{"id":7576,"date":"2023-08-10T23:13:39","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T17:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/?p=7576"},"modified":"2023-08-09T23:44:23","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T18:14:23","slug":"different-types-of-usb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are the Different Types of USB Ports and Connectors? (The Basic Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>There are five major types of USB cables and ports. There is USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, micro-USB, and mini-USB. The major difference is in their physical appearance, but there can be some differences in functionality as well. It is also important to note that a USB type may differ physically based on which USB version number it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you use different kinds of technology, including mobile devices, computers, and peripherals, you're bound to come across several different types of USB connectors. Knowing what these different types of USB cables are called can make life easier for you, such as when it comes to buying replacements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you want to know the different types of USB connectors that are out there, this article will make that clear for you. Let's get right into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_64 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6611106d532e9\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6611106d532e9\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#What_Are_the_Different_Types_of_USB_Cables\" title=\"What Are the Different Types of USB Cables?\">What Are the Different Types of USB Cables?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#USB-A\" title=\"USB-A\">USB-A<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#USB-B\" title=\"USB-B\">USB-B<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#SuperSpeed_Version\" title=\"SuperSpeed Version\">SuperSpeed Version<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#USB-C\" title=\"USB-C\">USB-C<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#Micro-USB\" title=\"Micro-USB\">Micro-USB<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#SuperSpeed_Version-2\" title=\"SuperSpeed Version\">SuperSpeed Version<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#Mini-USB\" title=\"Mini-USB\">Mini-USB<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#What_Are_the_Different_USB_Versions\" title=\"What Are the Different USB Versions?\">What Are the Different USB Versions?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/different-types-of-usb\/#Final_Words\" title=\"Final Words\">Final Words<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Different_Types_of_USB_Cables\"><\/span>What Are the Different Types of USB Cables?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and as the name gives away, it is an almost universal interface for connecting devices to each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A USB connector is what you find on the end of a cable, and they come in many physical forms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A USB port is what the cable plugs into a device. The connector and the port usually have to be the exact same type to be compatible, so they'll be used interchangeably. Also, when referring to USB cable types, the connector on the end is typically the defining factor.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Connecting-a-White-USB-Cable-to-the-USB-Port-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Hand Connecting a White USB Cable to the USB Port\" class=\"wp-image-7583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Connecting-a-White-USB-Cable-to-the-USB-Port.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Connecting-a-White-USB-Cable-to-the-USB-Port-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Connecting-a-White-USB-Cable-to-the-USB-Port-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>So, the terms connector, port, and cable can mostly be used interchangeably to refer to the different physical specifications of USB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are five major types of USB cables that are used in all kinds of devices like laptops, mobile devices, printers, external hard drives, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you deal with these kinds of devices a lot in your daily life, it can be very helpful to know what you can about the different types of USB ports that they can come with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"USB-A\"><\/span>USB-A<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When most people think of \"USB\", they're thinking of the USB-A connector. USB-A connectors are perfectly rectangular and this can be considered the standard form when it comes to USB cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>USB-A ports can be found on computers, power outlets, power banks, cars, and so on. USB-A cables can be found on an almost endless list of devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>USB-A is the most commonly found USB connector, but it is important to know that when it comes to phones and laptops, it is being replaced by USB-C.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Power-Bank-and-USB-Cable-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Power Bank and USB Cable\" class=\"wp-image-7586\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Power-Bank-and-USB-Cable.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Power-Bank-and-USB-Cable-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Power-Bank-and-USB-Cable-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"USB-B\"><\/span>USB-B<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>USB-B connectors are often seen on the back of USB peripheral devices like printers and scanners. These look much different from USB-A plugs, instead being square-shaped with each corner at the top being somewhat rounded off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>USB cables with a USB-B connector at one end typically have a regular USB port on the other because these devices are intended to be plugged into a computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SuperSpeed_Version\"><\/span>SuperSpeed Version<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>With USB 3.0, the physical appearance of this USB plug was changed. So, while it is still referred to as USB-B, it looks completely different from what was seen with USB 2.0 and previous generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>USB B cables under the USB 3.0 standard have a connector similar to the previous format but with a smaller rectangular socket right on top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because USB B cables like this have a larger plug, they can't be plugged into older USB B ports. However, you can plug regular Type-B cables into USB 3.0 ports in many cases.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Cable-Connection-with-the-Monitors-Built-in-USB-Hub-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Cable Connection with Monitor's Built-in USB Hub\" class=\"wp-image-7582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Cable-Connection-with-the-Monitors-Built-in-USB-Hub.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Cable-Connection-with-the-Monitors-Built-in-USB-Hub-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Cable-Connection-with-the-Monitors-Built-in-USB-Hub-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"USB-C\"><\/span>USB-C<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>USB-C is the newest USB standard and it is quickly replacing USB-A on many devices. Essentially all new laptops come with at least one USB-C port and most new Android mobile devices you buy today will likely use USB-C for charging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The USB Type-C connector is smaller than the USB-A connector, which helps with building more slimmer and more portable devices. It is also the only reversible USB plug, which means you don't need to check the orientation before plugging it into any USB-C ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Its convenience isn't the only reason USB Type-C is popular. It allows for high-speed data transfer, can transmit as much as 100 watts of power to charge devices, and it can also support video and audio transmission, making it the most versatile type of USB cable.