USB ports, cables and colours explained

Summary

In this tech tutorial, Daniel from TwinBytes explains the evolution of USB ports, covering types, speeds, and colors. Starting with USB 1.0 in 1996, the video progresses through each version, highlighting the increase in data transfer rates and changes in port colors and designs. USB 3.2 and beyond are discussed, with a focus on the universal Type-C connector and speeds reaching 40 Gigabits per second. The tutorial also touches on 'always-on' ports, which provide power even when the computer is off.

Takeaways

• 🔌 USB ports come in various types, each designed for specific devices, such as Type A for computers, Type B for printers, Mini and Micro series for phones, and Type C for a wide range of devices.
• 🌈 USB port colors often indicate their version: white for USB 1.0/1.1, black for USB 2.0, blue for USB 3.0, teal blue for USB 3.1, and red for USB 3.2.
• 🚀 USB 1.0, introduced in 1996, had speeds from 1.5 to 12 megabits per second, with a maximum cable length of 3 to 5 meters.
• 🌟 USB 2.0, released in 2000, increased speeds up to 480 megabits per second and introduced the ability to charge batteries through USB ports.
• 🎯 USB 3.0, launched in 2008, boasted speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second but was limited by physical symbol encoding, reducing effective speed to about 3.2 gigabits.
• 💡 USB 3.1, introduced in 2013, doubled the speed to 10 gigabits per second and slightly reduced the maximum cable length to 3 meters.
• 🔝 USB 3.2, released in 2017, further doubled the speed to 20 gigabits per second, maintaining the 3-meter maximum cable length.
• 🔄 USB4, announced in 2019, doubled the speed again to 40 gigabits per second, with a continued maximum cable length of 5 meters.
• 🔑 USB Type C connectors are reversible, allowing for plug-and-play without worrying about orientation, and are becoming standard for new devices.
• ⚡ Some USB ports may be yellow or orange, indicating they provide 'always-on' power, useful for charging devices even when the computer is off.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video by Daniel from TwinBytes?

The main topic of the video is an explanation of different USB port types, their speeds, colors, history, and the future of USB technology.

What is the purpose of the Type A USB connector?

The Type A USB connector is typically used to plug into a computer.

Which USB type is commonly used for printers?

Type B USB connectors are commonly used for printers.

What was the primary use of Mini series USB connectors?

The Mini series USB connectors were primarily used for old phones, with Mini A and B being the specific types, where B was more commonly used.

What is unique about the USB Type C connector?

USB Type C connectors are unique because they are reversible, meaning they can be plugged in either way without being upside down.

What is the significance of a black USB port on a computer?

A black USB port on a computer typically indicates that it is a USB 2.0 port.

What was the original speed range of USB 1.0?

The original speed range of USB 1.0 was from 1.5 megabit per second up to 12 megabit per second.

When was USB 3.0 introduced and what was its maximum speed?

USB 3.0 was introduced in November 2008, and its maximum speed was up to five Gigabit per second.

What color typically identifies a USB 3.2 port on a computer?

A red port on a computer typically identifies it as a USB 3.2 port.

What is the maximum speed of USB 4.0 as introduced in August 2019?

The maximum speed of USB 4.0, introduced in August 2019, is 40 Gigabit per second.

What does a yellow USB port indicate?

A yellow USB port indicates that it is always on, allowing devices to be charged even when the computer is turned off.

Outlines

00:00

🔌 Introduction to USB Types and Speeds

Daniel from TwinBytes introduces a tutorial on USB ports, focusing on helping viewers identify the correct cable and port for their needs. The video discusses the various USB connection types, including Type A (for computers), Type B (commonly for printers), Mini A and B (used in older phones), Micro A (in some newer, older phones), and the universally reversible Type C (used in newer phones and many other devices). The tutorial also covers the evolution of USB standards from USB 1.0 and 1.1 (with speeds up to 12 Mbps and typically white ports) to USB 2.0 (with black ports and speeds up to 480 Mbps), and the introduction of Mini series for charging batteries. The history of USB development since January 1996 is briefly touched upon.

05:02

🚀 Advancements in USB Technology

The tutorial continues with an in-depth look at the progression of USB standards, starting with USB 3.0 (introduced in November 2008), which offered speeds of up to 5 Gbps and used blue ports, often with Micro B connectors for faster data transfer in external drives. USB 3.1 (July 2013) doubled the speed to 10 Gbps but had a shorter maximum cable length of 3 meters. USB 3.2 (September 2017) further increased speeds to 20 Gbps, with a red port often indicating this standard. The latest USB4, introduced in August 2019, doubles the speed again to 40 Gbps, maintaining a maximum cable length of 5 meters. The video also mentions the 'always on' feature identified by yellow, orange, or red ports, allowing devices to charge even when the computer is off. The tutorial concludes with a call to action for viewers to engage with the content and look forward to future videos.

