4 ms·

I haven't gone searching for answers, but purely from speculation, the sturdiness of the USB Type-C ports seems like a regression with comparison to USB 1/2/3 p

I haven't gone searching for answers, but purely from speculation, the sturdiness of the USB Type-C ports seems like a regression with comparison to USB 1/2/3 ports. I love how rugged USB ports have felt in the past (that is, before type-C).

rl3 11y ago
I find the opposite. USB Type-C ports seem more sturdy to me than prior USB standards. It's possible that's because my Type-C hardware is newer, and the other hardware I'm comparing it to has years of use. I find that with regular use, connectors and ports naturally loosen up over time. One other possibility might be spec compliance. A lot of the third-party Type-C hardware out there right now isn't fully compliant. If you're shopping for Type-C adapters or cords, definitely only buy stuff that's 100% compliant.
stordoff 11y ago
I can't really comment of the ports, but the connector at least seems like a step up from microUSB connectors for phones etc.. Those have always seem flimsy to me, and I've damaged a couple trying to plug them in backwards. I don't foresee having the issues with Type-C (especially as it is reversible as well).
notatoad 11y ago
Have you used a USB type-c device? They look small, but they have a really strong hold and feel much stronger than any other connector type I've used.
- mrsteveman1 11y ago
  How would you compare them to Apple's Lightning connectors in that regard?
chipsy 11y ago
I find the sturdy feeling is mostly derived from the specific devices in question. My "main" laptop has looser ports than my old netbook; when I connect some brands of flash drive, they tilt a little bit out of the port. But with other brands the fit is solid. In all cases we're talking about USB2 devices.
desdiv 11y ago
Funny, because data says otherwise: Original USB: 1,500 connect-disconnect cycles Mini USB: 5000 cycles Micro-USB: 10,000 cycles USB Type-C: 10,000 cycles [0] http://www.anandtech.com/show/8377/usb-typec-connector-specifications-finalized http://www.anandtech.com/show/8377/usb-typec-connector-speci...
- shawn-furyan 11y ago
  Connect-Disconnect cycle performance doesn't have much to do with a cable's "rugged"-ness, i.e. robustness to normal stressors encountered during normal use. I've destroyed a million percent more Micro-USB cables than previous USB standard cables because the connectors are prone to irrevocably deforming when stepped on or when the cable gets lightly tugged up or down when plugged into a device. Simply put, connect-disconnect cycles aren't the biggest threat that USB style cables encounter in normal use, and so this metric has little to say on the topic of cable ruggedness.
- mchahn 11y ago
  Survival to cycling is very different than ruggedness. The power supply to my 2015 pixel (60 watts, btw) goes over type-C, I accidentally stood up with it plugged in, and the wires were pulled out of the connector. I didn't feel much resistance. The connector was still in the socket and the laptop was fine. The worst part is that the cable is hard-wired to the supply so I had to throw out a very expensive supply instead of just replacing a cable. I had to pay for a real google supply because it is the only 60W available. The second closest is the Apple at 35W. And, the google supply comes into stock once a month and sells out in two days each month. I had to wait and check the site twice a day. I suspect people buy them for other devices since they can't be matched.

rl3 11y ago

I find the opposite. USB Type-C ports seem more sturdy to me than prior USB standards. It's possible that's because my Type-C hardware is newer, and the other hardware I'm comparing it to has years of use. I find that with regular use, connectors and ports naturally loosen up over time. One other possibility might be spec compliance. A lot of the third-party Type-C hardware out there right now isn't fully compliant. If you're shopping for Type-C adapters or cords, definitely only buy stuff that's 100% compliant.

stordoff 11y ago

I can't really comment of the ports, but the connector at least seems like a step up from microUSB connectors for phones etc.. Those have always seem flimsy to me, and I've damaged a couple trying to plug them in backwards. I don't foresee having the issues with Type-C (especially as it is reversible as well).

notatoad 11y ago

Have you used a USB type-c device? They look small, but they have a really strong hold and feel much stronger than any other connector type I've used.

mrsteveman1 11y ago
How would you compare them to Apple's Lightning connectors in that regard?

chipsy 11y ago

I find the sturdy feeling is mostly derived from the specific devices in question. My "main" laptop has looser ports than my old netbook; when I connect some brands of flash drive, they tilt a little bit out of the port. But with other brands the fit is solid. In all cases we're talking about USB2 devices.

desdiv 11y ago

Funny, because data says otherwise: Original USB: 1,500 connect-disconnect cycles Mini USB: 5000 cycles Micro-USB: 10,000 cycles USB Type-C: 10,000 cycles [0] http://www.anandtech.com/show/8377/usb-typec-connector-specifications-finalized http://www.anandtech.com/show/8377/usb-typec-connector-speci...

shawn-furyan 11y ago
Connect-Disconnect cycle performance doesn't have much to do with a cable's "rugged"-ness, i.e. robustness to normal stressors encountered during normal use. I've destroyed a million percent more Micro-USB cables than previous USB standard cables because the connectors are prone to irrevocably deforming when stepped on or when the cable gets lightly tugged up or down when plugged into a device. Simply put, connect-disconnect cycles aren't the biggest threat that USB style cables encounter in normal use, and so this metric has little to say on the topic of cable ruggedness.
mchahn 11y ago
Survival to cycling is very different than ruggedness. The power supply to my 2015 pixel (60 watts, btw) goes over type-C, I accidentally stood up with it plugged in, and the wires were pulled out of the connector. I didn't feel much resistance. The connector was still in the socket and the laptop was fine. The worst part is that the cable is hard-wired to the supply so I had to throw out a very expensive supply instead of just replacing a cable. I had to pay for a real google supply because it is the only 60W available. The second closest is the Apple at 35W. And, the google supply comes into stock once a month and sells out in two days each month. I had to wait and check the site twice a day. I suspect people buy them for other devices since they can't be matched.