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/White-USB-Type-C-Cable-with-Notebook-USB-Type-C-Port-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"White USB Type-C Cable with Notebook USB Type-C Port\" class=\"wp-image-7587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/White-USB-Type-C-Cable-with-Notebook-USB-Type-C-Port.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/White-USB-Type-C-Cable-with-Notebook-USB-Type-C-Port-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/White-USB-Type-C-Cable-with-Notebook-USB-Type-C-Port-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Micro-USB\"><\/span>Micro-USB<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You will very likely recognize the Micro-USB interface because it was the predominant connector type that Android smartphones and other USB devices used before USB-C became as big as it was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Micro-USB connector is a thin trapezoidal one that is basically only used for data transfer and charging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What's extra cool is that it supports USB OTG which means that you can connect a peripheral device like a flash drive, external hard drive, or digital camera, directly to your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"SuperSpeed_Version-2\"><\/span>SuperSpeed Version<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>While the regular Micro-USB cable is less popular these days, you might still see its USB 3.0 variant around. Similar to USB Type-B, the USB 3.0 version of Micro-USB has a completely different physical form and is about double the width of its predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new form allows for more contacts, which allows any USB device using this connector to achieve the USB speed standards of USB 3.0. You will usually find it on peripherals that can benefit from high-speed transfers, like digital cameras, hard drives, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may even find some Micro-USB 3.0 plugs that use a screw lock for secure placement.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Holding-Micro-USB-and-Type-C-USB-Cable-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Hand Holding Micro USB and Type C USB Cable\" class=\"wp-image-7584\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Holding-Micro-USB-and-Type-C-USB-Cable.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Holding-Micro-USB-and-Type-C-USB-Cable-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Hand-Holding-Micro-USB-and-Type-C-USB-Cable-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mini-USB\"><\/span>Mini-USB<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Mini-USB port and connector were popular before Micro-USB came around. These USB plugs could be found on much older devices of various types, such as mobile phones, portable cameras, hard drives, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, once Micro-USB came around, they began to phase out, and with USB-C ports everywhere now, there are basically no new devices that you'll find a Mini-USB port on, beyond some digital cameras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This USB cable type also allows for USB OTG, which is useful if you want the device itself to serve as a USB host instead of needing to use a computer.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Mini-Black-USB-Cable-1200x800.jpg\" alt=\"Mini Black USB Cable\" class=\"wp-image-7585\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Mini-Black-USB-Cable.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Mini-Black-USB-Cable-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Mini-Black-USB-Cable-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Different_USB_Versions\"><\/span>What Are the Different USB Versions?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With all this talk of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, you might be wondering what exactly makes them different from one another. Well, let's talk about that in further detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are five major versions of USB that you should know about. A USB version or standard can be thought of as a set of rules around how the hardware and software side of USB devices should be. New versions bring changes, particularly with increased speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The types of USB cables you can buy as replacements will also need to align with the speed of the device you want to use them with, so it is important to keep this in mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let's talk about these different USB versions and their transfer speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>USB 1.0: This is the original standard and it is now also known as Low-Speed USB. USB cables and devices in this class have a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB 1.1: This is called USB Full-Speed, and it increases its transfer rate almost tenfold compared to the previous generation, to a total of 12 Mbps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB 2.0: Most basic USB cables and devices that you buy will support USB 2.0, also known as USB High-Speed. This is because its 480 Mbps rate is fast enough for most basic uses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB 3.0: This is called USB SuperSpeed, and most USB cables for high-speed peripheral devices will use at least this. Android phones, storage devices, external optical drives, and so on, will likely use USB 3.0. It supports a max data rate of 5 Gbps. Most USB Type-C devices start here.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB 3.1: This is also known as SuperSpeed+ and it doubles the transfer rate of the previous generation to 10 Gbps. This is extremely fast and is the perfect choice for connecting external SSDs or directly connecting other computers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB 3.2: This USB type is still referred to as SuperSpeed+ but it doubles the speed of the previous generation for a max data rate of 20 Gbps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB4: Running on the Thunderbolt 3 protocol and specific to USB-C, USB 4.0 can support a maximum speed of a whopping 40 Gbps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>USB4 2.0: Released in 2022, this USB version goes as fast as 120 Gbps over a Type-C connector exclusively.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/resources\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more resources<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Words\"><\/span>Final Words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are different types of USB cables and ports based on their physical dimensions and functionality, and there are different types of USB cables based on their transfer speeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The major types of USB cables and connectors are USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, Mini-USB, and Micro-USB. In terms of speeds, your USB cable can be either USB 1.0, USB 1.1, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, or USB 3.1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Was this article able to educate you on the different Universal Serial Bus types that are out there? If so, take a look at our related articles for more helpful information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There are five major types of USB cables and ports. There is USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, micro-USB, and mini-USB. The major difference is in their physical appearance, but there can be some differences in functionality as well. It is also important to note that a USB type may differ physically based on which USB version number [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":7580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[24],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7576"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7576"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7576\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7715,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7576\/revisions\/7715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7576"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7576"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cpuforever.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7576"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}