Micro-USB is a miniature version of the Universal Serial Interface (USB) designed to connect compact and portable devices such as smartphones and MP3 players.
There are five different types of USB connectors: Micro USB Type A (the original), Micro USB Type B, USB Type C, Mini USB, and Micro USB 3 (USB 3.0). Micro-USB 3.0 has two extra pins on the side for twice the number of wires, enabling the faster speeds of USB 3.0. As a standard USB connector, the micro-USB versions are easy to use and hot-swappable.
USB Type-A connectors have been phased out in favor of smaller, lighter, and more durable USB Type-B connectors. Micro-USB connectors have also been phased out in favor of USB Type-C connectors. Micro USB 2.0 ports can also accept standard Micro Type B cables, but not all devices have this capability. Some devices have an A/A double connection.
USB-A on the left and micro-USB on the right. You can already see the difference in size, but the cables usually have USB-A on one end and micro-USB on the other (photos: Sir Apfelot).
The micro USB connector consists of four main components: the connector, the housing, the contacts and the circuit board. The micro USB cable has a twisted pair of wires to carry the power and signals needed for faster data transfer. Micro-USB has been a standard connector for charging mobile devices, but it's being replaced more and more by USB-C - not least because the EU is pushing manufacturers to go for USB-C.
Advantages of Micro-USB over older USB connectors
Micro USB connectors are smaller than standard USB connectors. Standard USB connectors are around 15×21mm, while Micro USB connectors are only around 10-11mm wide.
Micro USB is a smaller connector for mobile and compact electronic devices such as smartphones and cameras and has several advantages over other connectors, including higher power delivery and data transfer speed, which is better.
Disadvantages of micro USB connectors
Micro-USB is easier to connect and disconnect than other connector types, however, it is not possible to insert the micro-USB connector in every turn. Sometimes you have to twist the plug to fit the socket. This is because the connector is not completely balanced.
The USB Type-C plug offers great advantages here, because it is also small, but always fits into the socket - no matter how it is turned. To put it technically: It is rotationally symmetrical.
USB-C is simply the better Micro-USB because it is rotationally symmetrical and is also suitable for USB 4.
The History of the Micro USB Connector
USB, the abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus, has been around since 1996. It was developed in 1996 by Intel and Microsoft. Today it's the most common way to connect hot devices together, but the trend is towards USB-C connectors.
The Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a serial bus standard for connecting peripheral devices to computers. It was designed to replace the parallel port and other legacy ports. The USB supports both high-speed 480 Mbps operation and full-speed 12 Mbps operation. The USB interface is fully compatible with existing devices and software.
Micro-USB was invented to enable small, portable devices. Its popularity grew due to its versatility and ease of portability. Micro-USB was first introduced in 2007 and quickly became the standard for charging cell phones and other small electronic devices.
Micro USB connectors are so small that they can be easily connected to compact devices such as smartphones, tablets, digital cameras and many others. In conjunction with chargers or power banks, micro USB cables are used to charge mobile devices.
Jens has been running the blog since 2012. He appears as Sir Apfelot for his readers and helps them with problems of a technical nature. In his free time he drives electric unicycles, takes photos (preferably with his iPhone, of course), climbs around in the Hessian mountains or hikes with the family. His articles deal with Apple products, news from the world of drones or solutions for current bugs.
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