switch (or 120Gbps with Bandwidth Enhance mode), at the very least 140W charging speeds, and might hook as much as two 8K/60Hz displays, or three 4K/144Hz displays. 

You may even join exterior graphics playing cards and different PCIe gadgets with Thunderbolt. For a USB-C port, even when it helps the newest USB4 Model 2.0 spec, it would not assure all of the capabilities of that spec. To distinguish Thunderbolt ports from regular USB-C ports, they embrace a small lightning image subsequent to the port.

As we have famous beforehand, USB-C has varied functionalities in a quest to change into the one port for every thing, together with information, video, audio, and energy switch. Due to this, there is a frequent fable that each USB-C port can be utilized for video output to connect with displays and TVs. 

The reality is that is not at all times the case. You may join your laptop computer or desktop to a USB-C or Thunderbolt monitor, and it may not work. For a USB-C port to help video output, it must have both built-in help for USB-C Alt (Alternate) Mode or be Thunderbolt. For the previous, a USB-C port can both help HDMI or DisplayPort Alt Mode. 

Nonetheless, since HDMI Alt Mode was killed because of an absence of adoption, a contemporary USB-C port might want to have DisplayPort Alt Mode to help video output. So when looking for a monitor or laptop computer, make sure you test whether or not there’s at the very least one Thunderbolt port or one USB-C port that helps DisplayPort Alt Mode; in any other case, it will not have the ability to output video.

USB-C ports are on practically each new client digital machine in the marketplace as of late. That is due to an EU mandate that pressured all tech makers together with Apple to ditch its proprietary Lightning port. USB-C has varied options that might probably make it the one interface to rule all of them. Nonetheless, it is not that simple, as there are completely different variations with various capabilities. 

That explains why there are numerous myths about USB-C ports that you could be suppose are details however aren’t. For instance, whereas USB-C ports can be utilized for charging, information switch, video output, and even audio, not each port on each machine will help all these options universally.

So you could plug in a USB-C cable, hoping to switch some information, however your linked machine will not even be acknowledged. You could conclude that the cable or one of many ports is defective, however there may not be a problem — the port could merely not help information switch. That is only one instance; there are different USB-C port myths you need to be conscious of.

This is likely one of the commonest myths in regards to the USB Sort-C interface on the whole, not simply the ports. The USB Implementers Discussion board (USB-IF) created USB-C as a successor to micro-USB, changing into the latest child on the block amongst Common Serial Bus (USB) connectors. What makes a port “USB-C” or not is the form of the bodily connector that you could hook into. That is crucial element that you must perceive about USB-C, and even older connectors like USB-A.

So whereas USB-C has retained its distinctive rounded rectangular connector form, lots has modified underneath the hood since its launch in 2014, which is why the ports are completely different from each other. All of it boils right down to the USB specification used: Since USB-C got here out in 2014, there have been a number of iterations of the USB specification. The primary variations of USB-C ports used the USB 2.0 specification. Since then, there have been a number of newer specs, akin to USB 3.0, 3.1 Gen 1 /3.2 Gen 1, 3.1 Gen 2 / 3.2 Gen 2, 3.2 Gen 2×2, USB4 Model 1, and now USB4 Model 2.

Every bump within the specification could introduce new options and even enhancements that make it barely higher than the predecessor on a number of fronts, together with information switch and charging speeds. As such, a USB-C port primarily based on the USB 2.0 specification can solely switch information as much as 480 Mbps, whereas ports primarily based on USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3.2 Gen 2×2, and USB4 high out at 5 Gbps, 10 Gbps, and 40 Gbps, respectively.

One other facet that many get flawed with regards to USB-C ports is quick charging help. As a result of it’s normal for gadgets with USB-C ports to help quick charging, there is a false impression that having a USB-C port mechanically means your machine can cost quicker. That is not at all times the case: Whereas the connector is one indicator that your machine could help quick charging, it would not essentially imply it is true in all instances.

In reality, when quick charging expertise arrived on the scene within the early 2010s, it was applied over the micro-USB port. It was solely after the USB Energy Supply (PD) charging protocol arrived on the scene that quick charging actually took off. As such, some USB-C ports use the older USB Battery Charging specification, which can solely ship as much as 7.5W of charging. 

Even for people who do, not all ports/gadgets help the present most of 240W — that is solely potential for USB-C ports that help the USB PD 3.1 specification. Much more importantly, producers aren’t mandated to help USB PD. So whereas the protocol has been round for greater than a decade, some USB-C ports do not have it, and thus could not help quick charging.

Thunderbolt was launched in 2011 by Intel and Apple to allow quick charging and information switch. Whereas it initially used a distinct port (combining PCI Specific and DisplayPort), Thunderbolt 3 switched to utilizing the USB-C connector, making it extensively obtainable. Whereas the change to make use of the USB-C connector was a welcome transfer to make the tech suitable, it has led to misconceptions that USB-C and Thunderbolt are the identical factor. 

In actuality, USB-C and Thunderbolt aren’t the identical factor. Thunderbolt is a separate commonplace, nevertheless it solely makes use of USB-C as its bodily connector. What makes Thunderbolt particular is that it is extra standardized, not like USB-C. When your machine has a Thunderbolt 5 port, for instance, you are positive it helps the spec’s 80Gbps bidirectional information switch (or 120Gbps with Bandwidth Enhance mode), at the very least 140W charging speeds, and might hook as much as two 8K/60Hz displays, or three 4K/144Hz displays. 

You may even join exterior graphics playing cards and different PCIe gadgets with Thunderbolt. For a USB-C port, even when it helps the newest USB4 Model 2.0 spec, it would not assure all of the capabilities of that spec. To distinguish Thunderbolt ports from regular USB-C ports, they embrace a small lightning image subsequent to the port.

As we have famous beforehand, USB-C has varied functionalities in a quest to change into the one port for every thing, together with information, video, audio, and energy switch. Due to this, there is a frequent fable that each USB-C port can be utilized for video output to connect with displays and TVs. 

The reality is that is not at all times the case. You may join your laptop computer or desktop to a USB-C or Thunderbolt monitor, and it may not work. For a USB-C port to help video output, it must have both built-in help for USB-C Alt (Alternate) Mode or be Thunderbolt. For the previous, a USB-C port can both help HDMI or DisplayPort Alt Mode. 

Nonetheless, since HDMI Alt Mode was killed because of an absence of adoption, a contemporary USB-C port might want to have DisplayPort Alt Mode to help video output. So when looking for a monitor or laptop computer, make sure you test whether or not there’s at the very least one Thunderbolt port or one USB-C port that helps DisplayPort Alt Mode; in any other case, it will not have the ability to output video.