UK What USB-C means
USB-C, or USB Type-C, is a small, oval, reversible connector defined by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). The first specification was published in 2014, and the connector is now standard on laptops, phones, docks, monitors and a growing share of industrial computers.
The plug has 24 pins arranged symmetrically, so it fits either way up and both ends of a USB-C to USB-C cable are the same. That fixes the two everyday annoyances of older USB: plugging it in upside down and needing a different cable for each end.
The most important point is that USB-C describes the shape of the connector, not what travels through it. Two USB-C ports that look identical can run at very different speeds, and one may drive a monitor or charge a laptop while the other cannot. What a port does depends on the controller behind it and on the cable.
What a USB-C port can carry
Because the connector has several high-speed lanes plus dedicated configuration and power pins, one USB-C port can carry several kinds of traffic at once. The device and cable agree what to use when they are plugged in.
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USB data. Anything from USB 2.0 at 480 Mb/s through USB 3.2 at 5, 10 or 20 Gb/s to USB4 at 40 or 80 Gb/s.
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Video. DisplayPort Alt Mode sends a native DisplayPort signal down the same cable, so a single lead can drive a monitor. HDMI and other video need an adapter or a dock.
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Power. USB Power Delivery (USB PD) negotiates the voltage, from 5 V up to 20 V for 100 W, or up to 48 V for 240 W under USB PD 3.1 Extended Power Range.
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Thunderbolt. Thunderbolt 3, 4 and 5 use the USB-C connector, so a Thunderbolt port is always a USB-C port, but not every USB-C port supports Thunderbolt.
USB-C speeds and names
USB naming has changed several times, so the same speed can appear under three different labels on datasheets. The USB-IF now recommends describing ports by speed, such as USB 10Gbps or USB 40Gbps, which is the clearest way to compare them.
| Standard | Marketing name | Data rate | Connector | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB 2.0 | Hi-Speed USB | 480 Mb/s | USB-A, micro-B or USB-C | Charging, keyboards, touch controllers |
| USB 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 5Gbps | 5 Gb/s | USB-A or USB-C | Cameras, storage, peripherals |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2 | USB 10Gbps | 10 Gb/s | USB-A or USB-C | Fast SSDs, capture devices |
| USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 | USB 20Gbps | 20 Gb/s | USB-C only | External NVMe storage |
| USB4 | USB 40Gbps | 20 or 40 Gb/s | USB-C only | Docks, displays, PCIe tunnelling |
| USB4 Version 2.0 | USB 80Gbps | 80 Gb/s | USB-C only | High-resolution multi-display docks |
The port is only as fast as the slowest part of the link. A 40 Gb/s port connected through a USB 2.0 charging cable runs at 480 Mb/s.
Are all USB-C cables the same?
No, and this catches people out more than anything else about the connector. USB-C cables differ in three ways that are invisible from the outside.
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Data rate. Charge-only and USB 2.0 cables have no high-speed wires at all. Full-featured cables are rated for 5, 10, 20, 40 or 80 Gb/s.
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Current rating. Standard cables carry 3 A, which is 60 W at 20 V. Cables for 100 W or 240 W carry 5 A and must contain an electronically marked (e-marker) chip that tells the source what they can handle.
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Length. Passive cables for the highest data rates are short, typically under a metre for 40 Gb/s and above. Longer runs at full speed need active or optical cables.
USB-C in industrial systems
USB-C reached industrial computers later than laptops, but it is now common on compact systems. Several of our industrial NUC PCs have USB-C ports with USB4, which carry displays, storage and docks through one connector.
The most practical industrial use is the single-cable display. Our USB-C touch monitors take video, touch and power over one USB-C lead, which simplifies wiring on carts, kiosks and test benches where a separate power supply and HDMI cable would otherwise be needed.
Two cautions apply on the factory floor. A standard USB-C plug is held only by friction, so in vehicles or on vibrating machinery choose ports and cables with a locking option, such as the screw-lock design defined by the USB-IF, or fix the cable with a clamp. And because the connector looks the same whatever it supports, confirm on the datasheet which ports carry video, which deliver power and at what speed. Our guide to industrial USB applications covers how USB has been used in industrial equipment since the first standard.
Quick answers on USB-C
USB-C: common questions
What does a USB-C port look like?
A small, rounded oval about 8.4 mm wide. It has no up or down side, unlike the rectangular USB-A port. A lightning bolt next to it marks Thunderbolt, and a D-shaped DisplayPort logo marks video output.
Is USB-C the same as USB 3?
No. USB-C is the connector and USB 3.2 is a data standard. A USB-C port can run at USB 2.0, USB 3.2 or USB4 speeds, and USB 3.2 Gen 1 and Gen 2 also appear on USB-A ports.
Is Thunderbolt the same as USB-C?
No, but they share the connector. Thunderbolt is an Intel interface that uses USB-C ports and cables. Every Thunderbolt port accepts USB-C devices, but a plain USB-C port will not run Thunderbolt devices at full capability.
When did USB-C come out?
2014. The USB-IF published the USB Type-C specification in August 2014 and the first devices followed in 2015. EU rules have required USB-C charging on phones since the end of 2024 and on laptops since April 2026.
Can a USB-C port charge a laptop?
Yes, if both sides support USB Power Delivery at the right level. Most laptops need 45 to 100 W, which needs a USB PD charger and, above 60 W, a 5 A e-marked cable.
We fit and validate the USB, display and power arrangement of every system we supply as standard, including locking or clamped cables where vibration is a concern, so the ports you use are the ports that are tested.