Which Devices Are Best Suited For USB-C?

First, some basics. The USB port you've known for about 20 years is the USB-A. The port is a rectangle, and if you're like me, it always takes at least two tries to get the cable face up. The other end of the connection may be USB-B (a square that plugs into a printer), Mini-USB (commonly used a few years ago to plug into digital cameras), Micro-USB (found in everything from wireless headphones to smartphones to electronic devices) -readers), or Apple-specific (like the current Lightning port on the iPhone). USB Type-C, commonly abbreviated as USB-C, is the port that replaces all of these. The symmetrical connector with rounded ends sits on either end of the wire, and there's no "face up" or anything like that - it works either way.

But the real magic is that the new USB-C port is much more versatile. USB-C is no longer limited to about 12 watts of charging power, but can power devices up to 100 watts. The new data transfer rate speeds up the performance of accessories like external hard drives and video devices, which can be up to 20 times faster in some cases. USB-C can even be used for video connections, such as computer monitors. But charging speed is where most people can now get the biggest improvement without spending a fortune.

USB Type C Cables

Which devices are best suited for USB-C?

The larger your device, the better USB-C charging will be. The best USB-A chargers can charge a large tablet like the iPad Pro from 0% to a little over 10% in 30 minutes. But if you use a good USB-C charger and cable, the iPad Pro can charge at up to 45 W and reach about 33 percent in 30 minutes. Smaller devices can benefit from this, too, especially if the battery is low.

The latest iPhone and Android phones can charge at up to 18 W. Our tests show that the iPhone XR can charge from 0 percent to nearly 50 percent cable in 30 minutes using a USB-C charger and USB-C-to-Lightning. (Our favorite USB phone charger, the Anker PowerPort PD 2, has a fast-charging USB-C port that can charge at these speeds, as well as a standard USB-A port.) This is a big difference from the 35% that a standard 12 W charger can do.

You can use USB-C ports and chargers to charge a growing number of laptops. While they don't benefit from faster charging like mobile devices, they do benefit from the versatility of USB-C. Our favorite laptop USB-C chargers are much cheaper than the brand-specific alternatives sold by Apple, Dell and other companies. Plus, you can continue to use them even if you change laptop or computer brands. The new charger can deliver 60 W or more when charging a MacBook, Dell XPS notebook or Chromebook.

USB-C is inherently smart, so you can always use a high-powered 45-watt or 60-watt charger designed for laptops to charge lower-powered devices, such as smartphones that typically charge quickly at 18 watts. the versatility of the USB-C port makes it ideal for anyone traveling with a laptop or working on a laptop outside of a traditional office --A single charger or mobile power supply can charge every USB-C device, from headphones to smartphones to laptops.