Hate the current microUSB connectors? Something better is coming! USB 3.1 Type-C

[Zaap]

It's because the microUSB connector has 2 spring pins. Those easily get messed up.

Maybe you mess them up easily, but I never have. I don't know anyone else that does either. I've heard a few random stories of blowing through them from some exceptionally clumsy posters here, but other than that... non issue.

I only care about connections getting faster with USB3 and faster charging. I don't find the lightning connector all that special either. It's just another connector to me. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to get all excited about either.

 

[boomhower]

Just seems pointless to stick with the big chunky USB-A connection when there's something smaller but functionally the same.

It wouldn't even be that much of a compatability problem, you'd just need to buy new cables.

You caught the big fit when Apple changed cables right?

What will change is when the computer change connections. Lots of folks charge/sync via their computers. When those change to the smaller form factor the AC/car units will as well. Then the symmetrical cables can come to life.

 

[Zaap]

Connector existed on every USB 3.0 hard drive in the last 3 years...

Funny sometimes the things you never bother to take notice of. Just looked at my Toshiba USB 3.0 hard drive and lo and behold. Never noticed because I've never pulled the cable out in the 3 or 4 times I've used this in a year.

Funny thing is my N3 cable fits the drive just fine but the Toshiba cable doesn't fit the N3. (Won't push in all the way and I'm not about to force it.)

 

[Apex]

Maybe you mess them up easily, but I never have. I don't know anyone else that does either. I've heard a few random stories of blowing through them from some exceptionally clumsy posters here, but other than that... non issue.

I only care about connections getting faster with USB3 and faster charging. I don't find the lightning connector all that special either. It's just another connector to me. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing to get all excited about either.

Part of the complaints may have stemmed from the thousands of HP Touchpad owners. Some of those came with a really REALLY weak end connector on the cable. With many of them, any jolt (ie. accidentally pulling the cable) would render them useless, even though they looked OK from the outside. I've had one go bad, and I seriously never destroy electronics/computer gear.

 

[WelshBloke]

Part of the complaints may have stemmed from the thousands of HP Touchpad owners. Some of those came with a really REALLY weak end connector on the cable. With many of them, any jolt (ie. accidentally pulling the cable) would render them useless, even though they looked OK from the outside. I've had one go bad, and I seriously never destroy electronics/computer gear.

Eh? My Touchpad chargers and cables are the best ones I've used.

I use them for all my microUsb devices and I've never had any problems with them.

 

[Apex]

Eh? My Touchpad chargers and cables are the best ones I've used.

I use them for all my microUsb devices and I've never had any problems with them.

Just google it, it's everywhere.

 

[lopri]

You caught the big fit when Apple changed cables right?

I think there is a material difference between changing proprietary cables overnight and tell the customers to take it or leave it vs. giving an ample prior notice and gradually rolling out industry-wide updated cables. In one instance, everyone is an early adopter and will remain an early adopter after years of the introduction, $$-wise. In the other scenario, as the demand rises price will fall quickly and the new cables will be everywhere and more accessible, $$-wise.

 

[destrekor]

LOL, I dunno.. I have never heard anything about people complaining about orientation, nor have I really heard anything about USB ports "wearing out" unless it's by those weirdos at XDA.

Depending on how used, I've had ports wear out or cables themselves get worn out.
Some get stressed at weak points, could even be the device-end and the solder points between connector and rest of device.

Orientation is also annoying, but easy to live with. However, it is most frustrating when it's dark. It's one thing to not be lined up right, like you're jamming it into the speaker indent instead of the connector... but to not know if you've lined up correctly but have the orientation wrong, that gets annoying. I've gone and flipped cables like 4 times before it finally was right side up.

Essentially, first world problems.

 

[RU482]

anything will be better than a micro-USB 3.0 connector. who thought that would fly?

 

[WelshBloke]

Just revisiting this with the benefit of hindsight.

I'm liking that having the same small connector on each end is becoming a thing.
I'm liking the speed and utility of usb 3.
I'm not liking that usb c isn't as orientation free as I thought, video out over it only works with the connector in a certain orientation on a couple of my things. And it's a butt tonne harder to work out what the correct way is!

They said it was more durable than micousb. THEY LIED! I've had more usb c cables give up at the connector (they get super loose) in the last couple of years than I've had of micoUSB cables ever give up.

 

[Oyeve]

Just revisiting this with the benefit of hindsight.

I'm liking that having the same small connector on each end is becoming a thing.
I'm liking the speed and utility of usb 3.
I'm not liking that usb c isn't as orientation free as I thought, video out over it only works with the connector in a certain orientation on a couple of my things. And it's a butt tonne harder to work out what the correct way is!

They said it was more durable than micousb. THEY LIED! I've had more usb c cables give up at the connector (they get super loose) in the last couple of years than I've had of micoUSB cables ever give up.

I've gone through dozens of micro usb cable and even more lightning cables since the start of this thread. None of my C cables have failed me, yet.

 

[WelshBloke]

I've gone through dozens of micro usb cable and even more lightning cables since the start of this thread. None of my C cables have failed me, yet.

Most of my USB C cables end up getting really loose and then have dodgy connections. I notice it most when they are connected to the PC, theres those constant windows sound effects of a device connecting and disconnecting!

 

[Ravynmagi]

So far I've had good luck with USB C. I'm liking it. Like with any cable, the quality of the manufacture will have more to do with it than the technology.

