Powering external devices directly from a PC’s I/O ports has been a thing long before USB was even a twinkle in an engineer’s eye. Some of us may remember the all too common PS/2 pass-through leads ...

USB-C cables look identical but perform very differently. Learn the USB-C cable specs that control charging speed and data ...

A $50 USB-C cable tester revealed which of my cables were actually useless. I happily got rid of them and haven't looked back.

USB-C eliminates proprietary barrel plug chargers that we’ve been using for laptops and myriads of other devices. It fights proprietary phone charger standards by explicitly making them non-compliant, ...

Fortunately, if you’ve ever needed to test the voltage on your USB-C devices, there is a tool for you. There are quite a few USB-C voltage meters on the market, including one from one of my favourite ...

Locate USB Controllers: In the Device Manager, scroll down and expand the "Universal Serial Bus controllers" category. Access USB Port Properties: Right-click on an entry named "USB Root Hub," ...

Whether you're charging a smartphone, transferring files from an external SSD, powering a laptop, or connecting a gaming console, chances are you're using a USB-C cable.

The Universal Serial Bus (USB) started out as a data interface, but it didn’t take long before progressing to powering devices. Initially, its maximum output was only 2.5 W; now, it can deliver up to ...

As new USB standards catch on, choices for cables' data rates and power levels will be less confusing, the USB industry group predicts. Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote ...

USB Type-C is the most flexible connection for notebooks and smartphones. The most important of its many capabilities is as a charging socket for battery-powered devices. USB-C should finally make ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Technology journalist specializing in audio, computing and Apple Macs. Plugable is one of those fascinating companies that make ...