USB-C

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USB-C Reviews

Review: Kingston's Nucleum USB-C Hub Adds Much-Needed Ports to Your MacBook or MacBook Pro

Tuesday June 12, 2018 11:08 am PDT by
With Apple's decision to embrace USB-C on all of its modern Macs, the company has created a need for USB-C docks so that we can continue to use all of our non-USB C peripherals as we wait for the rest of the tech industry to catch up. Kingston's Nucleum USB Type-C Hub is designed to meet that need, offering a selection of useful ports for MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac owners who still need to ...

Review: CalDigit AV Pro 2 Combines External USB-C Storage With a USB Hub and 30W of Charging Power

Tuesday October 31, 2017 2:02 pm PDT by
CalDigit recently launched its AV Pro 2 storage hub, a USB-C accessory that serves not only as an external drive with up to 8 TB of storage, but also acts a peripheral hub with two additional Type-A USB 3.0 ports and can charge a connected computer at up to 30 watts. The AV Pro 2 is available in a range of capacities in both traditional 7200 rpm hard drive and solid-state drive models,...

Review: LG's $1500 38UC99 UltraWide Display Offers a Giant, Desk-Filling Workspace

Friday March 17, 2017 1:34 pm PDT by
We've already looked at LG's UltraFine 5K and 27UD88 displays as companions for Apple's latest notebooks, and today we're taking a look at another USB-C display option that brings something quite different: LG's 38UC99 curved "UltraWide" display. This is a desk-filling display in the truest sense of the term: 37.5 inches on the diagonal with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a native resolution of...

LG 27UD88 Review: A Well-Rounded Ultra HD Display With USB-C

Friday January 20, 2017 10:46 am PST by
A few weeks ago, we took a look at LG's new 27-inch UltraFine 5K display designed in partnership with Apple to pair with the new MacBook Pro. While it's a high-quality screen that offers a sharp, spacious, Retina desktop, the overall design has generated mixed reactions, particularly in comparison to Apple's design standards. At a standard price of $1299 and even Apple's discounted price of...

Review: OWC's 'USB-C Dock' Expands MacBook Connectivity Options With Ten Ports

Monday January 18, 2016 1:54 pm PST by
Since the launch of Apple's Retina MacBook last April, users have been looking for ways to expand the functionality of the single port included on the machine, a USB-C that can support a multitude of functions including power and data. Many third-party companies have begun shipping single-use dongles and small hubs for MacBook fans to be able to get full use out of their ultra-thin 12-inch...

SanDisk Dual USB Drive Type-C Review: No-Hassle File Transfers for Apple's New MacBook

Tuesday June 23, 2015 12:04 pm PDT by
Known for providing a variety of storage solutions for desktop and mobile devices, SanDisk continues its trend of easy-to-use storage devices supporting multiple connector standards with its new Dual USB Drive Type-C. Taking aim at the growing use of USB-C in the tech industry, the Dual USB Drive includes connectors for both USB-A 3.0 and USB-C that allow users to transfer files between a...

USB-C How Tos

iPhone 15 Pro: How to Transfer Data Over USB-C at 10Gbps Speed

Thursday September 21, 2023 3:11 pm PDT by
All of Apple's iPhone 15 models come with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but not all devices in the lineup offer the same port data transfer speed. The iPhone 15 switch to USB-C brings several conveniences, such as the ability to use the same charging cable for Macs, iPads, iPhones, and other USB-C accessories. Now that the iPhone 15 models have a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, ...

iPhone 15: How to Charge Apple Watch, AirPods, or Another iPhone

Thursday September 21, 2023 9:34 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models use a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port for charging and data transfer purposes, and the new port also allows an ‌iPhone 15‌ to charge AirPods or an Apple Watch directly. If your AirPods or Apple Watch run out of battery while you don't have access to a charger, now you can use your ‌iPhone‌'s battery for a little extra juice rather...

USB-C Guides

High-Capacity USB-C Battery Pack Comparison and Review

Monday February 25, 2019 11:52 am PST by
A few years ago, it was difficult to find a USB-C battery pack capable of charging a MacBook at a speed of 30 or 45W, but with Apple and other companies increasingly embracing USB-C technology for everything from smartphones to laptops, high-powered USB-C battery packs have become more readily available. Higher-watt USB-C battery packs are ideal for fast charging iPhones and iPad Pros,...

