Is USB A Being Phased Out?

As technology continues to evolve, an adaptation that is starting to become more normalized may have you on the search for more knowledge. Is USB A starting to be phased out to make USB C the new standard? Android phones have already started to use this type of port to introduce a new way of powering your device. This also may be something you are curious about especially if you have one of the newer iPhones that started using this adapter instead of their Lightning charger for their recently released models. Being that electronics are always getting researched and enhanced, it is easy to become confused about what option is the best for you and why. Here we will answer if we think USB C is taking over for the long term and how this affects you.

USB A vs USB C—What’s the Difference?

The standard USB that is typically used for ports and cords is USB A. It is a horizontal port with a rectangular shape that a cord can be inserted into easily. This makes connections between devices like phones and computers to their chargers, printers to computers and computers to flash drives and other forms of external storage possible. The start of this transition from USB to USB C adapter began around 2014. That year this new type of adapter was revealed although they were not immediately available to be used. Some features that were highlighted to showcase the benefits of using a USB C as opposed to prior models were:

• A new design that was smaller and regardless of how it is inserted, is made to take the place of all previous USB models and connections
• A more powerful port that can provide power to devices of all sizes
• Can transfer data at a better rate than the standard USB
• Has support for video delivery between devices up to 4K quality
• Has compatibility with various types of adapters including HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface)

With all of these perks associated with using USB C, it only makes sense that interest is starting to be developed here. These are all great reasons why USB C should be focused on more heavily, especially due to the increasing reliance on technology these days. As society finds more and more ways to integrate technology into our lives, using cords that provide us with the power to do that is beneficial. People want to have the best quality when streaming videos and charging their electronics, and USB C allows for that to be a reality. These ports are dependable and can be used amongst various devices. They are also built to be durable and support your device’s battery for a long time.

Will USB A Disappear Entirely?

We think that USB A will still be used in the upcoming future and the complete switchover to USB C will happen years from now. USB C is fairly new and people are still getting familiar with this new technology. Many devices from keyboards & smartphones to power banks & studio lights still utilize USB A, especially computers so compatibility is an issue there. People do not want to deal with having to buy an adapter to connect to USB C so they prefer to stick with the preference they are used to. But when it becomes the electronic and technology standard to use USB C, we see the transition going smoothly as it would be more recognizable by then.