Keywords

💡USB ports

USB ports are essential interfaces on computers and other devices for connecting peripherals and transferring data. In the video, the speaker discusses various types of USB ports, including Type A, Type B, Mini, Micro, and Type C, each designed for different devices and purposes. The video aims to educate viewers on selecting the correct cable and port for their needs.

💡USB 1.0 and 1.1

USB 1.0 and 1.1 are early versions of the Universal Serial Bus standard, introduced in 1996. They are characterized by their white ports and relatively slow data transfer speeds, ranging from 1.5 to 12 megabits per second. The video highlights the evolution of USB standards, starting with these initial versions, to emphasize the significant improvements in speed and functionality over time.

💡USB 2.0

USB 2.0 is a version of the USB standard that came out in April 2000, offering a significant increase in data transfer speeds up to 480 megabits per second. The video mentions that USB 2.0 ports are typically black, and this version introduced the ability to charge batteries through USB, marking a notable advancement in USB technology.

💡USB 3.0

USB 3.0, released in November 2008, further increased data transfer speeds up to five gigabits per second. The video points out that USB 3.0 ports are often blue, and this version introduced physical symbol encoding and link level overhead, which, while improving data integrity, slightly reduced the effective speed. USB 3.0 is commonly used for transferring large amounts of data quickly, such as with external drives.

💡USB 3.1 and 3.2

USB 3.1 and 3.2 represent further advancements in USB technology, with 3.1 doubling the speed of 3.0 to 10 gigabits per second and 3.2 doubling it again to 20 gigabits per second. The video explains that these versions use Type C connectors and have a maximum cable length of three meters. These high-speed versions are crucial for handling large data transfers and are identified by teal blue or red ports on devices.

💡Type A connector

The Type A connector is a standard USB connector found on computers and other host devices. It is rectangular with slightly beveled corners and is used to connect various USB devices. The video uses the Type A connector as a reference point to explain how different connector types are designed for specific devices or purposes.

💡Type C connector

The Type C connector is a newer, reversible USB connector that supports faster data transfer speeds and can carry more power. The video emphasizes the versatility of Type C connectors, which are used in a wide range of devices, from smartphones to laptops, and their ability to be plugged in either way, eliminating the need to orient the plug correctly.

💡Data transfer speeds

Data transfer speeds refer to the rate at which data can be sent from one device to another via a USB connection. The video provides a historical overview of how these speeds have increased with each new USB standard, from the initial 1.5 megabits per second in USB 1.0 to 40 gigabits per second in the latest USB 4.0, showcasing the technological progress in data communication.

💡Reversible connector

A reversible connector, like the USB Type C, allows for any orientation of the plug to be inserted correctly into the port. This design eliminates the need to align the connector and port before insertion, making it more user-friendly. The video highlights the Type C connector's reversibility as a significant improvement in USB design.

💡Always-on power

An always-on power feature allows USB ports to provide power even when the computer is turned off. This is indicated by a yellow, orange, or sometimes red port color. The video mentions that such ports can be used to charge devices like smartphones without needing the computer to be powered on, offering convenience to users.

Highlights

Introduction to USB port types, speeds, colors, history, and future.

Explanation of Type A USB, typically used for computers.

Description of Type B USB, commonly used for printers.

Details on Mini series USBs, used in older phones.

Differentiation between Mini A and B USB connectors.

Introduction of Micro A USB, used in some older phones.

Discussion on the universality and reversible design of USB Type C.

Identification of Micro B USB, often found on external backup drives.

Historical development of USB standards from 1.0 to 1.1.

Speed improvements from USB 1.0 to 1.1, with maximum data transfer rates.

Introduction of USB 2.0 with higher speeds and black port color.

Capability of USB 2.0 to charge batteries through USB.

USB 3.0's significant speed increase and blue port color.

Physical symbol encoding and link level overhead in USB 3.0 affecting speed.

Introduction of USB 3.1 with teal blue port color and doubled speed.

USB 3.2's further speed increase to 20 Gigabit per second.

Future of USB with Type C connectors and speeds up to 40 Gigabit per second.

Identification of always-on USB ports by their yellow, orange, or red colors.

Conclusion and call to action for viewers to engage with the content.

Transcripts

Hey everyone, Daniel here from TwinBytes  with another quick tech-torial for you.

This time all about USB ports to help  you purchase the correct cable for the job  

and also plug it into the correct port. So  we're gonna discuss the different types,

speeds, colors, with a little bit  of history and the future of USB.

