USB types explained: A, C, micro and Lightning
USB-A is the flat rectangle on computers and chargers. USB-B, mini-USB and micro-USB sit on devices. USB-C is the slim oval that fits either way up, and the EU's common charging port. Lightning is Apple's own plug, on iPhones up to the iPhone 14.
6plug shapes in this guide
24pins in a USB-C plug
2014the year USB-C was finalised
2023the first iPhone with USB-C
The type is the shape, not the speed
USB names two things that are easy to mix up. The connector is the shape of the plug. The standard is how fast it moves data and how much power it carries. USB-A, USB-B, mini-USB, micro-USB and USB-C are connectors. USB 2.0, USB 3.2 and USB4 are standards. Lightning is Apple's own connector, not USB.
So a USB-C cable can be slow, and a USB-A cable can be fast. The shape tells you what fits, not what it does. More in What is USB-C?
The plugs, to scale
| Connector | Since | Either way up | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB-A | 1996 | No | Computers, chargers, the host end of a cable |
| USB-B | 1996 | No | Printers and other desk devices |
| Mini-USB | 2000 | No | Older cameras and early phones |
| Micro-USB | 2007 | No | Phones before USB-C, small electronics |
| USB-C | 2014 | Yes | Phones, tablets, laptops, chargers |
| Lightning | 2012, Apple | Yes | iPhone 5 to iPhone 14, older iPads and AirPods |
USB-A: the host end
The flat rectangle came with USB 1.0 in January 1996, and it is still on computers, chargers and car dashboards. It fits one way up. USB-A sits at the host end of a cable: the computer or the charger.
USB-B, mini and micro: the device end
The B connectors went on the device. The square USB-B still sits on printers. Mini-USB, from 2000, made it small enough for cameras and early phones. Micro-USB, announced in 2007, was thinner still, and in 2009 the European Commission brought phone makers together behind it as the common charger.
None of them is reversible. The full-size USB-A and USB-B plugs are rated for at least 1,500 insertions; micro-USB and USB-C for at least 10,000.
USB-C: one plug for everything
USB-C, finalised in 2014, has 24 pins and fits either way up. It carries every USB standard, Thunderbolt from version 3, video, and up to 240 W of power. It is the only connector for USB4.
It is also the law. Since 28 December 2024, new phones, tablets, cameras and headphones sold in the EU must charge over USB-C; laptops followed on 28 April 2026.
The same plug at both ends means one cable for a phone, a laptop and a pair of headphones. USB-C Cord A1 carries 100 W with USB Power Delivery.
Lightning: Apple's own
Apple introduced Lightning with the iPhone 5 in September 2012. It has 8 pins, fits either way up, and most Lightning devices carry USB 2.0 data at up to 480 Mbps. The iPhone 15, in September 2023, was the first iPhone with USB-C, the year after the European Parliament approved the common charger rules. AirPods Max, revised in September 2024, were the last Apple accessory to move.
A Lightning iPhone charges from any USB-C charger with a USB-C to Lightning cable. More in Which charger does a MacBook need? And an iPhone?
Which cable you need
Look at both ends: the port on the charger, and the port on the device.
| You have | The cable |
|---|---|
| An iPhone 15 or later, an Android phone, an iPad or a laptop with USB-C | USB-C to USB-C |
| An iPhone 14 or earlier | USB-C to Lightning |
| An older phone, camera or speaker with micro-USB | USB-C to micro-USB, or USB-A to micro-USB |
| A printer | USB-A to USB-B, or USB-C to USB-B |
| A computer or charger with only USB-A ports | USB-A to USB-C |
Questions
What are the main USB types?
USB-A, USB-B, mini-USB, micro-USB and USB-C. Lightning looks similar, but it is Apple's own connector, not USB.
Which USB type is the newest?
USB-C, finalised in 2014. It is the only connector for USB4, and the charging port the EU requires.
Is USB-C the same as USB 3?
No. USB-C is the shape; USB 3 is a standard for speed. A USB-C port can run USB 2.0, USB 3.2, USB4 or Thunderbolt.
Is micro-USB the same as USB-C?
No. Micro-USB is a small trapezoid that fits one way up; USB-C is a slim oval that fits either way. One does not fit the other.
Can I charge a Lightning iPhone with a USB-C charger?
Yes, with a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Which USB plugs fit either way up?
USB-C and Lightning. USB-A, USB-B, mini-USB and micro-USB fit one way only.
Sources
Wikipedia, USB hardware (plug sizes, pins, dates, insertion ratings, the 2009 EU agreement on micro-USB); Wikipedia, USB (USB 1.0, January 1996; USB 2.0, April 2000); Wikipedia, Lightning (connector). EU dates: Directive (EU) 2022/2380, as in What is USB-C?.
