USB cables are some of the most common pieces of tech in the world. You can find them packed in with just about every device out there. Most of us probably have a few USB cables lying around, leftover from old devices.
And since they’re so common, you might be wondering if they’re interchangeable. In other words, can you use any USB cable with any device?
The answer is yes USB cables are interchangeable. You can use the same cable which you used with your old USB device on your new Phone if both of them have the same charging port.
In this article, we’ll take a look at what makes USB cables interchangeable or universal, and how you can choose the right cable for your needs.
Interchanging Cables
USB cables have different connectors at each end. There’s a USB connector on one end and a mini or micro or C type connector on the other. The connectors are different from each other. All of them have different numbers of pins in them.
Not to mention they are also in different shapes which means you can not fit them into the wrong port without damaging the cable or port.
So as long as the USB cable you’re using has the right connectors for your devices that fit perfectly into your device, it will work.
It doesn’t matter what brand the cable(But it is recommended to avoid cheap USB cables as they might damage your devices) is or what device it is, It can be other gadgets like a Bluetooth speaker.
But let’s say you have a mice USB but your phone requires a type C cable. In this case, they are not interchangeable but you can use a micro USB to USB-C converter which can be used to charge a type C phone with a micro USB cable.
Are USB Cables Universal?
USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. USB cables are designed to be universal which means they can be used with any USB device.
The only thing you need to make sure is that your USB cable has the right connectors for your devices. You don’t want to force the connectors into the wrong port as you might damage your USB cable or device.
USB ports and cables come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them incompatible with other types of USB cords without the aid of an adaptor. So, USB cables can be classified as universal if have the same type of connector.
Are USB Cables All The Same?
USB cables might look the same but they are not all the same. USB cables have different transfer rate shapes and also differ in the charging speed.
Here are the 3 most common types of USB cables
USB Type A: the typical flat, rectangular interface that you can find on every USB cable.USB-A ports are often found on most PCs, laptops, etc. They can be found on TVs, game consoles, and other electronics as well. There is just one way to insert this cable.
Micro USB: Another former standard for portable and mobile devices that is steadily losing popularity. While some smartphones, tablets, USB power packs, and gaming controllers still use micro-USB, many have switched to USB-C.
USB Type C: The newest USB cable. It is a reversible cable with greater power and transmission rates than earlier USB variants. It is found on newer devices like the Samsung Galaxy S20.
The basic difference between all these cables is in their shape. USB Type A is the oldest type while USB Type c is the newest one with a much higher data transfer speed. USB C is also reversible which means you can insert it into the port without checking for the orientation.
Are USB cables device specific?
USB cables are not device-specific, but the ports they plug into might be. For example, Apple devices use a proprietary Lightning connector rather than USB-A or USB-C.
So, while you can plug a USB-C to Lightning cable into your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, you can’t plug a USB-A cable into those devices. The same is true of some Android devices that use USB micro-B or USB-C rather than USB-A.
Make sure you have the right USB cable for your devices. The wrong USB cable won’t physically fit into the port, and even if it does, it won’t work.
Are USB 2.0 and 3.0 cables interchangeable?
Yes, USB 3.0 is compatible with USB 2.0 that is, it is made to function with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 as well as newer USB versions.
A USB 2.0 device can be plugged into a USB 3.0 port and will always function, but it will only operate at USB 2.0 technology’s speed.
How to tell the difference between USB 2.0 and 3.0 cables?
The two cables are different on the inside even though they have the same shape and size as the connector. In comparison to a USB 3.0 cable, USB 2.0 contains fewer wiring and can appear to be considerably smaller in gauge.
A newer USB 3.0 cable has been released, it can handle up to 10 times as much data transfer (5gb/s) compare to its predecessor.
You can tell the difference between USB cables by the color of the plastic inside the cable. If it is colored white or black then it is USB 2.0 but if it is colored blue instead then it is a 3.0 USB cable.
Conclusion
I hope you found this article helpful. In theory Yes, USB cables are interchangeable as long as they have the same type of connector or in simple words if they fit into the USB port.
USB ports and cables come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making them incompatible with other types of USB cords without some kind of connector.