USB-C Articles

switch and macbook pro

Nintendo Switch Acts as External Battery Pack for USB-C MacBook Pro, Parental Control App Available

Thursday March 2, 2017 6:22 am PST by
The Nintendo Switch launches worldwide tomorrow, March 3, and as journalists and reviewers have had their hands on the console for the past week, news of its hardware and software features have been shared online. This week, Quartz technology reporter Mike Murphy discovered that when plugging the Nintendo Switch into a MacBook Pro through a dual USB-C cable, the Switch inexplicably acts as an ...
Lightning iPhone 7

Ming-Chi Kuo Says All 2017 iPhones Will Have Lightning Connectors With USB-C Fast Charging

Thursday March 2, 2017 6:02 am PST by
All three iPhones rumored to be launched in 2017 will retain Lightning connectors with the addition of USB-C Power Delivery for faster charging, including an all-new OLED model with a larger L-shaped battery and updated 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. An excerpt from his latest research note obtained by MacRumors:New 2H17 models may all support ...
lightning to micro usb adapter

One Analyst Thinks the iPhone 8 Will Still Have a Lightning Connector With USB-C Adapter for Europe

Tuesday February 28, 2017 7:31 am PST by
The Wall Street Journal today reported that at least one upcoming iPhone model will include a USB-C port instead of a Lightning connector. If the report is accurate, a single USB-C cable could be used to charge the so-called iPhone 8, 12-inch MacBook, or the latest MacBook Pro models.People familiar with Apple’s plans said the iPhone releases this year would include two models with the...
Dell 27 ultrathin

LG and Dell to Showcase Latest USB-C Displays for New MacBook Pro at CES This Week

Monday January 2, 2017 1:00 pm PST by
CES 2017 kicks off in Las Vegas this week, and a handful of USB-C displays compatible with the new MacBook Pro will be unveiled at the show. USB-C displays display up to 4K video, transfer data, and charge the new MacBook Pro over a single cable connected between the display and notebook. Dell today introduced the S2718D Ultrathin Monitor, a 27-inch IPS display which it claims is the "world"s...
apple usb c cable

Apple Extends Discounts on USB-C Adapters and Accessories Until March 31

Tuesday December 20, 2016 7:48 am PST by
Last month, Apple dropped the price on all of its USB-C adapters and accessories by $6 to $20 until December 31. Today, it has extended that discount until March 31, 2017 for many of the products. A full list of prices on the adapters in the United States is below: - USB-C to USB Adapter - Was $19, now $9 - Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter - Was $49, now $29 - USB-C Digital AV...
HP ENVY 27 Display 4K

HP Launches 4K ENVY Display With USB-C for New MacBook Pro

Wednesday December 7, 2016 5:05 am PST by
HP today launched its 27-inch ENVY display with 4K Ultra HD resolution and a built-in USB-C port for charging the new MacBook Pro, 12-inch MacBook, or most other USB-C devices at up to 60 watts over a single cable. The IPS LED-backlit display features a clean design with a micro-edge bezel, matte black rear panel, and a thin aluminum stand. The base can be detached for VESA wall or arm...
side 2016 macbook pro

USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 Display Buyer's Guide for New MacBook Pro

Wednesday November 16, 2016 10:40 am PST by
Apple's new MacBook Pro models feature between two and four Thunderbolt 3 ports that carry power, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA over a single cable, creating one standard for connecting most accessories and peripherals. Thunderbolt 3 uses the same connector type as USB-C, also called Type-C, meaning the new MacBook Pros are compatible with a growing lineup of USB-C external displays. USB-C ...
2016 macbook pro adapters

Thunderbolt 3/USB-C Adapters, Cables, and Hubs for New MacBook Pro

Tuesday November 1, 2016 12:57 pm PDT by
In line with the 12-inch MacBook, Apple has removed all ports on the new MacBook Pro beyond two or four Thunderbolt 3 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Thunderbolt 3 carries power, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA over a single USB-C port, creating one standard for connecting most accessories and peripherals. The issue for now, however, is not all devices are equipped with USB-C ports....
12 inch macbook 4K monitor

HDMI Announces USB-C to HDMI Cables for 4K Displays and TVs

Thursday September 1, 2016 6:31 am PDT by
The licensing group behind the HDMI interface has introduced a new HDMI Alternate Mode that will allow for USB-C devices like the 12-inch MacBook, smartphones, and tablets to connect to HDMI-enabled 4K displays and TVs over a single cable, with no adapters or dongles required. The new specification will lead to the release of simple HDMI to USB-C cables that support the full range of HDMI...
macbook pros 2015

Apple to Release New MacBook Pro and Air as Early as October, AMD iMacs and 5K Display With LG Also in Works

Monday August 29, 2016 3:35 pm PDT by
Apple is planning to refresh its Mac lineup, including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, as early as October, according to Bloomberg. The report also claims Apple is working on a standalone 5K display in partnership with LG Electronics, while it plans to update iMac models with an option for new graphics chips from AMD. The report reiterates that the new MacBook Pro will be thinner and...
wozniak

