The USB-IF doesn’t want you to be confused about USB Type-C

We've been following the new, reversible USB Type-C port since the very beginning, and as nice as we think it is compared to the current jumble of USB and mini and micro USB ports, it can be hard to explain to people. It was described as a "supplement" to the then-new 10Gbps USB 3.1 spec, but Type-C can also work with USB 2.0 or 3.0. USB 3.0 itself is now called "USB 3.1 gen 1," another point of confusion. Some laptops can use the USB Power Delivery spec to replace proprietary power ports, but this won't always be the case.

The USB Implementers Forum is aware of the potential for confusion, so we met up with them at Intel's Developer Forum last week to talk about what they're doing to clear it up. The answer, sadly, is that it's out of the USB-IF's hands most of the time.

More standards, more logos

Different speeds and port types mean different port markings.

USB-IF

If you have a PC desktop or laptop, check out its USB ports. You may see some little markings next to them—those markings are one of the ways the USB-IF tries to inform users of those ports' capabilities.