Laptop USB port types

Youve probably noticed something strange about many of the latest phones, tablets and laptops at your company: The familiar rectangular Type-A USB ports are gone, replaced by smaller oblong connectors. USB-C has taken over at work, at home and at school.

While many iPhone and iPad models stick with Apples proprietary Lightning connector, USB-C is now part and parcel of most laptops, phones and tablets made today. Even the latest MacBooks and Chromebooks are part of the movement to USB-C.

USB Type-C, usually referred to as just USB-C, is a relatively new connector for delivering data and power to and from computing devices. Because the USB-C plug is symmetrical, it can be inserted either way, eliminating the frustrations of earlier USB ports and putting it on a par with Apples reversible Lightning plug.

This alone makes it a hit for me, but USB-C is closely linked to several powerful new technologies, including Thunderbolt and USB Power Delivery, that can change how we think about our gear and working in the office, on the road or at home.

The Type-C USB port [second from left] on this Acer laptop is noticeably smaller than the two older Type-A USB ports to its right.

Most USB-C ports are built on the second-generation USB 3.1 data-transfer standard, which can theoretically deliver data at speeds of up to 10Gbps twice as fast as USB 3.0 and first-gen USB 3.1, which both top out at 5Gbps. The key is to get devices that say USB 3.1 Rev 2, USB 3.1 Gen 2, SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps, or SuperSpeed+ to get support for the faster spec.

Confusing matters more, the current USB 3.2 standard is mostly a restatement of USB 3.1 specs. For instance, USB 3.2 Gen 1 and 2 are the same as USB 3.1 Gen 1 and 2. The new spec thats actually noteworthy is USB 3.2 Gen 2X2, which has a pair of 10Gbps lanes of data traffic available for a total of 20Gbps. So far, however, it hasnt caught on with device manufacturers, so its hard to find it on any devices in the wild. That might change in the coming year as new controller chips come out.

To make sure the data gets through at higher speeds, always get high-quality cables. They will often have the SuperSpeed logo and a 10 on them to show theyre capable of moving 10Gbps. The good news is that theres a good chance that this spaghetti bowl of cable standards could disappear with the next rev of the USB spec with a universal USB cable. More on that later.

Speed, power, and video delivery

A big bonus is that on many laptops and desktops, the USB-C specification also supports Intels Thunderbolt 3 data-transfer technology. A USB-C port equipped with Thunderbolt 3 can push data speeds to a theoretical limit of 40Gbps. To show how far weve come, thats four times faster than USB 3.1 and more than 3,000 times faster than the original USB 1 spec of 12Mbps.

With increased data-transfer speeds comes the ability to push video over the same connection. USB-Cs Alternate Mode [or Alt Mode for short] for video enables adapters to output video from that same USB-C port to HDMI, DisplayPort, VGA and other types of video connectors on displays, TVs and projectors. It pays huge dividends for the ultramobile among us by allowing many recent phones and tablets, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ and Note and Tab 6 systems, to directly plug into a monitor at home or a projector in the office.

Whats more, USB-C supports the USB Power Delivery [USB PD] specification. A USB 2.0 port can deliver just 2.5 watts of power, about enough to charge a phone, slowly. USB 3.1 ups this figure to about 15 watts. But USB PD can deliver up to 100 watts of power, more than six times what USB 3.1 can. This opens up the potential for laptop-powered projectors based on USB-C, but today it is mostly used for high-power chargers and external battery packs.

Next up: USB4

With USB-C accepted as the de facto connector today, the next step is USB4. It can move up to 40Gbps, provide at least 15 watts of power for accessories, and support two 4K displays or a single 8K display. To its credit, USB4 will continue with the small oblong connector that USB-C brought to the party and will work with existing devices, including USB 2.0 ones. [You will need the right adapter for devices without a USB-C port, though.]

Behind the scenes, USB4 uses the Thunderbolt 4 spec. It sets up bidirectional lanes of data that should help things like videoconferencing, which require two-way data flow to prevent congestion and jams. In addition to extra security to prevent a hack attack, Thunderbolt 4 will be compatible with Thunderbolt 3 devices, like docking stations and External Graphics Processing Units [eGPUs]. It includes dynamic data flow that is adjusted to suit the devices, so older devices wont slow down newer ones.

On the downside, youll need a Thunderbolt 4 cable to make it work, but theres a potential bonus: all Thunderbolt 4 cables will be able to be used on anything from USB 2 [with adapter] through USB4 systems. This will make it as close to a universal data cable as exists today. Theyll be available in 2-meter lengths [about 6½ feet], more than twice the standard 0.8-meter length of current USB-C cables. The key to look for when shopping is that they will have the iconic Thunderbolt lightning icon and a 4 on the plug.

The USB4/Thunderbolt 4 spec is built into Intels 11th-generation Tiger Lake processors, although the company and others will have standalone USB4 controller chips. The first computers with Thunderbolt 4 ports might appear in late 2020 and devices that plug into them early the next year.

In the here and now, youll need to make some changes and buy some accessories to take full advantage of USB-C. This guide can help ease the transition by showing what you can do with USB-C and what youll need to make it work.

