The New Reversible USB Is Here!!

The USB reversible plug is coming. Soon, there won’t be just one right way.

CNet is reporting the USB Promoter Group has finalized design on the new, reversible USB plug. Known as the USB Type C, which was announced last December, it is intended to eradicate many of the current problems with USB cables and ports. The biggest issue is the “right-way plug in,” a frustrating common problem. Many a person has tried to plug in a USB device, only to have to turn the cable to get the plug in correctly. USB Type C can go into the USB Type C plug in either right side up or upside down, much like Apple’s Lightning connector.

The USB Type C will be small enough for portable devices, while being sturdy enough for personal computers.

“Interest in the USB Type-C connector has not only been global, but cross-industry as well,” said USB 3.0 Promoter Group chairman Brad Saunders. “Representatives from the PC, mobile, automotive and IoT industries have been knocking down our door anticipating this new standard. This specification is the culmination of an extensive, cooperative effort among industry leaders to standardize the next generation USB connector as a long-lasting, robust solution.”

Extremetech is reporting the new USB will be roughly the same size as that of the Micro-USB plugin your smartphone uses to charge the battery, with a port size of 8.4 by 2.6mm, yet will be compatible with SuperSpeed USB at 10Gbps (USB 3.1). But the new design has 18 pins, in two rows, essentially putting two 3.1 SuperSpeed connectors together, making the unit reversible. Both the top and bottom rows can connect devices for data transfer and/or power supply. Unfortunately, the USB Type C is not backwards compatible. Therefore, consumers will have to purchase adapters to connect new devices to older devices. The situation is similar to Apple’s release of the new iPhone power cable but on a much grander scale. Anyone who has printers, cameras, mp3 devices, or the like, will need to get new cables or adapters if they get new devices or a new computer.

Though no date has been set, the new USB Type C should become integrated into new computers’ motherboards within the next few months, and then some cables and adapters soon after that. We’ll probably see the first Type-C smartphones in 2015. Expect some of these Type-C connectors to support the new Power Delivery spec, too (especially in laptops and desktops). It will support USB Power Delivery up to 100W, with additional support for scalable power charging and future USB performance needs.