The Type-C connector appeared after the new USB standard was developed. The USB 3.1 specification made it possible to transfer data at an incredible speed of up to 10 Gb / s, as well as power devices with a current of up to 100 W. At first, not all hardware manufacturers appreciated the convenience of the new format: only Macbook and Chromebook Pixel were equipped with a Type-C connector, but now it's not difficult to find a gadget with such a connector.
It's hard to find an inexpensive gadget with premium features. But we did it *. Here are five inexpensive smartphones with the latest Type-C connector.
Xiaomi Mi4c
LeEco (LeTV) Le 1S
Highscreen Bay
UMI Super
LG Nexus 5X
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Price - from 16190 rubles. Last year's event. Another brainchild of Google in a company with LG. Excellent performance in almost all respects: the freshest software at the time of release, high performance, high-quality body materials, solid build, excellent cameras, chipset and battery for LG Nexus. This model had only one drawback - a huge price tag. But after the official announcement, a lot of time has passed, competitors are not asleep and the price has dropped quite well. You can think about buying. |
Why is the new USB standard really better than the usual USB ports of phones, tablets or laptops, and which devices already have USB Type-C connectors? The CHIP editors answer all these questions.
First, a little important information: the designations USB Type-C and USB 3.1, as they say, go toe-to-toe, since they mean virtually the same thing. When the numeric designation USB 3.1 is used, it usually refers to the baud rate.
If you come across the name USB Type-C, it usually means directly the type of connector for connecting devices. First, let's compare the previous USB 3.0 standard with the new USB 3.1. All details can be found in the table below.
Comparison of USB 3.0 and USB 3.1
Best USB Type-C Devices
What USB Type-C devices are currently available? The first of these was the 12-inch MacBook, in which this connector was generally the only one. The current Nexus 6P and 5X googlephones are also equipped with USB 3.1 - and indeed, more and more manufacturers are integrating a new standard port into their smartphones.
In the following table, we have compiled a list of the most interesting USB Type-C devices for you.
USB Type-C: these devices already have it
The USB connector can no longer be connected incorrectly
USB Type-C: Type C plug (left) can be used either sideThis is what makes the USB Type-C connector incredibly convenient: it is symmetrical. You no longer have to think about how to get the right plug into the socket. Previously, this property of the connector was a great advantage for Apple products, iPad or iPhone, and now it is becoming available to the general public. This cable can be inserted either way.
We also mention one more significant advantage over the USB 3.0 standard: due to the maximum transmitted power increased to 100 W, various peripheral devices, for example, monitors or speakers, will be able to connect via USB 3.1 in the future without an additional power source. The 5A amperage also significantly shortens the charging time of the mobile phone.
Modern flagships and even mid-range phones receive USB Type-C connectors for charging. The trend towards a new interface is obvious - USB Type-C is safer compared to outdated micro-USB - it cannot be broken by inserting the cable into the phone incorrectly. It is also more functional and capable of providing power to connected gadgets, that is, smartphones with USB can work as power banks, if provided by the functionality. Well, versatility, as an additional plus - Type-C using adapters allows you to connect to devices with old USB 1.1. A dubious advantage is compactness, which is important now when everyone is trying to make gadgets as thin as possible.
Below is a selection of the best USB Type-C smartphones. The rating is subjective, and it includes the most successful, from my point of view, devices of different price categories.
Xiaomi Mi A2
One of the cheapest and most successful smartphones on the market. If you don't have enough money, but you need a phone with USB Type-C, then feel free to take this unit. It runs on bare Android One - version 8.1 Oreo with an update to 9.0 Pie.
Inside - the processor of the middle segment Snapdragon 660, 4 GB of "RAM" and 64 GB of memory. The screen is a classic 6-inch IPS. In general, Xiaomi Mi A2 is positioned as a "camera phone", and in fact it is the only smartphone with good cameras for little money. Unlike standard solutions with two rear cameras, one of which is just a depth sensor, the Xiaomi Mi A2 has full-fledged cameras - the main and the auxiliary, which catch excess light, which allows you to improve the quality of the photo even indoors in low light.
