Why do you need to learn about them?
Cost-effective: If you buy components or devices that have compatible interfaces, you can use them together without spending extra money on adapters or other additional devices.
In general, knowledge about the characteristics of interfaces is important to ensure proper functioning and interaction between different devices and components.
The interface is a set of means, methods and rules of interaction between system elements. This term is used in many fields of science and technology. Its meaning belongs to any combination of interdependent entities (both natural, hardware and man-machine).
In this article, we will specifically discuss with you the main interfaces, such as: micro-USB, Type-C and Lightning. Micro-USB is a standard type of USB connector used for data transfer and charging of mobile devices. It was introduced in 2007 and is one of the most common USB connectors.
The main characteristics of the micro-USB connector:
• Size: The connector measures 6.85 mm × 1.8 mm and is smaller than its predecessor – Mini-USB, which allows manufacturers to reduce the size of mobile devices.
• Number of pins: Micro-USB has 5 pins that transmit data and power. These pins include D+ and D- (for data), as well as VBUS, GND, and ID (for power).
• OTG support: Micro-USB supports the USB On-The-Go (OTG) function, which allows you to connect other USB devices such as flash drives, keyboards, mice and more to the device.
• Power supply: Micro-USB supports a supply voltage of 5V, which allows you to charge mobile devices.
This connector has become a fairly common standard for charging and data transfer of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. But, unfortunately, due to the design miscalculations of the manufacturer, Micro-USB can have problems with wear and tear and is not securely attached to the printed circuit board. As a result: the connector may loosen and lose contact. This can be a problem for small devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers, e-readers and pocket digital players.
A more modern version of the USB family is the Type-C connector.
It has an oblong shape with rounded ends and 23 contacts, and is horizontally symmetrical, allowing the plug to be inserted from either side into the socket.
This connector is commonly used for data transfer and charging on smartphones and tablets, and has a data transfer rate of 5 Gb/s (up to 10 Gb/s in the latest versions). It also supports a current of up to 5 amps (up to 100W), which increases the speed of charging devices with the support of the Power Delivery charging protocol.
Due to the number of contacts soldered to the connector and the possibility of inserting it in two ways, the design ensures reliable attachment to the board.
From December 28, 2024, the European Union required manufacturers of mobile phones, tablet computers, digital cameras, headphones and portable game consoles to switch to USB Type-C as the only port for charging wired devices.
USB Type-C is becoming increasingly popular among electronics manufacturers because this interface is more versatile and functional than its predecessors.
Now we go directly to USB Lightning.
The main difference between the Lightning cable and others is that it is a completely digital connector and does not transmit an analog signal. In addition, the cable was made symmetrical, which allows it to be connected from any side.
The data transfer speed through the Lightning cable is up to 5 Gbps, and the charging speed is up to 20 W. It is worth noting that Lightning wires may differ among themselves. For example, USB 2.0 cables are usually included with iPhone smartphones, AirPods headphones and other accessories.
In addition, the Lightning cable supports two fast charging modes: with a voltage of 5 V with a current of up to 3 amperes (up to 15 W) and with a voltage of 9 V with a current of up to 2.22 amperes (up to 20 W). Fast charging of some iPhone models, such as iPhone 12, iPhone SE (3rd generation) and newer, requires a power adapter with a minimum output power of 20W. If you connect a third-party power adapter, it must meet certain specifications, such as a frequency of 50 to 60 Hz, a mains voltage of 100 to 240 V AC, an output voltage/current of 9 V DC / 2.2 A, a minimum output power of 20 W and the presence of a USB-C output port.
It will not be correct to draw an unequivocal conclusion about which connector is better, since each of them has its own advantages and limitations. The choice depends on the specific situation and user requirements.
