What is the difference between USB-C and USB-3? All you want to know.

 

There are many different types of USB cables, which are among the most popular types of cables, as we find them in many devices including computers, smartphones, media devices, routers, monitors, etc., and it may be difficult to distinguish between the different types of USB due to their great similarity and with Therefore, it is good to know the differences between them, as each of them has different uses and operates at certain speeds, which differ greatly from one type to another, so if you are interested in knowing the difference between USB-C and USB 3 clearly, here is the following lines.

 

the basic difference between USB-C and USB 3

 

The primary difference between both types is that USB-C is one of the three main USB cable types A, B, and C, while USB-3 is a standard for the speed of USB cables in general rather than a specific type. USB-C is one of the latest types of USB cables, as it appears in many modern devices as a replacement for the old USB-A or micro-USB ports, while USB 3 determines the speed of data transfer through any type of different USB cables, allowing you to compare In the following we highlight each of them in detail.

 

What is USB-C?

 

USB-C ports appeared for the first time in 2014, however, they have become very popular since then, as they have been adopted in many devices, for example, we find them in modern Android phones, where they are used to charge the phone or to transfer data, as they appear in headphones and special controllers In gaming platforms including PlayStation 5, Xbox S, and Nintendo Switch, as it appears in many other devices, USB-C is on its way to completely replace USB-A during the coming period.

 

We have already seen this in many modern devices, where the latest Apple MacBook models come with a USB-C port only, and we also find that some desktop computers, do not contain USB-A cables and replace them with Type C only, but what is the reason for that? In fact, this is thanks to many advantages that USB-C enjoys over previous versions, and among these features is its high speed in data transfer in addition to its multiple uses. It can be used to transfer data or charge devices instead of using a port dedicated to power. It also supports video output, which allows You can connect a screen to a computer, for example, and it includes many other important features as well.

 

What is USB 3?

 

As we mentioned to you, USB 3 is not considered a type of port, but it is a standard that determines the speed of data transfer through various USB cables, and it can sometimes be called USB 3.0 or USB 3. x, and here it should be noted that not all USB 3 cables are from Type C, as well as not all USB-C ports support the USB 3 standard, as it can come with another standard. It should also be noted that USB 3 has different versions, as there is USB 3.1 the first generation, and the second generation, which comes at faster speeds.

 

As for the specifications of USB 3, we find that it is capable of transferring data at a speed of up to 5 GB per second. Or the cable, and sometimes it is also marked with an SS symbol to indicate SuperSpeed or super speed, and you can also identify micro-USB whether it is of type USB 3.0 or not, if there is a small additional connector next to the main connector, and as for the previous standard, which is USB 2.0 We find that it is capable of transferring up to 480 MB / s of data, and it is white instead of blue.

 

As is the case in various devices, the USB 3 port has been updated several times over time in order to increase its speed and enhance its efficiency in data transfer, for example, we find USB 3.1 Gen 1 or the first generation, and it transfers data at the same speed as USB 3 up to 5 GB per The second, and the latest version, which is USB 3.1 Gen 2 or the second generation, is capable of transferring data at up to 10 Gbps.

 

What about Thunderbolt?

 

When talking about the types and standards of USB cables, especially the modern ones, the modern Thunderbolt port cannot be overlooked as well, which is known as the future port due to its superior ability to transfer data at very high speeds, and this port is developed by Apple and Intel, and as for its speed in data transfer, we find that the standard Thunderbolt 3 can reach a transfer speed of 40Gbps, which is unprecedented for any other port.

 

In addition, the Thunderbolt 3 ports contain other features such as multiple uses, etc., and they are always marked with the lightning logo so that they can be easily noticed from a similar USB-C port, and of course, Thunderbolt cables are very high in price compared to other types, and these ports It is only present in modern devices from Apple and some other companies.

 

last word

 

Through the previous information, you can know the most important differences between USB-C and USB 3, as the first is a type of USB cable and has become the most common in all modern devices and is expected to completely replace USB-A during the coming period, while USB 3.1 The second generation is the latest standard for data transfer now from USB, as its speed can reach 10 GB per second, and we hope that USB 4.0 will appear soon, which will definitely bring us faster data transfer, in addition to more other features.