Impressive USB-C Performance It supports the latest USB 3.2 communication protocols and is faster and more powerful than most standard USBs. USB-C can provide up to 100W of power to devices and can transfer data at up to 20Gbps 2. USB-C can deliver Ultra-HD 4K video resolution and carry audio too.
Like USB-A, micro-USB connectors only work one way, and so have to be inserted at the correct orientation. USB-C has been designed to carry much more power than the other connection types. For this reason, it can deliver much faster charging speeds.
Very versatile
It can carry other interface types, such as DisplayPort 1.2 and Thunderbolt 3. This means that it can carry up to 10Gbps of data with USB 3.1, or up to 40Gbps with Thunderbolt 3. It can also carry enough power (up to 100W) to charge full-size electronics.
USB-C allows up to 100W of power by incorporating the Power Delivery 2.0 specification from the USB trade group. (The spec has been updated to 3.0 with additional smarts about multiple connected devices, but it's fundamentally the same.) The trick is that you have to have the right cable for the right voltage.
While USB-A could only support up to 2.5 watts and 5 volts, USB-C now supports 100 watts and 20 volts easily enough for larger devices. The practical benefits of this include pass-through charging; effectively a USB hub that powers laptops, and also charges other devices simultaneously.
Type-C ports can transmit data at a higher rate. 4K videos can be transmitted via a USB 3.1 Type-C port. Type-C ports support relatively larger charging currents ranging from 3 A to 5 A, and support reverse charging. Type-C ports are more refined in structure and more safe in use.
USB-C PD is a new standard that can deliver up to 240 watts of power, which is enough to charge laptops and other devices that require more power than USB-C alone can supply.
USB-C comes packed with USB4 support making it the clear winner here as it supports data transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps (gigabits per second) while the Lightning connection only supports up to 480 Mbps (megabits per second) with USB 2.0. That's roughly an 80x faster rate with the USB-C connection.
The other main difference lies in charging and data transfer speeds. When it comes to data, Lightning cords manage a transfer rate of 480 Mbps, which falls in line with the USB 2.0 standard. USB-C cords transfer data at a rate of 640 Mbps, which meets the USB 3.0 standard.
Under normal circumstances, a standard Type-C/micro USB port can be inserted into or removed from a USB port for more than 10,000 times. For example, if you insert or remove your data cable three times a day, it would last for more than 9 years.
A thicker cable can mean a thicker inner shield, thicker protective coating, or both. This translates to longer life and durability.
USB-C cables also charges devices faster than Micro USB because the USB-C protocol provides a maximum of 100 Watts of power. It means manufacturers of USB-C cables can include a higher power supply. It also means that USB-C can even power larger devices like laptops or printers.
The Thunderbolt 3 cable doubles the max data transfer speed of USB-C, running as fast as 40Gbps. While it has a default charging speed of 15 watts (six times faster than USB-C's default speed), if you connect your device with USB PD, you achieve about the same 100 watts of power as USB-C.
More user-friendly, a USB-C connection offers the potential for faster charging and data delivery, and it's more convenient to use. USB-C connections are becoming more common in new cars. Apple devices with Thunderbolt 3 connections are compatible with USB-C.
In terms of compatibility, the USB Type-D port is expected to be backward compatible with the previous USB types, which means that it can be used with devices that have USB Type-A, Type-B, and Type-C ports. This will make it easier for users to switch to the new port without having to replace their existing devices.
Apple has stated that they continue to use Lightning because replacing it "would create an unprecedented amount of electronic waste".
But with a Lightning cable, it's very rare to see any kind of confusion.” Insiders say the reason Apple is not adding a USB-C port on its iPhones is the fear that users might charge the device with other unregulated chargers which might result in depletion of battery faster for Apple products along with overheating.
As the USB-C needs to handle fast charging, it features more protection precautions. A 3A (USB-C) cable has a higher specification on internal resistance than the 2.4A (Lightning) cable. That said, if you use any cable and charger under its maximum specification, it should be safe.
USB-C power supplies always support 5 V and some are limited to that, but support for higher voltages is where it's at. The usual voltage steps of USB-C are 5 V, 9 V, 15 V and 20 V ; 12V support is optional and is more of a convention.
USB C is the newest generation of USB port, and it's been getting a lot of attention lately. Its default protocol is USB 3.1 (the latest release, as mentioned above), and max speed is 10 Gbps. You'll find this newer port on everything from smart phones to laptops.
Its output end is a USB type C connector with USB 3.1 Power Delivery (PD) function support. It can output 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V and 20V.
Some of the USB types will soon be obsolete in favour of USB-C, which might replace not only Type-A but the Mini-USB and Micro-USB connectors. If devices still have ports, USB-C will undoubtedly be the connector of the future.
Thunderbolt™ 4 is not the same as USB-C; however, Thunderbolt™ 4 uses the USB-C connector type, recognizable by its oval shape.
Thunderbolt and USB-C cables and ports are not the same, but they look almost identical and perform nearly the same functions. On most devices, the cables and ports are compatible so you can connect either cable to either port. But Thunderbolt connectors transfer data much faster than USB-C.