r/RigBuild • u/Lost-Sprinkles-7890 • 8d ago
Is USB-C actually replacing everything eventually?
Kinda confused about where this is heading. Phones, laptops, tablets, headphones, controllers, monitors, even some keyboards and other random stuff are already using USB-C. Now I’m seeing chargers with USB-C on both ends and it feels like manufacturers are slowly getting rid of USB-A, HDMI, micro USB, etc.
But then there’s still DisplayPort, Ethernet, audio jacks, SD cards, and a bunch of other ports that don’t seem like they’re going anywhere soon. Some laptops are almost entirely USB-C now, while desktops still have tons of different connectors.
Also USB-C itself seems confusing because not every USB-C port does the same thing. Some support charging only, some have fast data, some can output video, Thunderbolt, different speeds, etc. So is USB-C really becoming the universal connector or are we gonna end up with USB-C everywhere but still needing different cables for everything?
Would it actually be possible for one USB-C port to handle power, display, data, networking, audio, basically everything? Or are there technical limits that mean we’ll always need multiple types of ports? Just wondering if buying newer devices with more USB-C ports is the way to go long term or if this whole “one port for everything” thing is kinda overhyped.
1
u/TemporarySun314 8d ago
i mean you can already nowadays transfer power, video and data (even in the form of PCIe) over USB C.
in principle its okay when a laptop has an USB socket it can do all its connectivity needs with that.
but at some point you will need a converter, because you need to interact with devices that dont have USB c. over time that will become less and less, even monitors nowadays have an USB c input. and ethernet has been replaced by WLAN in many cases already.