Android smartphones have enjoyed the ability for years now to use a USB-C cable to charge other devices using the battery on their own phone, something that’s handy in a pinch. And, thanks to the iPhone 15 series finally adopting USB-C, Android phones and iPhones will finally be able to share their power with one another.
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USB-C in smartphones is nothing new, with Android devices having used the port for the better part of a decade now. But, despite all of that time on Android, it’s the iPhone 15’s switch to USB-C that might finally fix the biggest problem with Android accessories, and Android users will be able to enjoy those benefits while some existing iPhone owners take issue with the change.
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Since its arrival over five years ago, USB-C has pretty much taken over when it comes to smartphones and laptops, but the standard has still lacked a bit on the highest end. Now, with the USB-C 2.1 revision, the connector will be able to push up to a whopping 240W of power.
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With USB-C seeing wide adoption on Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks, the dream of having one convenient connection is here. The USB-IF standards body today officially launched the USB Type-C Authentication Program that will allow OEMs to “protect against non-compliant USB chargers.”
In a world of truly wireless earbuds and disappearing headphone jacks, wired earbuds are quickly falling to the wayside. However, we’ve seen a few pairs of USB-C earbuds hit the market since the debut of Google’s Pixel 2, and now, Essential is jumping into that market with its own option.
Launched earlier this year, Essential’s new Earphones HD are a pair of USB-C earbuds designed to provide stellar audio quality in a package you don’t have to pair or charge. Simply plug them into the USB-C port on your Essential Phone, or any other device with a USB-C port, and you’ll have stellar audio — that’s the goal. Do they deliver? Let’s take a closer look.
Google’s new phones drop the headphone jack — that’s just a fact we’re forced to live with if we want the latest and greatest. While Bluetooth is a great option in many ways, having effortless headphones you never have to charge, pair, or use with a dongle is something many will miss. Thankfully, there are solutions, like the Libratone Q Adapt USB-C earbuds.
[Update: Benson Leung shared in a blog post update that 27W charging isn’t supported after all. “I’d like to clarify this post as Pixel 2 and 2 XL will not be able to support 27W charging. While the phones may be able to negotiate more power using USB Power Delivery when connected to a higher wattage charger, there are other factors which may limit the speed at which it charges the battery. The included 18W charger in the box will provide optimal charging for Pixel 2 and 2 XL. Sorry for the confusion!”]
Google is (mostly) good at using USB-C and taking advantage of what it can do, and the Pixel phones are a big part of that. Last year’s devices were able to fast charge over USB-C without any proprietary Qualcomm tech, and the Pixel 2 family can do the same. New this year, though, is expanded compatibility with even faster chargers.
If you’re looking for an external SSD for use with your Chromebook or other laptop or desktop, Western Digital’s My Passport SSD looks like it could be ideal for the job. With a USB-C connection as standard (and a USB-A adapter in the box), it will be available in a choice of three capacities …
Satechi is launching a new USB-C Power Meter that can detect faulty cables, batteries, and chargers before they damage your Chromebook, Pixel or other hardware. USB-C Power Meter measures voltage, current, and power input over time so you can tell if an accessory is working as advertised or misbehaving.
Just yesterday OnePlus unveiled the OnePlus 3T, an updated version of the already-pretty-impressive OnePlus 3. It brings an updated processor, extra storage, a new color variant, and a handful of other improvements. One of those was a larger battery. The larger 3,400 mAh battery adds a little extra stamina to the phone, but also extends the charging time ─ or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.
It’s been almost a year since I bought my first device with USB-C, the Nexus 6P. At first, the standard was still so young that it was pretty difficult to find accessories that worked properly and were actually useful. Fast forward to now and the market has changed, thanks in no small part to the growing number of USB C powered smartphones and tablets on the available today…
It’s only been a couple of weeks since the Galaxy Note 7 released to glowing reviews, but reports are now claiming that the company is pressing pause on shipments of the device. Why? Over the past several days we’ve seen multiple reports of user devices exploding while charging, so Samsung is suspending shipments as a safety concern for its customers.
