USB-C ports are now found on all manner of devices, from simple external hard drives to high-end laptops and, after a long holdout session, the Apple iPhone. So, as well as some decent cables with various connection options, this roundup includes adaptors to make your cables more versatile. In some cases, like the latest MacBooks and MacBook Pro laptops, USB-C is literally the only connection point on the machine (apart from a headphone jack). Because Thunderbolt can encapsulate DisplayPort data, every Thunderbolt controller can either output DisplayPort signals directly over DisplayPort Alternative Mode or encapsulated within Thunderbolt in Thunderbolt Alternate Mode.

VHS ate Betamax, then was ousted by DVD, which faded in the face of Blu-ray, itself now virtually extinct following the rise of online streaming services. A simple but exceptionally durable braided cable, perfect to connect a laptop or USB-C smartphone to a compatible charging plug. It is not only applied by the USB technology, but is also used by other protocols including Thunderbolt, PCIe, HDMI, DisplayPort, and others.

This means many USB-A–to–USB-C cables will only work in the A to C direction (connecting to a USB-C devices, e. If you're missing a few key ports on your current or brand-new laptop then you need one of these best USB-C hubs to expand your options.

This is a versatile add-on, including two full-size USB-A sockets, an HDMI socket and one for an SD card. Plug the USB-C end of the adapter into a USB-C or Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) port on your Mac, iPad or iPhone, and then connect your flash drive, camera or other standard USB device. USB Type-C Authentication is an extension to the USB-C protocol which can add security to the protocol. Other protocols like Ethernet [49] have been proposed, although Thunderbolt 3 and later are also capable of 10 Gigabit Ethernet networking. A USB-C multiport adapter converts the device's native video stream to DisplayPort/HDMI/VGA, allowing it to be displayed on an external display, such as a television set or computer monitor.

It supports up to 60W charging for your laptop via the USB-C upstream port, along with charging options for your other devices. The USB-C connector was developed by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), the group of companies that has developed, certified, and shepherded the USB standard over the years. USB4 Specification The USB4 specification released in 2019 is the first USB data transfer specification to exclusively use the Type-C connector. Thunderbolt 4 adds support for up to 40Gbps of throughput, alongside reduced power consumption and the ability to move as much as 100 watts of power over the interface.

We've also got our laptop deals hub that features all the top offers from major retailers on everything from cheap Chromebooks and premium ultrabooks to budget-friendly machines. In addition, DisplayPort and MHL Alternate Modes can transmit on one, two, or four SuperSpeed lanes, so two of the remaining lanes may be used to simultaneously transmit USB3. mode, two or four high speed links are used in TX/RX pairs to provide 5, 10, or 20Gbit/s (only by USB 3. If you have a premium smartphone like the Huawei P20 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S9, you need a USB-C to USB-A cable.citation needed]) Alternate Mode Type-C ports can be interconnected with standard passive Full-Featured USB Type-C cables. The USB SuperSpeed protocol is similar to DisplayPort and PCIe/Thunderbolt, in using packetized data transmitted over differential LVDS lanes with embedded clock using comparable bit rates, so these Alternate Modes are easier to implement in the chipset.