Almost definitely a cost decision. USB-C alternate mode for Displayport currently (and probably always will) requires an external port controller to negotiate

Almost definitely a cost decision. USB-C alternate mode for Displayport currently (and probably always will) requires an external port controller to negotiate the alternate mode with the other end of the cable over the configuration channel (CC) pins, and possibly a high speed mux[2] if you want USB-3.0 over the same pins as well. Simpler applications like analogue headphones or USB-C to Type A adaptor cables just use specific resistor values instead, a wise decision by the standards body IMO. Of course, if you have that built into the SoC[3], the cost of that is reduced a lot once the IP license is covered, and makes sense for a several hundred dollar phone/laptop, though there are some extra electical requirements that come with USB-C such as tolerating 20V (in case someone plugs in a laptop adaptor that has not discharged down to 5V in time) that is hard to implement in the same silicon as the rest of the SoC, and so some external logic is almost always needed. In addition, an actual USB-C connector is relatively expensive due to the high pin count, fine tolerances and the shape requiring use of deep-draw or metal-injection-moulding method. Micro HDMI has much simpler interface requirements, sometimes some discrete transistors for the hot plug detect signal and a low speed level shifter for the DDC bus. The connector can be cheaper to manufacture as well as the shell can be stamped out like a Micro USB connector. There are licensing costs[4] for HDMI, while DisplayPort is royalty free, but I reckon Broadcom can negotiate that down considerably from the published figures, and I can't see USB-C being cheaper than the listed 5 cents per device charge. [1] https://www.cypress.com/products/ez-pd-ccg1-type-c-port-controller https://www.cypress.com/products/ez-pd-ccg1-type-c-port-cont... [2] http://www.ti.com/product/HD3SS3220 http://www.ti.com/product/HD3SS3220 [3] https://ip.cadence.com/ipportfolio/ip-portfolio-overview/interface-ip/usb-ip/usb-type-c/usb-type-c-port-controller https://ip.cadence.com/ipportfolio/ip-portfolio-overview/int... [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#HDMI_Fee_Structure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDMI#HDMI_Fee_Structure