First, let’s see the below image to understand the current most commonly used USB interface types, and then analyze the different functions and applications of each USB cable.
Mini-USB cables
Mini USB is divided into A-type, B type, and AB type. The MiniB type 5Pin interface is the most common interface. This interface has been the favorite of many manufacturers because of its excellent anti-mis-insertion performance and relatively small size. This interface is widely used in card readers, MP3, digital cameras, and mobile hard drives.
Micro-USB cables
Micro USB is a portable version of the USB 2.0 standard, which is smaller than the Mini USB interface used by some mobile phones. Micro-USB is the next-generation specification of Mini-USB. Completed on January 4th. Micro-USB supports OTG, and like Mini-USB, it is also 5pin. The definition of Micro series includes Micro-B series sockets used by standard equipment; Micro-AB sockets used by OTG equipment; Micro-A and Micro-B plugs, and cables. The unique feature of the Micro series is that they include a stainless steel housing, which can be plugged and unplugged 10,000 times without a problem.
From 2017, the EU will fully unify the use of MicroUSB port chargers.
The Micro-USB standard supports the OTG function of USB, that is, in the absence of a host (such as a personal computer), data transmission can be directly realized between portable devices, compatible with USB1.1 (low speed: 1.5Mb/s, full speed: 12Mb/s ) and USB 2.0 (High Speed: 60Mb/s), providing data transfer and charging at the same time, especially suitable for high speed (HS) or higher rate data transfer, it is ideal for connecting small devices (such as mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, digital camcorders and portable digital players, etc.) At the same time, it can also provide convenience for the car, only need a USB car charger, plus a MICRO USB data cable for emergency charging of mobile phones. And there is a 5V output interface directly on the top of the high-end car, which is connected to the MICRO USB cable to charge the mobile phone. MICRO USB is versatile and easy to use.
USB C cables
The previous Micro-USB interface was narrow at the top and the width at the bottom was asymmetrical. We needed to align the direction when charging, while the Type-c interface is symmetrical and can be plugged in both front and back, which brings great convenience to people. In addition, this interface has a lot of pins, which can do more things.
The Type-c interface supports external USB devices. You only need a docking station to connect your mobile phone or other devices to peripherals such as mice and keyboards. The device cooperates with the cloud computer or other office APP of the mobile phone, which can greatly improve the office efficiency and can also connect to a U disk through such an interface to facilitate copying and backup files.
Easy to transmit
The Type-c data cable on the market is 5A 100W, which is much faster than the traditional 3A and can supply power to high-power appliances such as displays. There are already mobile phones on the market that can supply other mobile phones through the Type-c data cable. Perform “reverse charging”.
Cast mobile screen: just prepare a Type-c to HDMI cable, you can simply connect the device to the projector, the function is very powerful when you go out to work or want to watch movies at home, a small cable is connected to the big screen, absolutely is your only choice.
In addition, this type of data cable also supports connecting to wired networks. We can connect the mobile phone to the network through the interface of the Type-c to the network card, but not all mobile phones support this function.
Lightning Cables
Apple’s high-speed multi-function I/O interface is released on September 12, 2012, at the Grassland Convention Center in San Francisco, USA, which is a new Lightning Dock interface and also called “lightning” interface. The release of the new interface standard also means that the 30-pin Dock interface that Apple has used for 9 years will be officially replaced.
The traditional Micro-USB interface has only two functions: 1. Charging; 2. Synchronizing data. Moreover, such a small interface cannot pass the 2A current required by the iPad. But Apple’s 30-pin Dock interface is far more than these two functions, it includes charging, high-speed data synchronization, audio output, playback control, and more. This is only a feature that was present in the version 9 years ago.
In recent years, Apple has added a lot of functions to the 30-pin Dock interface, such as high-definition video output, photo import, and USB input. However, while Apple has added functions to this Dock interface in recent years, it is also canceling some functions. Such as the FireWire (FireWire) standard support. Apple doesn’t advertise too much on the port, but it turns out that the 30Pin Dock port has become the standard for Apple’s portable devices over the past few years, and it has a firm grip on peripheral manufacturers.
There are many benefits to unifying the interface standard. To give the simplest example: your speakers, docks, car chargers, and other peripheral accessories can use only this one Dock interface to work with all Apple portable devices.
