Different Types of USB Port and USB Cables
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a standard that is nowadays used to connect all types of devices. Although the name says “universal” this is misleading as there are a few different standards and many different USB connector types.
In this article, we’ll discuss the various USB iterations so you’ll understand which type of connections to expect with which devices. We’ll also show you images to make identification much easier.
Types of USB Connectors
USB cables differences can be identified by looking at the connectors on either end. The most common types are discussed below.
USB-A
This standard connector can be found on one end of just about every USB cable. The connector is rectangular and it can only fit into a port one way.
There are a number of USB-A ports on just about any laptop and desktop computer, as well as on many game systems, TVs, media players, cars, and other devices.
There aren’t any cables that have a USB-A on both ends, as there’s not a situation in which this could be used. Connecting two computers with a USB-A cable could in fact cause damage to them both.
USB-B
This older type of connector is not used often anymore. The one end is almost square and it is usually plugged into devices like printers. Other than this use, it’s largely been superseded by newer standards.
Mini-USB
This smaller connection type is good to use with mobile devices. Although it’s been largely replaced by micro-USB, you’ll still see it on some MP3 players, cameras, and other devices like that.
Micro-USB
This tiny connector is very popular on a wide range of portable devices. Everything from Bluetooth headphones to external battery packs to Android phones uses micro-USB ports. Some smartphones have however already started using the newer USB-C port.
USB-C
This is the latest USB standard. While older cables usually have USB-A on one end of the cable and another type on the other, a USB type C connector can be used to connect two devices that both have USB-C ports. It is also reversible, unlike the other types above.
Device manufacturers are slowly adopting USB-C. Many newer Android phones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S9, Google Pixel devices, as well as Apple’s newest MacBook Pro and MacBook models use USB-C ports.
If you have heard about USB-C, you may also know about the Thunderbolt hardware interface. This standard allows a USB-C port and cable to connect to high-resolution displays, transfer data at very fast rates, and perform other functions.
Thunderbolt 3 is however not supported by every USB-C port. Apple’s newest MacBook Pro models for example come with several Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, although the standard MacBook’s single USB-C port does not support Thunderbolt 3.
All of this can make USB-C confusing. The port can either be a multi-purpose jack, or it can be a basic USB port similar to the ones described above. This will largely depend on the device. For more information about USB C, check out the reasons Cable Matters gives why USB-C docking stations are so useful.
Lightning Cable
Although this is not strictly speaking a USB standard, we have included it for completion’s sake. Since late 2012, Apple has used this proprietary cable in its mobile devices. It is reversible, like USB-C.
iPad and iPhone users use a USB-A to Lightning cable to charge their devices, connect to a PC, and more.
USB Speed Standards
USB has updated the standards several times throughout its life. Apart from the types of connectors used, each USB port and cable adheres to a speed standard.
USB 1.x
Although USB 1.0 was originally released in 1996, it wasn’t until 1998 that USB 1.1 was released and started the USB era properly. This standard only catered for USB-A and USB-B connectors and is antique by modern standards.
You will not likely find any USB 1.x cables or devices around today.
USB 2.0
With its 2.0 update in 2000, USB got a major revamp. This version supports much higher speeds than version 1 did, while also introducing support for several of the newer ports mentioned before.
It also made a notable improvement by adding support for USB OTG (On-The-Go), which enables two USB devices to communicate with each other directly. You can for example connect a standard USB keyboard to an Android phone with an adapter.
USB 2.0 is still being used in cheap flash drives, together with many keyboards, mice, and similar devices. If a port or cable doesn’t have markings that show that it is USB 3 as discussed below, it’s likely still the older USB 2.0.
USB 3.x
USB 3.0 was launched back in 2008 and was later followed by the USB 3.1 and USB 3.2 iterations. Its biggest improvement was that it offers data transfer speeds that are much faster than USB 2.0 provides — USB 3.0 tops out around 5 Gbps, USB 3.1 around 10 Gbps, and USB 3.2 pushes as high as 20 Gbps depending on the specific cable and port.
USB 3.x ports and cables can be recognized by their lightning bolt logo and/or blue color. As these devices have been designed to be backward-compatible, you can plug a USB 2.0 cable into a USB 3.x port or vice-versa. This will however limit the connection to USB 2.0 speeds.
Many higher-end flash drives and external hard drives use USB 3. USB-C cables are always USB 3 or newer. Older cable types, such as micro-USB, need a special type of connector to be compatible with USB 3.0. This type of connector is often seen on external hard drives so they can utilize USB 3 speeds.
USB4
USB4 is the newest USB standard, built on the same physical connector as USB-C. It merges USB and Thunderbolt 3 technology into a single specification, supporting transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, video output, and higher power delivery for charging laptops and other larger devices. Because USB4 uses the USB-C connector, it looks identical to older USB-C cables — the only way to know for certain whether a cable or port supports USB4 is to check the manufacturer’s specifications or look for the USB4 logo.
How Many Types of USB Are There?
Counting connector shapes and speed standards together, there are technically dozens of USB variants — but in practical terms, most people only ever need to know about a handful: USB-A, USB-B, Micro-USB, USB-C, and now USB4 for connectors, and USB 2.0 through USB4 for speed. The connector shape tells you what it plugs into; the speed standard tells you how fast data will move once it’s connected.
USB Male vs USB Female Connectors
Every USB connection has two ends: the male connector (the plug, with exposed pins or contacts) and the female connector (the port or socket, which receives the plug). Cables typically have male connectors on both ends, while the ports on your devices — laptops, phones, chargers — are female. This matters when troubleshooting: a bent pin or damaged contact on a male connector is a common reason a cable stops working, while dust or debris in a female port is a common reason a good cable won’t seat properly.
Does My Laptop Have USB Type C?
Most laptops released since around 2016 include at least one USB-C port, though many still mix USB-C with older USB-A ports for compatibility with existing accessories. The easiest way to check is to look at the ports themselves: USB-C is a small, oval, symmetrical connector that goes in either way up, while USB-A is the larger, rectangular connector that only fits one way. If you’re not near the device, checking the manufacturer’s spec sheet or product page will confirm exactly which USB standard and connector types it supports.
Everyday Uses: Chargers, Printers, and Data Transfer
In practice, the USB connector you need usually comes down to what you’re doing with it. Charging phones and laptops increasingly relies on USB-C, since it supports higher power delivery than older standards. Printers and older peripherals still commonly use USB-B or USB-A. Anything involving genuine data transfer — copying files to an external hard drive, backing up a phone, connecting a high-speed SSD — benefits from USB 3.x or USB4 speeds; a USB 2.0 cable will work for these tasks but noticeably slower.
USB Unveiled
Now you know the different types of USB cables and what they are used for. You can normally plug standard devices such as keyboards and mice into USB 2.0 ports, as speed is not important for them. Any device that is used to transfer data, such as external hard drives, should however be plugged into USB 3 ports to get the best results.
Only time will tell if USB-C becomes the go-to standard and if it will eventually replace the others or not. We will however likely still be able to get USB-A ports for a long time so that older devices can be supported.