Related: How to Connect Any Phone or Tablet to Your TV Using USB Backward Compatibility All you need is the right adapter to access the Alternate Mode feature you want from the USB-C port. The Alternate Modes that can be streamlined into a single USB-C port include Thunderbolt, DisplayPort, HDMI, Mobile High-Definition Link, and VirtualLink.īy integrating all these connections into a single USB-C port, Alternate Modes allow electronic devices to be designed slimmer than before. However, this support comes at the discretion of the hardware manufacturer to integrate it into their electronic device. USB-C's Alternate Mode feature allows USB-C ports to accommodate a broader range of data protocols. This is significantly more powerful than the most recent standard, USB 3.1, which has a maximum data transfer rate of 10Gbps. Related: How to Check the Power Output of a USB Port USB 4.0 has a potential 40Gbps data rate in addition to USB Power Delivery (USB PD) support, enabling bi-directional power delivery up to 100W (enough to power large electronic devices from laptops to some printers). The newest USB 4.0 standard requires USB-C connectors, leaving USB-A behind. USB-A pins are dedicated to the bottom portion of the USB-A ports (making insertion non-reversible). This major convenience update is due to symmetrical pin placement on both the bottom and top of the USB-C connector. USB-A's clunky connection was updated with the space-saving USB-C design, allowing electronic devices to be designed slimmer than ever.Īpart from the obvious visual revision, USB-C ports now accommodate USB-C connectors regardless of the orientation you insert the connector. Now that we have a background understanding of USB-A and USB-C, let's discuss the key differences.

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