Plus, the Mi A2 has built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and a 3010mAh battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support. Recommended for purchase for people with a limited budget. By the way, you can also consider Xiaomi Mi Max 3, which costs a little more, but it is a big "shovel", and the cameras are worse there.
- + sample photos on camera
Pocophone F1
An ambiguous device with a strange and even frightening name. In fact, this is a quality phone from Xiaomi, designed for the US market. It is built around the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 platform, 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage.
Cameras - with resolutions of 12 and 5 megapixels, f / 1.9 aperture, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 and USB Type-C interfaces are included, plus QC 3.0 technology is supported - with it the phone charges from zero to 35% in 30 minutes.
And all would be fine, but the lack of the model is the lack of an NFC chip and, consequently, contactless payment technology. For some reason in Russia this is considered a disadvantage, but in America, for which Pocophone is intended, this technology is not so popular. However, if you need NFC and USB Type-C, then take the Xiaomi Mi 8. There are even better cameras, but a smartphone is 4-5 thousand rubles more expensive.
- and comparison with Mi 8
Not to be confused with the P20 Lite - the P20 version is much better because of the flagship processor and cool rear cameras. The improved P20 Pro is more expensive, but there are 3 rear cameras and in general it is the best camera phone at the end of 2018 - beginning of 2019 in the world.
The usual Huawei P20 is equipped with a 5.8-inch IPS-matrix, two rear cameras of 12 and 20 megapixels with an aperture of the main module f / 1.8; inside - its own SoC HiSilicon Kirin 970 and 4 GB of RAM. Battery capacity is 3400 mAh, charging via USB Type-C interface. Fast Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth 5.0 and 3.5mm headphone output included.
The phone is exceptionally high-quality, which is why it collects positive reviews. Of course, the Pro version is better in terms of shooting, but a simple P20 is cheaper, and an ordinary user will not notice the difference in photo quality when shooting, so feel free to take Huawei - you will not regret it. I will add that the P20 Lite is an openly weak smartphone, and the cameras there are mediocre. The optional rear sensor only senses depth and works when shooting in portrait mode.
Samsung Galaxy S9
A real flagship for big money, running on Android 8.0 with subsequent updates to 9.0. The smartphone has a cool Amoled matrix, the so-called Infinity Display with minimal frames. Display Mate studio experts call these screens the best in the world - there are no analogues yet.
Inside - its own Exynos 9810 processor or the American Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (depending on the market), 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of memory. S9 also has cool cameras - studio dxomark put the flagship in 6th place in its rating of camera phones. Don't forget about AKG stereo speakers, high build quality and water resistance - the phone works even under water.
A set of current interfaces is included: USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, etc.
Of course, one can argue with this position, but personally I love the LG G7 ThinQ for its manufacturability and build quality. Without a doubt, the G7 is the premier smartphone in terms of sound. Whether you want to enjoy clear surround sound with or without headphones, take the LG flagship and you will be satisfied.
The phone uses a dedicated 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC audio chip with 8 DAC modules, which guarantees high quality music sound from headphones or speakers. Plus, here for the first time an acoustic resonator was used, which amplifies the sound volume due to the nearby hard surfaces. If you put your smartphone on the table, it plays louder.
A dubious plus is an IPS screen, since it is customary to use AMOLED matrices in flagships. But the quality of the display is the highest, plus the brightness margin is incredible. At 100% brightness reaches 1000 nits, which is a record among smartphones - even in the bright sun everything is clearly visible.
Processor - Snapdragon 845, 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The camera is 2-module, but it is inferior in the quality of shooting to almost all more or less new flagships, including Huawei P20, Xiaomi Mi 8, Samsung S9, etc. So the LG G7 ThinQ is not for photographers, but audiophiles. There is USB Type-C, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, NFC and Bluetooth 5.0.
