USB Type C Adapters: Which One Is The Best Of 2020? - Davidliam/Edu-Technic GitHub Wiki

Information is, without a doubt, the most precious asset in the current societies in which we live; it is money, power, time, and security. For this reason, having good information support is key, regardless of our profession. If our information is safe, our security will be too.

Thus, the importance of USB adapters is still very important today, since they are the elements in charge of transferring information between our various devices. In addition, the USB type C that we are going to comment on is especially relevant, since we are living a moment of change between types of connectors and USB standards.

What exactly is a USB Type-C adapter?

The USB type C adapters were born as a method to make any type of input compatible — SD or microSD cards, Ethernet, HDMI, previous USB of any type — with the new USB type C input standard, present in products such as Mac computers. or certain Samsung, LG and Google mobiles. Thus, some USB Type-C adapters will only have an input for another type of the previous USB, while others will have inputs of all the aforementioned types.

What are the differences that USB type C brings?

The history of USB began in 1996 as a joint project by Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Compaq, DEC, NEC, and Nortel to standardize hardware connections to computers. Next, we go on to list the main differences between the latest USB Type-C in question and previous USB models.
USB Type-C has a smaller input, only 8.2 millimeters wide by 2.6 millimeters thick, only slightly larger than a micro USB.
Unlike classic USB, Type-C is fully reversible and can be connected independently from both sides, preventing damage caused by confusion.
Paired with the new USB 3.1 protocol, the USB Type-C input offers higher speed than older inputs, as well as a higher power.
Despite everything, USB Type-C is also compatible with the USB 2.0 standard, it is backward compatible, which is a crucial advantage for hardware manufacturers.

What care does a USB Type-C adapter require?

Basically, the adapter and USB Type-C requires the same kind of care, even less, than in the case of traditional USB. In the end, the fact that Type C is reversible helps to avoid having to pay attention to which side the input should be connected. So it saves both time and trouble.

On the other side of the scale, it can be noted that you have to be careful not to connect a USB type C in the input of a USB of any other type, as it could lead to the breakdown of said device. In addition, they are faster accompanied by USB 3.1.

What to consider when buying a USB-C adapter

In the market, we can find cables or connectors that allow us to go from USB-C to any other port to more complete adapters that integrate several ports. These are precisely the most interesting since a single gadget can be enough to connect all our devices.

Before buying a USB-C adapter or hub, we must pay attention to essentially three factors:

Number and type of ports. Think about which ports you will need and which ones you will use more. On the market, there are adapters with an HDMI socket, SD slots, jack, USB, ethernet, USB-C (something that allows charging at the same time as the hub is used) … which can make us opt for a model or other.

Design, dimensions, and layout. The previous point is key because taking into account that it is an accessory that we will carry with us, it must be light and with contained dimensions to be able to transport it in the laptop bag. If we choose a model that integrates the more connectors, the better, we may find that using several at the same time is not comfortable due to its arrangement. Pay attention to how the connectors are laid out on the adapter.

Materials. Materials are important in the best USB-C adapters due to heat transfer. And it is that when we connect several cables to an element as small as an adapter, it is foreseeable that it will heat up, which is why a design that facilitates cooling is important, but also a material that is capable of dissipating it. The usual thing is to find adapters with plastic or aluminum housings, the latter being more recommended.