{"id":29571,"date":"2020-07-27T15:44:22","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T19:44:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=29571"},"modified":"2024-09-30T09:50:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T13:50:00","slug":"usb-c-is-still-a-mess","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2020\/07\/27\/usb-c-is-still-a-mess\/","title":{"rendered":"USB-C Is Still a Mess"},"content":{"rendered":"

Robert Triggs<\/a> (via Hacker News<\/a>):<\/p>\n

Moving phones between different chargers, even of the same current and voltage ratings, often won’t produce the same charging speeds. Furthermore, picking a third party USB-C cable to replace the often all too short in-box cable can result in losing fast charging capabilities. As can opting for a third-party USB-C power adapter that supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge<\/a> or USB Power Delivery<\/a> rather than one of the numerous proprietary standards.<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

The USB data naming scheme is undoubtedly a mess. This table below will hopefully help to sort out what each specification offers you.<\/p>

[…]<\/p>

Unfortunately, the USB-C ecosystem is more, not less convoluted in 2020 than it was when I first looked at this issue back in 2018. The announcement of USB 3.2 and USB 4 makes the standard more complex without giving the end-user clear information about what’s supported. While the growth in USB Power Delivery support is a good sign, the introduction of PPS has already hampered any hopes that the industry might soon coalesce around a single charging standard.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

My pet peeve has long been that no matter how many newer devices you have with USB-C, you still end up with a mess of cables and adapters because the hubs are still USB-A. Each device needs a different cable depending on whether you’re plugging into your hub or your laptop.<\/p>\n\n

Reader Robert Horrion has finally found a somewhat reasonably priced hub that actually increases the number of USB-C ports, the Sitecom CN-386<\/a>. For $53 plus $11<\/a> shipping (Amazon ships it from the UK.) you can turn 1 USB-C port into 3 and add power delivery.<\/p>\n\n

Unfortunately, the reviews aren’t great—3\/5 stars in both the US<\/a> and German<\/a> stores, with purchasers complaining of glitches with Mojave and Catalina.<\/p>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n