Computers and electronic gadgets need data cables to connect them with other devices. Almost all devices today come with USB ports for connectivity to other devices. Data cables are attached to USB ports to connect two or more devices.

However, there are a variety of cables available in the markets, and it is difficult to understand the difference between them. Even the shopkeepers and retailers cannot explain the exact difference to their customers.

Therefore, it is essential to understand the types of cables so that you can choose the right cable to connect your devices. Let us check various types of data cables for electronic devices.

There are six types of USB cables and connectors available in the markets.

Type A

These are the cables with a flat and rectangular interface on their ends. Most of the computer systems have two or more USB-A ports for connecting them with other devices like keyboard, mouse, gaming consoles, TV, etc. These cables can be inserted only in one way.

Type B

The type B USB cables are square type connectors that can connect printers and other devices to computers. However, type B cables are not very common as most of the devices come with smaller connections.

Mini USB

In addition to the standard USB, there are mini and micro USB cables. The mini USB is a small connector type that was set as a standard for mobile devices before the arrival of micro USB connections. You can still find the mini USB connectors on devices like cameras, PlayStation 3, mp3 players, etc.

Micro USB

The micro USB ports are smaller than the mini USB and are standard in the current devices. Most devices like smartphones, tablet PCs, mp3 players, and chargers come with the micro USB ports. However, some manufacturers are offering USB-C type port on their devices that support fast charging and connectivity.

The mini and micro USB ports are considered the compact forms of type B connectors even though manufacturers don’t use type B in their names.

Type C

Type C USB ports and cables are the latest in the industry. They are reversible that offers faster data transfer and are more powerful than its preceding versions. Many new laptops, including Macbook, smartphones, and the Nintendo Switch Pro controller comes with USB-C connectivity.

Lightning cables

Lighting cables might not be a true USB connector, but it is Apple’s offering for connecting its devices to other gadgets. The post is similar to USB C and comes as standard with all the Apple devices. The older Apple devices came with, the larger 30 pin connectors.

Most USB cables come with a standard type-A end and another type-B end. The type-A end is used to supply power to a device, and the other type-B end is for receiving the power from a source. The different posts are used in a cable to prevent the damage that could occur while connecting two devices using a cable with type A pins on both ends.

HDMI cables

HDMI stands for high definition multimedia interface, and the HDMI cables are for connecting a video player to an HD display device like LED TV or projector. However, if you want to connect a laptop or computer to a display device, you need to use a mini Displayport to HDMI for connectivity.

Speed standards for USB cables

The USB ports and cables have also gone through multiple versions of data transfer speeds. There are three main versions of the speed of USB connectors.

USB 1.x – This was the first standard of data transfer speed for USB cables and connectors. They are not available now, and you will rarely find the devices with USB1.x connectivity.

USB 2.0 – These were the next standard for USB connectors after USB1.x. It is the lowest speed standard available, and many devices like flash drives, mouse and keyboards still use USB 2.0. Most computers still come with two USB 2.0 ports for connecting the devices with USB 2.0 connectivity.

USB 3.x – This is the current standard for USB data transfer speed.  The USB3.x connectors offer faster data transfer than USB 2.0 and are recommended as a standard for most devices. Most USB 3.x ports and connectors come in a blue color, which makes them easy to identify. Most new devices come with these ports and computers have at least one USB 3.x port.

Users can use a USB 2.0 device on a USB 3.x port and vice versa, but in neither case, they get the benefit of enhanced speed. In both cases, users will get only the USB 2.0 speed.

Final words

These are the types of USB data cables available today. Manufacturers are offering the mini USB, micro USB, type B, and Type C connectors in their devices. Users need to use the right type of cables to connect and get the maximum speed for data transfer between their devices.