IJSIM Types of USB Connectors

USB Connectors demystified

USB cables, cords, and connectors are everywhere these days. You may be familiar with the various functions of USB as most phones require a USB port for charging. They are also widely used in other applications such as USB flash drives.


You may not know that there are many other types of USB besides the traditional rectangular USB. All mini USB, micro-USB, and USB “Type-C” ports are used for a variety of reasons. It may be charging or connecting devices, or just uploading data, you need to know which one to use.


You may have come across this type of USB before. You may not even recognize it as plugged into a USB. But how do you tell the difference between micro and mini USB (and Type-C connectors) and what functions do they offer?

What types of USB Connectors are available?

First of all, it is important to know which USB port is the right one. The most popular type of USB connector (the rectangular one mentioned above) is known as “Type A”.


As the name suggests, mini and micro USB are smaller than normal USB type A. Both were introduced in 2005 and 2007, respectively. Both are mainly used for charging mobile phones and other devices such as cameras, but can also be used for data transfer.


The Type-C connector is smaller than the standard Type-A connector but is essentially an updated version of the Type-A connector. The Type-C connector can upload and download data at the same time, a feature common to Type-A connectors The A connector is missing…


You may also have noticed that we seem to have missed any discussion of the Type B connector. These square connectors do exist, but they are primarily used to connect devices such as printers or copiers to computers or other devices.

For the sake of clarity, we should also mention the “Lightning” cable. The lightning port is Apple’s charging option, although it’s not categorized as USB. They are as thin and small as micro and mini USB ports, but they are not the same and are only compatible with Apple devices.


Now that we’ve removed it, let’s look at some of the specifics.

Micro VS Mini USB

Difference between micro USB and mini USB? Let’s talk about the earliest version first: mini-USB. Mini USB was introduced in 2005 and was one of the first forms of mini USB to hit the market. It is roughly anvil-shaped and has a 5-pin connector.

While not as powerful as the original Type-A connector, the mini-USB has been praised for its small and convenient size, around 3 x 7 mm. It also has 5000 on and off cycles, which means it can be turned on and off 5000 times before wearing out.

Micro-USB, on the other hand, was released two years later and increased the functionality and convenience of mini-USB. For starters, micro USB also has five pins, but the fifth pin (called the “identification pin”) serves as both Type A &B connectors and offers a wider range of values. Mini-USB-ID, on the other hand, offers little or no functionality.

It is more durable with 10,000 connection interruption cycles and offers faster transfer speeds of around 480 megabits per second. Micro USB ports are often seen on Android phones and tablets and many other devices including:
Digital camera
GPS device
Video Game controller

Additionally, Micro-USB supports USB On The Go (USB OTG), a function that allows a smartphone or tablet to attach accessories such as a mouse, keyboard, or USB stick. In principle, you can connect and use external devices on your smartphone or tablet. Mini-USB does not offer this option.

Mini-USB technology is technically referred to as “denied”. It’s a fantastic way of saying that it’s still usable, but the manufacturer doesn’t recommend it because it’s functionally outdated when compared to micro USB technology.

However, some products still have mini USB ports and ports, so this option is not completely out of date.

USB Type-C

USB Type-C (also called USB-C) is considered the successor to the original USB Type-A. Most astrologers believe that the USB Type-A we all know and love will be nearly extinct in the next 5 to 10 years.

However, nowadays, USB Type-C drives are still relatively rare. You can find it on thin laptops, certain Android phones, video game controllers, and many other devices.

So, is there any comparison in terms of “Micro-USB vs. USB C” correspondence? Oftentimes, both cables come with the same connectors on both sides of the cable, so there’s no need to mess around with your cables?

Most comparisons end here. USB Type C is said to be a marvel of USB technology. In theory, it can replace a whole set of interconnect cables, including:

Printer Cable
Charging Cable for laptop
Cable for digital camera
HDMI Cable
Charging Cable for smartphone
Game console cable
Scanner and fax cable

A micro-USB cable can do a lot, but not that far. A USB-C port has transfer rates between 5 and 10 gigabits per second and can provide 100 watts of charging power at the same time. Many Android phones already use USB Type C as a charging method.

Many smartphones and other devices still use the micro-USB port. It’s fair to say that USB Type-C isn’t as fast as some pundits had anticipated. So both have their respective advantages.

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