What types / types of USB cables / connectors are there?

With USB (Universal Serial Bus), different types of devices can be connected via a uniform connection and a uniform cable. At the same time, the use should be as simple as possible. The original purpose was to exchange information. Today, USB cables can not only exchange information but also supply power. When choosing a USB cable, it is important to know the type of connections and the speed standard of the cable itself. But what are the types / kinds of USB cables and connectors?

	Bezeichnung	Transmission speed	Max. Strom / Leistung	Connector types
USB 1.1	Full Speed	12 Mbit/s	500 mA / 2.5 W	Typ-A, Typ-B
USB 2.0	Hi-Speed	480 Mbit/s	500 mA / 2.5 W	Typ A; Typ B; Typ Mini-B; Typ Micro-B; Lightning
USB 3.2 Gen 1	SuperSpeed	5 Gbit/s	3000 mA / 15W	Typ-A, Typ-C
USB 3.2 Gen 2	SuperSpeed+ 10 Gbit/s	10 Gbit/s	5000 mA / 100W	Typ-A, Typ-C
USB 3.2 Gen 2x2	SuperSpeed+ 20 Gbit/s	20 Gbit/s	5000 mA / 100W	Typ-C
USB 4.0 Gen 3x1	USB4 20Gbit/s	20 Gbit/s	5000 mA / 100W	Typ-C
USB 4.0 Gen 3x2	USB4 40Gbit/s	40 Gbit/s	5000 mA / 100 W	Typ-C

 

More icons for USB connection?

If there is another symbol next to the USB port, this indicates that the port supports additional functions.

	Lightning icon (Thunderbolt™ 3) - charging and video signal (connect monitor) are possible; port supports DisplayPort™.
	D (DisplayPort™) - video signal forwarding is possible (connect monitor)
	Battery (USB Power Delivery) port supports fast charging

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Power transmission through USB

In addition to data transmission, the power supply of the connected peripheral device is another feature of USB technology. A USB port normally provides 5 volts. Depending on the version of USB, different amperages flow through the cable, providing different levels of power to the peripheral device.

	Voltage	Max. amperage	max. power
USB 1.0/1.1	5 V	0,1 A	0,5 W
USB 2.0	5 V	0,5 A	2,5 W
USB 3.0/3.1 (Gen1)	5 V	0,9 A	4,5 W
USB 3.1 (Gen2)	5 V	3 A	15 W
USB-BC	5 V	1,5 A	7,5 W
USB-PD	5 V, 12 V, 20 V	5 A	100 W

 

Further developments are USB-C, USB-BC and USB-PD. USB-BC achieves a power of 7.5 watts at 5 volts and 1.5 A per port, which makes it possible to charge tablets and smartphones. USB-C plugs enable the power supply to be increased to 7.5 watts with normal cables and 15 watts with so-called active cables, which amplify the signal fed in. USB-PD offers an exceptionally high power of up to 100 watts, which means that even larger peripheral devices such as printers or monitors no longer need an additional power supply.

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USB connector types: Overview and differences

The USB standard ("Universal Serial Bus") was introduced to create a universal connection with which the computer and peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, etc. can be connected in the simplest possible way.

• USB Type A
  USB type A is the most common type of USB connector. This connector is used on devices such as mice, keyboards, players, notebooks & PCs.
• USB Type B
  The USB type B connector is rarely found today, only some older printers, external hard drives or fax machines still have a USB-B connection. In such cases, a USB type-B to type-A cable is often used, as very few modern computers and notebooks / laptops have a USB-B connection.
• USB Mini B
  The Mini USB Type B is a shrunken version of a conventional USB-A plug with smaller dimensions, which are mainly found on MP3 players or digital cameras.
• USB Micro A und Micro B
  USB Micro A and Micro B differ primarily in their shape: Micro A plugs are rectangular, Micro B plugs end in a trapezoid shape. Micro USB type A is only rarely found on some external hard drives or other small peripherals. Micro USB type B, also called USB-B, on the other hand, is the common standard for many smartphones and tablets. Micro USB connections can work in both directions, which makes it possible, for example, to transfer data while the smartphone is charging.
• USB 3.0 Micro B
  Mobile devices such as external hard drives or card readers have the USB 3.0 type B / USB-B 3.0. Visually, the USB 3.0 Micro B is reminiscent of an extended USB Micro connector.
• USB Type C
  The USB-C plug is compatible with all USB specifications and is intended to replace the previous USB-A and USB-B connections in the future. The special feature: the plug can be inserted in both directions and is currently the standard for all USB 3.1 applications. Modern smartphones have this interface form, which is also increasingly used for displays / monitors and tablets.
• Lightning connector
  The Lightning connector was specially developed for Apple devices. It has been available for various iPhones, iPads and iPods since 2012. At the other end of the Lightning connector, a USB 2.0 connector, among others, can be used. Apple offers adapter cables that have a Lightning connector and a micro USB socket.