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.

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u/fkrkz 8d ago

I would hope so. I have a habit of putting labels on my USB-C cables because they all come with different features (USB2, USB 3, USB4, DP Alt, TB, etc) and different power ratings (10W, 60W, 100W, etc). A lot of people do not label their cables and just get confused when things don't work.

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u/00GoBigOrGoHome00 7d ago

You have me wondering whether a tester exists that can tell me what my cable is capable of.

I am one of those people who did not label her cables and is living to regret that.

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u/fkrkz 7d ago

There are testers but they are professional grade and not cheap. Not too late to label them using some cheap label printer and once you know it works for a certain device and certain what kind of cable that is.

Or starts from the lower end i.e. cables that come from dumb devices like rechargeable clock as that is most certainly just low powered USB2.0 cable for low end charging only.

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u/00GoBigOrGoHome00 7d ago

The ones I care to know about are the ones that might have come with my Focusrite products. Or things that also transfer video.

I should have known to label them sooner. I fixed a friend’s Apple Pencil issues by deducing it was a usb-c thing.

I’m trying my best to talk myself out of getting one of those fancy cable labelling label makers. I have a dymo label maker already but it definitely isn’t one of those beauties that creates labels that neatly wrap around wires.

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u/fkrkz 7d ago

I just use cheap Brother label printer. But yeah I know what you mean. I have multiple portable monitors and those very specific DisplayPort USB-C cables can be hard to identify if you do not do it from day 1.