Other phones
I've named my top 5 best USB Type-C charging smartphones. No less cool phones:
- OnePlus 6
- Huawei P20 Pro, Mate 20
- U11 EYEs and HTC U12 +
- Xiaomi Mi 8 and Mi 8SE, Mi Mix 2S, Mi Note 3
- ASUS ZenFone 5 ZE620KL
- Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact, XZ2 Compact
- Nokia 6.1 Plus, 7 Plus, 8
- Meizu Pro 7, 15, 16
- Honor View 10
- Samsung Galaxy A8 +, S8, Note9 and Note8
- Google Pixel 2
The technological process does not stand still. Modern models of various digital devices are strikingly different from their older counterparts. Not only their appearance and internal equipment has changed, but also the ways of connecting to computers and chargers. If even 5-7 years ago, many phones and even cameras did not have such an opportunity. But at the moment, absolutely every digital device can be connected to a personal computer or laptop. A phone, player, smartphone, tablet, camcorder, player or camera are all equipped with connectors that allow you to connect them to other devices.
But, as is easy to see, there is strife. And the cord purchased with the phone for some reason cannot be used in conjunction with your favorite player. As a result, a bunch of cables accumulates, you are constantly confused in them and cannot understand in any way why it was impossible to make one wire suitable for connecting all devices. But, as you know, this does not happen. Although now there is a more or less standard connector, at least for smartphones, phones and tablets. And his name is micro-USB. What this miracle is and how it works, we will describe below.
Micro USB connector: what is it?
The two most popular connectors lately are mini and micro-USB. Their names speak for themselves. These are smaller and more practical designs that are used on small digital devices to save space and possibly for a sleeker look. For example, for a tablet it is almost 4 times smaller than a standard USB 2.0, and considering that the device itself is several times smaller than a personal computer or even a laptop, this option is simply ideal. But there are also some nuances here. For example, you can never make smaller out of more, so micro-USB connectors cannot be replaced even with mini-USB. Although in some cases the reverse process is acceptable. And the replacement is unlikely to end with something good. Painfully, this work is jewelry. Besides, under the word “micro” there are several types of connectors at once, and this should be remembered. Especially if you are trying to buy a new wire. Your tablet's micro USB may not be compatible with the connector on the end of the cable that you purchased.
Varieties
Micro USB connectors can be of two completely different types. They have different areas of application and, accordingly, they look different. The first type is called micro-USB 2.0. type B - it is used in devices by default and is an unspoken standard for the latest models of smartphones and tablets, because of this it is very common and almost everyone at home has at least one micro-USB 2.0 cable. type B.
The second type - micro-USB 3.0 - these connectors are not installed on tablets, but they can be found on smartphones and phones of some brands. Most often they are used to equip external hard drives.
Benefits
The main advantages of micro-USB connectors for tablets are the increased density and reliability of the plug fastening. But this fact does not exclude the possibility of problems with these particular components. The most common cause of breakdown is the carelessness of the owners of digital devices themselves. Sudden movements, falling tablets and phones on the floor or even asphalt, especially on the side where the connector itself is located, attempts to fix something with your own hands without the appropriate knowledge - these are the main reasons why even the most durable parts of USB ports come out out of service. But it happens that this happens due to wear and tear of the device, improper operation or factory defect.
The most common cause of malfunction is either the micro-USB connectors themselves, or adjacent parts connected to them in the circuit. For any experienced craftsman, replacing it is a matter of minutes, but not everyone can cope with this at home. If you are still interested in how you can fix it yourself (or, in other words, unsoldering) - the process is not the longest and most difficult, if you approach it wisely and first read the relevant information. A few tips will be given below.
Micro USB connector: pinout
As you know, with ordinary ports and connectors, everything is simple - you just need to take an image of the front part of their connector, but in a mirror image, and solder. C and micro views are a little different. Their connectors contain 5 pins, but on type B connectors, pin number 4 is not used, and on type A it is shorted to GND, which takes the fifth place.
Features of micro-USB feet
Since most modern tablets have micro-USB, which serves not only for charging, but also for synchronization, due to the more frequent use of the connector, problems with it arise more often.
So, as mentioned above, a conventional micro-USB connector has five legs. One positive, for five volts, and one negative. They are located on different sides of the connector and, accordingly, suffer less when they are detached from the motherboard. Only one "leg" of the connector, which is most often pulled out of the contact area, is more exposed to wear. It is located closer to the minus "leg". If this contact is damaged, the device cannot be charged. That is, the system can see the power supply, but the charging process will not take place.
