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Everything you need to know about USB standards, speeds, and port types
The USB or universal serial bus is an industry standard that sets specifications for cables and connectors on devices.
USB or ‘Universal Serial Bus’ is one of the oldest and most popular interfaces today. While it was initially introduced as a computer port, it is now seen on almost every single piece of tech including smartphones, gaming consoles, cameras, etc. in some form or the other. The main objective of making USB was to provide a standardized connection of peripherals to PCs. Today, USB stands true to its name, thanks to its wide acceptance and a broad variety of supported hardware and software. Let's take a look at the brief history of USB as well as list all the various types of connectors and standards.
StarTech 3-Port USB-C hub review: You'll get gigabit internet but lose out elsewhere
If you're looking for a way to add USB-A and Ethernet ports to your laptop, this USB-C hub from StarTech might be the solution
Even if you spend hundreds of dollars per month on a great network connection, you're guaranteed to lose some bandwidth using a wireless connection. That's why it's a good idea to use Ethernet whenever possible to maximize your upload and download speeds. Unfortunately, many of the best laptops today don't ship with an Ethernet port, largely because of the port's size demands.
As USB-C connectivity has become standard in 2023, opting for a USB-C mouse is a good idea. A USB-C mouse will allow you to connect a mouse to nearly any modern laptop easily, and there are a few benefits to going with a USB-C mouse over a USB-A connected mouse, as USB-C has a higher data throughput, allowing for you to have a lag-free mouse experience when connected via USB-C. Wireless mice also see a stronger connection when connected via USB-C and Bluetooth simultaneously, so whether you are looking for the best gaming mouse or a mouse to connect to your new laptop, we've compiled a list of our favorite USB-C connected mice to help you search. You can also pick a fantastic mouse from our best mouse in 2023 round-up.
Grab this 60W USB-C cable 2-pack deal while you can for just $6
At this price, this excellent deal for a 2-pack of 60W USB-C cables won't last long.
When it comes to USB cables, there are plenty of options out there. But if you're looking for a cable that's going to punch well above its weight, provide excellent charging speeds, and come in at an affordable price — look no further than Ainope 2-pack bundle that's now priced well below retail.
Best USB-C hubs in 2023
Need a USB-C hub for laptop? We've selected the best USB-C hubs on the market. Our top recommendations include hubs from Anker, HP, & more.
As laptops get thinner and lighter, one of the big sacrifices that's often made is in the ports. Many premium laptops nowadays only include USB-C ports and not much more than that. While we agree that USB-C is the future, relying on USB Type, HDMI, Ethernet, and others is still a reality for many of us. That's where USB-C hubs come into play, and we've rounded up the best ones to help you out.
The European Parliament has voted in favor of making USB-C the standard charging port for devices across various categories, including smartphones, tablets, cameras, and more. While many OEMs have already transitioned to USB-C, Apple still offers its proprietary Lightning connector on iPhones, AirPods, and other accessories. With the new law in place, Apple will have to switch to USB-C by the end of 2024.
EU lawmakers to meet this month to USB-C everything, including iPhones
EU lawmakers could force all mobile device manufacturers, including Apple, to adopt USB-C ports for charging later this month.
We've been hearing about EU lawmakers potentially forcing all mobile device manufacturers to adopt the USB-C charging port for a while now. If passed, this law would ensure that all phones, tablets, and headphones sold in Europe have a USB-C port for charging. This change would both reduce e-waste and make people's lives easier. We're halfway through 2022, and we still have to carry various cables for charging different devices. Fortunately for users, it seems that we're inching closer towards a world where USB-C is the universal charging standard. EU countries and EU lawmakers could agree on enforcing a single charging port across all mobile devices next week.
Apple might soon ditch the Lightning port on all of its products
According to a reliable analyst, Apple could be ditching the Lightning port on all of its products in the foreseeable future.
The Lightning port has become one of the most hated aspects of Apple products. It's outdated when compared to today's standards -- as it has been around for almost a decade now. That's not to mention that it's a proprietary solution that lacks universal compatibility with gadgets outside the company's ecosystem. We've recently heard that Apple could already be testing iPhones with USB Type-C ports. However, a new report states that the company could also be ditching Lightning on other products, including AirPods, Magic accessories, and MagSafe Battery Packs. This shift could be happening in the foreseeable future -- making all Apple products compatible with the universal standard: USB Type-C.
Apple could be working on a 35W dual port USB Type-C GaN charging brick
Apple could be working on its first standalone GaN charging brick that does 35W USB Power Delivery with two USB Type C ports for output.
When it comes to fast charging, the first name that comes to mind as a market leader.....is definitely not Apple. The company remains behind the curve when it comes to adopting charging-related innovations, choosing largely to let the technology mature before adopting it, even though the tech could mature a whole lot quicker if Apple adopted it. If you're someone who prefers to buy only Apple-branded or certified accessories and were looking for your next charging brick, then here is some good news for you: Apple could soon release a new 35W dual-port Type-C charging brick.
VESA launches a certification program for DisplayPort 2.0 products, introduces certified DP40 and DP80 cables
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has announced a new certification program for DisplayPort 2.0 cables and other products.
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) on Monday announced a new certification program for DisplayPort products. The program will make it easier for consumers to understand whether a DisplayPort 2.0 monitor, cable, or video source they're buying indeed supports all the bells and whistles promised by the new standard.