Be careful, because not all USB-C devices support all of the latest USB-C specs. For instance, just about every USB-C flash drive supports the earlier USB 3.1 Rev 1 protocol, some tablets and phones dont support Alt Mode video, and we are in the early days of USB Power Delivery, with few devices going beyond 40 or 60 watts. In other words, read the spec sheet carefully so you know what youre getting before you buy.

These tools, tips and DIY projects can help make the transition to a USB-C world easier.

Make a USB-C travel kit

The good news is that USB-C ports can be used with most older USB 2, 3.0 and 3.1 accessories. The bad news is that youll need the right adapters and cables, and so far, I havent seen a complete kit available. Ive made my own USB-C survival kit that has six key cables and adapters inside an old zippered case.

A compact USB-C travel kit with a variety of adapters comes in mighty handy on the road.

Heres what it contains:

• Two small male USB-C to female USB 3.0/3.1 adapters for connecting to older devices, such as flash drives.
• A short USB-C male-to-male cable for using accessories.
• A USB-C Ethernet adapter for when I can get a wired connection.
• An HDMI converter for projector-based presentations.
• A hub that consolidates the most useful ports, like Ankers Premium 7-in-1 USB-C hub. It has two USB-C ports, one for data and one that can also feed up to 100 watts to charge a system. There are also two old-school USB 3.1 ports, a SD card reader and an HDMI link that can deliver 4K video to a projector or display.

Its not part of my travel kit, but theres one additional adapter Ive found useful at home. Sadly, many Android phones and tablets now lack a headphone jack, making listening to music or being heard on the office Zoom call next to impossible. While I have USB-C earbuds, I usually cant find them when I need them. When that happens, I use a headphone jack adapter with a set of earbuds with my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 phone.

Apple, Samsung and other manufacturers sell adapters for about $9 to $15, but Ive found that generic ones that cost half as much are just as good. I keep a few on hand.

Take your data with you

Theres no shortage of USB-C flash drives for those who like to carry their data with them. The best part is that all you do is insert the drive, and after it is assigned a drive letter, its capacity is available.

SanDisks Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C can transfer data at up to 150Mbps.

However, most USB-C drives, like SanDisks Ultra Dual Drive USB Type-C, still rely on the USB 3.1 Rev 1 hardware that limits its speed to 150Mbps.

Data hogs will appreciate another approach: carry a large-capacity external drive, likeHPs P700 SSD. It measures 0.4 x 2.6 x 3.6 in., or about the size of a deck of cards, but weighs only 2 ounces. It can hold between 256GB and 1TB of data on flash storage chips and uses the USB 3.1 Rev 2 hardware. According to HP, it can move data as fast as 8Gbps and comes with the cables youll need to connect it with a computer, old or new. It costs about $100 for 500GB.

Theres a cheaper way: make one yourself. I did this with a $35 StarTech.com Tool-Free Enclosure that holds a 2.5-in. SATA 500GB SSD drive I took out of a broken laptop. It uses the second-generation USB 3.1 spec and took less than a minute to put together. Heres how to do it without a screwdriver in sight.

1. Start with the drive and enclosure.

2. Slide the top off the enclosure.

3. Connect the drive to the enclosures electronics.

4. Snap the enclosure back together and plug in the included USB C cable.

5. When the connection has been made, its LED lights up and a new drive shows up on your computer.

If you want to keep the drives data, youre all set. I like a fresh start, so I wiped the data off the drive. Its now a fresh 500GB storehouse for my stuff.

Set up a dock

Theres nothing that says welcome home like a docking station on your desk to connect your laptop and in some cases even a tablet or phone to your network, display[s], external drives, mouse and keyboard as well as peripheral devices while charging the system.

While some manufacturers sell docking stations that are made expressly for a computer or family, they are becoming a rarity. An alternative is to get a generic dock, like Belkins Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro. I keep it on my desk and plug the $300 dock into my MacBook Air; it works just as well with a PC.

The dock has everything I need, including DisplayPort and USB-C video ports that can handle a single 8K or two 4K screens, as well as a USB-C and two Thunderbolt 3 ports. In addition to an audio connection, there are five USB 3 connections and an SD card reader. A big bonus is that the dock can deliver up to 85 watts of power and easily charges my notebook.

The Pro dock allows me to consolidate the connections for everything from a keyboard, mouse and external storage to a wired network connection and an HP 32 QHD display. Happily, I still have room for more accessories, like a flash drive or scanner. It took a few minutes to plug everything in initially. When the dock was ready, its LED glowed green.

Belkins Thunderbolt 3 Dock Pro can connect a Mac or Windows laptop to an array of peripherals and charge it.

Another option: If youve ever wanted to ditch the laptop and truly travel light, nows your chance. Samsungs DeX technology is included on its flagship Galaxy mobile gear and can create a full desktop environment when its connected to an external display.

