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New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

pcworld.com

101–110 of 276 posts

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#101
post #4

Finally, a clear logo showing if a cable supports 240W. The USB 40Gbps logo is fine too. Now can we also get some logos for the other speeds: 20Gbps, 10Gbps, 5Gbps, 0.4Gbps (480Mbit). Also the other (PD 2.0+) power levels: 100W, 65W, 45W, 27W, 15W. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_hardware#USB_Power_Deliver...

> Now can we also get some logos for the other speeds: 20Gbps, 10Gbps, 5Gbps, 0.4Gbps (480Mbit).

These all do have distinct logos already?

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#102
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not at all - its likely they wanted to reduce support calls from people who try and charge the laptop using mobile phone and other inappropriate chargers. I use dell, Lenovo, & apple PD chargers interchangeably without issues.

You can charge a laptop with a mobile phone charger. It just charges really really slowly (or probably not at all if you're actually using it).

Depends on the charger and on the laptop whether that works.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#103
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not at all - its likely they wanted to reduce support calls from people who try and charge the laptop using mobile phone and other inappropriate chargers. I use dell, Lenovo, & apple PD chargers interchangeably without issues.

You can charge a laptop with a mobile phone charger. It just charges really really slowly (or probably not at all if you're actually using it).

i could not charge my late 2016 pro with my huawei charger (45w)

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#104
post #91
post #84

They should invent a new cable standard that universally does the same thing on all devices. I think there might a big market for that.

It already exists and it's called lighting. Since it's actually useful, the UE is looking into outlawing it.

I hope this is a joke.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#105
post #70

This is all too confusing to me. Why isn't there a mandatory (or reference) specification string that combines all the necessary, useful information in one neat package instead of countless repetitive and easily misunderstood logos? Something like (just a basic, messy example) USB-C/ / / / / /etc. I had to buy some cables recently and really couldn't pick one nor distinguish particular features at glance, and the ite…

What's confusing about "USB C to Lightning Cable MFI Certified iPhone Cable Fast iPhone Charger Cable 20W PD 3/6/10FT Type C Charging & Syncing Data Compatible iPhone 12 Pro Max Mini 11 X XR XS 8 P iPad iPod (White)"?

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#106
post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> most people will have to guess, and will get the more expensive one “just in case” Good. The more full-features and the less underfeatured USB cables are bought and found around - the better for everyone. I don't buy/grab a USB cable "for the drive" I expect it to do the job every time I happen to need a USB cable. In fact I'd like a single ultimate USB-n-All logo to exist which would mean the cable is fully and re…

But there are crappy expensive cables, expensive cables that aren't better than cheap ones, and great cheap ones. What I'd like is a mark for servicable USB-C cables so everyone can just compete on price on that. These logos kind of solve that, but personally I'd like the threshold only being the combined certification. But at least most people can just filter on one logo and compare on that, even if they don't under…

> But at least most people can just filter on one logo

I doubt many people ever look at the logo. For ordinary people it's just USB and "this is a shitty cabble" if it doesn't work as they expect, geeks will look for a specs table on the page/box.

The intention is obviously good and sort of addresses the problem but nowadays (even with Micro-B, not just C) I don't feel like I can trust any logo really. I have to read the specs, the comments, consider the brand reputation and buy the best cable I can find (which is a game of luck anyway) to minimize the chance it will surprise me unpleasantly.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#107
post #93
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A 2m cable with 100W charging (the highest currently, but not for long) and video using Thunderbolt 3 is £70 inc sales tax, it's also stiffer and heavier than other cables. How many of those do you plan to just have lying around for convenience? My XPS 15 already takes more power than that so has its own charger with a physical USB C connector (but also accepts standard USB C chargers with lower wattage). The next ve…

I can find cables claiming the same spec (100W, TB3, 2m) for 20-30 EUR. Less if you drop the length requirement -- 2m seems quite long, especially if you're using TB3 to connect a laptop to a display. I agree that there's a place for lower-spec cables that are cheaper and thinner.

They’re almost certainly 20gbps TB3 cables if they have sufficient signal integrity to be in spec.

Anyway, the 2m 40gbps cables I have are actually thinner, lighter, and more flexible than either of the 2m 5-10 gbps USB-C cables I have, or even some of the really short and cheap 5gbps cables that come bundles with SSDs. Active cables might be expensive, but at least they allow using higher gauge and/or less shielding for signal wires.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#108
post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> most people will have to guess, and will get the more expensive one “just in case” Good. The more full-features and the less underfeatured USB cables are bought and found around - the better for everyone. I don't buy/grab a USB cable "for the drive" I expect it to do the job every time I happen to need a USB cable. In fact I'd like a single ultimate USB-n-All logo to exist which would mean the cable is fully and re…

A 2m cable with 100W charging (the highest currently, but not for long) and video using Thunderbolt 3 is £70 inc sales tax, it's also stiffer and heavier than other cables. How many of those do you plan to just have lying around for convenience? My XPS 15 already takes more power than that so has its own charger with a physical USB C connector (but also accepts standard USB C chargers with lower wattage). The next ve…

> A 2m cable with 100W charging (the highest currently, but not for long) and video using Thunderbolt 3 is £70 inc sales tax, it's also stiffer and heavier than other cables. How many of those do you plan to just have lying around for convenience?

I would get 5 if I could be sure they really will work reliably with every device in every case possible and the standard won't change in a couple of months. I almost feel like buying an insurance against this bullshit.

And I don't think they can be so heavy to the point it would be relevant. I'd rather buy the hardest I can find as mass positively correlates with reliability in electronics.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#109
post #50
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn't charging also complicated by some fast-charge protocols? I know the phone accessory companies are always saying things like "Supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 23.45 with Sprinkles" in addition to "18 watts". I think the cables might more or less be the same, but it's still a complex ecosystem question. I have two devices with USB-C chargers. I can make a reasonable guess that the bullion-cube sized charger provide…

> On my laptop, I can apparently use a USB-C to DisplayPort cable to get 4k/60 output (while the HDMI is limited to 4k/30). But now I've got no way to charge it. I don’t know what laptop you have. DisplayPort is native to USB C cabling and the Type C connector is the modern DisplayPort connector. I have my Mac plugged into a Thunderbolt display that uses DisplayPort to display the image and also powers the computer.…

Your Mac has the more expensive Thunderbolt; Thunderbolt capablities go beyond USB-C.

For computers with USB-C only the situation is more complicated.

Re: New USB-C logos make picking USB cables, chargers less confusing

#110
post #39

Please, for the love of god, make it obvious if a USB C cable can be used as a display cable or not. One thing that absolutely blows about USB C is that they all look the same, but to connect my LG UltraFine to my GTX 2070 I had to do literally hours of research before I could find a reliable cable on Amazon that was a “bidirectional USB C DisplayPort” cable because I naively assumed that USB C was a general purpose…

> Why can’t all USB C cables just do all the things?

I'd guess 'cost'.

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