What is USB-C?

USB-C is as truly universal as its acronym (Universal Serial Bus) suggests.Nowadays, USB-C connectors can be found on a wide range of gadgets, from straightforward external hard drives to expensive laptops and the newest smartphones. Although they all have the same appearance, not all USB-C ports have the same features. Although USB-C is now widely used, it doesn't have the same uses everywhere. not by any means.Here is a list of all the things USB-C is capable of, along with advice on what characteristics to look for when purchasing your next USB-C gadget.

What Is USB-C?

The 24-pin USB connector system known as USB-C has a rotationally symmetrical connector and is officially referred to as USB Type-C. An industry-standard connection called USB-C allows power and data to be sent over the same cable.The designation C refers only to the connector's physical configuration or form factor and should not be confused with the connector's specific capabilities, which are designated by its transfer specifications (such as USB 3.2).

Is USB-C the Same as Micro USB or USB 3.0?

At first appearance, the USB-C connector resembles a rectangular USB 3.0 connector or a micro USB connector; however, it is more oval in form and thicker to fit its main feature: flippability.There is no up or down position for the USB-C connection. The "right way" is always up if you line up the connection properly; you never have to turn it over to plug it in. Additionally, the standard cables have the same connection on both ends, eliminating the need to determine which end belongs where. With any of the USB cables we have been using for the past 20 years, that has not been the case. At each end, you typically have a separate connection.

Can You Go From USB-C to DisplayPort?

Your old USB Type-A connector could be thought of as little more than a data connection for attaching disks or other devices, including mice. But USB-C may accomplish much more, depending on how the particular port is implemented. When configured in this way, one of USB-C's most beneficial abilities is the ability to supply enough power to recharge the host device, such as a laptop or a smartphone. In fact, many thin and light laptops with USB-C ports utilize them as the only way to connect an AC charger, replacing the conventional barrel-style connector.

If you have the right adapter and cables, you might be able to connect to and power a native DisplayPort, MHL, or HDMI device as well as connect to nearly anything else thanks to USB-C's compatibility for simultaneous power and video streams. Although the 3.5mm headphone jack has not been completely displaced by USB-C on computers as it has on smartphones and tablets, the USB-C specification does take audio transmissions across the interface into account.

Check the specifications of any PC you're considering purchasing because not all USB-C ports are created equal. All of them that we have seen so far allow data transfers as well as connected device power delivery over USB-C (though not necessarily host device charging).Although the DisplayPort-over-USB protocol allows for the connection of DisplayPort and/or HDMI displays using an adapter, not all PC manufacturers have integrated the ports with their systems' graphics hardware. Video-out connections may be supported by certain USB-C ports on a system but not by others or by any ports at all.

Do You Need USB-C?

A USB-C port's availability (or lack thereof) is increasingly being taken into account when purchasing a PC. If you purchase an ultrathin laptop, it is quite likely to contain at least one USB-C connector, which will instantly integrate you into the ecosystem. If you prefer desktop computers, you can be sure to locate the ports there as well. High-end and gaming desktop computers almost certainly have more ports than the minimum on the motherboard-side I/O panel. One is also being added to the front panel of certain desktop computers and aftermarket PC cases. Even if you don't require USB-C right away, you will in the future.