The remaining two "legs" are responsible for synchronization, that is, for the ability to upload and download photos, music, etc. They do this at the same time, so the separation of one will entail the termination of the work of the second.
Knowing the functions of the "legs", you will be able to determine, due to the separation of the contacts of which you started having problems and which of them you will need to solder in order to return your tablet to "operational".
Consequences of incorrect connector replacement
Having incorrectly soldered micro-USB, owners most often face the following problems:
- PSU shorts if they are soldered inverted type.
- The tablet detects the charging cord, but the battery (battery) does not charge.
- The tablet battery charges perfectly, but it does not sync with your laptop or computer.
- The tablet works properly, but sometimes it "reminds" that you should take it to the workshop, and not solder it yourself (for example, charging does not start immediately after switching on, or sometimes the cord needs to be pulled out and reinserted several times before charging starts) ...
The future of micro USB
Since these are some of the most popular ports today, if you learn to change them once, it will help you out very often in the future. And let them not be taken for the "gold standard" in the development of phones and other digital devices. And we still have to have a whole collection of wires specially for the Acer laptop, for the phone from Samsung, for the iPad from Apple, and but the active use of micro-connectors gives hope that soon instead of a "bouquet" we will have one micro-cable on our shelf. USB suitable for at least 90% of household appliances.
Mobile device users in the 2000s had a hard time - they had to put up with the so-called proprietary... The phones of each manufacturer were equipped with unique charging connectors - as a result, the charger, for example, for Nokia did not work with a Motorola phone. It got to the point of absurdity - when for two phones of the same manufacturer (Finnish) it was necessary to look for different chargers. User dissatisfaction was so strong that the European Parliament was forced to intervene.
Now the situation is radically different: almost all smartphone manufacturers equip their gadgets with ports for chargers. one type... The user no longer has to buy a new memory "in addition" to the phone.
USB cables can be used not only to transfer data from a PC to a gadget, but also to charge a mobile device. Smartphones are able to replenish the "reserves" of the battery both from the outlet and from the computer, but in the second case, charging will take significantly longer. A traditional USB cable for an Android smartphone or Windows Phone looks like this:
There is a standard plug at one of its ends. USB 2.0 Type-A:
This plug fits into a USB port on your computer or laptop.
At the other end of the wire is a plug microUSB.
It is, accordingly, inserted into the micro-USB connector on the mobile device.
It is micro-USB 2.0 that is now a unified connector: you can find it on smartphones and tablets of almost all mobile equipment manufacturers (with the exception of Apple). The interface standardization agreement was signed in 2011 by representatives of 13 companies leading in the mobile market.
The choice fell on Micro-USB for a number of reasons:
- The connector is compact... Its physical dimensions are only 2 × 7 millimeters, which is about 4 times smaller than that of USB 2.0 Type-A.
- The plug is durable - especially when compared to Nokia's slim charger.
- The connector is capable of providing high data transfer rates.Theoretically, the transfer rate via Micro-USB using the 2.0 standard can reach 480 Mbps. The actual speed is much lower (10-12 Mbps in Full Speed), but this is rarely a problem for users.
- The connector supports OTG function. We'll tell you more about the benefits of this later.
Competition micro-USB in the fight for the role of a standard connector could impose Mini-USB... The mini plug looks like this:
This kind of USB connector did not fit as standard, and here's why:
- Bigger connector - albeit not much. Its size is 3 × 7 millimeters.
- The connector is fragile enough - due to the lack of rigid mountings, it loosens very quickly. As a result, the transmission of data via cable becomes a real torment for the user.
In the 2000s, a mini-USB connector could be found on smartphones from manufacturers of the "second grade" - say, Philips and Alcatel... Now you will not find mobile gadgets with a mini-connector on the market.
In addition to those USB ports that we mentioned (Micro-USB, Mini-USB, USB Type-A), there are others. For instance, micro-USB 3.0 can be used to connect hard drives to a PC, and USB Type-B(square shape) – for musical instruments (in particular, MIDI keyboards). These connectors are not directly related to mobile technology (except for Galaxy Note 3 c USB 3.0), so we will not talk about them in more detail.
