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When buying a new computer or smartphone, there'south a very expert chance it'll have a USB Type-C port. This port will get the standard for data connections in the next few years, but it could too be the way you mind to audio and accuse your devices. USB Type-C, ofttimes called just USB-C, comes with a lot of advantages, but the shift from the ports you know and tolerate volition be a bit painful at showtime. Nonetheless, USB-C is cool, and you should be excited.

The first thing you'll find about USB-C is that it's small. It'south only a bit larger than a micro USB and much more than meaty than the rectangular USB-A connector we've lived with for the last 20 years. Anyone who has tried (and tried and tried) to become a USB plug inserted the right way volition be pleased about one feature of Type-C — it's fully reversible. The plug is symmetrical and works both ways, and so y'all don't accept to stress well-nigh figuring out the orientation of the port. In addition, the design of USB-C is much more than robust, and then information technology should last longer than older USB hardware.

USB Blazon-C is designed to be bi-directional. While there are currently a lot of cables that are USB-A at one end and C at the other, the endgame is to make everything USB-C at both ends. That means one single port on everything. A bidirectional Type-C cable can transmit video signals, audio, and every bit much equally 100W of power (with the USB-PD standard). Information technology can do that in either direction, too. And then you can use one telephone to accuse some other. You have to be careful with Blazon-C cables. Poorly designed ones tin can fry your electronics.

There'south a lot of overlap betwixt USB Blazon-C and the USB 3.0/3.1 standard. All the same, these are different things. Blazon-C is technically just a physical blueprint, not a information transmission standard. It'south possible to accept a Blazon-C cable that'due south still just USB ii.0. Y'all need to check the specs of any cable or device you lot're ownership with USB-C ports to know for certain. USB 2.0 has a maximum speed of 280Mbps, but 3.0 steps up to 5Gbps and iii.1 is 10Gbps.

type-c

The versatility of USB-C is a benefit, but you'll probably demand to arrange the way you use devices. When paired with USB 3.1, Type-C can easily ability multiple devices and operate in different modes — charging, outputting audio, transmitting data to multiple peripherals, and so on. Some devices have switched to only using USB Type-C. Many smartphones have ditched the headphone jack, and some computers similar the MacBook and Pixelbook are all Type-C. For at present, that ways using adapters, but in that location will come a day when everything is Type-C. That day tin can't come before long plenty.

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