3.0 ports are sometimes marked with blue connectors or some other obvious color shift, and this symbol:Īll USB-C cables should support 3.0 speeds, though they may be backwards-compatible with 2.0 ports. 3.0 ports offer greatly enhanced speed versus the older 2.0 standard. 3.0 (and later) ports aren’t the same thing as A and C ports: the number refers to the Universal Serial Bus revision, while the letter refers specifically to the shape and digital contacts in the connection. When using these cables for anything other than charging, be sure to plug them into a USB 3.0 port.

You can buy more fairly cheaply at any electronics retailer. In fact, if your new gadget connects only via USB-C, like most newer Android phones, there’s a pretty good chance that a C-to-A cable was included in the box. USB-C to USB-A cables (that’s the one with a standard rectangular connector) are available in male and female varieties.

If your laptop lacks USB-C ports and you need to connect something to it, the easiest way to go about it is a humble cable. Laptops are a little more tricky-you’ll have to rely on adapters and converter cables to do the trick. Here are a few.Īdding USB-C ports to a desktop computer is pretty straightforward: you can use a standard PCI-E expansion port to add a new card with fresh new ports, or replace some bay drives or the PC case itself if you want those ports on the front of the machine. But if your laptop or desktop PC is lacking in ports and you don’t want to replace it, you’ll need an alternative. USB-C is becoming the standard for connection among laptops and mobile devices.

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