It’s time for USB-A to retire, plain and simple. For almost 30 years, USB-A has taken center stage, but I’m ready for USB-C to be the only port my desktop computer has.
USB-A dominated for almost 30 years
USB-A has been the gold standard for USB connections since the year I was born, and it’s a great standard. It has gone through many iterations, from moving data at just 1.5 Mb/s with USB 1.0 to 10 Gb/s with USB 3.2 Gen 2 (or 20 Gb/s with USB 3.2 Gen 2×2).
The computing world wouldn’t be where it is today with USB-A, but, just like other connection standards (Micro USB), it’s time to move on. USB-A is still the standard for USB connections in 2025, almost 30 years after its creation, and it’s time to move on.
Micro USB was introduced in 2007, more than 10 years after USB-A became commercially available. USB-C became a standard in 2014 and was officially adopted in the mass market in 2016, less than a decade after the release of Micro USB.
USB Explained: All the Different Types (And What They’re Used for)
Most of our electronic devices require USB cables, so take a moment to learn about each one.
Make no mistake, USB-A is relatively easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture at this point. However, I’m tired of having to look at my cable and port when I go to plug something in. I’m ready to embrace a reversible (and more powerful) future. I’m ready for USB-C on everything.
While USB-C makes the most sense on laptops, it’s also great for desktops
USB-C was originally introduced on smartphones where space is more valuable. I originally viewed the standard as a replacement for Micro USB, such as it was.
However, in 2016, Apple launched its refreshed MacBook Pro lineup with only USB-C, marking the port’s first mass adoption in a consumer product line. Today, it’s harder to find a laptop with USB-A ports than it is to find one with USB-C.
The fact is that USB-C makes perfect sense on phones and laptops. These devices are thin and space is limited, making the smaller connection standard simply the easy choice. However, this is not the only place we should have USB-C.
I can’t tell you how many USB-C to USB-A cables I need to keep my desktop running. My webcam is USB-C, as are my keyboard, 2.4GHz dongle gaming headset, 2.4GHz dongle gaming mouse, and several other peripherals on my desk.
USB-C was great for laptops, but not for desktops
It turned out that one port to rule them all had some disadvantages.
The problem is that most desktops have one to two USB-C ports, with the front I/O of a case offering one more (if available). Because of this, I’m either forced to use a bunch of USB-C to USB-A cables or get USB hubs that give me more than one USB-C port to use.
Why should desktops adopt more USB-C ports? For starters, USB-C can handle much faster data transfer rates: up to 120 Gb/s with Thunderbolt 5 and 40 Gb/s with the current USB4 standard (although USB4 2.0 promises transfer rates of 80 Gb/s).
USB-C is also capable of handling video signals, meaning you can connect a monitor via USB-C – that’s something USB-A could never realistically do. Oh, and should I mention that USB-C is reversible?! With a USB-C cable, I don’t have to worry about which direction the cable is facing to plug it in.
I’m ready to ditch USB-A and fully embrace USB-C
The USB-A did a good job, I’ll give it that. Any technology standard that stays ahead of the race for nearly three decades deserves all the applause. But it’s time to step aside, grandpa USB-A, and let young USB-C take center stage.
I get it, USB-A is the “gold standard” and it’s what most older devices still use to connect. I’m not saying delete all USB-A ports each motherboard on the market. Just give me the choice to buy a motherboard with more USB-C ports than USB-A, that’s all I’m asking, for now. Eventually, I really want USB-C to be the only port on my motherboard (and graphics card, but that’s a story for another day).
Some people might complain that the USB-C specification is full of confusion, and I don’t disagree. USB-A, however, suffers the same fate. There are USB-A 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.1 Gen 2, 3.2, 3.2 Gen 1, 3.2 Gen 2, 3.2 Gen 2×2 and some that are powered only. If USB-A can be the standard with all this confusion, USB-C can be the standard with the same confusion.
USB-C is better than USB-A in every way. I’ve covered a lot of this already, but one thing I haven’t mentioned is power. USB-C can (currently) deliver up to 240W of power (plus data) over a single cable. Imagine a slim form factor desktop with a remote USB-C dock that powers the desktop and handles all your I/O. Instead of reaching into the back of a desktop computer, you connect to a remote hub, which also powers that desktop computer.
Reduced cable clutter, more features and a reversible plug. I’m ready for USB-A to step aside and allow USB-C to take center stage.
