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Best USB-C Adapter 2023 • 7 USB-C Adapters Reviews
In our ever-changing world, technology plays a huge role in our lives, it is meant to make life easier. However, the fast pace at which it changes has made it difficult devices to stay current — long. In order to use your device with all the new technology, adaptors have become great tools. With these items, you will be able to connect your one USB standard to another. In this guide, we want to focus on adaptors for the newest type of USB format available: USB-C. These handy adaptors will make it possible to transfer information between devices. As USB standards continue to change, USB type C emerged to solve existing problems. To ensure that you’re buying the best USB-C Adapter, we’ve spent a good amount of time testing each of the items in the product table below.
USB-C Adapter Leaderboard 2023
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What is a USB-C adapter and how does it work?
USB-C adapters were created to make many different types of input – SD or micro-SD cards, Ethernet, HDMI, previous USB of any type – compatible with the new USB-C input, that launched in 2014. This USB standard is used in the newest devices by Mac, Samsung, Google, and any other leading tech manufacturer.
What are the types of USB-C adapters?
The main difference between the various types of USB-C adapters are their different inputs. Since these adapters make USB-C devices compatible with virtually any other input or output method, the list of different types would be long. Therefore, we present these two common types of USB-C adapters:
Singles
A single adapter is a device with one USB-C in- or output and one other in- or output. The most common ones are USB-C to USB-A and USB-C to HDMI.
Hubs or Multiports
A so-called hub or multiport is an adapter with multiple inputs. The most common are USB-C to USB-A, HDMI and SD graphic cards. Some have multiple USB-A inputs or an input for micro SD graphic cards, VGA and ethernet cables.
Advantages and disadvantages of USB-C adapters
Advantages
- adapters enable you to use electronic devices of different ages with each other
- USB-C adapters can be very versatile
- USB-C adapters are often handy and small
Disadvantages
- some adapters do not enable charging but only data transport or vice versa
- adapters can slow down the USB-C connection
Shopping Criteria for USB-C adapters
Size
The size of the adapter you choose will be of crucial importance if you plan to travel or move around a lot, since this factor will determine how portable it is. You’ll find adapters made up solely of a cable with a single adapter head, these could even come in very small sizes. On the other hand, you can also find much larger devices, particularly those with more than 5 inputs. At the end of the day, the size of the device will largely be determined by your individual needs.
Number of inputs
The number of inputs, just like the size of the adapter, will largely depend on your specific needs. For instance, if you only need the adapter to make one device compatible with a USB-C computer, a single head adapter will do the job.
However, if on the other hand, you need to adapt all of your tech gear from previous USB inputs to a USB-C computer, you’ll need a much more complex piece of technology. You can find adapters with more than a handful of inputs and device compatibility.
Types of inputs
As you may have noticed throughout this article, USB-C adapters can come with a wide range of inputs that make the USB-C device, compatible with many other types of devices. Essentially serving as a transmitter to communicate with classic USB, SD or micro-SD cards, Ethernet cables, HDMI, etc.
Even though this may sound intuitive, make sure that the adapter you choose is compatible with the devices you want to access
Design
Even though the quality of product design can be largely subjective, it is still a very important and relevant aspect to consider. Keep in mind that the adapter you choose will hopefully last you a long time, so make sure it can adapt to your needs for space, taste, and color, among others.
Materials
The material of the device you choose will determine many relevant aspects concerning the functionality, weight, and toughness of said adapter. The material of the device will dictate the device’s likelihood to overheat or withstand hard blows. As a reference, aluminum offers one of the best solutions to all the factors mentioned before, it is robust, lightweight, and it stays cool.
Related links and sources
- https://www.computerworld.com/article/2488194/usb-c-explained-how-to-get-the-most-from-it-and-why-it-keeps-getting-better.html
- https://www.howtogeek.com/353410/3-problems-with-usb-c-you-need-to-know/
FAQ
What benefits do USB-C inputs offer over older USB standards?
The USB was a project that started in the second half of the 90s, as a joint venture between all the major tech manufacturers of the time (Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Compaq, DEC, NEC, and Nortel). The USB port was made to standardize hardware connections to computer devices. The most noticeable difference from any previous USB, is that the USB-C connection is completely reversible. Meaning, it can be connected to both sides. Furthermore, The USB type C has a smaller input, only 8.2 millimeters wide by 2.6 millimeters thick, just a little wider than a micro USB. If accompanied by the new USB 3.1 protocol, the USB C-type input offers higher transfer speeds than older inputs — as well as higher power. Last but not least, this new USB-C backward compatible, which means it is also compatible with the old USB 2.0 standard, this is great for hardware manufacturers.
What type of care does a USB-C adapter require?
Essentially, the adapter and the USB-C output will need similar care, which will already be less than the care older USB models require. The simple fact that USB-Cs are interchangeable, already makes them much easier to handle properly. This means you won’t have to worry about damaging the connection by trying to connect to the wrong input. Nonetheless, It should go without saying that you should never try to connect a USB type C to another USB input without an adaptor. This could break and irreversible damage to both devices.
How many input types can a USB-C adapter be compatible with?
The main advantage of these devices is that they are adaptors that make USB-C devices compatible with virtually any other input method. Which means that the more inputs the device has, the more devices it will be compatible with. The most common inputs are: HDMI video input in 4K quality, USB classic input and micro USB, SD and microSD graphics cards and Ethernet cables.
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