Judging by the materials from the vastness of the world wide web, the development of mobile electronics implies a systematic abandonment of most connectors and the unification of the latter in favor of USB Type-C. Is everything so great with the new connector as the manufacturers present it to us?
When we talk about everyday work with modern devices, we cannot fail to mention such an important aspect as the ability to connect one device to another. In turn, while researching this topic, it is difficult not to note the influence of USB at different stages of its development. Of course, numerous new wireless standards are attracting much more attention, but still, for most users, wired connection remains the main and ubiquitous one, in which the USB standard prevails (with the exception of power, but we will return to this point).
The newest iteration of the USB connector is known as Type-C, and although it was introduced in 2014, devices with the new connector are only starting to appear now. One of the pioneers was the Apple MacBook 2015, followed by numerous Windows -based PCs, smartphones, monitors, docking stations, external drives, etc. Like the Lightning connector from Apple, USB-Type C is double-sided, it can be connected by either side, it will work and won't get stuck. Type-C is also associated with the USB 3.1 version (officially the versions differ), the fastest of the presented ones: the data transfer speed is 10 gigabits per second, which is almost a thousand times faster than the analogous parameter USB 1.0 of the 1996 model (12 megabits) per second.
Another important point is the support of the new standard for several alternating modes, in particular the ability to transmit through a connection of 100 watts of power, as well as the ability to provide two displays with a resolution of 4K with a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The best part is that all this can be done in parallel with data transmission, which theoretically means the ability to receive information, power and video through one line. Truly, one connector to rule all.
As you know, theory and practice often run counter to each other. The catch is that not all USB Type-C connectors support all features, and, with one important exception, the average user has almost no chance of understanding the functionality of an existing Type-C device without significant delving into the topic. The key exception is the developed Intel Thunderbolt 3.0 technology. This interface standard is different from USB 3.1, but uses a USB Type-C connector. Thunderbolt 3.0 connectors are marked with a lightning bolt for easy identification. It is worth distinguishing between them and something similar in appearance to Lightning connectors, which, ironically, are not marked with lightning. Confused? You are not alone.
Undoubtedly, Thunderbolt 3.0 is an extended version of USB 3.1: the standard allows you to fully transmit USB 3.1 commands at a speed of 10 Gbps, as well as digital signals via PCIe 3.0, HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.2, to provide 100 W of power and information exchange rate at a speed 40 Gbps, all with a single USB Type-C connection. The only downside to the technology is the need for a dedicated controller chip in any supported device, which will add to the cost. Also, Thunderbolt 3.0 cables with high bandwidth will be an expensive pleasure, for the 'stuffing' which will require active electronics.
On the other hand, a standard USB Type-C connector will not be that expensive for device manufacturers to use, and 'broadband' cables will be cheaper than Thunderbolt-enabled counterparts. Such a decrease in cost can confuse a potential buyer. The fact that there is a USB Type-C connector does not mean that the device supports a charger or other alternating mode of operation, for example, DisplayPort or MHL video standards. In fact, from a technical point of view, there is the possibility of having USB Type-C ports without USB 3.1 support, although in the real world this probability is negligible.
The real problem lies in the lack of an easy way to differentiate or label the varieties of the new standard, one of the goals of which was to produce a smaller connector for smaller devices. Also, after the launch of Type-C on the market, you can see the first examples of what I call port 'virtualization'. Until recently, each port had its own connector and transmitted a certain type of signal: USB transmitted information to peripheral devices, Ethernet was responsible for the network connection, HDMI and DisplayPort for video, and so on. The breakdown of the '1 port to 1 signal' ratio was caused by the advent of multi-ports such as USB Type-C. This consolidation is an important step forward in terms of technology, but it can also create confusion if basic labeling techniques and user training are not addressed in time.
The good news is that port 'virtualization' could result in many of the most functional docking stations and port replicators, especially for laptops, tablets and even smartphones. It will be possible to plug one wire into the device and access any of the ports while charging the device. New types of peripheral devices will emerge, such as monitors with a single cable, which can act as hubs for other devices that receive power and video from them and in parallel provide connection of speakers, USB memory and even a second monitor in a daisy chain.
Over time, most of these ports will become wireless, but given the need for power and the anticipated difficulties in transferring charge 'over the air', it is clear that variations of USB Type-C, especially Thunderbolt 3.0 and beyond, will stay with us for a long time. The rapid proliferation of the new standard marks the dawn of a new era of connectivity for our devices, but we'll have to do some research on our own to take full advantage of the new benefits.
Original material by Bob O'Donnell
Elir: Well it looks pretty promising, the less wires the better in my opinion. Yes, the process will not be quick and painless, users will be unhappy, but in the end they will understand all the advantages and accept the new standard for granted. Thunderbolt 3.0 looks very impressive, Intel have created cool technology, let it be more expensive. The functionality is quite decent, the question remains in the nature of the spread of technology across markets: it is difficult to talk about a widespread entry into the market until the implementation of a new connector reaches devices whose cost will allow them to be classified as mass and affordable. Of course, I would like the dedicated Thunderbolt chip not to affect the thickness of the device, otherwise everything seems to be fine.
Someone will say that with the current fluctuations in the exchange rate, we will not soon be able to see the mass distribution of the new connector in our market. However, the first signs are already here. In the comments it would be interesting to read the reviews of owners of devices with Type-C about the first impressions of the new standard.