Many of the earliest DeX models, like the Galaxy S8, S9 and Note 8, required a hardware dock, but the newer Note 9, Note 10, S10 and S20 phones can use a USB-C hub with an HDMI port to connect to a display, simplifying the hardware. [The new Galaxy Note 20 takes this to a new level by connecting wirelessly. It works with recent Sony, LG, TCL, and of course Samsung TVs or a display thats connected to a Miracast receiver. But that, of course, doesnt involve USB-C.]

Regardless of how you connect to the display, once DeX is online, the phone can still take or make calls, text co-workers and even act as a large touchpad to control the on-screen pointer.

Make a power play

USB-Cs support for the USB Power Delivery [PD] specification is a huge step forward for charging your devices. Instead of being limited to 2.5 watts like USB 2.0 or about 15 watts like USB 3.1, USB PD can dole out up to about 100 watts at 20 volts, easily enough to charge a laptop and more. That means that a portable USB-C charger equipped with USB PD technology can keep your laptop and mobile devices juiced up and ready to go at all times.

I spend a lot of time working out of my car, and I keep a $30Anker PowerDrive Speed+ 2 Car Charger plugged into the cigarette lighter outlet in the console between the front seats. It has both a traditional USB 3 port for powering my older iPad and a USB-C power port for charging my Galaxy S20 phone at once. This powerful travel companion weighs about an ounce and uses USB PD technology to deliver a total of 49.5 watts of power. The adapters LED ring glows blue when its working.

When Im not driving, I takeAnkers PowerCore+ 26800 PD battery packwith me to keep my devices charged. No lightweight, it tips the scales at 1.3 lbs. and has a 26.8 amp-hour lithium battery pack inside. It costs $96 and comes with an AC adapter for quickly charging its cells. When its fully charged, the circular charge indicators 10 LEDs glow. They flash when theres less than 10% left.

The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD battery pack can easily charge multiple mobile devices or even a laptop.

It includes a pair of USB 3 ports and a USB-C port. Plug it into a laptop, phone or tablet, and the systems battery icon shows that its charging. The PowerCore+ nearly doubled the time away from an AC outlet for my Tab S7+ tablet from 10 hours and 40 minutes to 20 hours and 15 minutes, plenty for the longest transpacific flight or a day spent working in coffee shops and office lobbies.

Drive a display

USB-Cs combination of faster data transfer and increased power delivery opens the way for a new class of devices that take advantage of both. For example,AOCs I1601FWUX 15.6-in. displaybrings together several of the most interesting aspects of USB-C. At 9.3 x 14.8 x 0.4 in. and weighing 1.8 lb., the portable monitor lets you say buh-bye to HDMI or VGA cables, because its USB-C cable carries both power and video.

The $200 display uses Alt Mode video, and, according to the company, works with Windows 7, 8, or 10 and macOS 10.12.1 or later. Its undocumented, but it worked fine with my Android-based Samsung Tab Pro S7+ tablet. Setting it up is easy: just plug it in and set the I1601FWUX screen to mirror or extend the tablets display. It can show 1920 x 1080 and tops out at displaying 262,000 colors.

The AOC I1601FWUX displays USB-C cable carries both power and video.

I especially liked marking up documents or sketching items on the Tab Pro S7+ using its stylus, all while viewing the action on the AOC portable display. On the downside, all the displays power came from my Tab S7+ tablet, reducing its battery life from 10:40 to 4:05 [hours:minutes].

An excellent complement to a laptop, tablet, or phone for small group presentations, demos or just desk work, the I1601FWUX points the way for a generation of self-powered devices, such as bigger and, I hope, interactive displays as well as projectors.

The fact that there isnt much to adjust or configure with USB [C or otherwise] is a testament to its technological success. In almost all cases, it just works.

In addition to notifying you of a problem, the Windows 10 Settings screen has a way to bring unresponsive USB devices back to life. If youre having USB problems on a Windows 10 device, try these tips.

1. Go to the Device Manager by right-clicking on the PC in File Explorer and then clicking Properties. Double-click the Universal Serial Bus controllers line. Open the Power Management tab and uncheck the box next to Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power to keep the port powered up, but be warned: your battery might drain faster because of this change.

Adjusting USB power settings in Device Manager. [Click image to enlarge it.]

2. Updating the USB drivers couldnt hurt. You can do this by going back to the Universal Serial Bus line in the Device Manager and giving it a right-click. At this point, click on Update driver.

3. Got a printer that wont print? Start at the Control Panel, open Troubleshooting, click Printer, and go through the troubleshooting routine that appears.

Windows 10 has a printer troubleshooter that can help sort out USB-C printing woes. [Click image to enlarge it.]

4. Finally, check the specs of the computer, device, and cable to make sure they all match.

My last tip works for any USB-C device, not just Windows systems: When all else fails, try cleaning the physical USB-C port, because dust, dirt and who knows what else might be preventing an electrical connection. Try using compressed air to blow out the loose stuff and then gently clean the port with a plastic toothpick. I use a CVS Health Interdental Brush & Toothpick to give the port a good cleaning. Youd be surprised what comes out.

You'd be surprised what detritus can collect in a port and interfere with the connection.

Hopefully you now have a clean machine, ready for work.

This article was originally published in March 2018 and updated in October 2020.