I was recently asked by someone that wrote in, why should USB-C benefit phones today? Here’s a few reasons why:
* Faster than USB 3.0 speeds (most micro-USB phones are still functioning at USB 2.0 speeds).
* Faster charging
* Reversible connector (no more mashing and flipping to plug the darn cable in)
* Bi-directional connectivity (no more OTG adapters, no more host mode vs client mode)
* Standardized video and audio relay (video out and audio out over USB are standardized, and can use the phone’s GPU) – this is huge because any USB-C phone eventually can snap into a tablet or laptop docking accessory, from your car to your lap this is huge.
* All while backwards compatible with USB 3.0, 2.0, and 1.0 PCs and accessories
USB-C is a game-changing standard that sits atop USB. It enables Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, and a bunch of other great stuff to run from a single port.
Is USB-C right for you? A lot of new phones launching this year will feature USB 2.0, micro-USB ports, so this is a good question heading into the holidays. If you’re an early adopter, of course you will want to jump right on in. You’ll also want to jump on in if you keep devices for a long time – and devices are lasting now into the three year mark.
But really the benefits of much faster charging (dozens of watts are supported in the first revision alone), along with the faster speeds and reversible connector, make USB-C something to consider when picking a new phone.
Full disclosure: I run a startup that works with Intel, and Intel originally developed USB. I’m also individually a distinguished developer at Intel. Nobody at Intel paid me to write this – or asked.
