Articles about USB Type-C

Can you believe it? It is 2021 and Apple still hasn't added USB-C to the iPhone! The company has added the connection to the iPad Pro and its Mac computers, but its smartphones still use Lightning. This is both frustrating and disappointing, as it means consumers can't streamline their chargers and cables. It also means you cannot easily plug a USB-C flash drive into an iPhone like you can with Android.

If you have been wanting to connect a flash drive to your iPhone without the use of dongles, Western Digital's SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Luxe can make this a reality. You see, the drive features both Lightning and USB Type-C connectors, meaning it will work with iPhone, Android, and modern computers. While such a drive is not a new concept, this is apparently the first 2-in-1 from WD with an all-metal body.

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There are a ton of portable USB-C docks on the market these days, and for the most part, they all do pretty much the same thing -- they turn one USB-C port into several other ports. Of course, the ports offered can vary from product to product, as can the design and overall quality. In fact, a low-quality dock can actually damage your computer -- Apple had to issue a macOS patch recently to protect against that very thing.

Satechi products are always high-quality, so if you are in the market for a dock, you can definitely trust its offerings. Today, that company launches its latest portable USB-C dock, and it looks great. The "USB-C On-the-Go Multiport Adapter," as it is called, offers a lot of expandability, including both VGA and HDMI for video. It even comes with two removable cables -- one of which is very short and can be stored inside the dock for ultimate portability.

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Back in the day, computer builders would often buy sound cards for their rigs. This was because on-board audio used to be terrible. Going even further back, some motherboards did not even offer integrated sound, making a sound card a must.

Nowadays, however, most computers have on-board audio that isn't just passable, but quite good. Sure, there are still dedicated sound cards on the market, but they are usually reserved for audiophiles and/or gamers. These days, most computer users would be better served by a USB DAC -- a digital to analog converter. These offer superior audio for both laptops and desktops, and can reduce electrical interference and noise too.

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USB-C is amazing. The reversible connector is so much more convenient than the older rectangular USB-A plug. Not to mention, since USB-C is smaller, computer manufacturers can rely on it exclusively for connectivity, allowing thinner laptops than ever before. Need USB-A, Ethernet, or a card reader? There is a USB-C dongle or adapter for that!

Rather than buy an individual dongle, it is much more cost-effective to simply buy a dock or hub. Today, Plugable launches its latest such product. Called "USBC-7IN1E," it is a beautiful 7-in-1 USB-C hub that offers two USB-A, gigabit Ethernet, micro SD, SD, and HDMI. It also has a USB-C PD (Power Delivery) port. It is compatible with Windows 10, macOS, desktop Linux, Chrome OS, Android, and iPadOS

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When you live in a home with multiple people, keeping devices charged can be quite the headache. You have family members fighting over chargers and outlets, and this is only made worse when everyone has multiple devices like smartphones, tablets, wireless earbuds, and more. Even people that live alone might experience woes when all of their chargers become a spaghetti-like mess.

Well, folks, Satechi has a new product that should be a godsend for families that often fight over chargers. Called "Dock5," this multi-device charging station can top off five devices at once. It features two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, and a Qi wireless charging pad. It also utilizes handy dividers to prop up the devices and keep them nicely organized. This should save space on a table or counter.

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USB flash drives may not be as popular as they once were, but they still have their fans. For instance, even though I save most of my data to the cloud nowadays, I still depend on flash drives for installing operating systems, such as Windows 10, Ubuntu, Manjaro, and more.

The problem with traditional USB flash drives, however, is many new computers no longer have USB-A ports. And so, they require the use of dongles or adapters. Thankfully, companies are also making USB Type-C flash drives. Today, Silicon Power launches a trio of OTG USB 3.2 Gen 1 storage drives that have USB-C connectivity. One of them even has dual connectivity, allowing it to be used with both USB-A and USB-C. Nice.

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USB-C docks and docking stations are rather common these days, so it can be hard to get excited about them. Websites like Amazon are absolutely littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor are they all the same. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs.

With all of that said, StarTech.com has managed to create a USB-C mini travel dock that stands out from the crowd. Called "DKT31CHDVCM," it features a unique hockey puck shape. Its small footprint and integrated USB-C cable should make it perfect for travel. You can, of course, use it at home too. It even has three video outputs -- VGA, DisplayPort, and HDMI.

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There are so many docks and docking stations nowadays, that it can be hard to get excited about them. Look, I get it, they all pretty much do the same thing -- turn your laptop into a desktop while also charging it. The thing is, not all of them are created equally. In fact, some are much better than others.

With all of that said, Plugable has a new docking station that is worth your attention. Called "TBT3-UDC3," it is compatible with both Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C computers thanks to its use of Intel's Titan Ridge chipset. What makes this port so intriguing (beyond its 11 ports) is its 100 watts of power delivery and affordable price -- especially with a limited time coupon.