What are USB cables for smartphones?
Thanks to the inexhaustible imagination of Chinese needleworkers, users of mobile technology can buy cables of completely different formations. For example, in the proprietary era, such a "monster" was incredibly popular:
Yes, this charger fits all main connectors!
Similar "multitools" are still on sale, but their plugs have diminished. Here is a 4-in-1 charger that can be ordered for less than 200 rubles:
This charger is equipped with all modern plugs - Lightning, 30Pin (both for iPhone), microUSB, USB 3.0. Definitely a "must-have" for the user!
There are other interesting options as well. Here is the cable from OATSBASF for those who hate cables:
This cable allows two mobile devices to be charged from a computer at the same time (for example, the 5th iPhone and Android) and has a very tempting price - just over 100 rubles.
In domestic stores and salons, the user, of course, will not find such an abundance of various cables as on the pages of catalogs GearBest and AliExpress... Besides, Data-equipment in retail is much more expensive. For these two reasons, users are advised to order USB cables from China.
What is OTG standard?
Surely many have seen such a cable and wondered what it is for:
This is a cable OTG; at one end of it there is a plug micro-USB, on the second - connector USB 2.0, "mum". Using such a cable, you can connect a USB flash drive to a smartphone or tablet, but only if the mobile device itself supports the standard OTG.
OTG (short for On-the-go) Is a function designed to quickly connect 2 USB devices to each other, without the mediation of a computer. Connect by OTG you can not only a flash drive (although this is, of course, the most common case), but also, for example, a computer mouse, keyboard, external hard drive, game wheel, joystick. You can even connect your smartphone to a printer or MFP to print a picture taken with the gadget's camera.
Cables OTG for the iPhone have already appeared, however, uploading to an "apple" device (without jailbreak) from an external medium only produces photos and videos - and then only when the root folders on the flash drive and the photos themselves have the "correct" names.
Full list of smartphones that support the function OTG, no - simply because almost all modern gadgets can boast of having this standard, and the list would be huge. Nevertheless, a buyer intending to connect a mouse or a flash drive to a device should inquire with a salon store consultant for support. OTG before giving money - "for every fireman."
USB Type-C: what are the benefits?
Transition from micro-USB on is a new trend in the mobile electronics market! Manufacturers are actively adopting the technology and equipping their flagship models with improved connectors for charging and data transfer. USB Type-C waited a long time "in the shadows": the connector was created back in 2013, but only in 2016 did the market leaders pay attention to it.
Looks USB Type-C So:
What are the benefits Type-C in front of everyone familiar micro-USB?
- High speed data transfer... Bandwidth Type-C equals 10 Gb / sec (!). But that's just bandwidth: in reality, only owners of smartphones with standard USB 3.1 - eg, Nexus 6P and 5X... If the gadget uses the standard USB 3.0, the speed will be around 5 Gb / s; at USB 2.0 data transfer will be significantly slower.
- Fast charging... The duration of the smartphone charging procedure depends on the potential number of watts supplied by the connector. USB 2.0 standard able to serve everything 2.5W - that's why charging takes hours. Connector USB Type-C provides 100 watts - that is, 40 times (!) More. Curiously, the transmission of current can occur in both directions - both to the host and from it.
- Symmetry of the connector... If the connector has micro-USB there is a top and a bottom, then the connector Type-C symmetrical. Which side to insert it into the connector does not matter. From this point of view, technology USB Type-C similar to Lightning from Apple.
Dignity Type-C is also the small size of the connector - only 8.4 × 2.6 mm. According to this criterion technology micro-USBand USB Type-C are similar.
Have USB Type-C there are also disadvantages, one of which is more than significant. Due to the unregulated operation of the connector, charging can easily "fry" a mobile device. This probability is not purely theoretical - fires have occurred in practice. It is for this reason that the proliferation of non-original, "artisanal" cables and chargers USB Type-C - so users can see the benefits for themselves Type-C and decide to abandon the standard connector. At the same time, Ravencraft admits that, possibly, a complete replacement USB-A will never happen.
