All about USB Type-C, this new unified connector

The USB Type-C is at the center of more and more devices, whether it's smartphones, laptops, or monitors. Its greatest strength is its versatility, since it is possible to carry data, video streams or energy in the same cable. However, this versatility is to the detriment of simplicity, since it is difficult to determine at a glance what a Type-C USB port is capable of. So we will explore the different possibilities of this one and its limits so that you can see more clearly.

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USB Type-C is not a new USB protocol standard. This is simply a new connector that can accommodate the USB protocol, but also other protocols, such as HDMI. It is therefore very important to distinguish between the connector, USB Type-C, and the data that passes through the cable.

It is thus possible to imagine the USB Type-C connector as a pipe, independent of the flow that passes inside. And in this connector, it is possible to pass different protocols, for different uses such as:

Data

USB 2.0

USB 3.0 (3.1 Gen 1)

USB 3.1 (3.1 Gen 2)

Audio & Video

DisplayPort video streams

HDMI video stream

Audio Stream (USB Audio)

Energy

Standard Load

USB Power Delivery for fast charging

The most complicated is that in some devices, Type-C USB ports can support some versions of the USB protocol, but not video or energy protocols. To take a concrete case, a port can be certified USB Power Delivery, but only limited to USB 2.0 in terms of data. Similarly, a connector support the USB 3.1 Gen 2 without being able to pass an HDMI stream, or without supporting the USB Power Delivery.

And there is unfortunately no guarantee regarding the features of the USB Type-C port on your smartphone. It will therefore be necessary for manufacturers to play the game to find out what is possible and what is not, by clearly displaying the characteristics of the embedded Type-C USB port on the product sheet or box.

Finally, note that conventional connectors (USB Type-A and micro USB) can also transfer data in USB 3.1, 3.0 or 2.0. They can not however convert video stream or USB Power Delivery.

 

Data

First, a little clarification is needed on data transfer protocols. If, for the sake of clarity, we often talk about USB 3.0, and USB 3.1, this denomination is not quite accurate. Indeed, the USB-IF (the body in charge of USB standards) recently renamed USB 3.0 to USB 3.1 Gen 1 (with a throughput of 5 Gb / s), while the USB 3.1 Gen 2 made reference to USB 3.1 (with its 10 Gb / s throughput). If you cross these denominations, do not be surprised to find either USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 5 Gb / s or USB 3.0 in the characteristics of products you intend to buy.

Note that we will not deal with the Thunderbolt 3 protocol, much faster than USB 3.1, which also uses the USB Type-C connector, which is currently reserved for computers, and which raises still more problems more complex.

 

USB 2.0

Who can most can the least. A USB Type-C connector can carry data according to the USB 2.0 protocol, also known as the Hi-Speed ​​USB. In fact, this is the case for the majority of smartphones in USB Type-C. Whether you have a premium smartphone such as a Google Pixel or a much cheaper smartphone such as a Wileyfox Swift 2, the maximum throughput will be the same, namely the 480 Mbps of the antique USB 2.0.

 

usb 3.0 vs 3.1

There are, however, a few smartphones with a Type-C USB port that supports higher speeds. The list boils down to two smartphones at the moment, the LG G5 and HTC 10, which are the only ones to our knowledge to be able to enjoy speeds up to 5Gbps enabled by USB 3.0. However, it is hoped that this list will grow in the coming months, in order to increase the speed of transfer.

 

USB 3.1 Gen 2

This is even simpler for smartphones with a Type-C port supporting the protocol in its latest revision, USB 3.1 Gen 2 or "Superspeed + USB 10 Gb / s". There are simply none, to our knowledge at the moment. It remains to be seen whether manufacturers will switch to USB at 5 Gb / s or decide to go directly to the 10 Gb / s protocol. One can doubt it especially when today, it is increasingly simpler to share wirelessly the files, photos and sounds that one desires without cluttering of wires.

Now let's see what the USB Type-C connector can carry with regard to audio & video.