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Nowadays, many laptops utilize solid state drives, with capacities often ranging from 250GB to 1TB. For many consumers, that is more than enough for all of their files, and if it isn't, they can always purchase an external drive to easily expand it. USB SSDs in particular are very popular, as they are small and have no moving parts.

Today, ADATA launches an all-new external solid state drive, and it is quite special. Called "SE770G," the USB-C SSD stands out from the crowd with RGB lighting. The drive functions as any other USB-C SSD does, but it also has customizable lighting. Is that feature necessary or important? No, not at all. However, it is certainly fun, and it makes the SE770G very pretty. In fact, it might just be the most attractive USB SSD I have ever seen.

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When shopping for a bus-powered external storage device, speed is definitely important, but it is certainly not the only thing to look for. My advice would be to first focus on durability of the enclosure and reliability of the internal drive by sticking with a reputable brand. With SSD prices so low nowadays, a mechanical hard drive really shouldn't be considered anymore.

If you take my advice and focus on durability and speed from a reputable company, then the all new Envoy Pro Elektron from Other World Computing, Inc. should absolutely be considered. Not only is the aluminum body dust-, water-, and crush-proof, but OWC is a name you can trust.

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Thunderbolt 3 docking stations are really cool, but there is a big problem with them -- most computers don't have TB3! Unfortunately, manufacturers typically only put Thunderbolt 3 in premium laptops, with budget and mid-range computers often left out of the party.

Thankfully, USB is ubiquitous, and there are docking stations that are compatible with it. Most new docks, however, are designed for USB-C. So what do you do if you want a fancy new docking station but only have USB-A? Well, StarTech.com has a new product that answers that question. Called "DK30C2DPEP," it is a hybrid docking station that works with both USB-A and USB-C computers. This is achieved by supplying a USB-C to USB-C cable that has a USB-A adapter attached.

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There are many power banks on the market these days, and for the most part, they are all very similar. These devices are essentially big batteries with USB ports designed to charge up your smartphone multiple times when on the go. When you can't find an outlet, these power banks can be a godsend, but also, they can be a critical tool during a power outage. If you live in an area that gets hit by hurricanes and/or tropical storms, you should absolutely own at least one of them -- a few if you have a family.

Today, Satechi unveils a new such product that is very Apple-focused. Called "Quatro Wireless Power Bank," it has a dedicated Apple Watch charger, Qi wireless charging (perfect for compatible AirPods), and both a USB-A and USB-C port. Not only is it designed with Apple devices in mind, but its overall aesthetics seem inspired by the iPhone-maker too. It features a matte black design, but the outer rim is surrounded by a beautiful shiny metal. It weighs 0.58 lbs and its dimensions are 6.4 x 2.9 x 0.7 inches.

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If you buy a new laptop nowadays, there is a good chance it will only have USB-C ports. If you still have older USB-A devices, what are you to do? Yeah, you can buy a USB-C to USB-A dongle, but with multi-port hubs being so affordable, you are better getting one of those. After all, they often have much more value, by offering things like video output and card readers too.

Today, popular company Plugable launches its latest portable USB-C hub (it can also be used at home too, of course). The 7-in-1 hub provides all the things you would expect, like USB-A ports, 4K HDMI, SD card readers, and pass through charging. While it lacks Ethernet, that won't really matter to those that only use Wi-Fi anyway. Best of all, it is extremely affordable -- you can get it right now for less than $25...

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USB-C docking stations are rather common these days. In fact, sites like Amazon are littered with countless makes and models. Of course, not all of them are good, nor are they all the same. Features can vary from dock to dock, such as the number of USB ports or video outputs.

Speaking of video output, most USB-C docks have either one or two such ports. Today, however, Plugable launches a docking station with three HDMI ports, and yes, they can all be used simultaneously for a triple monitor configuration. Despite having so many video outputs, it doesn't skimp on other useful ports.

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USB-C is definitely the connector of the future, and many manufacturers have embraced it as the only port on their laptops. Apple MacBook and the Dell XPS 13, for instance, only have Thunderbolt 3, which uses USB-C. If you want to connect legacy devices (USB-A, Ethernet, HDMI, etc.) you will need to use dongles or docks. Some companies include dongles in the box, but as you can expect, Apple does not.

Actually, Apple is happy to sell you its USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter for a sky-high $69! That is highway robbery. Almost 70 bucks for a USB-A port, HDMI, and power delivery pass through? Insanity. Thankfully, Plugable is today launching a very similar product (nearly identical) for a fraction of the cost! And not only will it work with an Apple MacBook or iPad Pro, but Windows 10 and Linux computers too. The HDMI port is capable of 4K, the USB port is 3.0 speed, and the USB-C power delivery port supports up to 60W.

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