What is USB–C?
USB Type C, or USB–C to its friends, is the newest USB connector standard. It replaces all the USB connectors that came before it, so it supersedes all the Mini and Micro cables of older standards. USB–C also supports the highest data and power transfer rates of the USB 3.1 Gen 2 standard, cranking up as high as 10 Gbps and 100 watts. It’s the most robust, durable, and powerful USB connector type available. USB–C should not be confused with the USB 3.1 specification; USB–C is simply a connector type. Cables and devices with USB–C connectors can support data transfer rates from USB 2.0’s 480 Mbit/s to Thunderbolt 3’s 20 Gbps. Fortunately, all cables with USB–C connectors must contain a chip reporting what kind of speed and power they can safely handle.
It might be less obvious to consumers. You need to shop carefully and look for the specific logos stamped on the cable end. Look for the USB 3.1 Gen 2 Superspeed trident with the 10 Gbps branding.
Challenges for USB–C
So if USB–C is the biggest, baddest new USB connection standard, why isn’t it better supported by the marketplace? Mostly, it comes down to a much smaller market, lack of competition, and OEMs’ relative inexperience with the USB 3.1 standard.
1. It’s still new
In addition to its new power, USB–C is the newest connector type on the market. While you’ll find it on some devices, very few computers offer solely USB–C ports. Apple’s MacBook and MacBook Pro are the notable exceptions, although the USB–C connectors on those computers actually might support Thunderbolt 3, depending on the model. The connector type has begun its slow diffusion through the peripheral market, but it hasn’t made much of a dent yet. But replacing a connector as popular and widely used as USB is bound to take a long time. That kind of change doesn’t happen quickly. So adoption of Type C was always going to be more of a trickle than a flood: a few devices at first, starting with speed-sensitive applications. Eventually, Type C will take over completely, but it’s hard to predict when that day will come. Right now, that day seems distant.
2. Demand is low
This limited adoption means that there’s not yet a huge demand for USB–C devices. Since few devices support the standard, most folks haven’t really caught on yet. And when they do purchase a device with USB–C, they’re likely to buy a conversion dongle to continue using the USB Type A connectors on their computer. Simple direct conversion dongles for USB–C to USB A are also reliable and cheap, so it’s a good choice for most users. Thanks to the relatively slow uptake of USB–C among consumers, there isn’t as much competition in the market for hubs and cables.
3. Lack of manufacturing expertise
Because relatively fewer hubs are being made, manufacturers don’t get as much practice to iron out the defects in their design and production processes. That means the hubs are more likely to be unreliable or not fully up to spec in ways both frustrating and limiting. While your host device will likely “see” the USB ports and recognize devices connected to them, the connection might be buggy or slower than necessary. Just multiplying USB–C ports is actually the easiest way to make a USB–C hub. However, even that is more complicated than USB 2 thanks to changes in the standards. But it’s not as difficult as making a multi-input USB–C hub. And that’s just what many manufacturers are trying to put out. It’s the big appeal of USB–C, after all! USB–C’s “alternate modes” can take graphic or network input, and those ports are even more likely to be buggy. That’s one of the reasons that USB breakout hubs are so expensive: they’re harder to design and build. Since data type is no longer segregated by connector, the USB–C hub will include some chipsets to sort out inputs. And all that’s not necessarily a straightforward process. The majority of factories in China, where nearly all hubs are built, are great at cheap, straightforward processes; other things need practice and expertise. It’s not just hubs; cables aren’t even safe. Stories about out-of-spec USB–C cables frying laptops are not unheard of. As OEMs gain experience, this will become less of an issue. But for now, it’s a real concern.
What to Buy?
As time goes on, all these problems will lessen and eventually disappear. As fabricators get better at building USB 3.1 Gen 2-compliant hardware, we’ll see a commensurate improvement in the quality of hubs available. Until then, reviews are your friend. Look for devices made by reliable manufacturers with positive reviews from real users.
