What Are the Different Types of USB Cables?

Universal Serial Bus cables (USB Cables) are a boon in the plug-in world. They allow the connection between various electronic devices with the help of only a cable. Thanks to their versatile use cases, their demand is increasing every year. By versatile, I did not mean one USB cable fits all. There are different types of USB cables used for different purposes. For example, type A for one side connection, type B to and to understand each type, we need to know more details about them. Let us get started.

But before we dig deep into the types of cables, it is important to understand the following two terms:

What is a Port and a Receptor

Ports are basically slotting on the motherboard, where a cable of an external device needs to be plugged in. There are two types of ports: male and female. The device controlling the electric link is known as the host, while the other end is called the peripheral/receptor. For example, if you connect a laptop via ports to the smartphone, the laptop is the host here.

A receptor is a device that receives the data/output result. For example, a digital receiver is a piece of equipment that receives digital programming from the port cable. It then converts that programming into a format that can be connected to a device and viewed on a TV set. Another example is when you charge your smartphones, the host is the USB adapters, and the receptor is your smartphone.

USB Cable Types

There are three types of USB cables based on the physical design of the ports and connectors - USB Type A, USB Type B, and USB Type C. USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 are the versions that deal with the functionality and speed of the USB cable.

USB Type-A

The most commonly used type of USB standard is Type A. This is commonly used with computers, media players, game consoles, TVs, power outlets, etc. Type A cable only goes into the port in one way, i.e., at the end that goes inside the host device's slot.

USB Type B

USB Type B connectors are typically used to plug-in peripheral devices such as smartphones, printers, or a hard drive to the host equipment. They are usually at the end of other USB Type B to USB Type-A cables.

USB Type C

USB C cables are a 24-pin USB connector system having a rotationally symmetrical connector. They are commonly used to charge portable devices like laptops, security cameras, and smartphones.

Additionally, Type C is similar to the existing Micro-B USB variant that measures around 8.4 mm by 2.6 mm. This cable easily fits into the smallest peripheral sockets we use today. Plus, it allows 'reverse plug orientation, which means you can plug the cable either way round. It would be easy and highly convenient to use different electronic devices and connect them to one another.

It is certain that in upcoming years, mostly all electronic devices will support Type C cable.

On this note, let us know more about the technicalities of Type C cable.

Technical Data of USB Type C

Type C cable offers a maximum speed of 10 Gbit/s for data transmission and supports USB 3.1. It has a notable higher power output of up to 20 Volts 100 W and 5 amps. Thus cover the power requirements of equipment like laptops that consume 40-70 watts of power.

Additionally, Type C offers a bi-directional power supply, i.e., you can charge the smartphone from the laptop and the laptop from the phone at the same time. Many smartphone manufacturing companies are now providing smartphones with type C plugs. Examples include the Nokia N1 tablet, Chromebook Pixel, 1 + 2, and Nexus 6P smartphones.

I hope this article helped you understand the different types of cables and their working. You can now invest in an ideal cable type that fulfills your requirements. You must check the cable length and quality before buying any cables. Plus, you need to ensure that the USB adapters and USB cables synchronize with each other, otherwise, the current will fail to pass through the cables. You will also need to choose the right type of USB cable for your purpose if you need to charge your phone, first you need to check what type of cable requirements it has. If it is a C-type socket, you will need a C-type USB cable with the supporting adapter to charge your phone. By following these instructions you can choose the ideal cable for your purpose.

Jennifer Truong is the owner of SF Cable, a california based online retailer of all kind of Computers, electronics, electrical accessories, networking accessories, cables, wires. Jennifer has extensive experience in the Electronics industry and blog.