Woz Laments No Headphone Jack on iPhone 7, Sees USB-C as Future of Audio

Wednesday August 24, 2016 1:30 am PDT by
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has predicted a consumer backlash if Apple drops the headphone jack in the upcoming iPhone 7 in favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector for audio output, charging, and accessory connectivity. "If it's missing the 3.5mm earphone jack, that's going to tick off a lot of people," claimed Woz, speaking to The Australian Financial Review. "I would not use...
iPhone lightning USB C

Intel Touts USB-C as Future of Digital Audio as Apple Set to Ditch Headphone Jack

Wednesday August 17, 2016 7:04 am PDT by
While the consensus is that Apple will remove the 3.5mm headphone jack on new iPhones unveiled next month, in favor of an all-in-one Lightning connector for audio output, charging, and accessory connectivity, Intel continues to position USB-C as the open standard of the future for digital audio. At IDF 2016 this week, CNET reports that Intel architect Brad Saunders addressed the USB Type-C...
macbook airs 2015

MacBook Air With USB-C Again Rumored, Launch Timeframe Unclear

Wednesday July 27, 2016 8:01 am PDT by
Last month, Japanese blog Mac Otakara reported that Apple plans to announce new MacBook Air models featuring USB-C ports based on the Thunderbolt 3 protocol by the end of June, and begin shipping the notebooks to retailers in August. It is now seven weeks later, however, and the rumor has yet to materialize. But if a new report from Taiwanese website DigiTimes is to believed, Apple still has ...
Kanex GoPower MacBook

Kanex Launches GoPower USB-C Battery Pack for MacBook

Wednesday May 25, 2016 5:12 am PDT by
Kanex has introduced a new GoPower rechargeable 15,000 mAh USB-C battery pack capable of delivering one full charge to the 12-inch Retina MacBook. The slim aluminum battery pack also has a traditional USB port that can provide multiple charges to iPhones, iPads, and other USB devices. USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables are included for charging the GoPower itself. A four-LED status...
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Intel Wants to Replace 3.5mm Headphone Jack With USB-C Audio

Thursday April 28, 2016 4:54 am PDT by
Intel this week announced plans to usher in the adoption of an audio USB Type-C connector that would replace the standard 3.5 millimeter analog jack and eventually be capable of digital audio transmission (via Anandtech). The plans were announced during the Intel Developers Forum (IDF) in Shenzhen, China, where the semiconductor manufacturer set out its project to develop USB Type-C Digital...
Griffin USB C BreakSafe Cable

Griffin’s $40 BreakSafe Power Cable Brings MagSafe to the 12-Inch MacBook Starting April 25

Thursday April 21, 2016 9:42 am PDT by
Griffin Technology has announced that its BreakSafe Magnetic USB-C Power Cable for the 12-inch Retina MacBook, including the new Early 2016 model introduced earlier this week, will start shipping on Monday, April 25. BreakSafe is a magnetic breakaway power cable for USB-C laptops such as the 12-inch MacBook which, unlike the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, does not feature Apple's proprietary...
CalDigit

CalDigit Announces New Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C Storage Devices

Monday April 18, 2016 10:37 am PDT by
Today at the 2016 NAB Show, CalDigit announced four new storage products utilizing the latest Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3.1 Type-C technologies. The first is the CalDigit T8, a Thunderbolt 3 RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, and JBOD storage solution with 8-bays offering capacities up to 48TB with 3.5” HDDs and 8TB with SSDs. The device's dual Thunderbolt 3 ports deliver up to 40Gb/s bandwidth, while dual USB-C...
Seagate Innov8

Seagate Launches First USB-Powered Desktop Hard Drive

Wednesday March 30, 2016 6:52 am PDT by
Seagate today announced the launch of the Innov8, which it claims to be the world's first desktop-class external hard drive that does not need to be plugged into a power outlet. The HDD is compatible with the Retina MacBook and other USB-C notebooks. Innov8 is an 8TB hard drive powered by a single USB-C cable, eliminating the need for a dedicated power source or adapter. The achievement was...
2100

Amazon Bans Sale of Potentially Dangerous USB-C Cables

Wednesday March 30, 2016 3:53 am PDT by
Amazon has tightened restrictions on the sale of USB-C cables and adapters on its online store in an effort to protect customers from risky substandard products (via The Verge). The online retailer added non-compliant USB-C cables to its list of prohibited items, following a flood of potentially damaging third-party cables onto the market. The new note on Amazon's page of undesirables...
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Apple Offers Lightning to USB-C Cable for Fast-Charging 12.9-inch iPad Pro

Monday March 21, 2016 12:17 pm PDT by
Apple has introduced a Lightning to USB-C Cable to its online accessory store that lets users connect their iPhone, iPad, or iPod with Lightning connector to a computer’s USB-C port for syncing and charging. Significantly, the cable can be used with an Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter to take advantage of the fast charging feature on the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but not the brand new 9.7-inch iPad...