The Power of USB-C: What You Need to Know
As you probably know, USB-C is a common charging cable used by many devices today. But what you may not know is that it's about to get more powerful - way more powerful. An upgrade is coming in the second half of 2021 that'll let USB-C deliver 240 watts of electrical power, nearly two and a half times more than today's 100 watt maximum.
The More Powerful Version of USB-C
The new high-power version of USB-C will work with many new devices, probably the first being gaming laptops. These are big, beefy, powerful laptops that need a lot of juice to run their GPUs and big screens. The best thing about this new high-power USB-C is that you'll be able to banish a whole bunch of proprietary charging cables - just stick them in the junk drawer. You'll be able to charge all kinds of new electronics wherever you find a USB port, whether it's at a hotel, car, office, or airport.
A Brief History of USB
USB began as a way to transfer data, so you can plug in mice, keyboards, or printers into your PC. But these days, its ability to send power is just as important. You may not know exactly what USB-C is, but it's a new oval-shaped connector that first arrived in 2015.
One of the biggest benefits of USB-C is that there's no right side up or wrong side up - so you don't have to fiddle when you're plugging in the cable. Another big benefit is that it works on both laptops and phones, so you don't need separate charging cables. Additionally, it takes a lot more power, so you can charge laptops not just phones.
The First Version of USB-C
The first version of USB-C handled up to 100 watts - pretty good, but lots of devices need more power than a mainstream laptop. The biggest categories for high-power USB are gaming laptops and all-in-one desktops like an iMac. Some devices also require proprietary power chargers. However, the new high-power version of USB-C has much higher hopes.
The Future of High-Power USB-C
When I was talking to members of the standards group that charts the future for USB-C, it's pretty clear they have high hopes for this higher power version of the standard. They think it's going to spread to a lot more devices like power strips and power outlets in your wall. You'll be surprised to see more USB-C in your cars too.
Powering More Devices
The new high-power version of USB-C will make powering more devices easier, so you can plug them into any wall outlet or power strip - no need for proprietary chargers. The ability to send power is just as important as transferring data today.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enas you probably know this is usbc but what you may not know is that it's about to get more powerful way more powerful an upgrade is coming in the second half of 2021 that'll let usbc deliver 240 watts of electrical power that's nearly two and a half times more than today's 100 watt maximum the more powerful version of usbc is going to work with a lot of new devices probably the first is going to be gaming laptops these are big beefy powerful laptops that need a lot of juice to run their gpus and big screens the best thing about this new high power usbc is you'll be able to banish a whole bunch of proprietary charging cables just stick them in the junk drawer you'll be able to charge all kinds of new electronics wherever you find a usb port hotel car office airport you've certainly heard in usb charging which was first introduced in 1995 and now it's everywhere but you might not know exactly what usbc is it's a new oval-shaped connector that first arrived in 2015 one of its biggest benefits there's no right side up or wrong side up so you don't have to fiddle when you're plugging in the cable another big benefit it works on both laptops and phones so you don't need separate charging cables and also it takes a lot more power so you can charge laptops not just phones the first version of usbc handled up to 100 watts that's pretty good it's enough for a 16 inch macbook pro that's the top of the line laptop from apple but lots of devices need more power than a mainstream laptop biggest categories gaming laptops but also you could see high power usb working for all-in-one desktops like an imac i also have a docking station in my office all kinds of things plug into it but it needs a proprietary power charger right now it can also work for 4k monitors and external storage systems these are really common peripherals that a lot of people have to plug in high power usb-c is not for everything though like gaming rigs big desktop towers they take way more power than 240 watts but when i was talking to members of the standards group that charts the future for usbc it's pretty clear they have pretty high hopes for this higher power version of the standard they think it's going to spread it to a lot more devices like power strips and power outlets in your wall you'll be surprised to see more usbc in your cars too usb began as a way to transfer data so you can plug in mice or keyboards or printers into your pc but these days its ability to send power is just as important youas you probably know this is usbc but what you may not know is that it's about to get more powerful way more powerful an upgrade is coming in the second half of 2021 that'll let usbc deliver 240 watts of electrical power that's nearly two and a half times more than today's 100 watt maximum the more powerful version of usbc is going to work with a lot of new devices probably the first is going to be gaming laptops these are big beefy powerful laptops that need a lot of juice to run their gpus and big screens the best thing about this new high power usbc is you'll be able to banish a whole bunch of proprietary charging cables just stick them in the junk drawer you'll be able to charge all kinds of new electronics wherever you find a usb port hotel car office airport you've certainly heard in usb charging which was first introduced in 1995 and now it's everywhere but you might not know exactly what usbc is it's a new oval-shaped connector that first arrived in 2015 one of its biggest benefits there's no right side up or wrong side up so you don't have to fiddle when you're plugging in the cable another big benefit it works on both laptops and phones so you don't need separate charging cables and also it takes a lot more power so you can charge laptops not just phones the first version of usbc handled up to 100 watts that's pretty good it's enough for a 16 inch macbook pro that's the top of the line laptop from apple but lots of devices need more power than a mainstream laptop biggest categories gaming laptops but also you could see high power usb working for all-in-one desktops like an imac i also have a docking station in my office all kinds of things plug into it but it needs a proprietary power charger right now it can also work for 4k monitors and external storage systems these are really common peripherals that a lot of people have to plug in high power usb-c is not for everything though like gaming rigs big desktop towers they take way more power than 240 watts but when i was talking to members of the standards group that charts the future for usbc it's pretty clear they have pretty high hopes for this higher power version of the standard they think it's going to spread it to a lot more devices like power strips and power outlets in your wall you'll be surprised to see more usbc in your cars too usb began as a way to transfer data so you can plug in mice or keyboards or printers into your pc but these days its ability to send power is just as important you\n"