So first off it helps to understand the different  connection types. You have different type of cables  

that would plug in for different type of  devices. The first one we have is a type A,

where it would plug into the computer. The  rest of them are for the specific devices,  

such as the type B we have is typically for  printers. Then you've got the Mini series, which is  

really was used a lot for the old  phones; and we had the Mini A and B.

We can see over here the Mini A versus B and the  B was the more commonly used one on the old phones.

Then we also have the Micro A which was used  on some newer but still fairly old phones.

Then the newest phones use C which is also being  used for many other devices as well. So they're  

interchangeable between so many different devices,  and you can see by the shape of it that it doesn't  

matter which way you plug it in. It's impossible to  put that in upside down. You also have the micro B

which is typically found on USB backup  drives, like the external backup devices. 

So looking at the series of USBs we started  off with the USB 1.0 which quickly emerged  

into the 1.1 and these again you can see  that the picture is got the usb side but  

then the other end we have a type A for the  printer. It could be any type on the other end  

but the thing is, it's a USB with a white port  typically found for the 1.0 or 1.1 series USB.

This was originally developed in January  1996 and had a speed from anywhere from  

1.5 megabit per second up to 12 megabit per  second, depending on a few different factors.

It would have a maximum length of from  anywhere from three to five meters.

The next one up we had the USB 2.0 and I've  got a picture of one showing here using the  

Mini B connector this time; and these typically  you'll find on the computer the port will be black.

So if you see on the back of your computer or laptop a USB port that's black, then that  

probably means it's a USB 2.0. These came out in  around April 2000 and the speeds are up to as much  

as 480 megabit per second. So that's a massive  increase from what we had in the 1.0 series  

They can go up to 5 meters maximum length and  this is when they started introducing the Mini A  

and B series. Also they allow the ability for  you to charge batteries through USB since 2.0

Looking at the USB 3.0, that's when  things really started to take off.

I got a picture showing that using the Micro B for  the external drives and that's typically because  

they need more speed to transfer a lot of data a  lot faster and you'll find that these may have a  

connection port that's blue in color. They came out  in November 2008 and the speeds go up to as much  

as five Gigabit per second. So again we're going in  leaps and bounds here for the speed. Three meters  

length maximum. So they're not really getting much  longer at all and they never really will. So much  

because when you want to stay on top of the fast  speed you gotta have the shorter length. The longer  

you go and you can add extensions to make things  work but if you extend it it's going to lose speed.

This introduced some physical symbol encoding  and link level overhead which is all great  

except it reduces the speed by having this overhead. So your 5 Gigabits then drops down to about 3.2

Then we get into the USB 3.1. Now  it looks blue but it's more of a teal blue color.

I've got a cable here with the type C connection.  This came out in July 2013 and now we're doubling  

speed up to 10 gigabit per second and the  length wasn't quite as much. It could only  

go up to 3 meters. They couldn't quite hit the  5 meter max. But it seemed to be typically more  

closer to the 1 meter. 3 meters is kind of pushing  it. But they did reduce the line encoding which  

allowed us to keep closer to that 10 gigabit  per second.

Now we're going into 3.2 which we're really getting into some more speeds here.

I'm showing this again with this type C.

They don't look any different the cables, but you may find a red port on the computer to identify it as a 3.2

This came out around September 2017 but  we're doubling speed now from the 3.1  

having 10 Gigabits we're up to 20 Gigabit now  per second. Still 3 meter maximum length

and then the future of USB.

It's been introduced in August 2019 but we're just really seeing this start showing up on all the computers now.

This is typically with the type C connectors on both sides.

So from the end that plugs in the device to the end that plugs into the computer, it's the same on both sides.

However you can still get different type connectors and you can have adapters that'll convert the connections as well.

These speeds double again from the 3.2 having 20 Gigabit, we're at 40 Gigabit per second now.

These are insane speeds for doing massive video file transfers.

We're still limited to a maximum of 5 meters.  So we're not going to get any further ahead than that.

and this is as far as we've gone with  the USB technology as of today.

Looking at other colors that you might find. You may see a yellow port that looks like a USB port, but if it's  

yellow that means it's always on. So that you can  charge your phone or any other device through the  

USB port, even if the computer is turned off. It's  still going to have power going through that.

So typically yellow it could be orange and sometimes  even red may identify that it's always on.

So that's it for this tech-torial. I hope you guys  found it helpful and make sense of a little bit  

more of all the different USB ports on the back  of your computer and laptop and figure out what's what.

We've come quite a long way with the USBs over the years and if you did find this helpful  

please do give it a thumbs up, subscribe  if you haven't already, and we'll see you  

in the next video. Thanks much for watching  and we'll talk to you later. Bye for now.