Satechi's new four-port USB charger can reach 165W
The new Satechi 165W USB-C 4-Port charger can keep four devices powered at once, but you can't buy it yet.
Satechi manufactures accessories for PCs and mobile devices, from chargers to dongles, most of which have a premium build quality. During last week's CES 2022 event, the company revealed a new powerful USB Type-C charger with four high-speed ports. It seems like the perfect charger for anyone who uses several devices with USB Power Delivery, but you can't buy it yet.
USB C on iPhone? It's already a reality. Kind of
A DIY YouTuber has reverse-engineered his iPhone X to install a USB Type C port. The modder used a flexible PCB with a female USB C port.
Apple is the only major smartphone brand that still hasn’t switched to the USB Type C port yet. Instead, the Cupertino giant uses its proprietary Lighting connector, forcing iPhone users to carry an extra cable. While we don’t know when Apple will ditch the Lightning connector on iPhones, a DIY YouTuber has reverse-engineered his iPhone X to install a USB Type C port on it.
USB-C cables and chargers will soon show how fast they can charge
The USB-IF has revealed the certification logos for devices that support certain power delivery and data rate specifications over USB.
Earlier this year, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) announced that USB-C devices would soon support 240W charging. Currently, power delivery standards are limited to 100W, which is enough for most ultrabooks, but not for gaming laptops. Today, the organization announced new certification logos for USB Type-C cables, which show exactly how much power a USB cable can provide.
EU plans to force OEMs to use a common USB-C charger and ship phones without one in the box
The Eurpoean Union is planning to force manufacturers to use a common charging port on all their devices to save the environment.
The European Commission is set to present a legislative proposal today for all phones, tablets, and headphones sold in the European Union to have a common charging port. This comes after the European Parliament had voted in favor of Right to Repair, an initiative that would benefit consumers as well as the Union's plan to force OEMs to allow users to uninstall bloatware from their devices. The news isn't really new though since EU lawmakers have been attempting to generalize the charger used to charge consumer electronic gadgets for over a decade now.
Targus announces the super-charged DeX dock that Samsung won't make
Accessory company Targus announced a new phone dock with multiple USB ports, 4K HDMI, two SD card slots, and wired audio.
Back when the DeX desktop environment on Galaxy phones was new, Samsung released a DeX Station dock that gave your phone two USB ports, an Ethernet connector, HDMI, and power input. The idea was that you could just slip your Galaxy phone into the dock, and it would instantly become just as useful as a desktop PC. Samsung has moved away from the dock idea in recent years, but that isn't stopping accessory company Targus from releasing a spiritual successor to the original DeX Station.
Anker's tiny USB Type-C charger now on sale for just $14
Anker's super-small 20W USB Type-C charger, the PowerPort III, is now on sale for just $14 on Amazon. It normally goes for around $17.
Smaller power adapters are becoming more and more common, largely thanks to the increased availability of Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors. Anker has now discounted one of its USB Type-C chargers to just $13.59 on Amazon, and while this specific charger doesn’t use GaN, it’s still incredibly compact. This sale matches the discount we saw at the beginning of June.
Get this Spigen 40W USB Type-C charger for $21 ($9 off)
This charger from Spigen can power two devices at 20W simultaneously (40W total), or one device at up to 30W, and it's $9 off right now.
Spigen is best known for its smartphone cases and covers, but the company also produces a few hardware accessories. One of them is a compact 40W USB Type-C wall charger, which normally costs $29.99, but is now on sale for $20.99. That's a $9 discount over the typical price, making it a better deal than ever for keeping your phones, tablets, and other devices charged.
New USB-C spec promises 240W charging for power-hungry gaming laptops
The USB-IF has announced version 2.1 of its USB-C specification, which more than doubles the power delivery capacity of the standard.
The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) has announced version 2.1 of its USB-C specification, which more than doubles the power delivery capacity of the standard. The current USB-C standard that you find on thin-and-light notebooks these days is limited to 100W, so it isn't suitable for power-hungry gaming laptops with dedicated graphics cards. However, the new standard can deliver up to 240W, so it may make an appearance on gaming laptops soon.
DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 will allow 16K video output over USB 4 Type-C ports
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) has announced the new DisplayPort Alt Mode 2.0 standard that supports 16K video output over USB 4 Type-C.
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) recently released version 2.0 of the DisplayPort Alternate Mode (Alt Mode) standard which enables up to 16K video output over USB 4 Type-C ports. As a report from AnandTech explains, the new standard remaps USB Type-C's high-speed data pins to unlock more bandwidth for videos, resulting in a maximum raw bandwidth of up to 80Gbps. This is accomplished by reconfiguring a 4 lane USB 4 connection into a 2 or 4 lane DisplayPort connection and driving DisplayPort signals over high-speed lanes which would otherwise be carrying USB 4 signals.
[Update: Fixed] Google will fix fast charging issue for Pixel/Pixel XL users on Android Pie
Owners of the original Pixel have been reporting problems with fast charging on Android P. It has persisted through the official release of Android Pie.
Android Pie was officially released last week for the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, and Pixel 2 XL. There are a lot of great new features in Android 9, but not everything is perfect. WiFi scanning throttling is crippling some network apps, the back button in the Recent apps needs fixing, and the original Pixel devices are experiencing a fast charging issue.