I'm loving not having to rotate a cable 3 times before I can get it to plug in (USB A) and being able to charge my laptop, tablet, and phone with the same cable.

I'm amazed Apple put USB C on the iPad Pro. Hoping to see some iPhones next year with it too.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Just revisiting this with the benefit of hindsight.

I'm liking that having the same small connector on each end is becoming a thing.
I'm liking the speed and utility of usb 3.
I'm not liking that usb c isn't as orientation free as I thought, video out over it only works with the connector in a certain orientation on a couple of my things. And it's a butt tonne harder to work out what the correct way is!

They said it was more durable than micousb. THEY LIED! I've had more usb c cables give up at the connector (they get super loose) in the last couple of years than I've had of micoUSB cables ever give up.

Nothing like trying to use the USB-C connector on the back of your PC, and having your whole PC suddenly shut down due to a short, due to inserting the USB-C NIC (somehow??!?) at an angle, and shorting out the USB-C connector. What a useless standard if you can't effectively hot-plug it. The Type-A connectors seem more resilient and durable, to me at least.

 

[WelshBloke]

Nothing like trying to use the USB-C connector on the back of your PC, and having your whole PC suddenly shut down due to a short, due to inserting the USB-C NIC (somehow??!?) at an angle, and shorting out the USB-C connector. What a useless standard if you can't effectively hot-plug it. The Type-A connectors seem more resilient and durable, to me at least.

That sounds... suboptimal to say the least!

 

[mrochester]

It’s interesting looking back through this thread and knowing what has happened in the intervening years just how bad and slow the roll-out of USBC has been. It really needed the Apple ripping off the plaster approach to make it work well and fast.

 

[Zaap]

LOL! That's one thing Apple is good at. Ripping off!

It's amazing the mess of ports Apple has currently. Headphone jacks on some devices, none on others. Lighting on phones, not on tablets. USB-C on some devices but not others.

They are an absolute mess of dongles, adapters and conflicting I/O. The idea they actually do anything fast is laughable!

I'm not so jazzed on USB-C. The shallow ports with the weakest point being the tongue connector on the device is actually a pretty rotten design. Using it for mobile audio is just an abysmal idea. A comment I read once summed it up perfectly: "put USB-C dongle and headphones in pocket... go for a walk. After 12 steps if you're still hearing audio, a miracle has happened. "

 

[ch33zw1z]

I use both an iPhone and an Android phone with USB-C

I much prefer the lightning connector, but prefer the Android phone for use. The USB-C connector is flimsy, delicate, weak.

Alas, it's not meant to be.

 

[mrochester]

I use both an iPhone and an Android phone with USB-C

I much prefer the lightning connector, but prefer the Android phone for use. The USB-C connector is flimsy, delicate, weak.

Alas, it's not meant to be.

Just goes to show that something being a ‘standard’ doesn’t mean it’s better.

 

[Arkaign]

I'm legitimately surprised to hear of the problems, though I honestly use C just to charge my phones. I have several cables, zero issues so far (about 2 years now I guess?). I did have a friend drop her device while plugged in onto the hard floor cable side down while plugged in. Bent the cable and I made her throw it away rather than risk shorts/damage from an obvious borked cable. Her phone still worked fine though with a new cable.

I have some random m.2, mSATA, and m.2 nVME drive cages though, which work fine in the cases where I need them.

What I REALLY didn't like was the super wide USB 3.0 mini that hdds used for a while.

I still have a 2tb Toshiba that is flaky with that connection

 

[Muadib]

I don't think I like USB 3.2 ports. For some reason my front USB 3.2 port no longer works. I'm thinking it shorted out when I last used my external drive in the port. I just ordered a new cable just in case, but I'm not hopeful.

 

[Jovec]

USB-C port on my Pixel 2 seemed to die after 7 months, of which for at least the last two months charging was spotty. And I plugged it in anywhere from 0 to 2 times per day. Loose connections, etc. Multiple Anker cables, and I finally busted out the included cable for the first time and it had the same issue. Had to hold it just so to get it to work at the end.

I had a S3 with micro-USB that lasted well over 6 years and was still working fine (the m-usb port at least) even though it was plugged it anywhere from 5-20 times per day (mostly onto a dock)

Obviously a small sample size but I have no faith in USB C.

 

[Steltek]

The USB-C port on my sister-in-law's (then) new Motorola cell phone died back in August of last year after less than 2 months use - it was charged once or twice a day. The phone was never dropped or anything, the port just quit working. The kicker was that Motorola simply refused to repair it under warranty. They did suggest that they had Moto G7 phones on sale and that my brother should just buy one to replace her phone.

To say he was pissed is a severe understatement -- he went out the same day and bought her an iPhone to replace it. No more Motorola phones ever again for this family, I can tell you.

USB-C is great when it works, but the current ports are simply just too cheaply made and flimsy in design. Worse, the device manufacturers insist on soldering the port directly to the board, then glue the phone together to make it almost impossible to get to without breaking the screen.

 

[lxskllr]

How does it compare to lightning? Never used lightning(and I guess soon, no one else will either), but I thought it looked like a really good design. More robust than usb.

 

[mrochester]

How does it compare to lightning? Never used lightning(and I guess soon, no one else will either), but I thought it looked like a really good design. More robust than usb.

It's definitely more robust than USBC. Lightening is altogether a better connector other than being proprietary. It'll be a shame if we are all forced to use USBC.