Is This the End of the USB-A Cable? (For Real, This Time)

The end is in sight for the trusty, 30-year-old USB-A cable.

A quick look inside a drawer in most homes will reveal a tangled mess of USB-A cables that were once the digital lifeblood of all things tech.

From cars to coaches to even flying at 38,000 feet, a USB-A charging cable in your pocket meant that a top-up was never far away.

However, governments around the world are now mandating the use of USB-C and banning USB-A on tech products, and the removal of USB-A from the new Mac Mini is another final nail in the coffin of the formerly ubiquitous connection.

Join us one last time in paying tribute to the cable that, until now, we couldn’t live without.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. How USB-A Changed the World
3. EU Deadline Approaches as USB-C Standardization Awaits
4. USB-A vs USB-C: Specifications Table
5. Will the USB-C Mandate Reduce E-Waste?
6. USB-A's Last Moments in the Spotlight
7. The Bottom Line
8. FAQs
9. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. Key Takeaways
2. How USB-A Changed the World
3. EU Deadline Approaches as USB-C Standardization Awaits
Show Full Guide
4. USB-A vs USB-C: Specifications Table
5. Will the USB-C Mandate Reduce E-Waste?
6. USB-A's Last Moments in the Spotlight
7. The Bottom Line
8. FAQs
9. References

How USB-A Changed the World

USB-A‘s four-pin flat, rectangular design is best known for its durability and ease of use. It’s also more straightforward and arguably more reliable than USB-C’s 20-pin configuration (although we wish the original engineers had had the foresight to let us insert the cable in any direction).

USB-A connectors are ubiquitous and can be found in hotel rooms and countless devices and peripherals.

It’s been quite a ride since USB 1.0 first entered our lives in 1996, with version 2.0 arriving in 2000. Even USB 3.0 can be traced back to 2008.

USB-A has been a big part of our lives for over 30 years, but now it looks to be reaching the end of the line.

EU Deadline Approaches as USB-C Standardization Awaits

This might go down in history as the final year in which our new shiny devices come with a USB-A connection.

By the end of 2024, the European Union is mandating that USB-C be the standard charging for smartphones, tablets, e-readers, digital cameras, headphones, portable speakers, and handheld video game consoles. Laptops must also adopt USB-C, but they have until spring 2026 to transition.

As Jozef Síkela, the EU Minister for Industry and Trade, said:

“We all have at least three mobile phone chargers at home. Looking for the right charger can be quite annoying. These chargers amount to 11,000 tonnes of e-waste every year.

 

Having a charger that fits multiple devices will save money and time and also helps us reduce e-waste.”

The EU mandate has inspired other countries and regions to follow suit. India aims to make USB-C the standard charging port for electronic devices by June 2025, with possible exceptions for wearables and hearing devices.

Saudi Arabian authorities also recently announced that the first mandatory phase of its USB Type-C Mandate will come into effect on January 1, 2025.

The Kingdom believes that including the quality of tech products with improved high-quality charging and data transfer will dramatically enhance the user experience.

The same theme can be found everywhere from Taipai to California, with the U.S. attempting to ensure that every electronic device manufactured on or after January 1, 2026, will only have a USB-C connection.

The global transition to USB-C is expected to reduce consumer costs while promoting environmental sustainability by reducing electronic waste. However, there is an argument that, in the short term, it could add to the problem.

USB-A vs USB-C: Specifications Table

Will the USB-C Mandate Reduce E-Waste?

Nations in every corner of the world uniting to ensure that big tech switches to a uniform connection during a period of global conflict is something that deserves to be celebrated.

However, whether it will solve the e-waste problem is debatable, especially if we are encouraged to throw away all our old gadgets, peripherals, and cables in unison when we can no longer connect them to our new devices — unless we embrace dongle life.

At a recent tech conference, my tech swag bag contained a cool-looking transparent USB-C MagSafe Charger, only to return to my hotel room to find a sea of USB-A ports. So, spare a thought for the people replacing USB-A sockets in the 17.5 million guestrooms and 23,000 active aircraft around the world.

Moving to a uniform connection is undoubtedly progress that needs to be made and will make a difference in the long run. But make no mistake, in the short term, it will create waste. Even if it’s for the greater good.

USB-A’s Last Moments in the Spotlight

The big change-over period for any technology takes time, and you will still be grabbing a top-up charge via USB-A on your favorite airline or corporate meeting room in 2025. However, our expectations have dramatically evolved, and the fact that USB-C can deliver up to 100 watts of power, compared to USB-A’s typical 7.5 watts, means it’s quickly losing its relevance.

It was good while it lasted, but there is no hiding from the fact that USB-C is ready to pick up the baton. It has been available since 2014, so it’s no spring chicken.

Still, faster and higher data transfer rates and the ability to charge much larger electronics, not to mention a much smoother symmetrical connection port, means it’s the best cable for our immediate future.

But before USB-A bows out for good, forgive me for looking back with a hint of nostalgia.

Everybody has a stash of USB flash drives in their home or workplace, just waiting to save the day. Before the days of cloud storage, HDMI, and AirPlay, transferring a large video or PowerPoint presentation from one PC to the boardroom display would involve a stressed-out presenter begging, stealing, or borrowing a USB flash drive to get the job done.

USB-A external hard drives were also a lifesaver for those who needed much more storage or a way of backing up their critical data.

Anyone who fails to charge their rechargeable batteries will have fond memories of trying to play their console while a meter away from their PlayStation or Xbox.

Whether expanding storage or keeping the controllers charged, the USB-A ports for consoles were the unsung heroes of many frazzled executives and saviors of epic gaming nights that lasted into the wee small hours.

The Bottom Line

There will be adapters and dongles for die-hard fans before the sun finally sets on what was once our go-to cable for everything.

Although the process of it being phased out might take several years, the countdown to USB-A being replaced by the superior USB-C connection type is already well underway.

The humble USB-A connection has been a massive part of our lives for over 30 years. But all good things must end.

FAQs