The CONS of Lightning cable
The new Lightning connector is great, but it’s not without its flaws. One of the biggest drawbacks is that it is not compatible with existing 30Pin interface accessories. Apple includes a USB-to-Lightning interface cable in the iPhone 5 and new iPods but does not give free adapters for the new interface and the old interface. Users who need it can only buy the adapter at their own expense ($29 USD). ), or a version with a 20cm cable ($39).
Another disadvantage of the Lightning interface is that it does not support the audio output of analog signals. As mentioned earlier, it is a “pure digital” interface. This is somewhat similar to the difference between a DVI interface and an HDMI interface. That is to say, in the future, if accessory manufacturers, such as speaker manufacturers, launch speakers that specifically support the iPhone 5 or the new iPod, they must also use digital signals completely, or must integrate a “digital-to-analog converter (DAC)” in the speaker which may lead to higher costs.
Apple’s Lightning to 30Pin adapter does not support video output and iPod mode. It may be a little troublesome for users who used iPhone to connect the projector before, because you may not be able to use the previous cable to connect to the official Lightning to 30Pin adapter and then connect to the iPhone 5 to make the projector work, you must buy an iPhone specially 5Connect the cable directly to the projector.
The iPod mode is a special mode, its function is to display the on-screen menu on the iPod directly to some accessories’ own display. Apple’s description on the official product introduction page of this adapter is very implicit, only that this adapter may not support some 30Pin accessories.
Of course, for some users who have already planned to upgrade their accessories, there is no need to worry about these things. It is conceivable that a large number of peripheral accessories manufacturers have begun to customize accessories for this new interface. At the press conference on the 13th, Apple’s senior vice president Phil Schiller also specifically mentioned that major accessory manufacturers including Bose, JBL, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bang & Olufsen have already started producing Lightning-based accessories. But the 8-pin Lightning connector is actually a mystery. It’s not just that the Lightning interface is used regardless of the pros and cons, nor that the Lightning is smaller and more durable, but that a chip is hidden in it to keep a large number of unauthorized accessories manufacturers out of the door. Only by joining the MFi project and being authorized by Apple can this chip be purchased for peripheral production.
Introduce to USB 2.0, USB 3.0, and USB3.1
First of all, the difference between 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1 in the interface of the U disk is due to the replacement of the computer. Before 2009, the computer only had the interface concept of USB 2.0, so the U disk at that time was naturally only 2.0. After 2009, with the development of computers, the USB 3.0 interface was proposed, which has a faster transmission rate. The transmission speed is more than 10 times that of 2.0, which greatly speeds up the transmission rate. The corresponding U disk is 3.0. . In 2014, the development of Internet big data put forward the USB 3.1 interface of the computer, which corresponds to the 3.1 version of the U disk. The speed of the U disk in 3.1 has only doubled on the basis of 3.0. The price is also more expensive.
Let’s take a look at the difference in their appearance
Computer USB2.0 interface and 2.0 U disk interface are black or white, computer USB3.0, 3.1 interfaces and 3.0, 3.1 U disk are blue. You can check whether your computer’s USB interface has a blue high-speed interface, so as to determine whether it supports 3.0 and 3.1 U disks, and the interface colors are uniformly specified.
Then let’s take a look at the difference in their use
USB3.0 and 3.1 must be paired with 3.0 and 3.1 U disks to achieve high-speed performance. The speed of 2.0 U disks is not affected by any USB interface, and they are all the same slow. In a nutshell, when using, the colors should be well aligned, that is, blue to blue, black to black.
How to Choose the right USB-type for your devices?
First, we can see the price difference: A 2.0 U disk can be bought with a large capacity at the cheapest price below 10 dollars. The same capacity 3.0’s price is double of A 2.0 U disk, which is more expensive than the 2.0. And the 3.1 is even 30% more expensive than the 3.0.
Is it better to choose the faster the better? The answer is no. When we choose, it is best to choose a 3.0 USB flash drive. After a comprehensive comparison, we find that the 3.0 USB flash drive is the most cost-effective. In terms of price, speed, and quality are all good. Therefore, when you buy, you must not buy the antique version of 2.0 by mistake, and of course, don’t spend too much unnecessary money. Just choose the most cost-effective 3.0 U disk.