Following the long awaited release of JBL’s USB-C powered Reflect Aware C headphones, HTC now has a promotion available to get a set for free. While these headphones are usually priced at $199, this promo offers them for free with the purchase of an HTC 10 (via AndroidGuys).
After placing a heavy focus on audio in the HTC 10, the company revealed that it was working with JBL to create one of the first pairs of earbuds powered by USB C. The JBL Reflect Aware C offer both digital audio and active noise cancellation along with a sweat-proof design. After being announced earlier this year, these headphones are now available for sale.
The new Moto Z is officially the world’s thinnest smartphone at just 5.2mm, but to achieve that they’ve had to make some sacrifices. The battery is quite a bit smaller than most phones at just 2,600 mAh, and another issue with the razor thin design is that you won’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The follow-up to the Galaxy Note 5, America’s most loved phone, is coming.
There is a lot of confusion regarding both its name and the various potential shapes it is to come to the market with, but reliable leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer is continuously cluing us in, this time with new high-resolution images…
The rumor mill for Samsung‘s next flagship seems to be unstoppable. Be it for its size, specs or configurations, it is undoubted that the Galaxy Note 6 — or Note 7, as we have now come to expect it — is polarizing a lot of interest.
Today, thanks to two of the most famous leakers in the tech space, we may have new information regarding its launch date as well as a detailed look at the device itself…
As it often happens with new technologies — especially the ones that aim to replace fundamental, widely used parts of our digital devices — the early implementations are often challenged by a series of missteps and various other problems.
The latest concrete example of this is the promising-yet-troubled USB-C, which led to a few controversies as of late. However, it seems, with its latest G5 flagship, LG may be one of the few manufacturers that got it right (via gtrusted)…
A common trend among flagship devices this year has been the introduction of USB-C, a new standard that allows a single port to convey functions such as charging and data transfer with higher speeds and power capacities, all while being conveniently reversible.
Samsung, however, has uncharacteristically remained out of the conversation — either to avoid controversy or not to cause compatibility issues with its Gear VR — and brought the Galaxy S7 (and S7 edge) to the market with an “old” microUSB connector. The Galaxy Note 6, SamMobile reports, is however looking like it’ll change things…
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Very quickly, USB Type-C has this year become a part of every phone’s spec sheet. Either a new phone has USB Type-C, or it doesn’t. And it’s already being seen as a pro (or a con) when comparing phones against each other. Before the introduction of USB-C, pretty much every handset was assumed to have the previous connector, microUSB. And pretty much every phone did. Now, that’s changing.
With the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, and the OnePlus 2 before that, Android smartphones have recently begun adopting the new standard en masse, and as far as we know, many of the phones set to be announced in the coming months — including the HTC One M10 and the LG G5 — are going to make the jump. For me, supporting USB Type-C is absolutely a requirement for my next phone. Here’s why…
Update: Leung has resumed testing with a repaired test device, but for now can only weed out bad cables for now as he still doesn’t have a working Chromebook.
Google engineer Benson Leung was doing a great job at distinguishing the good, the bad and the ugly where USB Type-C cables are concerned, exposing ones that failed to meet the proper specs as well as others that were just plain dangerous.
Unfortunately his testing has now come to an abrupt end as one particularly bad cable resulted in significant damage to both his Chromebook Pixel and the USB PD sniffer devices he was using …
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Update: There are now some even better prices available. You can grab the 6ft cable at $9 Prime shipped w/ code BUE2SL39, the 1ft cable at $8 Prime shipped w/ code OZIWJRGS, and the 10ft variant at just $10 Prime shipped w/ code OYDTW5TH.
If you’re on the lookout for some USB Type-C cables for your new Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X (or perhaps even a Chromebook Pixel or a 12-inch MacBook), this is a good opportunity to grab some at a great price. Amazon offers the iOrange-E USB Type-C 6.6 ft braided cable for just $10 Prime shipped w/ code NSUFTGQ3, and the same cable in its 10ft variant for $15 Prime shipped w/ code IBXAME3M. These are the lowest prices we’ve seen…
