The Difference Between Micro USB and USB-C: Which is the Best?

USB-C represents a major departure from the standard USB version. It features an entirely new connector, as well as advanced features. Let’s take a look at the main differences between USB Type C and micro USB.

Unlike What is the difference between USB 2.0 & USB3.0?, The difference between Micro USB-C and USB-C doesn’t simply come down to numbers. It is also important to consider the physical dimensions of the connector when deciding what devices can use it. This is an in-depth breakdown.

What Versions of USB are Named

The naming scheme for USB versions may be available confusing. USB-A and USB -B have alphabetical names, but they are not the same as USB 2.0 and USB 3.1. How do these different versions relate to each other?

There are two major ways that USB standards can classified. They differ by the type of connector used and which version they use.

There are many types of USB connectors

The USB connectors are referred to alphabetically. Type A connectors can be categorized as Type-A, Type-B, or Type-C. There are also variations in the size of older connectors. This is because smartphones have significantly reduced the technology’s dimensions.

Mini-USB connectors first appeared, and were used for older digital cameras as well as smartphones. A Mini-A cable and a Mini–B cable were introduced by the USB Implementers Forum, (USB-IF).

Mini-USB’s advantages were not enough to make it practical for increasingly thin smartphones. Mini-USB’s shortcomings were rectified in 2007 when the Micro-USB connectors became more popular and durable. They will continue to be the standard for mobile device connectivity over the next few years.

USB Versions

Not only was the USB cable’s physical appearance changing, but so were the specifications of its underlying technology. The standard received a different version number for each iteration, which indicated its superior performance.

The following table is an example of what you can expect: Wikipedia : :

USB 1.0 was transformed into USB 2.0 and then left behind by USB 3.0. We are now at the edge of USB 4.

Some connectors do not support all standards. The most popular version of Micro-USB connectors is USB 2.0. You will need a SuperSpeed USB connector, or you can switch to USB C.

Micro-USB and the Problems

Universal Serial Bus (USB), originally designed as a simple interface to electronic connectivity, was later expanded upon. Although that might have been the case in the early years of the USB, smartphones and other mobile devices changed everything.

Each new USB connector has a different form factor. This allows for a wide variety of USB cables and ports. We don’t even need to mention the different transfer speeds. Different ports can support different USB versions on different devices.

Apple has its own Lightning interface that offers better performance and speeds than Micro-USB cables. USB-IF was also impressed and took Apple’s Lightning into consideration when redesigning its USB connector to be more compact, lightweight, and efficient.

The Truly Universal USB-C

Although the USB3.1 standard was developed with many problems in mind, it has been a success. SuperSpeed mode required higher transfer speeds, so type-A and kind-B connectors were not able to support this. It is far too slow for most smartphones.

To solve this problem, the Type-C connector has been introduced. This is the so-called USB 3.1 cables can actually be USB-C cables, Support all USB devices compatible with this product without size limitation.

A type-C cable, unlike earlier versions, can be used on both laptops and smartphones provided that they have a USB-C connector. Reversible type-C cables can also be used, which eliminates the need to know how to place a Micro USB cable.

Data transfer speeds

Technically speaking, the type of connector is only a description of the physical characteristics of the cable. The actual speed depends upon the USB standard that the specific connector supports.

However, in practice the USB cable type will give you an idea about its speed. Micro-USB, for instance, is limited to the USB 2.0 standard. The SuperSpeed version is a bit different, and only works with very few devices.

USB-C cables on the other side support USB3.1 straight out of the package, giving data transfer speeds of at least 5GBps. This can be increased by some Type-C connectors to up to 20GBps when using USB 3.0.

USB 4 has been released exclusively for USB-C connectors. The Type-C cables will offer faster transfer speeds than Micro-USB.

You can also use the Power Delivery and Fast Charging Modes

Many people no longer use USB cables to transfer data due to the improved performance of wireless protocols such as Bluetooth. They are instead used to connect to mobile chargers.

This is another example of where USB-C outperforms Micro USB. The new USB Power Delivery Mode, (PDM) can only be implemented by Type-C connectors. This allows for fast charging even of the largest phones.

Power Delivery Mode allows larger devices such as tablets and laptops to be charged by using a USB-C connector. It can also supply more power (more than 100W) This contrasts sharply with the standard USB limit of only 7.5W.

Comparison of Micro-USB and USB-C: A Quick Look

Micro USB	USB-C
USB 2.0 is the only supported version	USB 3.1 and higher are supported
Provides data transfer speeds up to 480Mbps	Allows data transfers at a maximum speed of 5GBps
There is no Fast Charging Support	PDM Supports Fast Charging, possibly exceeding 100W power
You can only insert it in one direction	Reversible
Smartphones are the only place to find it	You can connect any USB-C device including tablets and smartphones to your laptops, phones, or tablets

What are the differences between Micro USB and USB C?

This connector replaces the Micro-USB standard. The USB-C technology, which is faster, lighter, and more reliable than the Micro-USB standard, replaces the confusion of USB cables on the market by a single cable.

A type-C cable supports USB 3.1 or higher. It can be connected to smartphones and laptops with the same reversible receptacle. This is in contrast to the Micro USB port, which only works for phones and does not support USB 2.0.

The USB-C connector can use the Power Delivery Mode, which is faster than Micro USB in terms of charging speed. It can also exceed Micro USB’s limit at 7.5W, going higher than 100W to provide Fast Charging for compatible Android smartphones and laptops.

It’s not surprising that USB-C has been steadily replacing Micro USBB with the new smartphones, given all of these benefits. Apple still hasn’t incorporated a USB Type-C port for the iPhone, Although the MacBook Pro is already making the leap, USB-C cables eventually will be the most popular USB technology.